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Research overview

Our PhD Economics programme offers high-quality doctoral training in research skills along with providing knowledge in specialised fields. Current areas of research at the School of Economics include behavioural economics, development economics, experimental economics, international economics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics. Throughout the course our postgraduate students will gain a solid grounding in all areas of economics as well as learning the tools, techniques and literature necessary for writing a PhD dissertation.

 

Why choose this programme?

As a research student, you will have the guidance of a supervisor to assist you in your research and thesis design. By registering for your postgraduate research degree at the Malaysia Campus you will benefit from dual project supervision by academics based in Malaysia and the UK. This programme is part of a 1+2 split scheme where you will spend all, or a substantial part of your first year at the UK Campus to take advantage of the taught PhD-level modules offered. The rest of the programme will then be completed at the Malaysia Campus. 

 

How to apply for PhD

If you are interested in applying, we would recommend that you familiarise yourself with our research areas and staff expertise and then contact us to discuss your research project proposal with the relevant supervisor in the first instance. You can then visit our applications pages to find out how to apply.

Course content

Our current areas of research include:

  • Advanced Macroeconomics
  • Advanced Microeconomic Theory
  • Advanced Applied Econometrics
  • Econometrics Methods
  • Macroeconomics Methods
  • Microeconomics Methods

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

A first-class honours degree or a good master’s degree (or international equivalent), either in Economics or in a field with a quantitative emphasis, such as mathematics, statistics, physics, engineering, or operations research.

Applicants must hold a degree from a recognised university. We welcome students from all academic backgrounds and consider a wide range of qualifications. For certain programmes, prior qualifications must be in related fields. As part of the admissions process, applicants may be invited to attend an interview if further evaluation is deemed necessary.

Eligibility can only be confirmed upon submission of a complete application.

IELTS (Academic):

7.0 (with no less than 6.0 in each element)

TOEFL (iBT):

 100 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)

PTE (Academic):

 76 (with no less than 65 in each element)
MUET: Band 5
  • IELTS (Academic), TOEFL iBT, and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old.
  • IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted.
  • IELTS Academic Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and PTE Academic Online are not accepted.
  • MUET results are valid for five years from the release date."    

Fees

ResidencyFees
Malaysian studentsRM50,000 per year
International studentsRM56,000 per year

Funding

Find out about scholarships, financial assistance and specific research funding available to all malaysian and international students.

Scholarship funding

Your Global Education Starts Here

Why Join the University of Nottingham Malaysia?

  • Study at Malaysia’s No. 1 UK university*, the first and largest UK institution in the country
  • A founding member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities, we offer a world-class UK education with strong global recognition, impactful research, and academic excellence
  • 5-Star Rating for research excellence recognised by the Malaysian Research Assessment (MyRA) for world-class research achievements
  • Our graduates are consistently sought after by the top 100 global brands and earn up to 2x more** than the average graduate salary in Malaysia

*Based on student enrolment data from the Profile Book IPTS (MOHE) 2023.
**Based on the UNM Graduate Destination Survey (June 2023), with a national average salary of RM2,700.

Careers

A PhD in Economics will give you invaluable skills and excellent career credentials. You could apply your economic skills and knowledge in roles such as researchers, academics, economists, and economic consultants. These roles often value many skills acquired and developed from a postgraduate qualification. In broader contexts, other options related to economics include, among others, financial risk analysts, investment analysts, and quantitative analysts. You could work in banks, hedge funds and investment banks that use models and analyses to assess financial risks. Besides, some management consultancies and larger financial firms also employ specific economic consultants for helping organisations to solve problems and improve business performance.

The University’s Career Advisory Services (CAS) support students with the necessary skills and career opportunities using its strong relationship with various employers and industries. The CAS will provide students with essential resources and guidance for career choices offering many opportunities to develop the skills needed to plan and manage your future. Our Careers Advisory Service will work with you to improve and maximise your employability skills as well as providing essential resources and guidance that will assist you with job/course applications. They will facilitate searches for appropriate work experience placements and connect you to a wide range of prospective employers and training opportunities.

PhD Economics graduates have enviable job flexibility in a wide range of careers.

These range from high impact jobs shaping policy within think-tanks, government agencies, Central Banks, Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning Units along with international policy institutions such as The World Bank, IMF, United Nations etc.

Numerous opportunities present themselves in the business world including corporate enterprises, consulting firms and banks all looking for experts in specialised economic fields.

This content was last updated on 30 May 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.