Research Master’s & PhD Programs in Economics (and Business)

Pintao Lyu and Arthur van Soest

RM and PhD in Economics at CentER

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CentER's Research Master (RM) in Economics is an intensive two years program. It prepares you for academic research in economics with graduate level coursework and research training.

After completing the RM program most students continue with PhD research in economics. RM graduates who performed well in their course work and have a strong research proposal supported by one or two supervisors will be admitted to CentER's three-year PhD program.

RM and PhD program together form an integrated graduate program in Economics, comparable to programs at the best schools in the US and Europe

RM Programs and CentER

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• CentER is the graduate school of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management

• It offers Research Masters and PhD programs in Economics and Business

• All fields in economics and business administration are covered in the programs

• CentER is one of the leading Graduate Schools in the Netherlands and aims to compete with top graduate schools in the world

• CentER Honours Program prepares for Research Masters (but is not a requirement for admission)

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International student population: more than 75% of the Research Master students and PhD students are non-Dutch

Tilburg Professors are from all over the world

Seminar speakers from many countries that are leading researchers in their fields

PhD exchange

International Orientation

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Part 1: Research Master = graduate course work + RM thesis

2 years

• Two years for people with relevant BSc/MSc degree

(in Business side-inflow possible for people with relevant MSc degree)

• Leads to Research Master MSc

Part 2: PhD program = academic research + PhD thesis

3 years

• for students who performed well in their RM and found a topic and a supervisor

Graduate Program

Research Master (2 years)

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• High quality, interactive courses

• Comparable to top schools in US and UK

• Research plays a prominent role in course materials

• Close collaboration with your classmates (small classes)

• Close involvement with researchers in the faculty

• Use of a common research master study room, printing facilities and coffee corner

• Prerequisite for starting a PhD (in a regular position)

Three years PhD thesis research (or four years part-time)

Most PhDs are employees and receive a salary

Office (usually shared)

Teaching and supervision of BSc/MSc theses

Choosing your own research topic(s)

Stay abroad for research visit (of e.g. six months)

Conference attendance

Seminars

Job at, e.g., a good university

PhD program (3 years)

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RM graduates usually start a PhD in Tilburg or elsewhere

Most of the PhD graduates continue in academics and are hired by universities

Others go to national and international research institutions, banks, ministries, etc. (IMF, WHO, European Commission, DNB, CPB, …)

One of the aims of the graduate programs is to place students at top universities

CentER has successfully placed students in, for example, University of Chicago, Oxford University, or University of Cambridge

Career Prospects

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Placements: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-economics/placements/all-placements/

10 mandatory courses of 6 ECTS each:

• Quantitative Methods (August – September)

• Micro 1, Macro 1, Econometrics 1 (September – December)

• Micro 2, Macro 2, Econometrics 2 (January – April)

• Micro 3, Macro 3, Econometrics 3 (April – July)

Seminar attendance; orientation topic RM thesis & PhD research

Research Master in Economics Year 1

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• Academic writing (1 ECTS)

• Field paper (5 ECTS)

• 5 Field courses (chosen from a list of at least 10; 15 ECTS)

• RM Thesis (academic paper; 27 ECTS)

• Elective courses (12 ECTS)

At the beginning of the year, students submit their own educational plan, discussed with and approved by their “educational coordinator”

Selection into PhD program: February – March

Possibility to take electives from outside Tilburg

Possibility to replace 3 or 6 ECTS course work by research project?

Research Master in Economics Year 2 (as of 2017)

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Current field courses RM Economics

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Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics 1, Experimental Economics 2

Industrial Organization Theory, Organizational Economics

Competition and Regulation, Law and Economics

Empirical Industrial Organization 1, Empirical Industrial Organization 2,

Strategic Real Options Theory, Advanced Game Theory

Corporate Finance 1 (Part 1)

Development and Growth,, Advanced Macroeconomics

Monetary Policy at the Zero Lower Bound, Topics in Macro - Environment

International Trade, Macro Reading Group

Advanced Time Series Analysis, Advanced Micro-econometrics

Non- and Semiparametric Econometrics,

Topics in Econometrics: Model Selection and Big Data

Health Economics, Population Economics

We expect…

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• Relevant undergraduate degree (to be obtained no later than 31 August)

• Curiosity and inquisitive nature

• Self-discipline and willingness to work hard

• Interest in economic issues (broadly defined)

• The motivation to become a researcher

http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-economics/application/

Admission criteria: GRE/GMAT test (depends on RM of choice)- 90% or higher on the quantitative section of the GRE - 90% or higher on the total score of the GMAT IELTS/TOEFL- Minimum score of 7.0 in the Academic IELTS test and no section below 6.5.- At least 100 in the TOEFL internet based test. Excellent grades in your previous education Motivation letter C.V. At least two letters of recommendation Example of written work

Deadlines:1 February (for those wishing to apply for a scholarship) 1 April (for those not needing a scholarship)

Early deadline recommended for all because of limited places and scholarships.

Admission and deadlines

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Interested in Research Master?

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https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-business/

https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-economics/

For more information please drop by the CentER Graduate Office (K 135) or send an email to center-gs@tilburguniversity.edu.

Or contact one of the faculty members involved:

Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS)

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Prof. Bart Bronnenberg

Director of graduate studies in Business

bart.bronnenberg@tilburguniversity.edu

Prof. Arthur van Soest

Director of graduate studies in Economics

a.h.o.vansoest@tilburguniversity.edu

Education Coordinators Economics

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Martin SalmEconometrics

m.salm@tilburguniversity.edu

Bert WillemsMicroeconomics

b.r.r.willems@tilburguniversity.edu

Burak UrasMacroeconomics

r.b.uras@tilburguniversity.edu