The Crawford Economics PhD is a degree program that applies the discipline of economics to matters of public policy. As Australia’s national university, the ANU is home to the country’s leading group of economists concerned with economic policy. In applications as diverse as international trade and finance, economic development, agriculture, natural resources, and the environment, ANU economists are national and world leaders. Their interests encompass policy issues in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, and other countries of the world. Crawford Economics PhD brings this expertise together to inform a new generation of researchers and policy makers through postgraduate research training.

An important feature of the Crawford Economics PhD is a year of coursework that is tailored to budding researchers in the economic analysis of public policy. The applied and policy-oriented nature of these courses are what distinguish this PhD degree from the companion PhD in Economics program at the ANU College of Business and Economics. The two programs work in close harmony with similar rules and procedures.

Prospective candidates should please follow these steps.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

To be admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy, Economics PhD program you are required to have:

• A Bachelor degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A in economics with a minimum weighted average of 75 from an Australian Go8 university or equivalent, or

• A Bachelor degree with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A with a minimum weighted average of 75 from an Australian Go8 university or equivalent that includes a major or equivalent in economics or is complemented by a Master degree or equivalent in economics, or

• A Master degree in economics that is deemed by the Economics HDR Convenor to be at least equivalent to Second Class Honours Division A at ANU, with a minimum weighted average of 75, or

• A Master degree in economics that is deemed by the Economics HDR Convenor to be at least equivalent to Second Class Honours Division A at ANU, with a minimum weighted average of 70 plus research experience, potentially including a research project at the Master level, academic publications, and/or research experience in a work setting.

In the above, economics includes specialised or closely related fields such as agricultural economics but does not include business or accounting. Applications will be assessed by the Economics HDR Convenor.

Candidates are assumed to have a background in mathematical economics at least at the level of ECON6012 Optimisation for Economics and Financial Economics or IDEC8015 Mathematical Methods in Applied Economics and in econometrics at least at the level of EMET8005 Econometric Methods and Modelling or IDEC8017 Econometric Techniques. Candidates can otherwise complete these courses as part of their program, but these will not be counted toward the Part A coursework requirement.

All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.

Where relevant, it is possible for students to apply for credit for some of the Part A courses in line with the Research Awards Rule 2021.

Inquiries regarding the admission requirements and possible course credit may be addressed to the Economics HDR Convenor.

Step 2: Look for two possible supervisors

Please look through the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics academics list for potential supervisors. Note that some of the listed academics might not be available to take on more students. At ANU, Higher Degree Research students have a Chair of Panel, Primary Supervisor (who may be the same person), and Associate Supervisors. If you apply to enter the PhD in Economics, a Primary Supervisor and a second supervisor from the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics at ANU will be needed.

Step 3: Write the thesis proposal within 7–8 pages

Title

Give a precise and informative description of the project.

Abstract

A summary of the proposed research that includes the key research question or hypothesis, the rationale for the research, the region under study, and the method to be employed in the research.

Aims & significance

A clearly focused statement of the overall purpose of the proposed research (i.e. why is it important?).

Research questions &/or hypotheses

The questions that the proposed research will address and/or the hypotheses that will be tested.

Literature review

Provide a preliminary review of the work that has been carried out in the field and the potential contributions of your research. Demonstrate that you are aware of the wider literature and that your proposed research engages with ongoing debates.

Methods

The proposal should set out initial ideas for the proposed methods. You should discuss how these methods are appropriate for the proposed project and indicate the likely feasibility of the proposed approach. Also please explain what type of data will be required and how they are proposed to be collected.

Timetable

An indication of how the research will be carried out over the duration of a full-time (3–4 years) or part-time (6–8 years) candidature.

Resources

If relevant, an indication of the funding that will be required (such as for fieldwork) and options for procuring external funding, as well any special materials or training that may be necessary for the successful completion of the project.

Institutional fit

A statement on why the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics is suitable for your project and an indication of potential supervisors.

References

A list of references cited in the proposal.

Step 4: Submit an expression of interest to potential supervisors

Before submitting an application for admission, you must submit an expression of interest by emailing the following documents to two potential supervisors:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts
• IELTS/TOEFL results (if applicable)
• Thesis proposal (7–8 pages)

Your potential supervisors may arrange an interview with you either in person or online.

Step 5: Make a formal application to ANU

• A minimum of 3 letters of reference required (at least 2 academic).

• Have two confirmed Arndt-Corden Department of Economics (ACDE) academics willing to be your proposed supervisors.

• Once two supervisors have signed off on your proposal, you may then submit an online application. Your application will be sent to the Crawford HDR Admissions Committee for assessment at the next Crawford HDR Admissions meeting. Please contact the Crawford HDR Coordinator for more information and see PhD programs for due dates.

