UF Economics offers the top-ranked Ph.D. in Economics program in the state of Florida. Doctoral students are an integral part of our vibrant research community, and their success is central to our mission. Our program is defined by a highly collegial environment that fosters individual student’s development as economists and promotes collaborative work. Our students learn together as a cohort and often complete co-authored research projects.
The program emphasizes the development of research skills at an early stage. When it comes time to interview for jobs, they are well-prepared to present seminars and often have already published in professional economics journals. Students also teach their own intermediate or advanced undergraduate courses, giving them valuable teaching experience.
Curriculum and Specializations
The doctoral program consists of a two-year, primarily coursework stage and a dissertation stage. All students complete a set of core courses during the first year and field courses in their chosen specializations during the second year. Students complete second-year field coursework in three fields. All students complete advanced second-year coursework in econometrics. Additionally, they choose two of the following elective fields: industrial organization, international trade, macroeconomics, and public economics. After successful completion of the required coursework and field exams, students transition into the dissertation phase of the program. All students complete and defend an original dissertation, which may be comprised of a collection of separate, but related papers or a single multi-chapter dissertation.
For more detailed information, visit the Curriculum page.
Research
A special strength of our program is the opportunity for students to engage in research at an early stage. The first formal opportunity begins during the summer between the first and second years. During these months, each student is required to perform research in an area of economics that interests them, usually empirically related. The paper is not necessarily original research, although some have chosen to do so. The purpose of the first-year paper is to expose students to research resources at the university and to expose students to the rigors of completing a paper.
During the second year of study, the following summer, and early fall of the third year, each student works on his or her own research and prepares a paper of sufficient quality to demonstrate an ability to engage in independent and original research. This paper may be a preliminary investigation of the student’s dissertation topic, or it may be a self-contained paper that is independent of the dissertation. To encourage excellence, the department offers awards for the best second year paper.
Application
The Ph.D. program admits new students every two years. The next cohort will begin the program in Fall 2026. The application for this cycle will open in October 2025 and be due no later than January 15, 2026.
A complete application requires: (1) copies of all unofficial transcripts, (2) a personal statement, (3) a resume or CV, and (4) three confidential letters of recommendation. The online application will require additional information related to your personal and academic background.
For more detailed information, visit the Application Information page.
Funding and Awards
Most admitted students are offered competitive funding packages. These include a stipend tuition waiver, and health insurance. Additionally, the Department offers several financial awards for doctoral students. These awards encourage and recognize exemplary achievement by our doctoral students.
For more detailed information, visit the Funding and Awards page.
 "The PhD program is not just an educational program, but also a community for us to learn, collaborate, and grow. The requirement of teaching as an instructor, rather than a TA, may seem challenging as a doctoral student. It turned out to be an extremely valuable learning opportunity." Wenche Wang, University of Michigan |  "UF’s Econ program shaped the path that my life has taken. It provided me with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in academic research. In addition to the rigorous academic focus, I had a great time with my fellow graduate students and faculty members in the department. The department has a very supportive and collaborative atmosphere. I still keep in regular contact with the faculty and made lasting friendships with the other grad students. " Dave Brown, University of Alberta |  “One thing I really appreciated about the PhD program was how supportive faculty members beyond my advisor were. There's really an all-hands-on-deck mentality when it comes to professors helping the PhD students.” Lindsey Woodworth, University of South Carolina |