Application Requirements
To be considered for the BRAC Master’s in Economics program, applicants must have completed a graduate program in economics or business studies and have performed exceptionally well. In addition to studying economics or business studies, applicants from other disciplines (such as industrial engineering, statistics, and quantitative social sciences) should also have a good enough grounding in economics or business studies if they wish to be considered. GRE General Test scores are required for consideration. We do not require GRE General Test scores for applicants; however, it is highly recommended. Because of the variety of applicants’ GRE scores, the minimum GRE scores accepted are determined by the GRE exams taken by the entire applicant pool in a particular year. This means that we do not have a minimum GRE score that must be achieved.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency unless they hold a degree from a university in an English-speaking country or can document at least one year of studies at an English-speaking university. Sufficient evidence for a good command of English is a high score on the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL) or the “International English Language Testing System” (IELTS). As a rule of thumb, successful applicants will score at or above 7.0 (IELTS) or 95 (Internet-based TOEFL).
Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for the program if they also apply for a Master’s program offering a fast-track option. For detailed information, see our FAQ section.
It is not necessary for a successful application to know German, but students are encouraged to learn and improve their skills. Furthermore, evidence of creativity and a desire to research will be considered. Please be aware that finding a supervisor is not necessary prior to apply to the DIW Graduate Center.
Application Documents
As part of the online application procedure, you will be asked to upload the following documents:
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages): this should state your motivation for applying to the program and should include a short outline of your major research interests;
- Two academic letters of recommendation. Note that reference providers are requested to send their recommendation letter by email to gradcenter@diw.de;
- Filled out the application form;
- Detailed curriculum vitae (without photograph);
- Copies of academic transcripts and other certificates;
- GRE scores, if applicable (institution code 0096);
- IELTS or TOEFL scores, if applicable.
The application is to be completed in English.
Scholarships & Fees
There are no tuition fees. PhD students will receive funding for the expected length of the program – five years. For the course phase, a stipend of 1,450 Euros per month is provided; funding during the research phase is normally provided through employment at one of the DIW’s research departments. Funding for the research phase is conditional on having fulfilled the Performance Criteria.
We recommend enrolling at one of Berlin’s universities, as this allows access to public transportation at no additional cost and ensures student health insurance. The universities charge a semester fee of approximately 280 – 315 Euros per semester.
Application Schedule
- Start of the following application period (intake 2023): November 14, 2022
- Deadline for applications: February 12, 2023.
Please note that applications may only be sent during the application period via our application portal (the link to the portal is available only during the application period). Applications received by e-mail outside this application period will not be considered.
Application portal (only available during the application period)