Research Master’s & PhD Programs in Economics and Business

Thijs Brouwer & Arthur van Soest

RM Programs and CentER

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• CentER is the graduate school of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management

• It offers Research Masters and PhD programs in Economics and Business

• All fields in economics and business administration are covered in the programs

• CentER is one of the leading Graduate Schools in the Netherlands and aims to compete with top graduate schools in the world

• CentER Honours Program prepares for Research Masters (but is not a requirement for admission)

Europe1. London School of Economics2. University of Oxford3. Tilburg University4. University College London

World18. University of California in San Diego19. Tilburg University20. University College London…23. University of Amsterdam

Source: https://econtop.uvt.nl/

Rankings Economics 2008-2012

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Rankings Business 2010-2014

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Europe 1. London Business School 2. INSEAD 3. Tilburg University

World28. Georgia Institute of Technology29. Tilburg University30. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign….35. Erasmus University (Rotterdam School of Management)

Source: The UTD top 100 World Wide Rankings of Business Schools

International student population: more than 75% of the Research Master students and PhD students are non-Dutch

Tilburg Professors are from all over the world

Seminar speakers from many countries that are leading researchers in their fields

PhD exchange

International Orientation

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Part 1: Research Master = doctoral course work + RM thesis

2 years

• Two years for people with relevant BSc/MSc degree

(in Business side-inflow possible for people with relevant MSc degree)

• Leads to Research Master MSc

Part 2: PhD program = doctoral research + PhD thesis

3 years

Only students who have successfully completed RM can be admitted

Graduate Program

The CentER Graduate Program (5 years)

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Full Course programme

Year 1

Full Course programme

Year 2

PhD selection procedure

Doctoral Dissertation Work

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

BSc./BA. (or equivalent)

MSc./MA. (or equivalent) with

high grades

Research Master (or equivalent)

Doctor of Philosophy

Research Master

Research Master (2 years)

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• High quality, interactive courses

• Comparable to top schools in US and UK

• Research plays a prominent role in course materials

• Close collaboration with your classmates (small classes)

• Close involvement with top-researchers

• Prerequisite for starting a PhD (in a regular position)

• Use of CentER facilities (library, own study room, printing facilities)

Three years PhD thesis research

Most PhDs are employees and receive a salary

Office (usually shared)

Teaching and supervision of BSc/MSc theses

Choosing your own research topic(s)

Stay abroad for research visit (of e.g. six months)

Conference attendance

Seminars

Job at the top universities

PhD program (3 years)

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RM graduates usually start a PhD in Tilburg or elsewhere

Most of the PhD graduates continue in academics and are hired by universities

Others go to national and international research institutions, banks, ministries, etc.

(IMF, WHO, European Commission, DNB, CPB, …)

One of the aims of the graduate programs is to place students at top universities

CentER has successfully placed students in, for example:

University of Chicago

Oxford University

University of Cambridge

Career Prospects

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Graduate Program in Business - Accounting - Finance - Information Management - Marketing - Operations Research - Organisation & Strategy

Graduate Program in Economics - Behavioral and Experimental Economics - Industrial Organization - Institutional Economics - Environmental Economics - Macroeconomics en Public Finance - Econometrics - Empirical Microeconometrics - Microeconometric Theory

Research Master tracks/fields of research

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Research Master course work

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• Regular

• RM year 1: 10 courses (60 ECTS)

• RM year 2: 5-10 courses (30 ECTS) + thesis (30 ECTS)

• Exception: side inflow into RM year 2 (only Business)

• 7 courses (42 ECTS)+ thesis (18 ECTS)

Research Master in Economics

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• Academic writing (1 ECTS)

• Field courses (chosen from a long list; 9 x 3 ECTS)

• Field paper (3 ECTS)

• RM Thesis (academic paper; 29 ECTS)

Research Master in Economics Year 2

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We expect…

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• Relevant undergraduate degree (to be obtained no later than 31 August)

• Curiosity and inquisitive nature

• Self-discipline and willingness to work hard

• Interest in economic issues (broadly defined)

• The motivation to become a researcher

http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-economics/application/

Admission criteria: GRE/GMAT test (depends on RM of choice)- 90% or higher on the quantitative section of the GRE - 90% or higher on the total score of the GMAT IELTS/TOEFL- Minimum score of 7.0 in the Academic IELTS test and no section below 6.0.- At least 600 in the TOEFL paper based test, or 100 in the TOEFL internet based test. Excellent grades in BSc/BA and/or MSc/MA studies Motivation letter C.V. At least two letters of recommendation Example of written work (0ptional)

Deadlines:1 February (for those wishing to apply for a scholarship) 1 April (for those not needing a scholarship) 1 June (for those not needing a scholarship and don’t need visa)

Early deadline recommended for all because of limited places and scholarships. Late deadline possible.

Admission and deadlines

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Interested in Research Master?

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https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-business/

https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/masters-programmes/research-master-economics/

For more information please drop by the CentER Graduate Office (K 109) or send an email to center-gs@tilburguniversity.edu.

Or contact one of the faculty members involved:

Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS)

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Prof. Bart Bronnenberg

Director of graduate studies in business

Bart.Bronnenberg@tilburguniversity.edu

Prof. Arthur van Soest

Director of graduate studies in economics

Avas@uvt.nl

CentER Honors Program (Application deadline: Nov. 20)

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Thijs Brouwer

• RM Economics, 2nd year

• Track: “Behavioral and Experimental Economics”

• My typical day (last Tuesday):o 9.00: at universityo 10.45: teach first-yearso 13.00: seminar (with free lunch!)o 14.30: work on assignmento 15.30: desperately search for someone with the solutiono 18.15: go homeo 20.00: make this presentation

A student’s perspective

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The hard reality:

• Hard work

• 9 to 5? More like 7 to midnight

• There is a reason the building is opened during weekends

• Especially the first year can be tough

• Don’t expect the same grades as in your Bachelor

• Your social life will suffer

• You start halfway August and finish halfway July (if you’re lucky)

A student’s perspective

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But there are many advantages!

• I never learned as much as I did in the past 14 months

• You’re going to push yourself to new levels

• High-quality education, by true experts

• Close relation with the professors

• Working on assignments 24/7 really makes you bond with your classmates

• Moreover, they form valuable connections, both socially and academically

• As soon as you find your niche, it becomes less of an effort!

• Even if you don’t pursue a Ph.D, a research master is very valuable

A student’s perspective

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Some tips/advice:

• Start with your application in time GRE/GMAT and TOEFL take time to prepare, to plan and to grade!

• The CentER Honors Program is a useful preparation for the RM

• There are many actvities outside course work. Use them!

o Seminars: cutting edge research from all over the world

o Reading groups: discussing papers in a certain field

o Teaching: you will be teaching in your Ph.D, so why not start early?

o Graduate Students Society (GSS)

o Many more…

• Work together! The cooperative equilibrium is pareto-dominant

A student’s perspective

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Questions?

Ask me now or send me an email at t.brouwer@uvt.nl

A student’s perspective

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