Doctoral Program (PhD) with
integrated MSc Economic Research

"I associate the University of Bonn above all with my co-authors and friends, as well as my time as a student, which I enjoyed very much. I am grateful for the world-class education I received at the University of Bonn and especially at the Bonn Graduate School of Economics, which made my academic career possible." ~Philipp Strack, winner of the Clark Medal and BGSE Alumnus

"I greatly enjoyed the versatility of research, featuring myriads of challenges and room for development and improvement of one’s ability. Doing research requires analytical thinking about an issue for prolonged amounts of time. Yet, this process leaves much space for creativity, for instance, in the way you approach a problem or design an experiment. Along the way, I learned that I quite like the process of writing up research results, but then also enjoyed the opportunity to convey my research to other researchers and journalists through presentations and interviews. Not only did the research environment at the BGSE and University of Bonn enable me to make these experiences, but the regular interactions with fellow researchers who share a common curiosity about how the world works made it a thoroughly enjoyable experience." ~Luca Henkel, BGSE Alumnus

"I truly enjoyed my time in Bonn. Be it the afternoons discussing research in one of the many cozy cafes, the days going road cycling in the beautiful outdoors, or the evenings spent with the great friends I’ve made in Bonn (both in- and out of university). (I could go on...) At the BGSE, what I valued most was the academic freedom - getting to work at my own topics, at my own pace - and the huge family of theory peers, postdocs, and faculty, all working on similar sorts of topics. I learnt a lot from them in countless fruitful conversations." ~Axel Niemeyer, BGSE Alumnus

"Studying in Bonn was a wonderful experience, and I am very grateful for the numerous opportunities. A highlight of my PhD was definitely my research stay at Yale University as part of the BGSE’s exchange program. Also, I highly value the open and friendly research environment in Bonn and the strong research network at the BGSE and its cooperating institutes ECONtribute and the CRC." ~Sophie Kreuzkamp, BGSE Alumna

"The University of Bonn was an excellent place for my research. Apart from being home to world-class researchers, the university provided all the necessary infrastructure to pursue my research interests. This allowed me to have a hands-on experience with cutting-edge scientific practices." ~Cavit Destan, BGSE Alumnus

"I highly appreciated not only the BGSE's inspiring research environment, but also its flexibility and comprehensive support that allowed me to visit both the European Central Bank and the University of Notre Dame (U.S.) during my Ph.D. studies. Moreover, I liked the strong sense of community in Bonn's economics department and greatly enjoyed the many get-togethers, summer parties, soccer games, and other social events." ~Matthias Gnewuch, BGSE Alumnus

"The collaborative research environment at the BGSE allowed me to deepen my knowledge and get to know many other researchers. I had the freedom to work on the topics that I am most passionate about which made it a lot of fun at the same time. Bonn is also a great place to live because it offers a high quality of life with its rich history, cultural scene, and picturesque surroundings along the Rhine." ~Fabian Schmitz, BGSE Alumnus

"The richness of research inspiration and opportunities allowed me to experiment with many different methods and topics, which was a lot of fun. For example, I ran lab-in-the-field experiments in Papua New Guinea, online surveys about macroeconomic expectations in the US, lab experiments in Bonn, and international surveys among academic economists. I also love the city. The combination of a small but flourishing city connected to a dense metropolitan area, nearby nature, and the warm-hearted people of the Rheinland is invaluable." ~Peter Andre, BGSE Alumnus

"I enjoyed the freedom we BGSE students were granted, both with regards to topics and to when and how we work. It allowed me to work on things that I feel passionate about and take advantage of amazing opportunities outside of work. Also Bonn is a fantastic city with many fun hobbies to pursue, amazing people and lots of opportunities to enjoy nature." ~Klara Roehrl, BGSE Alumna

"A big advantage of the BGSE is the financial support and office space it offers to its doctoral students. Moreover, the high degree of cooperation between fellow students, regular interactions with professors and postdocs and demanding course work, all together enables one to make the most out of their studies and research." ~Renske Stans, BGSE Alumna from the Netherlands

"Bonn, as a leading European university in the field of quantitative economics, not only offers outstandingly rigorous coursework but also enables the students to conduct high-quality research. The office and grant structure, as well as the regular contact to professors, facilitates a collaborative environment in which everyone is constantly gaining knowledge while also enjoying the wide range of cultural activities Bonn offers." ~Paul Voß, BGSE Alumnus