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Admission to the CDSE Program
The application deadline for the PhD program in economics at the CDSE is 31 March 2024 for the Fall 2024 intake. Applications can be submitted from mid-November 2023, and there is an early admission on 15 January 2024. Applications from candidates who are not accepted in the early round will be reviewed again with all other applications after 31 March 2024.
Admission is based purely on academic performance and potential. Admitted students receive a monthly scholarship (1.365 €) and the CDSE commits to funding its students for five years (contingent on successful completion of the course phase and overall academic standing).
In principle, the prerequisite for admission to a doctoral center is a master’s degree in the respective field or equivalent. Applicants from neighboring fields and quantitative fields (like mathematics or engineering) can be admitted if their background is judged to be sufficient.
Applications sent in via mail will not be considered.
Application documents
The following information is required for an application:
Personal data
Name, address, date of birth etc.
Letter of motivation
Please provide a statement explaining your current goals, career plans and reasons for being interested in the doctoral program in Economics. Discuss your study plans and your fields of interest. Your statement should be in English and not exceed 500 words.
Certificates and transcripts of grades
A transcript from each college or university is required. The degree certificate is not sufficient. The transcript should show courses, grades and degrees received, mentioning rank or distinction if applicable. A translation is required for any transcript in a language other than English or German. At this stage of the application process it is not necessary to notarize or apostil the translations. If you are accepted we need notarized translations. An apostil is not necessary. If you have not yet finished your current degree, please attach a preliminary grade report (again in English or German).
GRE
All applicants must upload their General GRE's test taker's copy in the online application as well as send it via the testing service. We do not require or accept GRE subject tests. The GRE may not be substituted with the GMAT. GRE scores should not be older than two years. There is no minimum required score. Ask the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to report your test scores using the following ETS code: 0933.
Letters of recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required from faculty who are able to assess your academic ability and potential.
The following documents may be submitted:
- Writing sample: You should submit a writing sample in English or German, e.g., a paper you have written during your studies.
- Any supplementary information relevant to your application
Please also check our detailed list of all application requirements.
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