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Our graduates conduct academic research, teach economics courses in college, conduct
applied research in various industries, and help run the world. To achieve this our department
has developed a rigorous training program for an elite group of highly talented and motivated
students which we admit every other academic year. You will work with faculty experts who are
leaders in their fields. You will work closely and frequently with academic advisers but still have
the resources of a top-ranked research university. And you will have the support of our
dedicated team that will guide you to a Ph.D.-level academic or professional position upon
graduation.
The overwhelming majority of students take 5 years to complete the program.
This involves the general requirements typical of all top economics programs in the United States – completion of first-year core courses and second-year field courses, passing qualifying examinations,
producing and presenting a third-year paper, and producing and defending a dissertation.
The Ph.D. program at Lehigh College of Business is on the STEM Designated Degree Program list for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Having a STEM designated degree program is a valuable signal to employers, and it enables international students to extend their OPT for a total of 36 months.
All Ph.D. students receive full tuition remission. In addition, students receive an annual stipend
that is competitive with top programs. The program also supports a number of exceptional
students with fellowships.
Find detailed information on the Ph.D. in Business and Economics "Tuition and Funding" webpage.
We evaluate applications based on undergraduate coursework (particularly in economics and
mathematics), recommendation letters, and a personal essay. Submission of standardized test
scores is optional, but highly encouraged. Though not a requirement, past successful applicants
typically had taken intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, probability and
statistics, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and introductory real analysis.
You may view all the admission requirements on the Ph.D. in Business and Economics "Admissions Information" webpage.
Submission of standardized test scores is optional but highly recommended.
In the past, most of our admitted students scored in the 90th percentile for the
quantitative section of the GRE, and in the 70th percentile or above for the overall GRE. In
general, performance on the quantitative section of the GRE is a good predictor of doing well in
our Ph.D. program.
No, outside credits are not transferable. Our program contains a carefully calibrated set of
courses, all of which lead toward developing the third-year research paper and overall
dissertation.
The Lehigh Ph.D. Program in Business and Economics admits students every other year.
The next intake is fall 2024 and the application deadline is January 1, 2024.
You may view our application deadlines on the Ph.D. in Business and Economics "Admissions Information" webpage.
To apply for a Lehigh graduate program, or access an in-progress application, use Lehigh's online application system.
Lehigh Business makes applying easier with no application fees!
No. Unofficial transcripts are accepted when submitting an application. Unofficial transcripts are also acceptable for application review.
Domestic and international applicants should upload unofficial transcripts in English that show the degree received, along with course grades and cumulative grades.
You will only be required to submit official transcripts if admitted to the program.
For more information, please visit the Ph.D. in Business and Economics "Admissions Information" webpage.
Generally 2-4 weeks after your completed application has been submitted.
Official electronic transcripts via an official secure transcript service are the preferred method of receipt. If the institution offers an electronic secure transcript service, please have the institution submit documentation to the following email address: business@lehigh.edu.
If the institution does not offer an official electronic transcript service, the official transcripts and degree certificates must be mailed in a sealed envelope with the institution seal and sent directly to our office using the address listed below.
Lehigh University - College of Business
Graduate Programs Office
Lehigh Business Innovation Building, Suite 201
201 E. Packer Ave
Bethlehem, PA 18015
USA
Official transcripts must bear the signature of the university’s registrar, the seal of the issuing institution, and contain the name and date of the degree awarded.
Official transcripts and degree certificates must be mailed from your college or university in a sealed envelope with the institution seal and sent directly to our office using the following address:
Lehigh University - College of Business
Graduate Programs Office
Lehigh Business Innovation Building, Suite 201
201 E. Packer Ave
Bethlehem, PA 18015
USA
Official transcripts must bear the signature of the university’s registrar, the seal of the issuing institution, and contain the name and date of the degree awarded.
If your non-U.S. institution cannot mail your transcripts, you will have to supply a Course by Course Evaluation (fees for this service are the responsibility of the applicant).
For more information on course evaluation services, please visit the Ph.D. in Business and Economics "Admissions Information" webpage.
If your non-U.S. institution cannot mail your transcripts, you will have to supply a course-by-course evaluation (fees for this service are the responsibility of the applicant). Lehigh Business has created a custom evaluation form for graduate applicants to Lehigh’s College of Business through IEE and SpanTran that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate! Lehigh's recommended companies for international transcript evaluations are the following:
- International Education Evaluations (Access IEE Evaluation Form)
- World Evaluation Services (Access WES Evaluation Form)
- SpanTran (Access SpanTran Evaluation Form)
You can find other accredited evaluation companies through the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
An additional course evaluation company for students from Chinese institutions is CHESICC. Students requesting course evaluations through this service should have all documentation sent to the following email address: business@lehigh.edu. The processing time for CHESICC documents is approximately 20 days.
Lehigh Business has created a custom evaluation form for graduate applicants to Lehigh’s College of Business through IEE and SpanTran that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate! Lehigh's recommended companies for international transcript evaluations are the following:
- International Education Evaluations (Access IEE Evaluation Form)
- World Evaluation Services (Access WES Evaluation Form)
- SpanTran (Access SpanTran Evaluation Form)
Yes. Lehigh actually has three beautiful campuses. Not to mention one of the best college
libraries in the nation.
We normally arrange for a campus visit to students who have received the admission offer. The Graduate Program Director will be in contact with you regarding campus visits after the offers have been made.
If you have any additional academic questions, please contact Ahmed Rahman, Ph.D. Program Director at asr418@lehigh.edu.
If you have any questions about the admission process, please contact our admissions and recruiting staff at business@lehigh.edu.