PhD program in Development Economics – Khoa Kinh tế

General Information

School of Economics – College of Economics, Law and Government – University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City offers a four-year PhD programme in Development Economics, leading to the internationally recognized degree of Doctorate.

Our PhD researchers work on topics in the field of economics and development, basing on a strong theoretical background and using top-notch quantitative methods. Many of our PhD candidates graduate with academic publications in peer-reviewed research journals and succeed with careers in industry and academia.

Academic requirements:

All applicants to the PhD program must fulfil the following academic requirements:

Academic background: MA/MSc degree in Economics (or related fields) with considerable mathematics and statistics, and with evidence of research potential. We accept candidates with non-economics background, especially those from disciplines with a heavy mathematics component (math/stats, engineer etc.)
English Proficiency: Good command of English (comparable to IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 50 or Master’s degree abroad with thesis written in English)
CV, motivation statement, references
Research proposal in line with research focus of School of Economics, CELG-UEH.

Research areas

Economics of Households, Firms and Institutions
Health and Economic Development
Environmental and Resource Economics
International Economics, Trade and Investment
Labor and Educational Economics
Development Economics
Urban and Regional Economics
Macroeconomic Fluctuations and Growth

Curriculum and generic study plan

PhD candidates must complete 5 courses and a thesis. The courses are designed to provide the PhD candidates a structured path from the economic knowledge and data analysis skills to front-line research. The candidates will develop the research skills necessary to put together rigorous, well-founded arguments, theories, data and empirical analysis to the international standards demanded by economic science.

✅ Year 1: Course work and thesis proposal

Courses: PhD candidates spend their first year building theoretical foundations of economics and advanced analytical skills that they will need for their thesis research.

1. Advanced Microeconomics (30 hours)
2. Advanced Macroeconomics (30 hours)
3. Advanced Econometrics (45 hours)
4. Research Methodology (45 hours)
5. Qualitative approach (30 hours)

Dissertation design seminar: at the end of the first year, PhD candidates are required to submit and defense their research proposals to a scientific committee to receive comments on the direction and details of their research design.

✅ Year 2: Thesis research implementation

Data collection and analysis. PhD candidates can move fully into research set up and implementation.
Monitoring seminars. Candidates are required to present their research ideas and progress in the school’s PhD seminar series.

✅ Year 3: Thesis research writing

Mid-term seminar. In this seminar, PhD candidates submit and present a collection of three outputs, namely, a literature review, draft paper #1 and draft paper #2.
Paper presentation at conferences. PhD candidates are expected to attend various international conferences and the seminar series at CELG.

✅ Year 4: Thesis completion

Full Draft Dissertation Seminar.
External reviews
Thesis Defense

Scholarship potentials

Full scholarships covering tuition fees are available to outstanding candidates
PhD candidates are eligible to the annual UEH research grants or other grants available to UEH
Potential research funding includes Nafosted, MOET or UEH research grants
Potential scholarship opportunity and travel grants from UEH Giving program

Partners

The School of Economics PhD program works closely with several international PhD program partners for academic exchanges, coursework delivery and review services. The partners include Environmental Economics Unit at University of Gothenburg, Environment for Development Initiatives, International Institute of Social Studies (Erasmus University Rotterdam), Wageningen University, SOAS (University of London), or Okayama University

Supervisions

Supervision is an important part of the PhD program and the completion of the doctoral degree. Supervisors assist PhD candidates with the dissertation research and support them in their growth as independent researchers. Each Ph.D candidate must have at least one supervisor. The PhD program in Development Economics includes the following key resource person:

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hoai: Development Finance, Economic growth

Dr. Truong Dang Thuy: Consumer Behavior, Econometrics, Agricultural economics

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam: Environmental economics, Experimental economics

Dr. Le Thanh Loan: Environmental economics, CGE

Dr. Nguyen Luu Bao Doan: Urban economics, Regional Development and Planning

Dr. Nguyen Hoai Bao: Energy economics, Macroeconomics

Dr. Ho Quoc Thong: Production economics, Efficiency analysis

Dr. Vo Tat Thang: Health and Development economics

Dr. Ho Hoang Anh: Economic history, Development economics

Dr. Ngo Hoang Thao Trang: Macroeconomics, Firm behavior

Dr. Truong Cong Thanh Nghi: Digital economy, Digital management

Dr. Dang Dinh Thang: Health and Labor economics