Part A - Compulsory coursework requirements

Economics students must successfully complete CRWF9000 Fostering Public Policy Research (0 units) and 48 units in the first 12 months of candidature or part-time equivalent. This includes the following three compulsory courses:

• IDEC8064 Advanced Applied Microeconomics
• IDEC8008 Open Economy Macroeconomics, Finance, and Development
• IDEC9024 Economics Seminars

And at least one advanced econometrics course from the below list:

• IDEC8023 Case Studies in Applied Econometrics
• IDEC8026 Quantitative Policy Impact Evaluation
• EMET8001 Applied Micro-econometrics
• EMET8010 Applied Macro and Financial Econometrics
• EMET8012 Business & Economic Forecasting
• EMET8014 Advanced Econometrics I
• EMET8008 Advanced Econometrics II

Students must also complete up to four electives from the set of courses below, chosen in accordance with the candidate’s research interests and on the advice of the candidate’s Chair of Panel:

• Graduate courses offered by the Crawford School of Public Policy.
• Graduate courses offered by the Research School of Economics.
• Specialist graduate courses taught elsewhere at ANU – for example, in mathematics or finance – can be approved if suitable.

Suitable electives offered by the Crawford School of Public Policy:

• IDEC8010 Quantitative International Economics
• IDEC8012 Quantitative Methods for Monetary Policy Analysis
• IDEC8014 Quantitative Financial Economics
• IDEC8018 Agricultural and Resource Economics
• IDEC8020 Applied Economic Dynamics
• IDEC8021 The Chinese Economy
• IDEC8022 Economic Development
• IDEC8025 Empirical Public Finance
• IDEC8028 Microeconomics of Development
• IDEC8030 Issues in Applied Macroeconomics
• IDEC8034 Middle Eastern Economies
• IDEC8035 Islamic Economies in Practice
• IDEC8037 Pacific Economies and Politics
• IDEC8053 Environmental Economics
• IDEC8081 Economics of Incentives and Institutions
• IDEC8088 Cost-Benefit Analysis: Principles and Practice
• IDEC8089 Energy Economics
• IDEC8127 Modelling the Global Economy
• EMDV8080 International Climate Change Policy and Economics
• EMDV8081 Domestic Climate Change Policy and Economics

Suitable electives offered by the Research School of Economics:

• ECON8003 Economic Policy Issues
• ECON8009 International Monetary Economics
• ECON8014 Computational Methods in Economics
• ECON8015 International Economics
• ECON8021 Topics in Microeconomic Theory
• ECON8034 Public Sector Economics
• ECON8037 Financial Economics
• ECON8038 Industrial Organisation
• ECON8041 Labour Economics & Industrial Relations
• ECON8047 Law and Economics
• ECON8050 Economic Growth
• ECON8053 Strategic Thinking: An Introduction to Game Theory
• ECON8078 Organisational Economics
• ECON8080 Advanced Behavioral Economics
• ECON8180 Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy
• ECON8901 Advanced Topics in Poverty, Public Policy and Development

Note: With approval of their Chair of Panel, students have the option of substituting ECON8011 for IDEC8064 and/or ECON8022 for IDEC8008.

Part B – Supervised research and thesis

Following successful completion of Part A, candidates commence Part B of the program comprising a period of study normally equivalent to between 24 and 36 months of full-time research. During this period, each candidate writes a doctoral thesis. Economics PhD theses commonly take the format of three or more essays (each with the general format of introduction, literature review, model(s), data, results, analysis, discussion, conclusion) as well as a general introduction and conclusion. Sometimes, a separate literature review is included after the general introduction. This format should encourage you to publish journal articles out of your thesis. This style of thesis is not a thesis by compilation. It is also possible to undertake a ‘book style’ or unitary thesis. You should discuss your thesis format with your supervisor.

When the thesis is complete, the candidate submits the thesis to be examined. The thesis will be examined by external examiners who are experts in the relevant field. The PhD degree is awarded solely on the basis of the examination of the research thesis.

During Part B, each candidate is encouraged to contribute regularly to seminars via regular attendance, constructive comments on the work of others, and presenting at least once a year.

Progress milestones in Part B

It is University policy that each candidate’s progress should be reviewed periodically. In every year of their PhD studies, PhD candidates are required to submit an Annual Plan, which outlines their research plan for the next twelve months, and a Progress Report, which summarises their progress in their research and also discusses difficulties or changes in their research path, if any. The Progress Report and the Annual Plan form the basis of the student’s Annual Review. In addition to these, in the second year, candidates must submit their Thesis Proposal for review. The proposal is a description of the research questions to be studied in the thesis, and a discussion of the structure of the thesis and its time plan. From this document the student’s supervisory panel can judge the originality, significance, adequacy, and achievability of the thesis plan.

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