Students are admitted to the PhD program in the Fall of each year. Students entering the PhD program are expected to have satisfied the requirements, or their equivalents, of the department's MSc degree in Agricultural Economics (or will be required to make up any deficiencies before admission to the PhD program). In cases where a student's master's degree is not equivalent to that offered by the department, the student may initially be accepted into the MSc program and may then apply for transfer to the PhD program at some time during the first three semesters. Applications for transfer must be supported by the Agricultural Economics Graduate Studies Committee and approved by the Board of Graduate Studies. The student does not have to complete all the requirements of the MSc before transferring to the PhD program, but must achieve high academic standing.

The student is expected to demonstrate competence in a major field of specialization (see below). Six graduate courses or their equivalents related to this field are normally required. Further, a student must successfully complete a program of study in microeconomic theory, consisting of two graduate level courses, plus three courses in economic research methods. Although a total of 11 courses is a recommended minimum, students able to demonstrate satisfactory level of competence in any of these requirements may have these course requirements adjusted accordingly.

All students must complete the following microeconomic theory and economic research methods courses: