FAQ's

See our detailed application guide. You will even find an pdf with a printable checklist.

See our detailed application guide.

Unfortunately, modifications of applications are no longer possible after the submission deadline as our selection process has already started.

See information in our application fast facts.

You do not have to submit a full research proposal when applying. However, you might use your letter of motivation to state what research topics you are interested in or even name possible research ideas.

Every applicant must use the online application online tool. Applications via email cannot be accepted.

The TOEFL is mandatory for you, unless

• you are a native speaker of English or
• you have completed your master’s degree at an English-speaking school or university

You can include a copy of your TOEFL result in your application.

The GRE is mandatory for all applicants, please note:

• In general, we expect applicants to score in the quantitative part of the GRE at or above the 80th percentile. In the past, the typical successful candidate scored around or above the 90th percentile.
• We require all applicants to send their score report directly to the MGSE via the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The ETS code number of the MGSE is 1883. In exceptional cases we may accept a scanned version of your GRE score report. Screenshots of your GRE results will not be accepted.
• We will accept GRE Test At Home results as well for the 2022–23 applications
• For details please see www.gre.org

Yes, the results from all GRE sections are considered. However, the quantitative part is the most important.

No, we only accept GRE test results.

The Munich Graduate School of Economics (MGSE) is an umbrella institution that coordinates the distinguished Ph.D. program in Economics. Please note that the focus of our program is on Economics and not on Business Administration.

Once every year a centralized application process takes place, sucessful candidates start their positions in October.

You can find all the details on our application site.

It usually takes 4 years to finish the program.

The MGSE does not offer any possibilities to obtain a Master's Degree. Two Master's programs in economics (M.Sc. in Economics) and quantitivative economics (M.Sc. in Quantitative Economics) taught in English are offered by the Department of Economics at LMU Munich.

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Students at the MGSE are expected and highly encouraged to spend time abroad at a renowned university. In this respect, visiting a US university in the second or third year of the program would be especially beneficial.

Due to the department chairs' wide range of contacts, students can benefit from the excellent networks to other universities and research institutions.

Please note that the MGSE program is a full-time program that requires regular attendance. As the open doctoral positions involve a working contract with LMU Munich, it is not possible to keep an additional occupation.

The MGSE does not offer external or self-financed Ph.D. positions.

Generally, guest or visiting students from other universities can take courses at MGSE and benefit from the other great offerings in our program.

The prerequisite for admission as a visiting student is a host who applies for your admission to MGSE. You have to search for a host according to your research interests. Unfortunately, we can only support you by referring to the profiles of our researchers at our website.

In addition, we can only support you with the following recommendations:

• Do not randomly contact every faculty member.
• Your chances of finding a host increase significantly if you carefully select the person you contact.
• Generate interest in you and your research project
  • with a brief and concise description of your project,
  • make it clear why you would benefit from a stay at Munich,
  • and where the match lies with the research interests of the person you have selected.

We expect knowledge in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics at an advanced master's level. Therefore, the standard entry requirement is a completed master's degree in economics. However, exceptions from this rule are possible. In these cases, any missing graduate-level training will be specified in an individual supervision agreement, with suitable courses to be chosen from the Department's Economics Master Program. As a general rule, these courses have to be passed within the first six months of the program.

Yes, students who possess a master's degree in a field closely related to economics are also welcome to apply. This includes graduates holding a degree from fields such as statistics, mathematics, physics, or other fields with a solid education in quantitative methods.

Your application will be reviewed by our selection committee and this evaluation by the selection committee cannot be prejudged. Only applications uploaded in the application online tool will be evaluated.

Yes, you can apply for our Ph.D. program if you have not finished your university degree yet. Please enclose an official preliminary grade report in your application and indicate your estimated date of graduation.

Note that in case of acceptance you will have to hand in proof of graduation (a confirmation of your examination office that you completed your program will be sufficient for preliminary acceptance) until mid of September at the latest.

Yes, as all courses are held in English, sufficient knowledge of English is an absolute necessity.

All courses, lectures and seminars at the Munich Graduate School are held in English. Therefore, fluency in German is not required for admission. However, in the second year candidates could be asked to teach undergraduate tutorials in German. For this purpose, we support language courses if students wish to learn or further improve their knowledge of German.

Generally, doctoral students are paid according to a 75% position under the German TVL-E 13 payment scheme (or a roughly equivalent scholarship). The exact salary might slightly vary depending on personal circumstances and the affiliating institution. Currently, a 75% position results in a pay of approximately 2,130 € net per month (3,141 € gros, taxes and social security are deducted depending on personal circumstances).

Scholarships amount to roughly the same amount as net payment for employees.

Applicants who receive an offer will also receive in this offer the exact details of the position associated with the offer.

The MGSE does not charge tuition fees. Doctoral students who decide to enroll at LMU Munich have to pay a semi-annual student registration fee. However, it is not mandatory to enroll at LMU Munichh for pursuing the MGSE doctoral program.

The MGSE program is a full-time program which requires regular attendance. Moreover, doctoral positions involve a working contract, hence it is not possible to keep an additional occupation.

The MGSE does not offer external or self-financed doctoral positions. Note that the MGSE program is a full-time program which requires regular attendance

It is possible to apply for a CSC Scholarship if candidates wish to do so.

To be noted:

A support letter from a supervisor is required to apply for a CSC Scholarship. This support letter is issued at the Faculty of Economics only for candidates who have been selected as candidates for the MGSE in the regular application process. Candidates who are selected for the MGSE, however, will receive an offer of a position or a stipend - in this respect, they do not have to apply for a CSC.

In case you need more information about the CSC, please consult the website of the LMU-CSC program.

Yes, applicants who have graduated from Chinese universities can only be considered if their Master's degree has been approved by the APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) in Beijing. For more information visit www.aps.org.cn