Economics (Research)

The University of Bristol's School of Economics is a thriving centre for teaching and research in the major fields of economics.

A strong research environment is a major contributing factor for successful PhD study. Bristol is in the top 5 UK universities for research and 97% of our Economics and Econometrics research is rated "world leading" or "internationally excellent" (REF 2021). We have an active and successful Economics PhD programme, and a faculty of over 50 research-active staff.

The School of Economics, with research output that places it in the top 5 economics departments in the UK (REF 2021), has a distinctive focus and reputation. It combines innovative, policy-focused research and a firm commitment to public and policy engagement with high-level advances in economic theory, structural modelling and econometrics. More information can be found on our economics research pages.

We have a long tradition of excellence. Groundbreaking economists Alfred Marshall and Mary Paley were among our earliest academics in the late 19th century, with Marshall the first Professor of Economics and Paley one of the first female lecturers in the UK. In the late 20th century, future Nobel Prize winner Angus Deaton was the first Professor of Econometrics.

Today, you will be joining an academic community that is international, forward-thinking, collaborative, and committed to helping all our students reach their full potential. We are home to the Economics Network, which improves the teaching and learning of economics in universities throughout the UK and Europe. We are also home to the Economics Observatory, which helps the public understand the most pressing economic issues we face today.