PhD in International Trade

Offered by Sogang University's Graduate School of International Studies in Mapo-gu, South Korea, this doctoral program in International Trade prepares researchers to study how goods, services, and capital cross borders and how policy shapes those exchanges. The curriculum includes trade theory, international economic institutions, trade law and negotiation, and quantitative research methods applied to questions of tariffs, trade agreements, supply chains, and comparative advantage. Doctoral candidates examine subjects such as regional trade blocs, the multilateral trading system, non-tariff barriers, foreign direct investment, and the trade effects of geopolitical shifts, culminating in an original dissertation supervised by faculty. Instruction is delivered in English, which draws applicants from many countries who want to concentrate on cross-border commerce rather than domestic economic policy alone. After graduating, students commonly take research or policy positions at trade ministries, customs and commerce agencies, international organizations, and think tanks, or join multinational companies that need specialists in trade strategy and regulatory compliance. Some enter academia to teach international economics and trade policy. Seoul's concentration of government ministries, embassies, and multinational offices gives doctoral candidates access to practitioners whose input can strengthen dissertation research and lead to internship opportunities. The program is designed to be completed in two years, and the Graduate School of International Studies admits new students twice annually, in March and September, giving prospective applicants more than one entry point each year. Graduates leave with both the theoretical background and the applied analytical skills needed for work on trade issues across government, industry, and research institutions, having studied entirely in English throughout their coursework and dissertation defense.