economicus

Some information for those considering masters programs in NL: The Keuzegids Masters 2013 rated TI’s MPhil program as the best research master program in economics in the Netherlands. The Keuzegids assessed all research master programs in economics on criteria such as the quality of the educational program, quality and level of the lecturers, exams and facilities. TI’s MPhil program received 88 points, out of a maximum score of 100 points and was the only research master that scored well above 80 points. This exceptional score merited a quality seal as top rated program. The MPhil program was particularly praised for its high educational level, quality of the teaching staff and training in academic research. The Keuzegids 2013 evaluated 800 master programs in the Netherlands and only 77 programs received a quality seal as top rated (research) master. The assessments in the Keuzegids are based on the evaluations of students and educational experts. To read more about the these sources including the National Student Survey and NVAO accreditation reports and methodology, please see the website of the Keuzegids Masters 2013: Method Keuzegids Masters (Dutch) andKeuzegids Masters 2013 (Dutch).

msc at dutch universities is NOT for someone wanting to do a PhD... so I think here your best bet is qem

Sorry, but if you say something like this, I have to respond. As someone studying at TI, I could not disagree more. I have never seen that much cooperation between students as I did at Tinbergen. One might think I'm impartial, but you can ask others that socially the place is great. This has recently also been acknowledged nationwide: Google Translator

Msc at Tilburg will offer you next to zero preparation for PhD study. Msc programmes in NL in general are NOT for people that want to do a phd. They are usually pretty easy programmes more or less on the level of the bachelor courses. Two year research masters (MRes, MPhil) are for those who plan to pursue an academic career and are a completely different story. I would ask Tilburg if they can consider your application additionaly for their research masters and if after completing the msc programme with sufficiently high grades you can progress to their research master programme. Then it's perhaps worth it. But note that in terms of contribution to your knowledge, this programme you are considering now, will not do you any benefit. I would go with Warwick...maybe you can get a scholarship in the second year if your grades are high enough in the first year. Maybe this is a practice there...ask them what are your chances to get some financial help (either full scholarship or some TA etc) in the second year.

I use WinEdt and I strongly suggest it...it has i) nice coloring of different typed parts according to their type, ii) easy to see if you closed all brackets, iii) points to places where there are mistakes in code, iii) nice math symbols toolbox....

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What about Vampirenomics :D http://www.eos.tuwien.ac.at/OR/Mehlmann/Andis/publ/Seminar105124/convex_concave.pdf http://www.springerlink.com/content/g47162572231m5r8/ nice titles...kinda frightening! Economics seems to be boundless :)

To my best knowledge, industrial organization=industrial economics. They are just two different names for the same thing, the first one being more prevalent in the states, whereas the second one in Europe.

Yes, it's always better to say you want a PhD. Saying this nothing officially binds you to really do it later but it makes your application stronger. After the first 2 years you officially start your PhD (or leave with an Mphil degree in your pocket), which is then bringing you a full salary over the next 3 years (2 years of MPhil +3 years of Phd). However, are you sure you want to exchange the perfect Australian weather for this rainy dutch pool? :)

I would take Linear Algebra. I think will be more useful for your first year phd in general and econometrics in particular. Bayesian stat, decision theory etc. is not something I encounted in adv. econmetrics class...but I did a lot of what is in linear alebra and math. stat I (which you have already taken). I think you have enough stat for now.

Sorry for the late replay. Yes, the online votes selected the winner. Unfortunately, it seems it didn't work out, but thanks Erin!

Yes, TI is connected to CREED (UvA) as UvA is a part of TI. The only problem is that it may not be possible for you to continue with your PhD at UvA as UvA has reduced the number of PhD students it takes due to financial reasons (only 2 econ students this year (+3 finance) )...this is expected to improve over the next years as the financial situation improves...and you can always in principle have for your co-menter whoever you want from TI fellows. As of admission to TI. Good you have 800Q as that seems to be what TI cares most about. What else, as much math as possible...an essay showing your interest to obtain PhD in economics at one of the Unis at TI (they care about this. Even though you may change your mind later perhaps, don't say it). And LORs about your strong analitical capabilities and desire for research work ....and some luck :). Good thing is you are from Australia. I don't know for anyone at the moment being from there...which may help you a bit as they aim at making incoming classes heterogenous as of countries very much.

Why do you think you would have to wait till the 3rd year to take it if you don't do it now? Not everything is in the "official courses". You can always study Tirole on your own...it's pretty readable. Formal grades up or down... The other thing is if you're considering the prof as your potential supervisor...in this case taking the class could help you to see how your research interests relate and getting acquaintaned with each other may make any future collaboration easier. Otherwise, IO theory is something you can learn fast once you know the tools...so I think if you think in a pure knowledge way, it's probably not worth taking it now but focusing on learning the mathematical tools as much as possible in your first year.

