FAQs

The Ph.D. program is designed for students aiming for an academic or research-focused career and leads to a doctoral degree. The MSQ program (Master of Science in Quantitative fields) is a research-oriented master’s degree. Both share the same first-year curriculum, but the MSQ can either serve as a standalone degree or as a pathway into the Ph.D.

Yes. Students who perform well in the first year and successfully pass the qualifying exams are encouraged to transition into the Ph.D. program at the beginning of their second year.

Students who do not pass the qualifying exams typically continue in the MSQ program and complete it with a Master’s thesis, rather than progressing to the Ph.D. stage.

In the first year, all students take core courses in their chosen field along with training in econometrics, microeconomics or macroeconomics, mathematical methods, and programming. This ensures a strong foundation for advanced coursework and research.

Students begin developing their own research ideas early on, often during the second year through field courses and seminars. Independent research becomes the main focus from the third year onwards, including the third-year research paper and dissertation work.