accounting and finance phd

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Department of Accounting | Ph.D. Overview

Ph.d. overview.

• Stern’s accounting faculty has a wide range of research interests and continuously publishes works in all major academic accounting research journals such as the Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, the Accounting Review, the Review of Accounting Studies, and Contemporary Accounting Research. Furthermore, Stern’s accounting faculty has published in such major Finance journals as the Journal of Finance, the Journal of Financial Economics, and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
• The Department boasts a large and diverse body of Ph.D. students, who assist faculty with research projects early on in their doctoral program and often become co-authors to papers published in prestigious accounting journals.
• The admissions process is a rigorous one and important criteria are: an interest in doing research and teaching in accounting, strong quantitative skills, and an ability to communicate effectively. There are no formal education requirements  other than possession of a bachelor's degree - an MBA is not required.
• The quality of our Ph.D. program (ranked 7th in the United States by U.S. News and World Report) manifests itself by, among other things, our success in placing our graduates.

Click here to learn more about the PhD admissions process.

Accounting, Ph.D. Program Coordinators

NYU Stern Henry Kaufman Management Center 44 West 4th Street Suite No. 10-77 Phone:  212-998-0025 Email: [email protected]

Xiaojing Meng

NYU Stern Henry Kaufman Management Center 44 West 4th Street Suite No. 10-84 Phone:  212-992-6812 Email:   [email protected]

Explore Stern PhD

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Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

Apply now and work for two to five years. We'll save you a seat in our MBA class when you're ready to come back to campus for your degree.

Executive Programs

The 20-month program teaches the science of management to mid-career leaders who want to move from success to significance.

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

Students in the Accounting research group are expected to push beyond the boundaries of traditional accounting and incorporate a thorough knowledge of economics and finance in their work on contemporary issues in financial reporting, disclosure, and contracts using financial information.

In addition to seminars in accounting and finance, students acquire the economics depth required of MIT Sloan's Finance PhD students. The accounting doctoral courses give students the opportunity to tap into recent faculty research and expertise on a wide range of topics that are of particular interest to accounting academics, practitioners, and standard-setters.

Accounting Faculty

Accounting Overview

Accounting Graduates

Example Thesis Topics

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• MBA Programs
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• Dissertation Areas and Joint PhD Programs
• PhD Career Outcomes
• PhD Proposals and Defenses
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• 100 Years of Pioneering Research
• Rising Scholars Conference
• Yiran Fan Memorial Conference
• Frequently Asked Questions

PhD in Accounting

• PhD in Behavioral Science
• PhD in Econometrics and Statistics
• PhD in Economics
• PhD in Finance
• PhD in Management Science and Operations Management
• PhD in Marketing
• Joint Program in Financial Economics
• Joint Program in Psychology and Business
• Joint PhD/JD Program

Chicago Booth has one of the preeminent PhD accounting programs. Our faculty conduct groundbreaking scholarly work, and our graduates have played a central role in the evolution of modern accounting research.

As a PhD student in accounting at Booth, you’ll have the freedom to explore and cultivate your research interests from day one—wherever they lead.

You’ll join a collaborative research community and work with prominent scholars whose groundbreaking research is recognized for its impact on the academic literature, accounting practice and policymaking, securities regulation, and elsewhere. In addition to your stipend, you may apply for research and conference travel funding from our research centers and the Stevens Doctoral Program. In research workshops and conferences, you’ll present your work and hear about the work of fellow researchers. 

Our Distinguished Accounting Faculty

As measured by research productivity and impact, Chicago Booth has one of the best accounting faculty groups in the world. The group includes Philip G. Berger, Hans B. Christensen, Merle Erickson, Christian Leuz, Michael Minnis, Valeri Nikolaev, Haresh Sapra, Douglas J. Skinner, and Abbie J. Smith, as well as an outstanding group of research-active junior faculty. The school is committed to maintaining the quality of this group.

These distinguished scholars are also teachers and mentors who will advise you, coauthor papers with you, supervise your thesis, help you find an outstanding job, and serve as colleagues throughout your career.

Philip G. Berger

Wallman Family Professor of Accounting

Hans B. Christensen

Chookaszian Family Professor of Accounting and David G. Booth Faculty Fellow

Anna Costello

Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Accounting

Merle Erickson

Professor of Accounting

Joao Granja

Associate Professor of Accounting and Jane and Basil Vasiliou Faculty Scholar

Christian Leuz

Charles F. Pohl Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting and Finance

Bradford Levy

Assistant Professor of Accounting

Charles McClure

Associate Professor of Accounting

Michael Minnis

Deputy Dean for Faculty and Fuji Bank and Heller Professor of Accounting

Maximilian Muhn

Valeri Nikolaev

James H. Lorie Professor of Accounting and FMC Faculty Scholar

Madhav Rajan

Dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting

Thomas Rauter

Amoray Riggs-Cragun

Assistant Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar

Delphine Samuels

Associate Professor of Accounting and James S. Kemper Faculty Scholar

Haresh Sapra

Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting

Douglas J. Skinner

Sidney Davidson Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting

Abbie J. Smith

Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting

Christopher Stewart

Assistant Professor of Accounting and Fama Faculty Fellow

Associate Professor of Accounting and Kathryn and Grant Swick Faculty Scholar

Anthony Welsch

Anastasia A Zakolyukina

Alumni success.

The American Accounting Association periodically awards a prize for seminal contributions to the accounting literature. Graduates of the PhD Accounting Program are regular winners of this prestigious prize.

Our PhD graduates in accounting go on to faculty positions  at some of the world's most prestigious institutions.

Kalash Jain, MBA '23, PhD '23

Assistant Professor of Business, Accounting Division Columbia Business School, Columbia University His research examines the impact of information processing frictions and investor decision making on asset prices and firm investment. His dissertation area is in accounting.

Sinja Leonelli, MBA '23, PhD '23

Assistant Professor of Accounting Stern School of Business, New York University Sinja's research primarily examines misconduct reporting, regulation and enforcement, and the use of ESG information by stakeholders such as regulators, employees, and consumers. Her dissertation area is in accounting.

Shirley Lu, MBA ’21, PhD ’21 

Assistant Professor of Business Administration Harvard Business School, Harvard University Shirley Lu studies Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure, with a focus on climate change and gender diversity. Her dissertation area is in accounting.

Spotlight on Research

Chicago Booth Review frequently highlights the work of accounting PhD students, faculty, and alumni.

One Way Discrimination Creeps into the Supply Chain

A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Anna Costello about how the pandemic affected which suppliers got paid on time.

AI Reads between the Lines to Discover Corporate Risk

“Corporate risk exposures are often subtly implied in conference call discussions rather than explicitly stated,” write Chicago Booth PhD student Alex G. Kim and Booth’s Maximilian Muhn and Valeri Nikolaev.

Civilization is Based on Accounting

A Q&A with Chicago Booth’s Ray Ball on accounting’s past and future.

Financial Data Privacy Could Help Fight Poverty

Historical data can shape future outcomes, helping to determine whether a prospective borrower has access to a home, car, or other opportunities, write University of Utah’s Mark Jansen, Chicago Booth PhD student Fabian Nagel, and Booth’s Constantine Yannelis and Anthony Lee Zhang.

A Network of Support

Doctoral students at Booth have access to the resources of several research centers  that offer funding for student work, host workshops and conferences, and foster a strong research community.

The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center The Chookaszian Accounting Research Center coordinates accounting research at Chicago Booth and hosts research brown bags and workshops. It also publishes the Journal of Accounting Research , one of the top accounting research journals in the world.

George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State Dedicated to examining issues at the intersection of politics and the economy, the Stigler Center supports research in the political, economic, and cultural obstacles to better working markets.

Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation Chicago Booth’s destination for people committed to tackling social and environmental problems, the Rustandy Center supports the work of PhD students and others who are focused on transforming the social sector.

Inside the Student Experience

For Andrew Sutherland, PhD ’13, coauthoring research with Booth faculty was a highlight of the Stevens Program.

Video Transcript

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 00:09 In accounting, there's tons and tons of research on these big public firms that have an army of investor relations people and they constant disclosing things. That's where most of the research was happening, but there's this whole other half of the economy, these private firms, that we didn't really know a lot about. We didn't know a lot about how they got credit. What was interesting to me is that a lot of time, firms are able to get credit without even providing any financial statements or any information whatsoever to the bank. The reason they're able to get credit is that they have a credit score. So in other words, the information is coming, not from the form itself, but from another bank who had dealt with them in the past. What really struck me was there wasn't really a lot of research out there on this information channel. That's when I decided I wanted to learn a little bit more about what this reporting channel does to contract and help firms get credit and how it changes banks' incentives to lend.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:01 Basically, the firms that have a good credit record or a long track record of borrowing successfully were the ones that were able to shop around. We would think that's a good thing, that giving firms more choice about who to borrow from kind of increases social welfare, you get better matching between lenders and firms. Kind of the dark side is that the firms that have had payment trouble that have defaulted or missed some payments on loans sort of get shut out of the credit part. You have a harder time starting any new relationships with outside lenders. That's kind of a cost.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:34 The second cost is that information sharing changes the game for lenders. So, if participating in this credit bureau basically allows outside lenders to pick off the firms that are doing better, then that destroys the incentive for lenders to kind of invest in relationships to begin with. That's sort of the second dark side of information sharing, if you will.

Andrew Sutherland, ’13: 01:54 So, I coauthor on a number of projects with the junior faculty member here named Mike Minnis. I probably talked to Mike more than I talk to my wife. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But, I mean, as a PhD student, there's only so much you can learn in class, and having a faculty member to work with that's kind of gone through the ropes and understands the review process, that's done something on their own, it gives you a really good opportunity to learn. That's something, I think that was absolutely instrumental in my success

Current Accounting Students

PhD students in accounting come to Chicago Booth with a wide range of interests and goals. Recent dissertations have focused on everything from machine learning to the impact of fiscal monitoring, and graduates have gone on to positions at some of the world’s preeminent institutions, including Columbia Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Current Students

Esteban Espinoza Aburto Carolina Maia Silva Araujo Samuel Chang Jonas Dalmazzo Jewel Evans Lingyu (Laura) Gu Yanzi (Yvonne) Han Grant Hayes Maria Khrakovsky Alex Kim Ginha Kim Andrew McKinley Pietro Ramella Subhradip Sarker Jizhou Wang Hanbyul Yoon

Program Expectations and Requirements

The Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth is a full-time program. Students generally complete the majority of coursework and examination requirements within the first two years of studies and begin work on their dissertation during the third year. For details, see General Examination Requirements by Area in the Stevens Program Guidebook below.

Download the 2023-2024 Guidebook!

Accounting PhD Program

Phd accounting program.

The Accounting Ph.D. program includes research focused on several accounting disciplines, including Financial, Managerial, and Auditing and Corporate Governance Accounting.

• APPLY TODAY
• ADMISSIONS EVENTS

Financial Accounting

- Accounting standard setting - Financial regulation - International accounting - Company valuation and financial statement analysis - Earnings management - Stock markets and market efficiency - Earnings forecasting and financial analyst behavior

Managerial Accounting

- Performance evaluation and compensation - Budgeting and other control issues in organizations - Balanced scorecard - Strategic management accounting

Auditing and Corporate Governance

- Auditor independence - Auditor behavior and decision making - Corporate governance issues

Tax Accounting

- Tax planning - Tax clientele - Tax policy and its effects on businesses

Requirements

Sample Course Schedule

• Fall: GSBA 602, ACCT 605, ACCT 611, ACCT 621 + Electives
• Spring: ACCT 601, ACCT 611 + Electives

Research Development Beginning in the first semester, students will apprentice with a faculty mentor to learn research fundamentals. Typically students are assigned to a new mentor each semester in the first year. During the summer of their first year, students write a first-year paper. The summer paper will be similar to that of a research proposal.

- Fall: ACCT 611, ACCT 621 + Electives

- Spring: ACCT 611 + Electives

- Summer: BUCO 637

Research Development

Students continue apprentice a faculty mentor to learn research fundamentals and participate in research projects. Typically students are assigned to a new mentor each semester in the first and second year. During the summer of their second year, students complete a directed readings course with their potential advisor.

Screening Examination

In the second year, students complete a screening examination which may take the form of a written or oral exam, written assignments, and/or summer research project. The results of the examination help the faculty determine students’ developmental needs and fitness to continue in the program.

Qualifying Examination

Following the screening exam, with the recommendation of their faculty mentor, students take a comprehensive examination on the core knowledge of their discipline. The examination includes both written and oral components. Upon passing the examination, an individual becomes a Ph.D. candidate and begins work on the Ph.D. dissertation.

• Independent Dissertation Preparation (2)
• Accounting Research Seminar: ACCT 611 (2)
• Electives (Optional)

Research Development At this stage in the program, the relationships Ph.D. candidates have developed through the research apprenticeships often lead to collaborative research projects. Ph.D. candidates continue to apprentice faculty with increasing responsibility. They also begin work on their dissertations.

Teaching Development Ph.D. candidates begin developing teaching skills by serving as a teaching assistant for one or two classes and engaging in teaching skills workshops.

Research Development Research is the primary activity in the fourth year and beyond. Faculty view Ph.D. candidates as “junior colleagues” and partner to write and present papers.

Teaching Development Ph.D. candidates co-teach one course with a faculty member.

Dissertation Defense & Submission The dissertation is the culminating work of a student’s independent research. In the fourth or fifth year of the program, students complete, defend and submit the dissertation. This is the last step to earn the Ph.D.

Research Community

Accounting faculty members have published extensively in leading accounting journals such as:

• The Accounting Review
• Journal of Accounting Research
• Journal of Accounting and Economics
• Contemporary Accounting Research
• Review of Accounting Studies

The University of Texas-Dallas Top 100 Business School Research Rankings for research productivity over the past decade ranks the Accounting faculty as fifth worldwide.

Recognized Research Authorities

The Accounting faculty have served as editors, associate editors and editorial review board members of premier journals in accounting, including:

• Accounting, Organization and Society
• Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory
• Journal of Management Accounting Research

Faculty Honors

• Wildman Award
• Notable Contributions to Accounting Literature
• Notable Contributions to Auditing and Managerial Accounting Literatures
• Outstanding Educator Award in Auditing

In addition to required coursework and independent research, students are actively encouraged to participate in research projects with faculty—preferably as a co-author; attend and participate in the ARFs (accounting research workshops); present papers at, serve as discussants and otherwise attend national conferences; and take additional coursework either for credit or audit to further enhance their knowledge base.

PhD STUDENTS

Jessie jaewon cheong.

• PhD Student in Accounting

Isabel (Jaeryung) Cho

Jonathan a. craske.

• PhD Candidate in Accounting

I am a fourth year Accounting PhD Candidate at the University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business. My research interests include information dynamics; governance, monitoring, and oversight mechanisms; regulation; information intermediaries; contracting dynamics; and fraud and financial misconduct.

Job Market Candidates

The Marshall School of Business contributes to the broad field of academic research as our students go on to be thought-leaders in business schools around the world. These Ph.D. candidates are taking the next step in their academic careers. Learn more about each candidate by clicking on their name.

To be announced

Suzanne Burzillo

Katherine simeon bruere.

Katherine Simeon Bruere is a Ph.D. candidate in the Leventhal School of Accounting. She is interested in voluntary disclosure,standard setting, audit quality, audit opinions, goodwill accounting, mergerand acquisitions, corporate governance, financial reporting,  and capital marketsresearch. Prior to starting the Ph.D. program, Katherine worked at Ernst & Young as an auditor in Dallas’ Financial Services division, as well as an accountant at Merit Energy. Katherine earned a BA and an MA in Accounting at Baylor University (2014) and is a licensed CPA in the state of Texas.

AJ Chen is a PhD candidate in Accounting at the USC Marshall School of Business. Prior to joining the Ph.D. Program, he worked as an associate in the investment banking industry, as well as analyst in commodities trading. He also had experience as tax associate at PwC Boston. He is intrigued by how technological innovation affect the real economy, particularly their impact on firms, workers, and consumers.

Accounting students have won numerous prestigious awards over the past several years. These honors include:

• Deloitte Touche Fellowship
• KPMG Doctoral Fellowship
• AICPA Doctoral Fellowship

Learn more about all Marshall PhD Students in the Marshall Directory. For a list of Accounting students in the program please follow thislink.

APPLYING TO THE PhD PROGRAM

Dates + deadlines.

December 15, 2023: Application Deadline - Accounting, Data Sciences & Operations, and Management & Organization* 

January 15, 2024: Application Deadline - Finance & Business Economics and Marketing 

The link to the PhD Program application is available on the Admissions page and the next opportunity to apply is for Fall 2024 admission. Late applications may or may not be considered at the discretion of the admissions committee. 

Admissions decisions are made from mid-February to mid-April. You will be notified by email when a decision has been made.

ADMISSIONS CONTACT

Ph.D. Program USC Marshall School of Business 3670 Trousdale Parkway, BRI 306 Los Angeles, California 90089-0809 EMAIL

• INFO SESSIONS

Stay Informed + Stay Connected

ACCOUNTING PhD

The nation’s top accounting program.

Texas McCombs boasts the most prestigious accounting doctoral program in the country and has graduated more than 300 PhD students since its inception in 1934. Are you ready for the best?

Your Future In Accounting

• PhD Program
• Why McCombs
• Department of Accounting

ACADEMIC LIFE AT McCOMBS

Mentorship and practice, application deadline.

The application deadline for the Accounting Doctoral Program is December 15.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

If you are a practicing accountant, these topical areas will be familiar to you. However, we welcome students with backgrounds in Mathematics, Economics, Engineering, Finance, Psychology, or other disciplines to apply. We can remedy any lack of accounting knowledge through additional coursework. Most students enter our accounting doctoral program with some knowledge in these areas:

Financial Accounting

Financial accounting researchers are interested in the use of accounting information by investors, creditors, analysts, and other decision-makers. We are also interested in the preparation of accounting information by managers who may respond to economic incentives and use discretion to manage earnings. Finally, we are also interested in the regulation of accounting information by standard setters and other regulators who are evaluating the relevance and reliability of current and potential accounting information.

Auditing researchers are interested in questions of independence, governance, compliance, auditing processes, and biases. This research helps global standard-setters and regulators adopt standards and policies that protect the integrity of our accounting information. 

Managerial accounting research topics include optimal employee compensation and governance, using information for efficiency management, motivating creativity, etc.

Taxation research covers economic incentives, transfer pricing, compliance with tax enforcement, multistate taxation, and numerous topics about accounting for income taxation, where tax rules overlap with financial reporting standards.

RANKINGS & RESEARCH

Academic leadership, research methodologies.

When you earn a doctorate, most of your time is spent developing deep expertise in research methods. Accounting researchers use three main approaches. In all cases, your doctoral studies will involve a firm grounding in statistics and typically a choice of either economics or psychology as an additional foundation.

Archival research involves the statistical analysis of historical data to examine relevant research questions based on economic theory for its predictions. Thus, archival research requires a strong background in statistics and economics, which we provide through rigorous coursework in the business school and the economics department.

Experimental

Experimental or survey methods are commonly used to obtain data to conduct what is broadly known as behavioral research. Behavioral research relies on psychology for its theories. Because this research is interested in what people do and why they do it, it is often necessary to conduct controlled experiments or survey participants. Using experiment or survey methods, researchers in accounting and finance have provided compelling alternative explanations where economic theories fall short.

Analytical research uses quantitative mathematical models to explain and predict behavior. This research is grounded in game theory from economics. Students wanting to conduct analytical research should have even stronger mathematical backgrounds than other applicants. We will design a program of study that builds on those initial strengths with additional coursework in mathematics and economics.

GET READY TO APPLY

Preparation and qualifications, career placement, the world needs you, career destinations.

The primary goal of the Texas McCombs PhD program is to prepare students for exceptional academic careers. Over the last five years, McCombs Accounting PhD alumni have excelled at top institutions globally.

Recent Graduate Placements

Rui Silva | 2024 | University of Washington

Mandy Ellison | 2024 | Texas State University

Minjae Kim | 2024 | Analysis Group (Industry)

Laura Kettell | 2023 | University of Colorado at Boulder

Abhi Ramchandni | 2023 | University of Hawaii

Anthony Welsch | 2023 | University of Chicago

Jesse Chan   |  2022  |  Boston University

Cassie Mongold   |  2022  |  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ryan Hess   |  2021  |  Stanford University (postdoc); Oklahoma State University

Ryan Ballestero   |  2021  |  Kent State University

Dan Rimkus   |  2021  |  University of Florida (October 2021 graduation)

Shannon Garavaglia  |  2020  |  University of Pittsburgh

Jakob Infuehr  |  2019  |  University of Southern Denmark

Antonis Kartapanis  |  2019  |  Texas A&M University

Kristen Valentine   |  2019  |  University of Georgia

Colin Koutney   |  2018  |  George Mason University

Zheng Leitter  |  2018  |  Nanyang Technological University

Brian Monsen   |  2018  |  The Ohio State University

Xinyu Zhang   |  2018  |  Cornell University

Current Students and *Job Market Candidates

Mary adenle, yiying chen*, dorothy dickmann*, kenzie feinberg, michael gonari, read hadfield, nathan herrmann, sean kemsley, kaitlyn kroeger*, jingpei shi, cindi teasley, albert wang, frequently asked questions, how long does the program take.

This is a full-time, in-residence (i.e., in-person) program of coursework and research which usually takes four to five years to complete.

When is the application deadline? What is the timeline for reviewing applications?

Our deadline is December 15 th for admission starting the following fall. The admissions committee will begin reviewing applications shortly after this deadline, so it is in your best interest to make sure all required materials have been submitted by that date. We typically start virtual interviews in January, with campus flyouts for a small group of applicants starting in late January or February.

How many students do you admit per year?

We usually receive about 80 applications each year and are likely to admit two or three students to begin in the following fall term.

What kind of background do I need to be admitted to the program?

Students come from a variety of backgrounds, with some entering the program immediately after their undergraduate degree, others with their degree and work/research experience, and some with work/research experience and a master’s degree. Because our students come from various backgrounds and the competition in the applicant pool changes from year to year, it is difficult to determine the likelihood of acceptance without viewing the strength of your application as a whole compared to the pool of fellow applicants.

How do you evaluate applicants?

The admissions committee takes a holistic approach to admissions. We consider factors such as: intellectual curiosity, reasoning ability, writing ability, quantitative skills, institutional knowledge, work experience, research experience, familiarity with the academic accounting literature, knowledge of what a PhD entails, and insights from recommendation letters.

What kind of math background do I need for an accounting Ph.D.?

Many successful applicants will have already begun taking some math refresher courses, such as engineering calculus I and II and linear/matrix algebra. The longer it has been since these quantitative tools have been used, the harder the doctoral coursework will be. The initial doctoral classes typically also include students in finance and economics, and they typically enter their doctoral programs straight from rigorous quantitative master's degrees.

Will I need a TOEFL score?

For applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree in a country where English is not the primary language, a TOEFL score will be a necessary part of the application. This is a university-wide requirement and is necessary even if a graduate degree has been completed from an accredited university in the United States.  TOEFL scores over two years old will not be accepted. A list of TOEFL-exempt countries can be found on the UT Austin Graduate School website.

Do I need to take the GMAT or GRE? Can this requirement be waived?

For all applicants, the Department requires a GMAT or GRE test score. This requirement cannot be waived. Scores over five years old will not be accepted.

Can the application fee be waived?

The application fee is charged by the Graduate School, which does offer fee waivers for financial hardships for domestic applicants. There are no waivers for international students. Please see the Graduate School website for more details.

Do you offer financial support to Ph.D. students? Do I have to pay tuition?

Financial assistance is offered to all students admitted to the doctoral program and includes fellowship payments as well as a 20-hour teaching assistant/research assistant appointment. This appointment covers the cost of tuition and also provides health insurance coverage. 

The financial support we provide is competitive with other top PhD programs in the U.S. 

ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE THE WORLD?

The Texas McCombs Doctoral Program is seeking individuals who are interested in transforming the global marketplace. Are you one of these future thought leaders?

• Doctoral Programs

The PhD specialization in Accounting prepares students to become accounting scholars engaged in research and teaching at the highest levels in the general areas of financial information and contracting within and across organizations. 

Yale SOM’s specialization in accounting is designed to develop strong theoretical and empirical skills. There is a heavy emphasis on original research to form a base for sustained scholarship. Co-authored research, with both faculty and fellow PhD students, is encouraged and supported.

Yale’s accounting program is small (matriculating one to two students each year), and involves informal and spontaneous frequent interactions with faculty. The program maintains a 1:1 faculty-to-student ratio. Students interact with emerging research in a host of ways, from conferences held on campus to weekly seminars where faculty and fellow PhD students present and discuss their work.

Candidates tend to pursue a broad range of research interests, helped by courses in accounting as well as in various areas of management, Department of Economics, Yale Law School, and other parts of the University. They develop fruitful relationships with other Ph.d. students, especially from the Finance PhD program.

Examples of research submitted as dissertations by students in the program:

• Intended Benefits and Unintended Consequences of Improved Performance Disclosure
• Asymmetric Inefficiency in Market Response to Non-earnings 8-K Information
• Real Earnings Management in Nonprofit Organizations
• How Does More Frequent Reporting Reduce Information Asymmetry?
• Real Earnings Management in the Financial Industry
• Accruals and price crashes
• Customer-base concentration: Implications for firm performance and capital markets
• The Treatment of Special Items in Determining CEO Cash Compensation
• Strategic Decentralization, Bargaining, and Transfer Pricing in Supply Chain Efficiency
• Keynesian Beauty Contest, Accounting Disclosure, and Market Efficiency
• Labor Unions and Management’s Incentive to Signal Declining Profitability
• Investor Expectations, Earnings Management, and Asset Prices
• Limiting Outside Directors' Liability through Charter Provisions: An Empirical Analysis
• Nickels Not Pennies: Explanations and Implications of Granularity in Analysts’ EPS Forecasts
• Auditor’s Pre-Negotiation Information, Accuracy of Financial Reports and Consulting Services
• Taxes, Debt, and Firm Value: New Evidence

Examples of research co-authored with faculty and other students:

Publications.

• Management of reported and forecast EPS, investor responses, and research implications (Management Science
• Placebo Tests of Conditional Conservatism (The Accounting Review)
• Orphans Deserve Attention: Financial Reporting in the Missing Months When Corporations Change Fiscal Year (The Accounting Review)
• Why do EPS forecast error and dispersion not vary with scale? Implications for analyst and managerial behavior (Journal of Accounting Research)
• More Evidence of Bias in the Differential Timeliness Measure of Conditional Conservatism (The Accounting Review)
• The Effect of Litigation Risk on Management Earnings Forecasts (Contemporary Accounting Research)
• Friction in Related Party Trade when a Rival is also a Customer (Management Science)
• The Joint Determination of Audit Fees, Non-audit Fees and Abnormal Accruals (Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting)

Working Papers

• Rethinking Determinants of Trading Volume at Earnings Announcements
• Auditor Change Disclosures as Signals of Earnings Management and Risk
• Individual Investor Overextrapolation
• The Value and Information Effects of Initial Loan Contract Strictness
• The Information Quality Effect of Accruals-Based Benchmark Beating: Evidence from the CDS Market
• On the Contemporaneous Reporting of Income Increasing and Income Decreasing Special Items: Initial Evidence
• Conditional conservatism: the case of goodwill impairments under SFAS 142
• The power of firm fundamentals in explaining stock returns

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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Discover more about postgraduate research

PhD Accounting and Finance / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Normally, a Master's degree in a relevant cognate subject normally with an overall average of 70% or above (or overseas equivalent)
• Professional qualifications other than a Bachelors Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to a PhD programme.

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

The current deadline for consideration in internal funding competitions is 1 December 2024.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self-funding, you must submit your application before the below deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after this date has passed.

• For September 2025 entry: 30 June 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• Develop leading research in Accounting and Finance.
• Join one of the world's most innovative and ambitious doctoral research schools.
• Ranked 3rd in the UK for research power in 'Business and Management Studies' (REF2021).

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To find out what studying on a postgraduate research programme at Manchester is like, visit our Open days and study fairs page and explore our virtual open week or future on-campus and international events.

We will be conducting our Humanities PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up to our email alerts.

Fees for entry in 2025 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2024 were as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393 International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards available to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The current deadline for most internal competitions, including Alliance Manchester Business School studentships is 1 December 2024.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting your funding application and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding databas e to search for scholarhips, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Alliance Manchester Business School PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• RADMA Doctoral Studies Funding 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• PhD Scholarship for Research into Productivity
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship (EPSRC DTP)

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Accounting and Finance

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

• Postgraduate Research

Accounting and Finance PhD

• Part time available: yes

Studying in:

• Management School
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Our Accounting and Finance PhD aims to develop world-class researchers, specialised in building theory and producing valuable insight into current issues in accounting and finance.

Why study with us?

of our School's research classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

international experts shape world-class academic thought

of our research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

The University of Liverpool Management School’s (ULMS) Accounting and Finance PhD programme covers a wide range of areas for investigation, with special emphasis on the role accounting and finance play on organisational success, risk management and dealing with uncertainties.

The training offered is tailored, with specific modules aimed at facilitating the development of your individual research project:

• Corporate Finance and Accounting
• Theory Asset Pricing Theory
• Empirical Corporate Finance
• Accounting Empirical Asset Pricing.

To ensure you receive the most relevant support during the thesis development stage, you will work with a primary supervisor, who is a leading expert in their field.

Additionally, you will be supported by a secondary supervisor, who is typically promising early career researcher, specialising in your specific area of study.

Research themes

The University of Liverpool Management School   is a UK triple accredited ( AACSB , AMBA , and EQUIS ) leading and internationally recognised research institution, with outstanding REF 2021 results against 108 ranked Business and Management Schools across the country:

• 12th for submissions judged as World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*)
• 16th for research outputs classified as World Leading (4*)
• 9th place for Research Power (17 places higher than in 2014)
• 100% of research supported by a World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) environment.

The School’s Accounting and Finance group is one of largest in the UK, with members regularly publishing in a range of top scholarly journals, including the Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Management Science, etc.

The School also has five research centres and one cluster , specialised in contemporary issues in business and society, and aimed at bringing together expertise across the School and University.

As a PhD student you are welcome to join any of these centres, as they present excellent opportunities to access internal and external research networks around cutting-edge themes.

Research interests

We welcome research proposals including, but not limited to:

• Asset pricing and investment
• Corporate finance and accounting
• International financial markets and the macroeconomy
• Financial technology (Fintech).

Please, make sure your application adheres to the following structure (maximum 3,000 words):

• Title of the proposal
• Introduction and expected contribution and its significance
• Literature review
• Proposed research questions
• Proposed methodology (fit with research/experience/need for training)
• Gantt chart
• References.

As a PhD student at the Management School you will enjoy access to a ‘Hot Desk’ working environment.

In addition to printing/photocopying/scanning facilities, the Management School has two dedicated computer suites located on the ground floor:

• The  McKenzie Trading Room offers 40 PCs with Bloomberg access. Each PC has a dual monitor and a Bloomberg keyboard
• The Grove Wing Computer Room has 28 PCs running on the standard University of Liverpool Network, with DataStream available on several computers.

You will gain access to globally recognised databases for business research, including:

• China Stock Market and Accounting (CSMAR)
• Refinitiv Eikon
• TickHistory
• Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) .

Research groups

Research by subject groups

We have six groups which form homes for both research and teaching, providing the management and infrastructure to ensure vitality and sustainability of our research environment.

• Accounting and Finance
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship
• Work, Organisation and Management

Research centres and clusters

Research centres develop the School's contribution to established themes with a strong focus on applying ideas through funding and impact-related work.

Research clusters are grass-roots driven and interdisciplinary, focussing on the development of new theoretical and empirical work, typically at the early stages of the knowledge production/impact cycle.

• The Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Centre for Supply Chain Research
• Centre for Sports Business
• Centre for Sustainable Business
• Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing
• Liverpool Advanced Methods for Big Data Analytics (LAMBDA) Research Cluster

Study options and fees

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

Applications are welcomed and will be considered in our highly competitive programme from well qualified graduates who would typically hold a UK first degree or equivalent in the first or 2:1 class, in a relevant subject.

English language requirements

How to apply

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are  open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

View staff list

Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us

• Dr Yang Zhao
• Email: [email protected]

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Related doctoral training partnerships.

Doctoral Training Partnerships support future researchers with funding and a rewarding learning environment where you can collaborate with leading researchers.

• ESRC - NW Social Science DTP

Find a scholarship

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

Find a course

• A-Z of courses /
• Studentship vacancies

Undergraduate enquiries

International enquiries

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• Undergraduate
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• Online programmes
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• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

PhD Program

Wharton’s Ph.D. program in Accounting trains students to be successful academic researchers. To this end, the program is designed to provide students with opportunities to learn to develop their own research ideas and to learn to implement appropriate research methods. Students learn these skills through rigorous coursework, as well as mentoring relationships and often research projects with faculty members that provide “on-the-job” training. When a student completes the program, he or she will have a dissertation and other publishable research in progress that can credibly communicate to the academic community the student’s skills and potential for future success as a researcher.

For examples of joint work between students and faculty, Click here . For student placements since 1999, Click here .

About the Program Find out more about the Accounting admission requirements.

Course Information View the Accounting course requirements.

Course Schedule View the Accounting course schedules.

Current Students View a list of our current Accounting PhD students.

Sample Plan of Study

PhD Accounting Program Coordinator Luzi Hail Stephen J. Heyman Professor, Professor of Accounting 1319 Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365 Phone: (215) 898-8205 E-mail: [email protected]

Additional PhD Information

• Apply to Wharton
• Doctoral Inside: Resources for Current PhD Students
• Welcome to Philadelphia Video
• Policies and Procedures

• Undergraduate
• Master of Accounting
• Full Time MBA
• Evening Executive MBA
• Weekend Executive MBA
• Charlotte Executive MBA

PhD in Accounting

Accounting and UNC Kenan-Flagler’s international reputation makes us one of world’s top academic centers of innovative accounting thought and research. We are widely recognized as a leading center of research on financial reporting, tax, international accounting, accounting standard setting, managerial accounting, and the role of accounting information in decision making.

We pride ourselves on frequent and successful student-faculty collaboration and encourage our students to work with, and seek advice, from every one of our faculty. We believe this frequent interaction with our faculty, who themselves work in many diverse areas, creates well-rounded graduates who can think creatively and deeply about important problems.

Typical Course Schedule by Year

• Seminar in Empirical Accounting Research
• Seminar in Corporate Governance
• Students in Accounting are required to complete two semesters of Statistics/Econometrics and select the level at which they qualify.
• Many Accounting students select Corporate Finance Theory I & II taught by our Finance faculty.
• Microeconomics
• Capital Markets – your first and second year
• A research paper is required for presentation and critique during the fall semester of your second year.
• Seminar in Corporate Finance: Financial Economics and Asset Pricing
• Seminar in Managerial Accounting (may be completed your first or second year.)
• Investment Finance
• Game Theory
• Econometrics
• Professional Communication Skills
• Seminar in Executing Research
• Comprehensive written examination which covers all of the Accounting courses you take in your first two years of the PhD Program
• An oral presentation of your current research
• Secure an advisor prior to your third year.  Historically, students and advisors have gravitated towards one another naturally as we ensure students and faculty frequently interact. However, we will assign an advisor based on student and faculty preferences and interest, if necessary.
• Full-time research
• With consent of your advisor, you may attend/participate or present at external national or international conferences after your second year, which are frequently done by our PhD students.
• Your Dissertation and Oral Defense are expected prior to the end of your fifth year.
• Preparing for the job market
• You may take any elective course offered by UNC Kenan-Flagler or other UNC (or Duke) departments with guidance from your advisor.

View our current Accounting PhD students .

Related Research

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• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →
• PhD Programs

Accounting & Management

• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Program Requirements

• Program Requirements →

Accounting & Management

A minimum of 13 semester courses at doctoral level are required. Each semester students will consult with the Accounting & Management faculty coordinators to receive approval of their course selections.

Microeconomics Theory : A comprehensive two semester sequence on economic theory:

• Microeconomic Theory I (HBS 4010/Economics 2020a)
• Microeconomic Theory II (HBS 4011/Economics 2020b)

All Accounting and Management students are required to have completed one undergraduate or graduate course in introduction to Econometrics. If this requirement has not been fulfilled prior to matriculation, then an equivalent course will be required in the first term of the student's doctoral program.

Courses meeting this requirement include:

• Introduction to Econometrics (Econ 1123)

Students must take four research methods courses, including one course in research design.

Courses that fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to:

• Introduction to Applied Econometrics (Econ 2120); (Econ 2110. Introductory Probability and Statistics for Economists may be a required prerequisite)
• Econometric Methods (Econ 2140)
• Topics in Applied Econometrics (MIT 14.387)
• Advanced Applied Econometrics (Econ 2144)
• Computational Economics (Econ 2149)
• Time Series Analysis (Econ 2142)
• Seminar in Applied Statistical Methods (HBS 4809)

Research methods courses that meet the research design course requirement include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced Quantitative Research Methodology (Gov 2001)
• Empirical Methods in Corporate Finance (HBS 4220)
• Matched Sampling and Study Design (Stat 240); (Stat 140 or Econ 1127 are strongly recommended as prerequisites)
• Design of Field Research Methods (HBS 4070)
• Experimental Methods (HBS 4435)

Accounting and Management students are required to take seven additional doctoral courses.

• Management Control and Performance Measures (HBS 4403)
• Empirical Research in Financial Reporting and Analysis (HBS 4250)
• Doctoral Seminar in Accounting (MIT 15.539)
• Two breadth courses
• Two elective doctoral courses

All students without an MBA degree are required to complete two case-based HBS MBA courses.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in seminars throughout their program. In the third year, students are required to attend Accounting & Management Unit Seminars .

Good Academic Standing

Teaching requirement.

Students must teach or assist with teaching in a formally offered course for one full academic term. This engagement should include, at least, 8 hours of front-of-class teaching and 16 hours of teaching preparation time. The requirement may be fulfilled by completing a teaching fellow or instructor assignment at a Harvard University

Special Field Exam

Students are required to pass the Special Field Exam at the end of the second year or beginning of the third year. This exam has two parts: a written exam and an oral exam based on the course syllabi from any relevant doctoral research seminars in financial or managerial accounting undertaken by students in the course of their studies.

Dissertation Proposal

By the end of their third year, all students are required to obtain approval of their dissertation proposal by their Dissertation Chair.

Dissertation

Students are required to write a dissertation, which typically takes the form of three publishable papers, to the satisfaction of their Dissertation Committee. The dissertation defense is oral and open to the public.

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Accounting and Finance

• Entry year 2024 or 2025
• Duration Full time 4 - 5 years

The Department of Accounting and Finance at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) invites applications for PhD program in Accounting and Finance . You will be working alongside world-leading academics in a busy, exciting and innovative department.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates who have an excellent first degree and outstanding Master's level degree performance. Qualifications should be in a related discipline to your intended PhD studies. You should also be committed to pursuing an academic career. We are offering full-time studentships to commence in October 2024. All studentships pay a generous living allowance (the 2023 ESRC award was £18,622 per annum) and offer a fee waiver for four years.

The department offers an excellent research environment, with a high level of collegiality, subscriptions to state-of-the-art databases, a strong seminar series, and a senior visitors program. The Department of Accounting and Finance is one of the largest departments within LUMS – a world-ranked international business school that is highly regarded by the Financial Times, QS, The Economist and more. In the 2014 and 2021 Research Excellence Framework , LUMS was ranked first in the UK in research power and is one of few business schools whose programs are accredited by the three major international business school accreditation bodies: AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB.

The Department offers a PhD Program in Accounting and Finance. PhD students are required to complete a portfolio of PhD level courses and seminars covering finance theory, econometric and statistical methods, and research methodology. Upon successfully completing the coursework, you will then research and write a thesis on a topic which you are passionate about. Two subject experts will offer detailed supervision to ensure it will contribute new knowledge to the academic community. You will also have the opportunity to gain international experience by visiting a leading US/European school with expertise in a relevant research area. We offer an excellent environment for PhD studies, including dedicated office space, generous funding of conference and research visits, access to many specialised databases, as well as scientific computing facilities and IT support.

The Department has been consistently building the strength of a doctoral program for many years. It has developed comprehensive PhD training to enable our PhD graduates to succeed in the job market. Apart from training delivered by our own excellent faculty, our department regularly invites distinguished visiting professors from the best universities in the world to deliver doctoral tutorials on specialised research topics. Our PhD students have the privilege of being trained by world-leading scholars every summer and have extensive opportunities to consult external experts.

In recent years, our PhD graduates have successfully joined many excellent universities, research centres and institutions, including Australian National University, Bocconi University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Durham University, LSE, Liverpool, Manchester, Monash, and Warwick Universities.

Your department

• Accounting and Finance Lancaster University Management School
• Make an enquiry form
• Telephone +44 (0)1524 592938

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Lancaster University Management School: 100% of research environment rated 'world-leading' and rated number 1 business school in the UK for 'research power' in REF 2021 .

Why study a PhD at LUMS?

Jackie talks about why she chose Lancaster University Management School for her PhD in Accounting and Finance

Programme structure

During your first year, you will be required to complete modules including accounting and finance theory, econometric and statistical methods and research methodology. Explore our module listings in the tabs below.

• PhD in Accounting
• PhD in Finance
• Research Training Seminars

Below is an overview of the modules you will study in your first year:

Below is an overview of the modules you will study in your first year.

There are two compulsory seminars in the first term which include an online test

• Ethics and Research

The Department of Accounting and Finance provides you with access to a number of leading financial databases. This valuable resource enables you to acquire crucial skills that are highly desirable to employers, making you stand out in the competitive job market.

For more information, please contact Justin Chircop

Entry requirements

Academic requirements.

A relevant Master's degree (UK or equivalent) with Distinction level performance, both overall and in the dissertation. In exceptional circumstances, applicants with an upper second class honours degree and relevant research experience may be considered.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you will also need to provide a viable research proposal of up to 5000 words which has potential to make a significant contribution to prior literature. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications .

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes .

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email [email protected]

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

core modules accordion

Our research seminars with external speakers attract leading academics that present their current research. Attending such seminars exposes participants to current research trends and allows them to expand their network. We encourage active student participation in seminars and their contact with seminar speakers. To facilitate better understanding of seminar papers, we will conduct regular pre-seminar meetings that are going to discuss in detail presented papers. The objective of pre-seminar meetings are:

• Facilitate better understanding of current research streams and presented papers;
• Provide a platform for exchanging ideas and opinions on current research streams;
• Help you provide informed feedback on presented research;
• Improve your writing skills and critical thinking;
• Further connect PhD students and our faculty by conducting regular meetings with different faculty members.

The course covers key theoretical areas of financial accounting research. It provides a crucial link to the literature for students seeking to strengthen the theoretical foundations of their empirical research. The underlying perspective is an economic one and implicitly assumes a stock market setting defines the corporate financial information environment.

By the end of the course, you will be able to understand four fundamental theoretical areas that underpin research in financial accounting, namely mandatory financial disclosure, voluntary financial disclosure, the politics of accounting regulation, and agency and contracting theory.

The course covers four topics as follows:

• The social value of (mandatory) financial disclosure
• Voluntary financial disclosure
• The role of regulation in accounting research
• Agency and contracting theory

This module is designed to introduce you to some of the core issues associated with empirical accounting research through the review of recent trends in accounting research. The module will discuss the importance of incremental contribution, basic research design issues, issues with analysing data and tabulating results, and extending extant research. The module will comprise a mixture of faculty-led lectures, interactive student-led presentations and discussions.

• Accounting conservatism
• Recognition vs. disclosure
• IFRS adoption
• Bank accounting
• Financial instruments and fair value accounting
• Economic consequences of financial reporting and disclosure

This is a module in accounting research for first-year doctoral students. The module comprises nine weekly sessions, each based on a published academic paper (or suite of papers). Each session involves a student-led discussion of the paper(s), with faculty providing a facilitating role for the discussion. The aim is to understand key research contributions, methods, and opportunities for further research.

• The determinants and consequences of accounting choice
• Various measures of earnings quality and their determinants and consequences
• Accounting anomalies and the use of accounting information in fundamental analysis
• The role of auditors as a corporate governance mechanism
• The application of experimental methods to examine accounting issues
• Understanding of behavioural theory in accounting research

The course covers various aspects of equilibrium asset prices in dynamic economies. The aims of this course are to introduce students to the main asset pricing theories that are fundamental to research development in finance and to provide an understanding of how asset pricing models are formally constructed.

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to have

• an understanding of key elements in the mainstream asset pricing theories,
• systematic knowledge in both implications of asset pricing models and empirical implementations.

Topics covered

• Utility preferences 2
• Mean-variance theory and the CAPM
• Stochastic discount factor
• Arrow-Debreu economy and state prices
• Dynamic programming
• Consumption-based asset pricing
• Production-based asset pricing.

This course takes place in the second term and builds upon the Manchester taught module AcF853, which is an advanced dominantly theoretical asset pricing course. Spillover effects from AcF851 Advanced Quantitative Methods are also anticipated.

In the first part of the module recent advances in cross-sectional asset pricing will be covered. This will include an empirical treatment of the classical asset pricing model and its extensions and related testing and model specification approaches. This part will cover the critical assessment of existing models in the light of risk-based and behaviour explanations as well as multi-factor models related to profitability and investment patterns across firms.

In the second part of the module will focus and the consumption-based model both from a theoretical and empirical perspective.

In the third part of the module asset pricing with option implied information will be covered. This includes the theoretical coverage, and understanding of the options data structure as well as the empirical implementation in advanced software packages.

The last part of the module will focus on mutual and hedge funds. This includes their performance evaluation and performance attribution from a mainly empirical perspective. Unique characteristics of hedge funds and various hedge fund strategies will be covered.

The topics covered in this module will be fine-tuned to the specific decomposition of each year's PhD student cohort.

This course is designed to help you understand how to operationalise empirical research on topics that are central to corporate finance. The overarching goal is to expose you to “state-of-the-art” empirical research methods and prepare them to conduct their own work using new tools. All students with an interest in finance, economics, accounting, human resources, and related disciplines are welcome to take the course.

The course will include:

• Endogeneity and Basic Identification Strategies
• Difference Estimators
• LATE and Regression Discontinuity Design
• Matching Estimators

This module introduces the knowledge and skills in empirical research on corporate finance. Topics include capital structure, corporate liquidity management, payout policies, and executive compensation. Selected papers in relevant literature will be discussed, with a focus on research ideas, data sources, and empirical methodologies. This course aims to help you identify and formulate research questions that may lead to dissertation topics.

After successfully completing the course, you should have:

• A broader knowledge of empirical research in corporate finance;
• A better understanding of how empirical techniques can be used to answer research questions in the areas covered in the course;
• More confidence in presenting and defending your own research;
• Formulate one research idea with a concrete research agenda.

This course will cover econometric techniques on an advanced level that form the basis for quantitative and empirical research in Finance and Accounting. It will also cover the related necessary programming skills in advanced econometrics and statistical software packages such as MatLab and GAUSS. The course will start with covering two key areas:

• Generalised Methods of Moments and ii)
• Maximum Likelihood Techniques in: a) time series models, b) multiple equations models and c) panel frameworks.

Depending on the composition of the cohort, additional advanced methods that will be covered in the course may include Simulated Maximum Likelihood, Efficient Important Sampling, Indirect Inference, Bayesian Methods, High-Frequency Financial Econometrics, Point Processes, Count Data Models, Limited Dependent Variable models.

The success of developing and publishing accounting research critically depends on the knowledge of the data and programming skills to manage large datasets. The course will introduce the key databases in accounting research, train you on how to use these data, and develop your programming skills and applied econometrics. This module is designed to introduce you to the primary research design choices and methods in empirical accounting research. The module covers data collection and main financial databases, handling large datasets using STATA, analysing data and tabulating results. It provides a broad overview of major data operations and statistical techniques used in accounting research and shows how to effectively program using STATA and other software packages. Furthermore, the module introduces the Python and R programming languages.

This module covers the econometric theory and application of selected econometric methods. The first part (Weeks 1-5) covers Time Series Econometrics, Panel Data Econometrics and Financial Econometrics. The second part (Weeks 6-10) covers Panel Data extensions, Discrete choice models and Tobit models.

