Graduate
Frequently Asked Questions
RELATED LINKS
We encourage applicants to review this Q & A about admissions and requirements for the Department of Economics PhD program. If you have other questions that are not answered here, please contact the Graduate Administrator at: econdpt@pitt.edu.
APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM
What is the deadline for applying?
The application deadline is January 15 of the year in which you plan to begin the program. Please note that the application software is disabled after the January 15 deadline, so it is extremely important that you submit the online application by that date. We will continue to accept miscellaneous application materials until the admissions committee begins to review applications at the beginning of February.
Note that the admissions committee will not review incomplete applications, therefore you should begin the application process early. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all supporting application materials such as transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, etc. arrive by the January 15 deadline.
Can I be granted early admission?
We do not offer early admission. The online application software will be re-activated at the beginning of October and applicants may begin to submit an application at that time.
Can I apply for admission to the spring term?
No. The graduate curriculum is structured in such a way that spring admissions are not an option.
Can I receive a pre-evaluation?
We simply don't have the resources to do pre-evaluations. To be considered for the PhD program, you must apply; it will not give you an advantage to e-mail your education history and other credentials to the department, as it will not be taken into consideration unless you apply for admission.
What are the minimum requirements for entry into your program?
See our admissions requirements for more details. In short, you must:
- hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S., or the equivalent level of education from a foreign institution.
- submit official transcripts, indicating any graded coursework completed and any degrees awarded and the date they were conferred.
- submit GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers only)
- submit three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess your ability to do graduate work.
- submit a personal statement detailing your reasons for pursuing graduate study in Economics.
- be sufficiently well prepared in mathematics. The minimum mathematics requirements are two semesters of calculus and a semester of linear algebra. In practice, most students we admit have more than the minimum mathematical preparation.
Is an undergraduate degree in economics required in order to apply?
No, an undergraduate degree in economics is not required, however, some undergraduate coursework in economics would be helpful.
Primarily we are looking for individuals who have the necessary mathematical preparation to do well in our doctoral program, and who have a genuine interest in pursuing cutting-edge research in economics. Graduate level economic analysis, unlike undergraduate coursework, is highly mathematical and requires frequent use of the tools learned in calculus, differential equations, real analysis, and linear algebra. If you don't have graded coursework in these specific areas, we urge you to take additional mathematics classes before applying.
Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation?
Yes, if you like. What matters most is not the number of letters submitted but their quality: your letter writers should be in a position to understand both your abilities as a student and the rigor of doctoral study in economics. Professors of economics are a good choice for letter writers, though they are certainly not the only choice.
How many applications do you receive each year?
Typically, we receive between 300 and 400 applications.
Will I be notified when my application is complete? When will I know if I've been accepted?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to notify every applicant when all of his or her application materials have been received. Application materials now arrive online, through the regular mail or via express mail at various times during the application period. It takes a great deal of time to compile a complete application when materials arrive at different times from various sources. It is the applicant's responsibility to begin the application process early, to request transcripts and letters of recommendation in a timely manner, to make sure that the recommenders have actually written and submitted a letter, and to arrange to sit for the GRE/TOEFL exams well in advance of the deadline .
Admission decisions are typically announced in March. You will receive an e-mail notification followed by a formal letter. Please be sure that the e-mail address you provide on the application form will remain active for at least six months.
Where should I send my transcripts and other application materials?
Transcripts and other materials should be addressed to:
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Economics
Graduate Office
4914 W. W. Posvar Hall
230 South Bouquet Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
TEST SCORES
Are GRE scores required?
Yes, we require scores for the GRE Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical tests.
Do you require official test scores or may I send a copy of my GRE/TOEFL score record?
Official scores are now submitted to the department electronically by ETS; you may include a photocopy of your score report with your application materials for informational purposes only. GRE scores are acceptable for five years after the test date.
Are there any minimum test scores?
There are no minimum scores for the GRE, though most students who have been admitted to our program have achieved scores at or above the 80th-90th percentile in all three parts of the GRE (verbal, quantitative, analytical).
The University of Pittsburgh requires a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based test and 80 or higher on the internet-based test. Within the department, we generally look for TOEFL scores of 620 or higher on the paper-based test, and 90 or above on the internet-based test.
Do you accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score in place of the TOEFL score?
Yes. We look for an overall IELTS score of 7 or higher.
What are the institutional / department codes for submitting GRE/TOEFL scores to the University of Pittsburgh?
- GRE: the Institutional code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927; the department code for Economics is 1801.
- TOEFL: the institutional code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927; the department code for Economics is 84.
FINANCIAL AID
How many of newly admitted students are awarded financial aid?
The exact number of initially funded incoming students varies from year to year, depending on class size and budget constraints. On average, eight incoming students receive financial aid in the form of fellowships; the remainder are typically self-funded or sponsored. Occasionally, teaching assistant positions are offered to entering students.
Will students who are awarded full fellowships be required to work?
No, if awarded a Fellowship, no work would be required for the duration of that Fellowship award (typically 2 terms).
Teaching assistantships involve up to 20 hours of work per week. Typically, students receive teaching assistantships beginning with their second year of study.
Can I get teaching experience in your program?
Yes, following the successful completion of the first year of our program, students receiving financial aid are asked to assist with teaching as Teaching Assistants and later as Teaching Fellows; in the latter position, students are eligible to teach their own courses.
Do non-U.S. citizens qualify for financial aid?
Yes. Financial aid has no citizenship requirements, and awards are made to the most promising entering students as determined by the department's admissions committee.
If a student is not awarded financial aid in the first year, would he/she be able to qualify for aid in subsequent years?
Yes, provided the student has met all requirements, is in good academic standing, and department budget considerations are notwithstanding.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
How long does it take to earn a PhD in your program?
The normal time to degree is five years. Exceptional students can complete the degree requirements in four years. Increasingly, it is taking students six to seven years to complete the degree. The variation in time-to-degree largely reflects the speed with which students complete their dissertation research.
What is the total number of graduate students in your program?
The total stock of graduate students at any time averages around 50.
How many of your graduate students are U.S. Citizens / International Students?
Currently, about 30 percent of our students are U.S. citizens; 70 percent are non-U.S. citizens from countries all over the world.
How many recipients of PhDs from your program find jobs?
In recent years, we have placed all of our students in positions in either academia, government, or the private sector. Our record of job placement is excellent and rivals that of many top graduate economics programs. Please see our job placement summary on the department web site for more up-to-date information on job placement.
Can I visit the department?
Yes. E-mail our graduate administrator and let us know when you will be in the Pittsburgh area. We can set up a schedule of meetings for you with department faculty and graduate students.
Do you have a brochure that you send to applicants?
No; we ask that you consult our website for information on our graduate program, our faculty and their research interests, our admission requirements and the application process. We now only accept online applications. You can apply here.
If you have further questions , please contact:
University of Pittsburgh
School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Economics
Graduate Office
4914 W. W. Posvar Hall
230 South Bouquet Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-648-1399
Fax: 412-648-1793
