PhD Economics
The Department of Economics currently runs a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme in Economics on full time basis.
Admission Requirements
A good first degree in Economics at least Second Class (Upper Division) plus a good masters degree (with an average grade not less than a B or equivalent) in economics or related field with sufficient background in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics from a recognized tertiary institution. A good background in statistics and mathematics will be an added advantage. A Thesis proposal is NOT required. Admission is subject to passing an interview.
Fees
Students pay two types of fees each year. The first type of fees is the Academic Facility User Fees (AFUF). The second type of fees is Bench fees. Both fees are paid directly to the university.
Program Structure
The program consists of two components – course work and research.
Course Work
In the first year of the program, students will be required to register for courses in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics, and two specialization courses. The specialization courses can be selected from the following:
Health Economics
Advanced Topics in Health Economics
Enviromental Economics
Natural Resource Economics
International Trade
International Finance
Growth Theory and Empirics
Energy Economics
Econometric Theory and Practice
Comprehensive Examination:
At the end of the first year, PhD candidates take comprehensive examination in the following courses:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
Research (Thesis Work)
Candidates are expected to formulate their research ideas and develop them into full research proposal by the end of their first year on the programme. The proposal will be presented in an open departmental seminar. Supervisors will be assigned at this stage of the programme.
The PhD thesis can take one of two forms:
1. A monograph: – here a student takes one topic and writes a very “big” book.
2. Article Based: – here a student writes at least three publishable articles, of which at least one should have been accepted for publication in a recognized peer reviewed journal before the final defense can be organized.
In order to promote and monitor the research effort and progress of our doctoral candidates, the department organizes seminars on weekly basis, where faculty members, faculty members in other departments and research institutes, PhD and MPhil candidates give a lecture or seminar on a defined topic.