Center for Economic Research & Graduate Education - Economics Institute

How to Apply

Eligibility for Study

General information

  • Any individual from any country is welcome to submit an application.
  • There is no application fee.
  • CERGE-EI does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, gender, or religion.

Background requirements

  • A strong background in mathematics is essential.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English is necessary to read, write and fully understand study material necessary.
  • Previous education in economics is welcomed, but not required. Many successful students have previous backgrounds in math, law, political science or other disciplines.

Educational requirements

  • A Master's degree or its equivalent that can be nostrified in the Czech Republic (or expectation to complete a Master's degree by June of the year when you are applying) is the best credential for admission. Strong students with a Bachelor's Degree may also apply directly to the PhD program. 
  • Students whose highest credential is a Bachelor's degree may also apply for the Joint Masters in Economics program, which is run by CERGE-EI and the Institute of Economic Studies (IES) at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague. The JME covers a substantial portion of the PhD curriculum.
     

Application Instructions

PLEASE READ THIS PAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING.

The application deadline is February 28. There is no application fee.

The following materials are required for an application to be processed. All materials must be submitted in English or accompanied by an English translation and must be RECEIVED in hard copy at CERGE-EI by the deadline date.

  • Application form: please fill in the online application form and send a hard copy along with your other application materials. The form is also available in pdf.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Statement of motivation: 1000-2000 word statement in English explaining your academic and research background, your interests and career goals, and how the program at CERGE-EI will help you meet your objectives. Please see the Statement of Motivation Guidelines.
  • Certified copies of all your diplomas, verified by a notary, including their translation into English. Diplomas that have not been translated cannot be accepted.
  • Official transcripts from all universities attended, including their translation into English. Transcripts that have not been translated cannot be accepted.
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic background sent in separate sealed envelopes, with the recommender’s signature written across the seal (forms available here).
  • Students are encouraged to submit a TOEFL or other certified English language exam score, as well as GRE (or other proficiency test) scores.

Mailing Address:
CERGE-EI
MA/PhD Study Affairs Office
P.O. Box 882, Politických vězňů7
111 21 Prague 1, Czech Republic
 

Admissions Process

Based on a student's background and qualifications, in March they may be offered direct admission to the CERGE-EI PhD program. (See Academic Calendar.) Approximately 60 other candidates will be invited to attend a summer Preparatory semester. Candidates who are offered direct admission are welcome to attend the Preparatory Semester on a voluntary basis to improve their skills.

The preparatory semester starts at the end of June and lasts for 2 months.  Performance in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Mathematics courses, and on an English academic writing exam, determines which students not already offered direct admission are admitted to the program. Between 30 and 40 students are offered admission each year.

The academic year begins in mid-September. (See Academic Calendar.) Please see Program Details for more information about the program itself.

Czech Government Scholarship

Additional admissions to the PhD program are available for students who are awarded  a Czech Government Scholarship. The list of countries whose citizens are eligible for Czech Government Scholarships vary from year to year. For more information about deadlines and eligibility please contact the Czech Embassy for your country.  

Government Scholarship applications should be submitted to the appropriate Czech Embassy for your country. The deadline for the Czech Government Scholarship varies, but may be as early as November (please check with your Czech Embassy).  

No separate application to CERGE-EI is required if applying for a Czech Government Scholarship. However, submitting an additional application directly to CERGE-EI may increase your chances of being admitted to the PhD program.

Visiting Students

Non-matriculated Visiting Student Opportunities at CERGE-EI

Each year, CERGE-EI welcomes several visiting students for study or research stays, and makes every effort to assist and encourage their participation in academic activities. Foreign PhD students (typically full-time students working on their thesis at another university) interested in a study or research stay at CERGE-EI should send an official request to the PhD Study Affairs Office by either email or regular post.

There is no standard form, but this request should contain the following information:

  1. Explanation of why the stay is important for the student’s academic development,
  2. What the student plans to do at CERGE-EI, possibly who he/she wants to collaborate with (see our Faculty profiles),
  3. When the student wants to arrive, how long he/she wishes to stay,
  4. Basic requirements (network connection, shared office space, etc.),
  5. A recent CV,
  6. A letter of recommendation from the student’s supervisor (or from the director of the student’s program),
  7. Details on the student’s possibilities for funding his/her stay (including health insurance for the entire stay) and co-financing of research stays (i.e. for purchasing research-related resources).

Requests are considered on an individual basis based on both academic qualifications and the current availability of facilities and resources of CERGE-EI.

Note: All visiting students are required to present their research at a brown bag or regular seminar at CERGE-EI. Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.