• Time Series Econometrics: Statistical Inference, Time Series Modelling, Modes of Convergence, Spurious regression, Nonparametric Methods
• Panel Data Econometrics: Pooled Regression, Fixed Effects/Random Effects, Dynamic Panel Models
• Introduction to Financial Econometrics: Asset Returns, Expectations, Volatility, ICAM, Realized Volatility, High-Frequency Methods
• Panel Data extensions: Endogeneity, IV estimation, Treatment effects, Diff-in-Diff estimators
• Discrete Choice Models: Binary models (Probit/Logit), Ordered Probit/Logit, Multinominal Probit/Logit
• Tobit and Selection Models

The pilot study/research proposal for the PhD scheme continues on from the research undertaken in the literature review and is the final preparation before your initial paper. It is intended to help you expand your knowledge of the appropriate theoretical and empirical literature and attempt to plan a project that would make an incremental contribution to the research area. This may consist of collecting an appropriate data set that will be analysed at a later date or constructing a theoretical framework that can be built on at a later date.

optional modules accordion

The aim of this module is to equip you with the tools necessary to enable you to make the core investment management decisions that managers face daily, as well as the knowledge as to where you can find the information necessary to apply those tools.

This course covers fundamental concepts and key issues in factor investing;

• equilibrium theories of asset pricing
• mutual funds, ETFs and hedge funds
• Environmental, Social and Governance
• textual analysis in empirical asset pricing

This module is designed to introduce students who have no or little programming experience to Python programming in the context of academic research and real-life problem-solving in accounting and finance.

This module aims to develop your interest and confidence in financial programming and analysing big financial data and to equip you with programming skills and data-driven problem-solving abilities.

This module will enable you to understand the key concepts and methods in data science, econometrics, and quantitative finance to carry out independent empirical work required for the job market, more advanced modules in accounting and finance and the MSc dissertation streams.

Fees and funding

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.

For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status .

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years .

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities .

We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries .

Similar courses

• Accounting and Financial Management MSc
• Finance MSc
• Financial Management MSc
• Investment Management and Financial Analysis MSc

Find a PhD Topic

Discover the research interests of our academics to find a synergy with your desired area of research.

Studentships and Funding

Find out more about our range of options to help you fund your postgraduate studies.

Job market candidates

Our Accounting and Finance job market candidates are listed below. Please visit PhD Job Market Candidates for a full list of LUMS candidates.

For further details, please contact the Doctoral Office .

Accounting and Finance job market candidates

Adina Yelekenova

Visiting phd scholars programme, eligibility.

• The Visiting PhD Scholars programme is intended for current doctoral students who are sufficiently fluent in English and proficient in their disciplines to make a positive contribution to Lancaster University Management School's (LUMS) research culture.
• Applicants must be doctoral students. Individuals who have already obtained their PhD are not eligible for this programme.
• The Visiting PhD Scholars programme and its requirements and procedures are subject to change without notice.

Visiting PhD Scholars are charged a registration levy of £500 for visits of up to 3 months.

For visits lasting more than three months, visiting PhD Scholars are charged a tuition fee at the standard rate (e.g., £20,790 per year at the 2024/25 rate) or on a pro-rata basis. The department is a member of the EAA ARC International PhD Visit Scheme, which provides funding for visiting PhD Scholars.

Application

In order to apply for this PhD Visiting Scholar Program, students must first find a LUMS faculty supervisor. A directory of Accounting and Finance faculty, along with a description of their research interests and contact information, can be found on the Faculty pages .

To be considered, applicants must submit the following documents to PhD Director in Accounting, Dr Justin Chircorp or PhD Director in Finance, Dr Chelsea Yao .

• Academic transcripts (including PhD coursework transcript)
• A request for a specific time to visit (begin date and end date)
• A brief statement (not to exceed two pages) written by the applicant explaining the purpose and goals of the visit, including the details of the research project that the applicant plans to work on while in Lancaster
• A recommendation letter from a faculty member at the applicant’s home institution.

Interested students should apply at least three months prior to the start of their intended visit.

=75th in the world for Accounting and Finance

Lancaster is ranked 13th in the UK and joint 75th in the world for Accounting and Finance according to the QS World Rankings by Subject 2024, one of 11 subjects at Lancaster to be featured in the top 100 in these prestigious listings.

Alumni Profiles

Jacqui Munro

PhD Accounting and Finance , 2019

PhD Accounting & Finance , 2018

Zhifang Zhang

PhD Accounting & Finance , 2017

PhD Accounting & Finance, 2016

Joana Cardoso Fontes

PhD Accounting & Finance, 2014

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information .

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies .

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• Postgraduate study

Postgraduate research opportunities A-Z

• Accounting & Finance
• Staff research interests search

Postgraduate research  

Accounting & Finance PhD

Our thriving body of PhD students are currently researching: finance, market reactions to accounting, management accounting and control, judgment and decision-making in accounting and audit, corporate reporting and governance.

The Adam Smith Business School places a strong emphasis on the development of valuable transferable and personal development skills, such as finance-oriented computer programming, presentation and professional writing skills.

As a PhD student in Accounting & Finance, you will have opportunities to:

• present and discuss your work in progress with colleagues and staff members
• present and discuss your work in progress with staff members in other Scottish Universities through the Scottish Doctoral Colloquium
• present your work in national or international conferences (usually at later stages of the PhD process)
• attend the Wards research seminars
• benefit from the College of Social Sciences Graduate School Research Training programme
• complete a PhD research class that looks at a variety of topics such as the use of Stata and Minitab, case studies and various approaches to accounting research
• attend research training on key literature (either solely on accounting or finance or a combination of accounting and finance empirical literature)
• attend research training on necessary software programmes assisting you in your research (e.g., Nvivo, Stata)
• attend research training on qualitative and/or quantitative techniques, with a focus on accounting and finance (econometrics in particular)

You may also have the opportunity to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), delivering tutorials to first and second year undergraduate students and helping with assessment of undergraduate assignments and examinations. Teaching is payable at a University-wide hourly rate and it is anticipated that an active GTA, subject to suitability and availability, should be able to earn up to £1,500 per annum. GTAs undergo compulsory training. PhD researchers may have the opportunity to become GTAs from their second year.  Vacant posts are advertised towards the end of semester 2.

Initial programme enquiries

• [email protected]   (+44 (0)141 330 4985)

For advice on academic issues

• Finance:  Betty Wu  &  Diana Morales Arenas
• Accounting:  Yvonne Joyce  &  Alvise Favotto

Adam Smith Business School is triple accredited

Study options

Our PhD programmes are designed to satisfy a growing demand for rigorous and well-trained researchers in all aspects of accounting and finance. We offer:

• PhD in Accounting
• PhD in Finance (Accounting and Finance)
• PhD in Accounting & Finance

Our programmes are an exciting blend of formal research training, high levels of interaction between faculty and students, and a rigorously developed and closely supervised thesis based on original and relevant research. Our PhD normally takes 3 years (full-time) to complete, although the maximum is 4 years.

In the first year, they will normally study a number of chosen courses in Accounting and Finance, which will develop their quantitative and qualitative research skills as well as their knowledge of accounting and finance research literature and methodologies. An appropriate programme of study is devised for each student in consultation with the director of the programme and the candidate’s supervisor. Students will also work with their supervisors to develop their PhD research proposal into a fully operational research plan. At the end of this period, the candidate presents a fully developed thesis proposal to the Thesis Committee. This committee is responsible for approving the student’s research proposal, over-seeing and guiding the student’s research progress.

Supervisors and students are required to complete a Progress Report in April/May of each academic year. All Progress Reports are reviewed by the PhD Convenor and by the Associate Dean of the College's Graduate School. A satisfactory progress report is a prerequisite for student registration in the following academic session.

Final assessment involves the submission of a thesis of between 70,000 and 100,000 words and an oral examination (viva voce).

Entry requirements

Our research degree applicants will usually possess a good Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent), with a significant component in Accounting and Finance.

Your proposed research topic should be in an area in which supervision can be offered. You may therefore find it helpful to consider the current research interests of our staff before submitting an application.

Required documentation

Applicants should submit:

• Transcripts/degree certificate 
• Two references
• A research proposal (3000 words maximum)
• Name of potential Supervisor

English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 7.0 with no sub-test under 6.5
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test
• IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission to this programme:

TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)

• 94; with Reading 19; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 21
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.

