Overview
Two degrees are offered at the postgraduate level. The Licentiate degree is the lower, optional post-graduate degree. A Doctoral degree is the final, highest postgraduate degree. The candidate is required to write a dissertation and defend it in a public examination. A student can aim at a Doctor´s degree without first getting a Licentiate.
Requirements for admission
The requirements for postgraduate applicants in economics are:
1) The Master´s degree in economics or an equivalent degree. N.B. It is required that the applicant´s master´s degree obtained may not be completed earlier than 5 years ago.*
2) At least the grade “good” in the advanced studies in economics.
3) The preliminary research plan.
4) Information on the thesis´s supervisor.
5) Documents to be submitted: see the faculty´s home page: http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/faculty/adm/postgrad.htm
Postgraduate applications are handed by the Administrative Officer of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Ms Terhi Kulonpalo, and all enquiries etc. ought to be directed to her. There are two application deadlines per annum the 15th of May and 15th of November. The selection of postgraduate students is completed from four to six weeks after the closing dates.
*Please note that if the applicant´s master´s degree is completed earlier than 5 years ago, the student seeking admission in postgraduate studies must take part in a separate examination before he/she is able to submit his/her application. At least the grade “good” must be achieved in the exam. The literature is as follows:
- Gravelle H & Rees R: Microeconomics (2nd ed.), chapters 1-4, 5C, 6-12, 14-15 and 17-19;
- Jones C I: Introduction to Economic Growth (2nd ed.);
- Romer R: Advanced Macroeconomics (2nd ed.), chapters 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 2B (part B).
Registration
For each academic year, postgraduate students must be enrolled at the University of Helsinki. Registration for the upcoming academic year starts at the beginning of May and runs until September 15th. Students should register also at the Department´s office at Arkadiankatu 7 at the beginning of Fall term (forms are available at the office).
Teaching
Postgraduate studies in economics are closely related to studies in the Finnish Doctoral Programme in Economics (FDPE). FDPE promotes high-quality doctoral education in economics in Finland by organizing systematic and diverse doctoral courses and seminars. FDPE is designed to provide doctoral students, irrespective of their base institution, with a thorough training in the skills required of the contemporary academic and professional economists. FDPE also acts as a channel for cooperation in research and thesis supervision.
FDPE is not a degree granting programme in itself but a joint programme of all 11 Departments of Economics in Finland. Thus, to be able to register with FDPE the student first needs admission at doctoral level to one of the participating universities. Having been accepted by the university the student should register with FDPE at the beginning of the academic year.
FDPE also has 15 fellowships available for promising and successful doctoral students in the Finnish universities. The fellowships are financed by the Ministry of Education.
More information is available at http://www.hecer.fi/
Prerequisite in Mathematics and Statistics
At least following studies in mathematics and statistics are required:
- Mathematics, A-block (16 credit units)
- Basic Studies in Statistics, alternative I, (11 credit units).
KA6a International Economics