Université Côte d'Azur international doctoral program in economics
Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA) international Ph.D. in economics offers training in traditional economic disciplines - like microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, financial market analysis, industrial organization - and training in disciplines embedding a complexity-based perspective such as computational economics, experimental economics, the analysis of financial and economic networks. The program aims to form economists able to perform high-quality research in economics and economic policy analysis and combining robust and high-quality knowledge of traditional economic domains with concepts from the complexity-based approach in sciences.
Coordinator
Prof. Mauro Napoletano
International doctoral program in economics
Université Côte d'Azur international doctoral program in economics offers training in traditional economic disciplines - like microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, financial market analysis, industrial organization - and training in disciplines embedding a complexity-based perspective such as computational economics, experimental economics, the analysis of financial and economic networks. The program aims to form economists able to perform high-quality research in economics and economic policy analysis and combining robust and high-quality knowledge of traditional economic domains with concepts from the complexity-based approach in sciences.
Collaboration with Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
The international Ph.D. in economics is financed by the IDEX UCA JEDI and offered by ELMI, the Graduate School of Economics and Management of UniCA, and it is developed in close collaboration with the Sant’Anna Ph.D. in economics, in Pisa (Italy). It involves a training of 1 year and a half with intensive doctoral courses in various economic disciplines, in econometrics, in mathematics and statistics. Training is provided by teachers from the partner institutions, and from a network of renowned scholars in France, Italy and abroad. Recruited candidates attend one year of basic and advanced courses at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna premises in Pisa (Italy) and then one additional semester of advanced courses at UniCA premises.
Thesis development
Recruited candidates who successfully complete the above training program work at the completion of a Ph.D. thesis in economics. The thesis work must be carried out at the GREDEG (Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion) and under the supervision of GREDEG’s scholars. Joint supervision (co-tutelle) with the other partner of the program (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) is also possible. GREDEG is a research center in economics, law, and management jointly operated by the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) and Université Côte d'Azur. An important characteristic of GREDEG is to favor multidisciplinary approaches. GREDEG’s scholars actively perform research in various domains, including (but not limited to) the economics of innovation, industrial dynamics, international trade, agent-based macroeconomics, international macroeconomics, ecological economics, experimental economics, law and economics, the analysis of financial markets and of financial regulation, the history of economic thought.
Submission procedure
Interested candidates must submit their application electronically by sending all the required documents as an attachment to the following e-mail address:
international.phdineconomics@univ-cotedazur.fr
Please compress files if they are too large. You may also send the documents in several emails.
Deadline for applications: May 30th, 2025 at 23:59 (CET)
Candidates who have not been awarded a Master diploma yet, and who are expected to get the diploma by September 30th, 2025 can also apply. In this case, candidates must provide a written declaration of their supervisor indicating the date by which they are expected to get the diploma.
Applications missing such a declaration shall not be considered.
Documents to be enclosed to the application
Documents required (to be attached to the application under penalty of exclusion)
- Copy of a valid identity document. (Passport for Non-EU citizens).
- CV including all the information about education, scientific and professional experience that can demonstrate skills and attitudes to carry out research in economics.
- Publications and any other documentation that may contribute to provide an assessment of the candidate’s skills and attitudes.
- List of courses and transcripts of exams taken (in English, French or Italian).
- Copy of the master’s thesis if available (otherwise a copy of the abstract in English, French or Italian).
- A research project. The research project must be at most 4 pages long (excluding bibliographic references) and it must describe the research that the candidate would like to carry out during the doctoral programme. The project is meant to provide insights about the applicant’s interests and capabilities, and it is an important element for the assessment of the applicant’s potential. Once admitted, candidates will be free to change the research project.
- Official certifications (TOEFL, IELTS) demonstrating a good knowledge of the English language, if available.
In addition, two reference letters are required from professors or researchers who have a good knowledge of the applicant’s performance during his/her university studies.
The letters must be sent by the referees to the address international.phdineconomics@univ-cotedazur.fr by the deadline of MAY 30th , 2025 (23:59 CET).
Reference letters sent directly by the applicant shall not be considered.
The subject of the e-mail must include the surname and the name of the applicant.
E-mails not fulfilling the above requirements may not be considered.
The reference letter should provide a clear assessment of the candidate’s competences and skills, of his/her potential for doing research, his/her scientific maturity and interests, if possible, in comparative terms with other students attending a PhD Course in Economics known by the referees over the last five years.
The letter should also indicate the applicant’s knowledge of the English language and his/her general attitude to undertake courses at the Ph.D. level and his/her ability to work autonomously.
Deadline for the application
Interested candidates must submit their applications electronically by MAY 30th , 2025 at 23:59 (CET) by sending an e-mail to:
international.phdineconomics@univ-cotedazur.fr
Selection
The assessment is based on the documents submitted by the candidates.
The Selection Committee will assign a score from 1 to 100 based on a candidate’s academic records, publications, and research project, considering both their quality and their relevance for this PhD Programme.
A minimum of 70/100 points is required to be considered eligible for the PhD Programme.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the selection committee.
Schedule of the selection procedure
The decision of the selection committee will be notified to applicants by by the end of July 2025 at the latest.
Language of the Program
Number of available positions
