BSc Econ+Math 9.6 GPA, predoc offer at IIT — should I do masters in India first or apply directly to funded MRes/PhD abroad?
Long post, sorry in advance.
Some background: I graduated in 2025 with a bachelor's in Economics and Math from a decent college in India (GPA 9.6/10). I've always wanted to work as an economist — think international organisations (World Bank, IMF, UN agencies) or economic consultancy. Long term, I think a PhD is probably necessary for that kind of career.
After graduating, I took a gap year to prepare for masters entrance exams (CUET PG etc.) with the hope of getting into a top program in India, since studying abroad has always been financially out of reach for me despite applying for scholarships. To give some context on where I stand internationally — I did get into a couple of well-regarded UK universities for a masters last year, but couldn't make it work financially. Now I'm at the end of this gap year and here's where things stand:
- The colleges I'm getting through CUET this year are nowhere near the top 10 in India. I'm genuinely worried that going to a mediocre program might hurt more than help my career prospects.
- I have an offer for a **predoc position in Economics at an IIT**, which I'm seriously considering.
I see three possible paths forward and I genuinely don't know which makes the most sense:
**Path A: Predoc → MRes/PhD abroad (skip the masters entirely)**
Do the predoc this year to build research experience, then apply directly to funded MRes or PhD programs in the UK/Europe. These are funded so the financial barrier disappears. But I'm worried — would top programs even consider someone with just a bachelor's and a predoc and no masters?
**Path B: Masters in India → PhD abroad**
Start the masters this year at whatever college I can get into through CUET, and apply for a funded PhD abroad after. It's the fastest route but I'm not sure a mediocre Indian masters actually helps — and might it actively hurt?
**Path C: Predoc → Masters in India → PhD abroad**
Do the predoc this year, use that to get into a better masters program in India, then apply for a funded PhD abroad. Feels like the safest option but also the longest — I'd be looking at 3+ more years before a PhD.
Myquals:
- BSc Economics + Math, 9.6/10 GPA
- Got into reputed UK master's programs last year — couldn't attend due to financial constraints despite exploring every scholarship option
- Research internship at a think tank (includes causal inference work)
- Policy internship at a government body
- Strong technical skills — Python, R, and experience with causal inference methods
- Predoc offer at an IIT (yet to accept)
My questions:
Is a predoc at an IIT genuinely useful for PhD/MRes applications abroad, or is it just another year of delay?
Would strong PhD programs (or MRes programs in the UK/Europe) consider someone with just a bachelor's + predoc and no masters?
Is a mediocre masters in India worth doing at all, or does it actively hurt you?
For those who work at international organisations or consultancies — how important is where you did your masters, really?
I feel like I've been going in circles for a year and I really need some outside perspective. Any advice, especially from people who've navigated Indian academia → international economics careers, would mean a lot.
Thanks.