Our incoming students usually have an undergraduate degree in economics and/or mathematics, with significant quantitative and math-intensive course experience. Many international applicants have a master’s degree. Research experience (such as an undergraduate or master’s thesis, or work as a research assistant) is a plus.  

• Required: One year of calculus, one semester of statistics, and intermediate-level courses in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory.
• Strongly recommended: Courses in linear algebra, differential equations, real analysis, and econometrics. 

Base Requirements

• Self-reported/unofficial or official GRE scores
• Unofficial transcripts
• 3-5 letters of recommendation

English Language Proficiency Requirements 

• Proficiency in written and oral English is requred for enrollment in an academic program. This proof can be obtained by submitted scores from one of the following exams:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), minimum score 89
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS), minimum score 7.0
• Applicants to the Graduate School, regardless of citizenship, must either meet our waiver criteria or submit proof of English language proficiency. The online application will not require you to submit a language score if you meet the criteria for an exemption: you (will) have an equivalent degree from an English-language university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom. See the Gradute School admissions page for more information about the English Proficiency Waiver: Application Requirements | Graduate School | Vanderbilt University

In your statement of purpose, tell us how your studies so far have prepared you for a Ph.D. program, and share what fascinates you about research in economics.  

Campus visits are offered to everyone admitted to the program. Visits consist of a half-day of individual meetings with faculty members and students, plus lunch. 

Q: What test scores do admitted candidates usually have  on the GRE?

A: Applicants often overestimate the importance of GRE scores for Ph.D. applications. The GRE tests whether you can do high school math quickly and correctly, as well as your vocabulary. Scores below a certain level (say, below 155 verbal and below 161 quantitative) tend to indicate problems, while very high scores do not necessarily guarantee that you are fully prepared for a Ph.D. program in economics.

For candidates who satisfy these thresholds, we look primarily at their preparation for a Ph.D. program in terms of how they did in the challenging courses they took in both advanced economics and math, rather than going only by their specific GRE scores.

Q: Do you have a minimum TOEFL or IELTS score?

A: The Graduate School recommends a minimum TOEFL score of 89 and a minimum IELTS of 7.0

Q: I am a native English speaker, do I have to submit proof of English proficiency? 

A: All applicants to the Graduate School, regardless of citizenship, must either meet the waiver criteria or submit proof of English language proficiency. See the Graduate School requirements page for more information: Application Requirements | Graduate School | Vanderbilt University