PhD Program

Application

The Berlin School of Economics welcomes highly qualified post-graduate students from around the world to enroll in its structured PhD program. New PhD students are admitted to the program in October of each year.

The application deadline to the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program for an intake into the program in October 2027 is January 15, 2027.

Applicants should have a Master s degree in economics or business studies and have performed exceptionally well in their studies. Applicants from related fields (such as industrial engineering, statistics, or quantitative social sciences) may also fulfill the admission requirements if they have a sufficient background in economics or business studies.

All applicants are asked to provide GRE General Test scores with their application. The GRE General Test at Home scores are also accepted. Providing GRE General Test scores is highly recommended but not mandatory. In addition, please note that the minimum scores in the GRE General Test above which applicants are admitted to the program depend on the score level of all applicants in the respective year. Therefore, we do not specify a minimum score that must be achieved.

Applicants whose native language is not English are asked to demonstrate their English language proficiency, unless they hold a degree from a university in an English-speaking country or can document at least one year of studies at an English-speaking university. Sufficient evidence of a good command of English can be demonstrated with a high score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Providing TOEFL or IELTS scores is highly recommended but not mandatory. Minimum scores that have to be achieved are not specified. Knowledge of German is not a necessary requirement for a successful application, but students are encouraged to learn and improve their skills.

Applicants with a Bachelor s degree are eligible to apply for the program if they also apply for a Master s program offering a fast track option. For detailed information, see our Frequently Asked Questions section.

In addition, evidence of creativity and an inclination toward research will be taken into consideration.

Please note that it is not necessary to find a supervisor before applying to the Berlin School of Economics.

The application deadline to the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program for an intake into the program in October 2027 is January 15, 2027 (CET).

Please note that applications may only be sent during the application period via our online Application Portal (the portal is only open for applications during the application period).

Applications sent outside of this application period or sent via email will not be considered.

Short-listed applicants for intake into the program in October 2027 will be invited for an interview (via video conferencing) shortly before the start of the official interview period.

The online interviews will be held from March 3 until March 19, 2027.

Successful candidates will be informed of our admission decision at the end of March 2027.

As part of the online application procedure, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

Motivation letter (max. 2 pages) The letter should state your motivation for applying to the program and should include a brief outline of your major research interests.
Detailed curriculum vitae (without photograph)
Copies of academic transcripts and other certificates
GRE scores (institution code: 3853) or GMAT scores (only applications for business administration PhD tracks, program code: D1Z-41-07, see FAQs for more information) - not mandatory but highly recommended
IELTS or TOEFL scores, if applicable (see FAQs for more information, TOEFL institution code: 8167) - not mandatory but highly recommended
Two academic reference letters that the referees will send directly to us through the Application Portal.

Important: Please confirm your referees' willingness before naming them in your application. To ensure they have sufficient time, send them the official request through the application portal well before the deadline by pressing the Contact referee now button in the Application Portal.

Referees must upload their reference letters to the Application Portal by January 19, 2027.

View Frequently Asked Questions

Applications are to be completed in English.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Funding and Fees

There are no tuition fees. Berlin School of Economics students will receive funding for the expected length of the program. For the Qualification Phase, a monthly stipend of 1,650 Euros and a family allowance for your children (if applicable) is provided. Funding during the Dissertation Phase is normally provided through employment at one of the Berlin School of Economics s member institutions. Funding for the Dissertation Phase is conditional on having fulfilled the program s performance criteria.

Since the Berlin School of Economics itself cannot award doctoral degrees, you also have to be admitted as a doctoral student at one of the Berlin School of Economics institutions with the right to award doctoral degrees. Note that these Berlin School of Economics institutions charge a semester fee of approximately 300-350 per semester. Among other benefits, this provides access to public transport in Berlin at no additional cost.

General structure of the curriculum

The Berlin School of Economics PhD Program provides outstanding doctoral students with a vibrant, intensively networked research community. The program develops the students talents in a unique combination of a high-level, academic research environment together with applied, policy-oriented research opportunities. Students receive state-of-the-art coursework training and can select from a wide array of specializations for their doctoral research.

The Berlin School of Economics PhD Program offers four different PhD tracks: PhD in Economics, PhD in Accounting, PhD in Finance, and PhD in Management. All tracks share the same structure and general curriculum, and allow for numerous specializations.

The curriculum is divided in a qualification and a dissertation phase. During the qualification phase of the program (about three semesters), students acquire methodological and research-oriented training in mandatory and elective courses in economic theory, applied economics, business studies (accounting, finance, management), econometrics, and economic policy. Students define their research area and find supervisory support from two supervisors. They write research proposals that are discussed with faculty members individually and in seminars in order to provide early feedback on the scientific potential of research ideas. This is a central part of the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program, in which the students have full flexibility in the choice of their research topics and of the supervisors. During this phase, students are funded through stipends that allow for this flexibility. A minimum of 90 ECTS credits have to be obtained in order to finish the qualification phase of the program.

During the subsequent dissertation phase of the program (about three to four years), students write their doctoral thesis while having the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the professional research environment that is provided at the research institutions participating in the Berlin School of Economics. During this phase, students are typically employed at the research institution their supervisor is affiliated with. The PhD will be awarded by the Berlin School of Economics institution one of the student s supervisors is affiliated with.

Graduates of the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program are excellently prepared for positions in academia as well as for policy-related institutions and organizations, which has been documented by a list of outstanding placements.

Application Requirements

Applicants should have a Master s degree in economics or business studies. Applicants from related fields (such as industrial engineering, statistics, or quantitative social sciences) may also fulfill the admission requirements if they have a sufficient background in economics or business studies.

Applicants with a Bachelor s degree are eligible to apply for the program if they also apply for a Master s program offering a fast track option.

All applicants are asked to provide GRE General Test scores with their application. Providing GRE General Test scores is highly recommended but not mandatory.

How to Apply:

Applications for an intake into the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program in October 2027 will be accepted until January 15, 2027, and can only be submitted via the Berlin School of Economics Application Portal.

All information on the application for the Berlin School of Economics PhD Program can be found on the official website.

Contact information

Berlin School of Economics Office Vita Ozolina / Admissions Officer Email: bsoe.admission@hu-berlin.de Telephone: +49 (0)30 2093 99413