TheScholarSphere

Field of Study

Economics Scholarships

34 verified programs · 31 fully funded · Top destinations: United Kingdom, Australia, United States

Analyze markets, policy, development economics, and global financial systems. Compare 34 scholarship programs in economics from top universities worldwide, including 31 fully funded opportunities that cover tuition, living expenses, and more.

34

Scholarships

31

Fully Funded

6

Countries

3

Degree Levels

Top Countries for Economics

Economics Scholarships Worldwide

DAAD Scholarship

🇩🇪 Germany
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Monthly stipend (€934 for master's, €1,300 for PhD)
  • Health insurance subsidy
  • Travel allowance
Deadline: October 15 (varies by programme)
High

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

🇳🇱 Netherlands
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Participation costs including tuition
  • Monthly living allowance (€1,400/month)
  • Travel and installation costs
Deadline: January–March (varies by programme)
Very High

Stipendium Hungaricum

🇭🇺 Hungary
Fully Funded
Undergraduate Masters PhD
  • Tuition-free education
  • Monthly stipend (HUF 43,700–140,000)
  • Free accommodation or dormitory contribution
Deadline: January 15
Medium

Rhodes Scholarship

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Full university and college fees
  • Personal stipend (£19,092/year)
  • Return economy airfare
Deadline: Varies by country (June–October)
Very High
Partial Funding
Undergraduate
  • Tuition waiver or significant reduction (up to €13,190/year)
  • Some grants include living cost contribution (€5,000/year)
Deadline: Varies by intake (December–April)
High

Why Study Economics Abroad?

Economics graduate programmes — particularly PhDs in economics — are among the most internationally competitive in social sciences. Top-15 PhD programmes (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Chicago, LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, NYU) are fully funded and admit roughly 20–30 students per year from thousands of global applicants. Master's programmes in economics, public policy, and applied microeconomics are typically self-funded but provide strong returns through World Bank, IMF, central bank, and consulting placements.

Career Paths in Economics

International graduate study in economics opens the following career trajectories. Scholarships often align with one of these tracks — pick programmes that match where you want to end up.

Academic Economist

Faculty positions at universities; competitive but extensively documented pathway.

Central Bank Economist

Federal Reserve, ECB, Bank of England, national central banks — research and policy roles.

International Financial Institution

World Bank, IMF, ADB, IADB, AfDB — research and operations roles.

Government Economist

Treasury departments, ministries of finance, statistical offices.

Consulting Economist

NERA, Charles River, Compass Lexecon, FTI — antitrust, regulation, litigation.

Tech Industry Economist

Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Uber, Airbnb hire econ PhDs for marketplace design, pricing, causal inference.

Top Universities for Economics

These programmes lead the field globally and serve as the destination universities for the funded scholarships listed above. Where your supervisor matters more than the institution, prioritise faculty fit.

MIT Economics

Cambridge, USA

Top-ranked applied microeconomics, development economics

Harvard Economics

Cambridge, USA

Theory, history, development; consistently top-ranked

Stanford Economics

Stanford, USA

Theory, market design, applied microeconomics

Princeton Economics

Princeton, USA

Macro, monetary, labour, international

Chicago Economics / Booth

Chicago, USA

Theory, behavioural, monetary, applied

LSE Economics

London, UK

Macro, public, development; pipeline to UK/EU institutions

Oxford / Cambridge Economics

UK

Theory, history, applied microeconomics

Paris School of Economics / Toulouse School

Paris/Toulouse, France

Theory, IO, public economics

Where Funding for Economics Comes From

Economics PhD funding at top-30 programmes is universal — fully funded 5–6 year packages with tuition waiver and $30k–$40k stipend. Top programmes include teaching/research assistantships. Master's funding is harder but Chevening, Fulbright, Commonwealth, and Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program target economics. The JJ/WBGSP specifically funds Master's in development-related fields at partner universities (KDI School, Harvard, Princeton, SOAS, others). Central banks in several developing countries fund employees' graduate study with return-service requirements. PhD funding for non-top-50 programmes can be tighter; carefully verify funding offers before accepting.

How to Write a Strong Economics Application

Economics SOPs are evaluated on research aptitude and technical preparation. Describe undergraduate research with econometric content (experimental, observational, theoretical). Mention specific methodological techniques (RDD, IV, difference-in-differences, structural estimation) and clearly articulate one or two specific research questions you want to investigate. Strong applicants have completed advanced econometrics and mathematical economics. For PhD applications, name 3–4 potential advisors with specific recent papers. Working-paper-quality research projects with results — even if unpublished — are highly differentiating.

Test and Language Requirements for Economics

GRE General is required by virtually all economics PhD programmes — competitive Quant scores are 168+ (97th percentile+). IELTS Academic 7.0 (TOEFL iBT 100+) is standard. Mathematical preparation (real analysis, linear algebra, probability theory) is heavily weighted; many programmes expect graduate-level econometrics or mathematical economics before applying.

Explore Other Fields of Study

Discover scholarship opportunities in related academic disciplines.

FAQs: Economics Scholarships

Yes, there are 31 fully funded economics scholarships listed on TheScholarSphere. These cover tuition fees, living expenses, and often include health insurance, travel costs, and research allowances. Government-sponsored programs and prestigious university fellowships are the most common sources of full funding for economics students.

Top destinations for economics scholarships include United Kingdom, Australia, United States. Each country offers unique strengths in economics education, from cutting-edge research facilities to industry partnerships. The best choice depends on your specific sub-field, language preferences, and career goals.

Economics scholarships are available at undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels. Master's programs tend to have the most funding opportunities, while PhD scholarships often include additional research allowances. Some programs also offer combined or fast-track degree options.

Competition varies significantly. Prestigious programs like Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, and Fulbright are extremely competitive. However, there are many country-specific and university-level scholarships with moderate competition. Strong academic records, relevant experience, and a compelling statement of purpose improve your chances.

Many countries offer post-study work permits that allow international graduates to seek employment. Some scholarships, however, include return-to-home-country clauses. Check the specific terms of each scholarship and the immigration policies of the host country for post-graduation work options.

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