Fall 2008 Application Deadline: January 10, 2008
We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2007.
2007-2008 On-line Application
Economics Ph.D. Program & Admissions Information
Graduate Student Handbook.
Further course information can be found in the Economics section of the
UCSD General Catalog.
Please read thoroughly before contacting the department.
UCSD Application Information
Online Application and Office of Graduate Studies
Frequently Asked Questions about applying to UCSD Dept. of Economics
UCSD only accepts applications for admission through its on-line system. Applications for Fall 2007 are no longer being accepted. After you apply on-line, you will receive electronic confirmation that the university has received your application. Regrettably, we are no longer able to send paper applications.
Deadlines
Applications are due by JANUARY 10, 2008.
All supplemental materials MUST BE POSTMARKED on or before January 10, 2008 or your file will be considered incomplete for Fall admission. A postmark is considered to be either: 1) the date stamp placed on an item by the U.S. Postal Service signifying it has been picked up for delivery; or 2) the date stamp placed on an item by a private carrier signifying it has been picked up for delivery by that carrier.
Materials received after January 10, 2008 with no visible date stamp signifying pick up (by either the U.S. Postal Service or a private carrier) will NOT be considered. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
Has the Economics Department received your application materials, and what are your chances?
During the 2007 application process, we received close to 400 applications, and many more requests for information. Though we would like to offer individual advice regarding your received materials, as well as the likelihood of acceptance, how to improve your chances for acceptance, etc., the volume of applications we receive makes this extremely difficult.
Therefore, we have attempted to provide answers to such frequently asked questions on this website. We would also greatly appreciate if you please do not email individual faculty members.
In general, we receive between 400 and 500 applications per year, and accept about one-fifth of them. The admissions committee evaluates your application, GPA, GRE (and TOEFL scores if applicable), as well as your statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. All of these aspects are important. Successful applicants usually score in the high 80th and 90th percentiles in each section of the GRE. In the past, because of the intensive mathematical requirements of the program, slightly more emphasis was placed on the Quantitative and Analytical sections of the GRE.
Additionally, the immense volume of applications we receive prevents us from guaranteering consideration of any supporting statements or information not included as part of your application.
We work to assemble students' files as soon as we receive their materials.
Admission Mailing/Email Addresses
University of California, San Diego
Department of Economics-Graduate Admissions
Sequoyah Hall, Room 242
9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0534
La Jolla, CA 92093-0534
econ-phdadmissions@ucsd.edu
Admission and Program Contact Information
Successful candidates admitted to our program have excellent grades. Most students have GPA's of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The University of California, San Diego requires that all applicants have a GPA of at least 3.0.
You must send two original transcripts from each university-level institution attended.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation should be specific. Instead of a blanket statement of your abilities (i.e. "[name] is a good student."), the committee looks for information about your talents within Economics and research, as well as your potential.
In general, as far as the content of a statement of purpose is concerned, you may wish to elaborate on your desire to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics, your specific interest in UCSD, and what you wish to accomplish upon completing your degree. Most Statements are one to two pages long.
All applicants must have a minimum of one year of college-level calculus. However, one year is likely to be inadequate background for the first year of core classes. Students are therefore encouraged to complete courses in vector calculus, differential equations, linear algebra and mathematical analysis prior to the start of graduate school.
Economics Course Requirements
A minimum of one year of lower-division economics courses is required. However, it would be in the best interest of a candidate to take at least intermediate micro and macro before beginning graduate study.
GRE Exam
UCSD Codes: University 4836, Department 1801
Minimum Acceptable GRE scores: Verbal Score 460; Quantitative Score 740; Analytical Score 4.0. Successful applicants to our program usually score in the upper 80th and 90th percentiles in each category of the GRE.
CBT in China, Taiwan and Korea: We are now accepting applications with computer based (CBT) GRE test scores from China, Taiwan and Korea. However, due to the uncertainty associated with the security concerns in the past, we strongly recommend that those applicants who have scores from 2001 and 2002 retake the test and submit their new scores along with their old ones.
Retakes of GRE: All scores will be looked at and evaluated by the admissions committee.
Original Test Scores from ETS: We must receive original copies of your test scores. Copies are not accepted. We also accept electronic transmission of test scores from ETS. All test scores must be received by the application deadline date. No exceptions.
Timeline to take Exam: You should take the GRE by December 1, 2007. If you take the exam any later than this date you risk missing the deadline for application materials.
Length of time GRE scores are valid: GRE scores are valid for five years from the date of the exam. However exam results sent to us are only retained for one year. If you apply for admission later than that you will need to request that ETS re-send your scores to us.
Who must take the GRE: All applicants to the program must take the GRE General Test. No other exams may be substituted.
Economics Subject Test: This exam is not required for application to our program. You are welcome to take the exam and the committee will review your score and consider the exam as part of your application.UCSD Codes: University 4836, Department 84.
Minimum Acceptable TOEFL scores: Computer Based 247; Paper Based 597; Internet Based 98.
Original Test Scores from ETS: We must receive original copies of your test scores. Copies are not accepted. We also accept electronic transmission of test scores from ETS. All test scores must be received the application deadline date. No exceptions.
Timeline to take the exam: You should take the TOEFL by December 1, 2007. If you take the exam any later than this date, you risk missing the deadline for application materials.
Length of time TOEFL scores are valid. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the date of the exam.
Who must take the TOEFL: If your native language is not English, you must take the TOEFL exam. EXCEPTION: If you have completed one year of full-time study at an English speaking university you do not need to take the TOEFL exam.
No exams can be substituted for the TOEFL exam.
TSE Test
The Department of Economics does not require the TSE test as part of the application. If you have taken the exam, you can send your scores along with your application and the application committee will review them.
International Applicant Information
All international applicants are encouraged to view the International Center's web page at:
http://icenter.ucsd.edu/students/prospective.html
This site contains helpful information on admissions, documents and international student finances.
Financial Aid and Teaching Assistantships
Tuition and Stipend Fellowships
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer support to all of our first-year students. We award Tuition and Stipend Fellowships to our best applicants. Be aware that most of the first-year students in our program are responsible for funding their first year at UCSD.
Teaching Assistantships
The department awards Teaching Assistantships to students in good academic standing during their 2nd-5th years of the program. Occasionally, we are able to offer TAships to first-year students, but this is rare and students should not rely upon receiving a TAship as a means of support during the first year at UCSD.
Students can find TAships or Readerships (grading positions) in other departments on campus. Interested students can find information on campus employment in the Job Opportunities for Graduate Students bulletin, which can be accessed at http://ogs.ucsd.edu/financialinfo/gradstudent/jobopportunities.pdf. This publication lists opportunities such as those offered by the Linguistics Department. Each quarter the Linguistics Department hires students who can teach French, German, Italian, Spanish and American Sign Language. Many departments solicit help via e-mail. The Graduate Program Coordinator will forward such notifications to the students in the Economics Department.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is only available to United States citizens and legal residents. For more information, please visit http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/finaid/
MBA Program
For information about the MBA program at UCSD, please see the Rady School at http://management.ucsd.edu/
Unconditional Acceptance
The Department of Economics does not offer unconditional admittance to any applicant for any reason. All students must follow application procedures and submit a university application.