ECON Department of Economics

• Completed online application
• Unofficial transcripts for all colleges or universities attended (upload in online application)
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you received a bachelor’s degree and all subsequent degrees. Transcripts must show title of the degree earned and the date the degree was conferred. In cases where documents are not issued in English, applicants must submit certified word-for-word English translations of all documents. Send to the Office of the Registrar, 5257 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403 USA. Do not send transcripts to the Graduate School Office! More information
• GRE scores. Use the code 4846 for the University of Oregon and 1801 for the Department of Economics
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. Required for non-native English speaking and international Ph.D. applicants, including those with bachelor’s degrees from an English-speaking country or permanent U.S. residency. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test. Must complete this by the deadline of January 15 to be considered for GE funding. 
• Personal statement and curriculum vitae (upload in online application)

The application portal opens on September 15 each year.

Please note that applications that are incomplete by the deadline date will not be reviewed. All graduate students are admitted for the fall term only.

PhD Program
January 15—if applying for GE funding
April 1—if not applying for GE funding

The admissions committee are looking for students to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and if you have graduate level work, a 3.5 GPA at that level. Strong grades in economics and mathematics courses are especially important.

At minimum, applicants should have a knowledge of intermediate economic theory, micro and macro, calculus I, II, III, several or multi-variable calculus, elementary linear algebra, and introduction to mathematical methods of statistics. It is highly recommended that applicants have taken a real analysis class.

Applicants who are missing any of the above courses should plan to take supplemental coursework to complete these prerequisites at a college or university near them before starting the PhD program. It is fine if this coursework is in progress at the time of application and online courses are fine, though this coursework is looked at more favorably if offered by an institution that also has a brick and mortar presence.

GRE Scores. Our Graduate Admissions and Awards Committee would like to see GRE scores at or above the 70th percentile in the quantitative and analytical sections for admission to the doctoral program. However, to be competitive for admission and appointment as a Graduate Employee, you should have GRE scores at or above the 80th percentile. The mean general test quantitative score has been in the 88th percentile for recently admitted doctoral students. Average scores on the verbal portion have been in the 72nd percentile.

TOEFL or IELTS (International Students/Non-Native Speakers of English). The minimum score for the TOEFL iBT is 88. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.0.

Yes, the Ph.D. program in Economics is classified as STEM (CIP Code 45.0603: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics).

International students applying to the doctoral program must provide either the TOEFL iBT or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.

These tests are required even if the applicant holds permanent residency in the U.S. or a degree from an institution in an English speaking country.

Note: Please ensure that you take these tests in plenty of time to meet the January 15 deadline to be considered for a GE appointment.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Scores. The minimum score for the TOEFL iBT test is 88. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.0.

International students who will be sponsored by the University of Oregon on an F-1 visa or J-1 visa must first obtain a “Certificate of Eligibility” Form I-20 or DS-2019 in order to schedule a visa appointment. Verification of a student’s financial capability to pay tuition, fees and living expenses for at least the first year of study is required before Form I-20 or DS-2019 can be issued. More information.

Admissions

Does the Department of Economics offer conditional admission?

No. The Department does not offer conditional admission to its graduate program.

Unfortunately, we are unable to evaluate such requests. Because our entire admissions committee must evaluate each graduate program application, it is important to have all your application materials received by the specified deadlines to ensure that it receives a thoughtful review. After the deadline, the committee works as quickly as possible to notify applicants about their decision.

After the application deadline has passed and all materials have been received by the Department of Economics, you’ll receive a notification of admission from the department within two to three weeks. Afterward, you’ll receive a formal admission notification from the UO Office of Admissions. This notification can take four to six weeks.

Graduate Employee (GE) awards are available to a small number of doctoral students. The awards carry a tuition waiver and a stipend of approximately $18,350 for a nine-month academic year. Fellowships are awarded to admitted doctoral students based on the strength of academic qualifications and potential, as documented in the admissions file.

For full consideration of an award for the following fall term, all admissions materials must be received by January 15.

In general, the Department of Economics awards GE appointments to approximately 6-10 doctoral students each year.

Applicants to the doctoral program who meet the February 1 deadline will be informed of an award decision no later than May 15. However, most award decisions are made and communicated prior to April 1.

For tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses see the Office of Financial Aid’s Graduate Cost of Attendance estimates and the Office of the Registrar’s tuition and fees calculator.