Requirements & Application Review | Economics at Illinois

Application Review

Among applicants who satisfy the minimum graduate requirements, we conduct a holistic review of all application materials, focused mostly on the following items:

GRE Scores
Relevant courses taken (specifically Economics and Mathematics courses), and grades therein
Recommendation letters
Statement of Purpose

Find more information on what we consider in our application review below.

GRE Scores

The Department of Economics PhD Program accepts the GRE General Test, which is composed of verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections. We accept the internet, computer, and paper based GRE tests.

When you take the GRE and TOEFL you need to have your scores sent directly to the Department of Economics at the University of Illinois. You should choose 1836 for the institution code and the department code can be left blank. The GRE cannot be waived.

Admission decisions are made based on the contents of the entire application, but many ask if their scores are competitive with other candidates.

The GRE score is used in the admission process as one criterion among many. The quantitative portion of the GRE tests your ability to perform elementary mathematical operations correctly under time pressure. A certain ability level to do this is highly desirable, but a high GRE score does not by itself show that you have sufficient math background for a Ph.D. in economics. In practice, most of our applicants have a quantitative score of 160 or higher.

We do not believe a difference in scores (for example 163 and 167) is particularly informative for the purpose of judging an applicant's full capability, so other factors are considered.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

There is no fixed GPA threshold because grading conventions differ a lot between different institutions. Also, while all graded courses you take count for your GPA, what matters the most for admission are your grades in classes that are directly relevant for an Economics Ph.D. program.

For students who studied economics at a U.S. undergraduate institution, we generally like to see strong performances in:

Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Econometrics/Statistics
Technically-Challenging Field Courses
- Advanced Econometrics and Advanced Microeconomic Theory classes provide a better understanding of academic preparation for a Ph.D., than History of Economic Thought
Advanced Math Classes (we strongly recommend taking proof-based courses such as Real Analysis)

Coursework

Students should have a strong background in Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics. In particular, the following courses are very important:

Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Statistics/Econometrics
Technically-Challenging Field Courses such as Advanced Econometrics and Advanced Microeconomics.
Advanced Math Classes (we strongly recommend taking a class in Real Analysis)

Master's Degree

Many of our students do have a Master’s degree when they apply to our program, but it is not a requirement.

As long as you have a conferred bachelor’s degree or the equivalent by the start of the term for which you seek admission, you may apply to the program. We do admit students with only a bachelor’s. Students should have a strong academic background, and have taken Advanced Coursework in Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics.