Doctoral Regulation at UCLouvain
The doctoral program in economics is a third cycle educational program.
It consists of 180 ECTS divided as follow:
- the writing, the editing and the defense of a doctoral dissertation corresponding to at least 120 ECTS, and
- a research training program (equivalent to a minimum of 60 ECTS) that includes both courses, workshops and individual scientific training activities.
General Admission Criteria
The program is open to any person holding a recognized Master’s degree (120 ECTS) obtained with a grade of minimum 14/20 (“Distinction”) OR a diploma equivalent to 300 Credits/ECTS (which will have to be valorised by our Registration Office AND the Doctoral Commission). Specific additional requirements apply according to the Doctoral Commission of each subject (see below).
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is obtained after passing the (private and public) defense of a PhD thesis that should outline the quality and the originality of the research as well as the candidate’s ability to communicate about his/her area of expertise.
Diplomas accepted for applying for the PhD program in Economics
Degrees allowing to apply for a PhD program WITHOUT complementary training *
- Master 120 in Economics from a French – speaking Belgian (FWB) university
- Other (including foreign) degree judged equivalent to a Master 120 in Economics from a Belgian (FWB) university
* Complementary training can be imposed during the PhD program to a student with a professional Master’s degree 120 ECTS in Economics
Degrees allowing to apply to a PhD program WITH complementary training**
- Master 120 from a French – speaking Belgian (FWB) university in a different field
- Master 120 in a different field from another (including foreign) university
**A student with a Master’s degree 120 ECTS obtained with honors or equivalent in a different field may be granted access after validating up to 60 ECTS of graduate coursework in economics or equivalent. The decision belongs to the Doctoral Bureau in Economics.
Refer also to the Admission criteria defined in the UCLouvain Doctoral Regulation
Application Deadlines
The next deadline for sending your demand of admission to the Economic's Doctoral Committee is available here.
The application file (see the details in Step 0 or Step 1 here below) submitted to the doctoral committee have to be sent 2 weeks prior to the deadline announced above to ESPO doctoral administrative coordinator by email in electronic format (PDF, in a single file).
Any file sent past that deadline will be studied at the next doctoral committee meeting.
Check the practical guide via the ESPO faculty
Administrative Coordinator
The ESPO doctoral administrative coordinator is located at the ESPO Faculty - Place Montesquieu 4/L2.05.01 - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve