IllDoctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Applied EconomicsUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States

Program Overview

Dates and tuition are specific to the 2027 intake

Please check the official program website (link below) for specific writing guidelines

Personal statement

Not to exceed 1,000 words.

Resume

Not to exceed 750 words. Include degrees, training and employment, memberships, awards, and publications.

Personal statement short answers

Short-answer questions in the Graduate College application.

Writing sample

Required for Ph.D. applicants. English-language published paper, research report, or M.S. thesis chapter; no word/page limit.

Recommendation letters x 3

Three letters of reference required.

Academic: Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0/4.0; Graduate College: 3.0/4.0 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate coursework and any graduate work completed.
Prerequisites: Quantitative background; Good preparation in economics and quantitative methods. Inadequate theory or quantitative background may require additional coursework. Evident motivation and a clear interest in a departmental focus area are reviewed.
IELTS: 7.5 overall; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 6.5 overall and typically requires ESL placement. Scores must be dated within two years of the proposed term.
TOEFL: New scale: 5.0 overall | Old scale: 103 overall; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 79 overall (old scale) / 4.0 (new scale) and typically requires ESL placement. New scale applies to tests dated after 20 Jan 2026; old scale applies before 21 Jan 2026.; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 79 overall (old scale) / 4.0 (new scale) and typically requires ESL placement. Scores must be dated within two years of the proposed term.