Chevening Scholarship
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Return economy flights
Field of Study
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Discover scholarship opportunities in related academic disciplines.
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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