How to apply for a PhD in Economics at IRES ?

1. General information:

The PhD in Economics is organized by the Economics School of Louvain (ESL) and the Facult​​​​​y of Economics, Political Science and Communication (ESPO).

The doctoral programme being managed mostly by the faculty on the administrative point of view,  you will find relevant information on the ESL page Ph. D. in Economics.

This three year program prepares candidates for research and teaching positions in academia and private or public organizations across the world. 

Who is the administrative coordinator of the doctoral programme in Economics ?

The ESPO doctoral administrative coordinator is Catherine Powis de Tenbossche.

Contact details:

Catherine Powis de Tenbossche
Collège Jacques Lelcercq
Place Montesquieu 4/L2.05.01
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel.: 010 47 39 54
Email: doctorat-espo@uclouvain.be

2.  Where can I find the doctoral regulations ?

The doctoral regulations are explained on the application steps page of the Faculty of economics, Political Sciences and Communication.

3.  What are the admission criteria ?

You will find the admission criteria in the General admission criteria section on the application steps page of the Faculty of economics, Political Sciences and Communication.

4. PhD students:

4.1. Job placement 2024 - 2025:

• Diego Malo Rico is assistant professor at the University of Navarra
• Chiara Zanardello is postdoc at IAST Toulouse
• Jing-Rong Zeng is postdoc at Paris School of Economics
• Nathan Lachapelle is hired by the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau

4.2. IRES PhD thesis completed in 2024-2025:

07-02-2025 - Nathan Lachapelle
Three essays on unemployment and labor market
Supervisor: Prof. Muriel Dejemeppe

11-02-2025 - Tiziano Toniolo
Taxation on wages: evaluating reductions in employers’ and employees’ social security contributions
Supervisors: Prof. Muriel Dejemeppe and Prof. Bruno Van der Linden

03-07-2025 - Jing-Rong Zeng
Essays on the Political Economy of Conflict Dynamics
Supervisor: Prof. Joseph Gomes

20-08-2025 - Diego Malo Rico
Ethnicity, Conflict, and Identity
Supervisor: Prof. Joseph Gomes

02-09-2025 - Chiara Zanardello
Human Capital and Knowledge Networks: Market Forces, Scientific Academies, and the Spread of Ideas in Early Modern Europe.
Supervisor: Prof. David de la Croix