It depends on how mathematics will look twenty years from now :hmm::)

UPDATE: Economics department of UvA has big financial problems at the moment such that they will significantly decrease the number of Mphil students who will be accepted there for their PhD (over the following years). This year only 5 people will be able to go to UvA, three of whom are from Mphil Finance track (and are so at the same time affiliated to the Duisenberg School of Finance). Most of others will (have to) go to EUR (VU normally takes about 4-5 PhDs) who appears quite willing to accept them (at least so far). When therefore thinking about PhD study at TI you shall take it into account you may not be able to continue with a PhD at UvA. Of course, you can always select for a co-mentor anyone who is a fellow at TI. It only affects the choice of your main working place and primary mentor. So this is something you should take into account and probably discuss with people governing the graduate programme when making your decision.

wanderlust: well, to me they were helpful as the providey some motivation/intuition and also show some missing steps in derivations. rob...., I was also thinking of buying Becker's and Friedman's price theory books...so once you have had a look at them, I will be grateful for your opinion.

I really like(d) these ones: Nolan Miller: Notes Download Page

Hi, one friend of mine would like to win an adventure...every vote via internet count. If you like it, please vote for it. It will take you only a few seconds. Thanks:tup: Create Your Own Adventure - Powered by Gap Adventures

Being registerd at UvA, I use Cisco Systems VPN client (with username and password) which gives me a full access to Jstor, ScienceDirect, Springer etc. It's like using a computer at the faculty, so it's easy to work at home, which I often do. Yes, students are allowed to use Creed's laboratory (which is planned to be fully renovated somewhere in the future). I know for at least two friends of mine that run an experiment there for their MPhil thesis. I may be subjective but you don't need much time to see the difference in the rigor of the courses between TI and UvT (just take a look at the content of the courses available on their respective websites). Doing theory I didn't encounter a need for data... but one friend was involved in a project and went to Africa to collect data from the field experiment there (as a part of her mphil-thesis-phd project). Social part depends on you...as I see it some generations are much more connected than others...so it probably depends on people that find them together which is random. Still, Students Council organizes a lot of activities during the year (take a look at my link to it above).

Grades I posted include all people, so also externals. Why do people fail...as everywhere...as grad school is hard...and you can have a bad luck. I don't think people here are taking it easy because of "Amsterdam".

The TI uses only integer values for grades. It really varies between courses. The grades in 2nd year courses (field courses) are usually a bit higher on average. I would say 7 is the most common grade. I think in the past only around 3 persons or so per year managed to have GPA over 8 in the first year. I can provide you info for some courses from the past year to get an impression.. in the brackets there's the number of people getting a respective grade (I don't have exact info for other courses) >=6 pass, 5 (can be compensated within a sequence), Micro I core course (MWG) 10(6) 9(8) 8(1) 7(3) 6(4) 5(6) 4(2) 3(2) Advanced Econometrics I 10(0) 9(2) 8(3) 7(3) 6(5) 5(3) 4(0) 3(0) 2(1) Applied Microeconometrics I (field course, 2nd year) 10(0) 9(0) 8(7) 7(6) 6(0) 5(1) Maybe you can ask the graduate coordinator for more accurate information...

:) I think he wants to say closer in the way you spend less time to come there by metro than by bike.

Of course. The programme is like any other top world-class programmes. What differs TI from others is AMSTERDAM and its social climate! :)

Yeah, couldn't agree more about her.

For getting some perspective (events, photos...) on social life at the Tinbergen Institute, you can have a look at the Students Council website: http://www.tinbergen.nl/~students-council/ Besides the information already provided by other pepple at TIA: In the past usually cca 6 people left every year. The "rule" was that they asked you to leave if you failed 4 courses... it turned out this had been against the rules of UvA or smth like that...so now you can stay but you are financially on your own. My personal advice to everyone is that you should master a well known book by Simon&Blume before coming (and with this I mean master not just acknowledge yourself with the material) there. This will make your life much much easier as the first block is pretty dense...and a lot of math is needed for Micro I. And, if you don't have a very strong math background (that is major or beter BA in math, physics, econometrics), you'd better NOT take advanced econometrics track. Some people do thinking it will add to their image (what image?) ...you can simply take this course as field course in your second year when you will be much better prepared and also have much more time to take it. Believe me, many severely endangered their good standing by deciding to take this course on wrong expectations. PhD salary is cca 1645 EUR net every month..and rises to approx. cca 1800 in the last year of the phd. This means a gross salary of around 28.000 EUR over the first year. Add also around 500 eur bonus for December holidays and 5% of your early income for summer holidays. Quite good. Tinbergen institute is very strong in econometrics, finance, financial economics, labor. For other fields, you'd better check particular fellows available on the website. For questions about applications, just ask Judith (graduate school coordinator). She is extremely nice...so no worries. Tinbergen currently made a partnership with the private Duisenberg School of Finance, which is expacted to bring in some additional money... In the past getting a PhD position at UvA or EUR was not a problem but VU usually accepted only 4 persons a year due to their small department. So there you should expect some more competition for places. btw, the Tinbergen Institute will move to Amsterdam Zuidas business disctrict at the end of 2010 into a brand new Symphony skyscraper (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=608136) [ATTACH=CONFIG]5573[/ATTACH] the rightmost building facing the playing field is Free University Amsterdam (1/3 of the TI). Notice the Symphony building (new TI location) at the northeast end of the playing field.