Doctoral Program FAQs

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is one of the requirements to apply to the graduate program in Economics. You do not need to have a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics to apply to the program. Applicants have Bachelor’s Degrees in Mathematics, Statistics, and other disciplines. For specific information on what is considered a comparable degree from an international institution please refer to the Graduate School Admission Requirements page.

Yes, we have three master’s programs affiliated with the Economics Department:

• Master of Science in Economics
• Master of Science in Financial Economics
• Master of Science in Quantitative Economics

Yes, you can apply to both the Economics Ph.D. and the Master’s programs if you apply for fall term admission. While you can apply for up to three programs per term for one application fee, you will need to fill out a separate application for the program you wish to apply to.

The program is designed to be completed in five years. It is not uncommon, however, for students to complete the program in six years. To learn about the goals and structure of the Economics Graduate Program visit our Program Overview web page.

Our graduates pursue research careers at colleges or universities and work for government agencies or private firms after graduation. You can find more detailed information on our placement web page.

There are students in the program from around the world. Our domestic students are from all areas in the U.S.

If you cannot find the answer to your question above, you can read the Graduate School frequently asked questions (FAQs) for more information. You can also contact us at gradpro@ssc.wisc.edu.

No, the application system does not allow for changes or updates. We will not accept updated materials. Please ensure you submit the materials you would like the admissions committee to review.

To review the status of your application, log in to your application. Once you log in, select the link of the application that you wish to review.

The Department receives more than 600 applications for the Ph.D. program each year.

It is not possible for us to tell you how many recommendations of admission are going to be offered this year. We have an Admissions and Aid Committee that makes all admissions and funding decisions. In February, the committee will evaluate the applications. Once the applications have been reviewed, the committee will decide on the number of students recommended for admission. The committee has planned on an entering class of 20 students.

All aspects of your application are reviewed by one or two faculty members. Academic preparation is important; the committee likes to see good grades in hard courses (especially math courses or advanced economics courses). Reference letters are very important; ideally they should be written by people who know you well, and who know what it takes to succeed in a good PhD program.

The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is one of the components of your application packet. Among other things, the SOP can highlight the aspect of your application which is strong and, if you feel it is important, you can explain the reason for any weakness in the application

The Economics program’s Admission and Aid Committee will inform you of its decision in March.

Every year the Department receives more than 500 applications for the Ph.D. program. Admission and funding is competitive and it depends on a number of variables including all aspects of your application and the applicant pool. In February and March, the Admissions and Aid Committee will decide on the number of students recommended for admission. Given the volume of applications, it is not possible to respond to inquiries about the chances of admission, or to provide information about the strengths and weaknesses in individual applications.

No, paper transcripts are not required to submit with your application. However, it is required that you upload electronic copies of your unofficial transcripts or academic record with your application.

If you are recommended for admission, the Graduate School will request an official transcripts.

If you are recommended for admission, the Graduate School will send you the transcript requirements. You will need to submit the transcript in the original language as well as an official English translation. You school should provide an official translation of your documents; otherwise have a translation done by your school or an official translator. In some countries, these people are also notaries. Do not submit an evaluation from a credential evaluation service in lieu of a translation.

No, please do not send or upload high school transcripts.

No. GMAT scores will not be accepted in place of GRE scores.

The UW-Madison institutional code is 1846. Our institution does not use department codes – you may leave that portion blank or pick any code. It is very important you use the same name and spelling on the application as you used on the test form to avoid delays on the arrival of scores on your file. The format of the date of birth is very important too. Please use month/day/year to avoid delays.

GRE scores are accepted if they are within five years of the start of the admission term.

Students must have official scores sent by ETS before admission is finalized. You may upload unofficial PDF copies of your GRE or TOEFL results on your application portal, but only official scores sent by ETS will be evaluated for admission. The UW-Madison institutional code is 1846. Our institution does not use department codes – you may leave that portion blank or pick any code.

International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency.  Your scores will not be accepted if they are more than two years old from the start of your admission term.

See the Graduate School’s requirements page for more information.

The average Quantitative GRE score for applicants admitted to the program has been 91st percentile on the exam. The average Writing Analysis score has been 4.46. The average GPA has been 3.85/4.0.

No, there is no page limit and the topic is not restricted to economics.

Yes, a writing sample is part of the required application materials.

Students entering the graduate program are required to have taken at least a three-course sequence in calculus, a course in linear algebra, and a course in mathematical statistics. You can apply if you have not met all the math requirements. However, all math prerequisites must be completed by the time you plan to start the program. The admissions committee will be able to evaluate your math ability more thoroughly if you have completed your math requirements at the time of application. Please remember that graduate work in economics demands mathematical sophistication of a higher order than the requirements of most U.S. undergraduate economics programs would suggest. The prerequisites above are a bare minimum, and additional background in mathematics and in graduate-level economics courses can ease the transition into the program.

The Math Requirements for Incoming Graduate Students page lists some key topics and some useful references.

The application fee, math prep form, writing sample, statement of purpose, and transcripts must be received by December 5. We will start processing applications after the December 5th due date. Letters of recommendation and official test scores must be received by December 31.

Funding is awarded to applicants on a competitive basis. Please see our funding page for additional information.

If your application is submitted and necessary materials received by December 5th, you will automatically be considered for funding. Please see our funding page for more detailed information and the funding packets you would be automatically considered for if you apply on time.

There are other sources of funding such as loans through the Office of Student Financial Aid, as well as sources that are external to the university (e.g. grants, fellowships). However, the application process for those financial sources is not related to the process of admission to the Department of Economics. For more information, visit the Graduate Student Funding Resources page. Those pages will contain basic information detailing the funding resources available at UW-Madison, as well as contact information for initiating a search for other sources of funding.

No. If you are recommended for admission by the Economics Department and admitted by the Graduate School, you will asked to submit financial documentation once you initiate the immigration document request through our International Student Services (ISS) Office. Please review the ISS page on Becoming a Global Badger, which includes resources about the following:

• Step-by-step process of becoming a UW–Madison international student
• Estimated expenses
• Explanations of visa types, such as the difference between F-1 and J-1
• Resources to help international students transition to life at UW–Madison

The admission to the graduate program in economics is a shared process at UW-Madison between the department and the Graduate School. When applicants receive an admission packet from the Economics Department indicating that they have been recommended for admission, this recommendation does NOT mean that they have been fully admitted. The applicant will have to finish the last steps of the admission process with the Graduate School. This includes sending the official transcripts requested by the Graduate School. The Economics Department sends admissions recommendations to the Graduate School with supporting materials. The Graduate School reviews the application and materials to ensure that the Graduate School minimum requirements are met.

It is important for applicants to continue monitoring their admission progress. Each applicant can check their status by logging into their application.

Yes, we invite all students who have been recommended for admission for a scheduled Visit Day in late March or early April. If you have been admitted and would like to arrange for a visit at a different time, please contact us at gradpro@ssc.wisc.edu.

Term change (deferral) requests are reviewed on a case by case basis both by the department and the Graduate School. Please reach out to the department admissions contact if you have questions about deferring.

To reapply, you must follow the current process of admission. If you are required to submit a English proficiency scores, please be sure the score has not expired. Scores are accepted if they are within two years of the start of the admission term for which you are applying. GRE scores are accepted up to 5 years after the test date.