PhD Study Programme

The PhD program offered by LASER has a three-year duration and intends to provide an advanced general education in Economics, allowing to form economists with a complete cultural profile and able to successfully pursue different professional and career paths, both in academics as well as in non-academic jobs characterized by high intellectual content and strong international focus.

The first year is mainly dedicated to the attendance of taught courses (lectures and classes) and relative exams. Students also carry out study activities as well as participate in reading groups and workshops, in order to identify the topic which will then become the subject of their doctoral thesis. First-year teaching represents a combination of "core courses" and "field courses". Core courses cover the traditional areas of modern economics (microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics), while field courses are specialized or thematic courses, offered as electives. During the first year each student is assigned a tutor. Personal tutors advise students regarding their academic career.

The second and third years are mainly dedicated to research, conducted either in Italy or abroad, in doctoral programs belonging to structured networks and part of bilateral mobility agreements. Each student is assigned a supervisor, who leads the student's research activity and evaluates the student's progress. During the third year each student is monitored also by a second supervisor.
Selection: Selection of applicants follows a two-phase process: evaluation of qualifications and oral examination.

The PhD in Economics intends to select very qualified applicants from Europe and all over the world, especially graduates who have already been exposed to a high-level preparation. The program adopts an extremely strict policy concerning the applicants' selection, setting rigorous admission requirements. Only applicants with strong motivation and knowledge are admitted.

A good command of economic mathematics, econometrics, microeconomics and macroeconomics is an important condition for entering the program.

All course are taught in English. LASER offers only funded positions. This academic year the School will offer 12 scholarships.

LASER activities are partially funded by a grant from Fondazione Cariplo

For detailed information please visit: http://www.laser.unimi.it