We have about 50 registered research students and have full recognition by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for the receipt of ESRC research studentships.

For admission to our research programmes you need to have a good Honours first degree and a Masters degree with at least UK Merit level in Economics or a related subject with relevant mathematical and statistical techniques. You will be asked to provide a detailed research proposal. We may also invite you to contact prospective supervisors in the Department in order to discuss your research proposal.

An interview with the Department is advised where practicable. Those interested in research training may like to refer to the booklet Postgraduate Training in Economics 2008–09.

All first year students must take the module Research Methods in Economics. Depending on the level of your previous studies, you may be required to take some MSc-level courses in your first year, the aim of which is to provide an advanced training in both core and specialist areas of economics. Students are required to achieve a high standard in the examinations for the prescribed courses in order to proceed as research students.

Also in the first year, you will complete a literature survey and revise and prepare a detailed research proposal as your first task on the way to completing a thesis – how much further you are able to advance your thesis will depend on your course load. A research student’s key relationship is with the principal supervisor (or with co-supervisors); you are, however, allocated a supervisory panel consisting of two supervisors and a mentor. Once started on research, you meet the principal supervisor regularly to discuss the thesis-related literature and research strategy. You meet your (principal) supervisor at least once every four weeks.

Support and training

Birmingham Business School provides dedicated facilities, resources and support to postgraduate students and early career researchers which includes The Midlands Graduate School and Doctoral Training Centres and Programmes. Click to find out more.

Econometrics

• Mathematical methods in economics; economic methodology and philosophy
  Contact: Mr Ralph Bailey
  Email: r.w.bailey@bham.ac.uk
• Modelling and forecasting economic time series
  Contact: Professor Anindya Banerjee (Econometrics Group leader)
  Email: a.banerjee@bham.ac.uk
• Time series econometrics
  Contact: Dr Marco Barassi
  Email: m.r.barassi@bham.ac.uk
• Applied econometrics – cross-section, panel and time series data
  Contact: Dr Marco Ercolani
  Email: m.g.ercolani@bham.ac.uk
• Time series econometrics, and estimation of continuous time models
  Contact: Dr Joanne Ercolani
  Email: j.s.ercolani@bham.ac.uk
• Applied econometrics, in particular the currency, housing and labour markets
  Contact: Mr Nick Horsewood
  Email: n.j.horsewood@bham.ac.uk 

Economic Theory

• Microeconomic theory, specifically economic growth; mathematical economics
  Contact: Dr Martin Jensen
  Email: m.k.jensen@bham.ac.uk
• Game theory
  Contact: Professor Indra Ray (Economic Theory Group leader)
  Email: i.ray@bham.ac.uk
• Environmental economics, in particular climate change; institutions and capital flight; voting theory
  Contact: Dr Colin Rowat
  Email: c.rowat@bham.ac.uk
  

Money, Macroeconomics and Finance

• History of 20th-century economics; economic methodology
  Contact: Professor Roger Backhouse
  Email: r.e.backhouse@bham.ac.uk
• Financial sector reform; financial institutional behaviour
  Contact: Dr David Dickinson
  Email: d.g.dickinson@bham.ac.uk
• Open economy macroeconomics; endogenous growth
  Contact: Professor John Fender (Money, Macroeconomics and Finance Group leader)
  Email: j.fender@bham.ac.uk
• Dynamic macroeconomics and its applications; trade blocs; crime and crime abatement
  Contact: Professor Peter Sinclair
  Email: p.j.n.sinclair@bham.ac.uk
• International monetary economics, in particular monetary integration
  Contact: Dr Frank Strobel
  Email: f.strobel@bham.ac.uk

Political Economy and Economic Policy

• International trade and industrial organisation; development economics; technology and innovation economics
  Contact: Dr Facundo Albornoz
  Email: f.albornoz@bham.ac.uk
• Public choice; electoral systems; crime, neighbourhood effects and rights
  Contact: Dr Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay
  Email: s.bandyopadhyay@bham.ac.uk
• Economic growth and income distribution; public economics, pensions and education; debt and default
  Contact: Professor Jayasri Dutta (Political Economy and Economic Policy Group leader)
  Email: j.dutta@bham.ac.uk
• Economic development, in particular Asian economies; defence economics
  Contact: Professor Somnath Sen
  Email: s.sen@bham.ac.uk

Trade, Energy and Environment

• Trade and the environment; economic development and the environment; valuation of non-market goods
  Contact: Dr Matthew Cole (Trade, Energy and Environment Group leader)
  Email: m.a.cole@bham.ac.uk
• Empirical international trade; intra-industry trade; economic geography; European integration; trade and the environment
  Contact: Dr Rob Elliott
  Email: r.j.elliott@bham.ac.uk
• The electricity industry; electricity markets; economic regulation
  Contact: Professor Richard Green
  Email: r.j.green@bham.ac.uk
• Economics of climate change
  Contact: Dr David Maddison
  Email: d.j.maddison@bham.ac.uk
• Trade bloc formation under oligopoly; trade, foreign direct investment and mergers
  Contact: Dr Toby Kendall
  Email: t.kendall@bham.ac.uk
• Trade in financial services; trade, foreign direct investment and mergers; business cycles
  Contact: Professor Cillian Ryan
  Email: c.ryan@bham.ac.uk  
  

If I gain a postgraduate research degree from Birmingham Business School, what are my career prospects?

The University of Birmingham has recently been ranked 9th in the UK, and 55^th in the world, for post-qualification employability in a global survey of universities commissioned by the International Herald Tribune.

Birmingham’s Business graduates are sought after by a wide range of financial, commercial and public sector employers. They can typically offer a wide range of skills including analytical & research, numeracy, communication, team working and political & commercial awareness.

For those entering employment after graduating, traditionally popular areas include banking, accountancy/professional services and financial services. Many of our programmes involve studying towards a professional qualification. Outside of these areas, options include teaching abroad and retail management. Many PhD graduates also go on to forge successful academic careers of their own in teaching and academic research.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in Birmingham Business School?

The University of Birmingham has invested heavily in careers and employability support.  The Careers Team have been praised for enhanced developments within their team and for adopting a model of integrated employability and internship support; something that has been rolled out and implemented across all Schools and Colleges at the University.

Doctoral researchers at Birmingham Business School will benefit from this additional investment; the school  now has its own well qualified dedicated Careers Team to support students with employment opportunities, work placements, internships and how to succeed at interview. In addition, a range of career management, personal development and employer events are run each year by the Careers in Business Team to help you make the most of the opportunities available. 

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.