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Application Deadline for Autumn 2026: December 4 at 11:59 PM CST

The Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics receives 600-700 applications for an entering class of 20-25 students per year. The number of well-qualified applicants exceeds the number of offers we can make. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage those interested in graduate economic study to apply.

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Applicants to the University of Chicago’s graduate and professional programs, including those within the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics, are required to have earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, or a more advanced degree, from an accredited college or university prior to matriculation. Applicants who are currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program must earn a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the term to which they are applying. Applicants from a three-year bachelor's program will be given due consideration. Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree in a closely related field cannot be considered for admission to a PhD program in a similar discipline in the Division of the Social Sciences.

Applicants who were not successful in their application to our PhD program are welcome to apply again in a future cycle. Any reapplicant must complete a new application and pay the application fee again. However, reapplicants can request to reuse some application materials by contacting ssd-admissions@uchicago.edu.

MAPSS & MACSS Student Application for Admission to the PhD Program

Students currently enrolled in the University of Chicago's MAPSS-ECON or MACSS-ECON programs may apply for entry into the PhD program. 

The following admissions documents are required for current MAPSS-ECON and MACSS-ECON students:

1) A transcript with two quarters of grades from MAPSS or MACSS

2) At least one letter of recommendation from one of our tenured-track faculty

3) Updated CV

4) Statement of Purpose

5) Applicants are expected to have earned grades of A- or higher in 3 graduate courses offered by the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics

The University of Chicago’s Division of Social Sciences administers applications to the doctoral program. Please email the Admissions Office to initiate your application.