Pearsons PTE Academic

• 66 with no subtest less than: Listening 59;Reading 60; Speaking 59; Writing 74
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

• 185 overall, no subtest less than 176

Oxford English Test

• Oxford ELLT 8
• R&L: OIDI level no less than 7 with Reading: 25-26 and Listening: 18-19
• W&S: OIDI level no less than 8.

Trinity College Tests

Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Pass with Pass in all sub-tests.

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years
• students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country  and  within the last 6 years

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Fees and funding

• UK: £4,786
• International & EU: £25,290

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• Postgraduate research funding opportunities
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding

The Adam Smith Business School provides financial support for PhD students to attend international academic conferences to present their co-authored research.

eSharp  is an international online journal for postgraduate research in the arts, humanities, social sciences and education. It is run entirely by graduate students and aims to provide a critical but supportive entry into the realm of academic publishing for emerging academics.

The School hosts seminars, workshops and conferences open to staff and research students. 

Training opportunities

• Information technology services  - core computer skills and also specialist training, such as Finding and Using Library Special Collections Material and use of quantitative data analysis software.
• Staff development service  - Personal effectiveness, working with people, business skills.
• English language unit  - English and study skills.
• Learning and teaching centre  - compulsory training for Graduate Teaching Assistants and also a more in-depth training course, 'Approaches to Teaching, Learning and Assessment', useful for students considering an academic career.
• Researcher development  - personal development planning, effective research skills, business skills.
• Research skills and professional development  - a single website for research students to find out about college-based and university-wide training initiatives, resources and courses which develop their generic research and employability skills, and support their professional development.
• Careers service  - one-to-one guidance interviews, careers workshops, practice job interviews with recruitment experts, networking opportunities with a variety of potential employers.
• Student employability  - access to a range of resources designed to help students get the most out of their University careers and to give them the best possible head-start when they enter (or re-enter) the job market.

The College of Social Sciences Graduate School draws together internationally recognised scholars and respected practitioners to offer a range of research programmes.

Our programmes are based on thorough training in research methods and we encourage you to take part in numerous exciting seminars, conferences and events. We offer modern library, IT services and a wide-range of support services. You will be living in one of Europe’s most exciting cities which has a vibrant cultural and social life . 

Our Graduate School Researcher Development Programme  will support you to plan your professional development over the course of your PhD and ensure your employability.

How to apply

Identify potential supervisors.

All Postgraduate Research Students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You may want to identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

You can find relevant academic staff members with our staff research interests search .

Also see our:

• Accounting Research Cluster & members
• Finance Research Cluster & members

Gather your documents

Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

• Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
• Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
• Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional. References may be uploaded   as part of the application form or you may enter your referees contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.  We can also accept confidential references direct to  [email protected] , from the referee’s university or business email account.
• Research proposal, CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area.
• If you have any questions about your application  before  you apply:  contact the Adam Smith Business School
• If you have any questions  after  you have submitted your application:  contact our Admissions team
• Any  references  may be submitted by email to:  [email protected]

International Students

• Advice on visa, immigrations and the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) can be found on our  International student pages

Our research environment

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers
• Getting started with PGR development:   how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Related links

• College of Social Sciences
• Adam Smith Business School
• Guide to writing a research proposal

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The field of finance covers the economics of claims on resources. Financial economists study the valuation of these claims, the markets in which they are traded, and their use by individuals, corporations, and the society at large.

At Stanford GSB, finance faculty and doctoral students study a wide spectrum of financial topics, including the pricing and valuation of assets, the behavior of financial markets, and the structure and financial decision-making of firms and financial intermediaries.

Investigation of issues arising in these areas is pursued both through the development of theoretical models and through the empirical testing of those models. The PhD Program is designed to give students a good understanding of the methods used in theoretical modeling and empirical testing.

Preparation and Qualifications

All students are required to have, or to obtain during their first year, mathematical skills at the level of one year of calculus and one course each in linear algebra and matrix theory, theory of probability, and statistical inference.

Students are expected to have familiarity with programming and data analysis using tools and software such as MATLAB, Stata, R, Python, or Julia, or to correct any deficiencies before enrolling at Stanford.

The PhD program in finance involves a great deal of very hard work, and there is keen competition for admission. For both these reasons, the faculty is selective in offering admission. Prospective applicants must have an aptitude for quantitative work and be at ease in handling formal models. A strong background in economics and college-level mathematics is desirable.

It is particularly important to realize that a PhD in finance is not a higher-level MBA, but an advanced, academically oriented degree in financial economics, with a reflective and analytical, rather than operational, viewpoint.

Faculty in Finance

Anat r. admati, juliane begenau, jonathan b. berk, michael blank, greg buchak, antonio coppola, darrell duffie, steven grenadier, benjamin hébert, arvind krishnamurthy, hanno lustig, matteo maggiori, paul pfleiderer, joshua d. rauh, claudia robles-garcia, ilya a. strebulaev, vikrant vig, jeffrey zwiebel, emeriti faculty, robert l. joss, george g.c. parker, myron s. scholes, william f. sharpe, kenneth j. singleton, james c. van horne, recent publications in finance, dollar safety and the global financial cycle, monetary tightening and u.s. bank fragility in 2023: mark-to-market losses and uninsured depositor runs, trading stocks builds financial confidence and compresses the gender gap, recent insights by stanford business, a “grumpy economist” weighs in on inflation’s causes — and its cures, the surprising economic upside to money in u.s. politics, your summer 2024 podcast playlist.

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Graduate Admissions

Office of graduate admissions.

820 Idaho Avenue Morrill Hall, Room 205 Moscow, ID 83843

University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3019 Moscow, ID 83844-3019

Phone: 208-885-4001

Email: [email protected]

Web: More Contact Information

Accountancy (M.Acct.)

Requirements.

Education Level:  Bachelor's GPA: 3.0 GRE: No TOEFL/IELTS:  88/6.5 Number of References: 3 Other Req.: No

Availabilities

Terms: Fall, Spring or Summer Location:  Moscow Thesis option:  Non-thesis WRGP Tuition: Yes Deadlines:  View U of I deadlines Expedited Admission: Yes (former U of I only)

Program Contacts

Director of Graduate Studies: Tracey Anderson Phone: 208-885-1657

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Applicants must have a minimum overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 grade scale equivalent to U.S. bachelor’s degree. If your GPA meets the minimum admission requirements, the department of major will determine if your overall academic record and test scores meet department requirements.

Note:  If you do not meet the minimum 3.00 GPA, your application can be considered for admission if you:

• earned an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for your last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits

Degree Levels and Equivalents

All graduate school applicants must satisfy the following criteria to be considered for graduate admission to the University of Idaho:  Have earned a bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized accrediting body, a ministry of education, or an official quality assurance organization in another country. The bachelor's degree should consist of four years of study, equivalent to 120 semester credit hours or 180 quarter hours.

An official academic record from all post-secondary education institutions attended is required. This may take some time so start this early in your application process.

In the instance that official records cannot be obtained, unofficial records may be used to consider your application. These documents are typically issued to the student and may be considered official after further review. This applies to cases where it is impossible to obtain the official records, and will be considered only on a case by case basis.

Domestic Applicants

Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association. If the degree is from a recognized but not regionally accredited institution, the application will be reviewed by the department and by the College of Graduate Studies.

International Applicants

For information about equivalency and required academic credentials by country of education page, use the Degree Equivalency Guide .

The University of Idaho recommends, and reserves the right to require, a professional credential evaluation by an outside, independent party. Reasons for outside review include, but are not limited to, verification of document authenticity, potential transfer credits and the wish to expedite the processing of an application file. You are responsible for supplying the correct academic records and paying for the evaluation service. You will need to request a course-by-course evaluation. Transferring Internationally earned credits requires a course-by-course professional credential evaluation .

The preferred provider of transcript evaluations is:

• World Education Services, Inc.

There is a list of the five services from which the University of Idaho will accept evaluations.

• Visit our professional credential evaluation page .

Precise, word-for-word, English translations are required for all foreign language documents.

English Proficiency

The most common and widely accepted test is the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Our institution code for the TOEFL is 4843.

The following are acceptable as proof of English Language Proficiency:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum overall score of 79 
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum overall score of 6.5
• MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): Minimum overall score of 77
• PTE A (Pearson Test of English Academic): Minimum overall score of 58
• U of I American Language & Culture Program (ALCP) with score of a Level 6/Advanced Pass
• U.S. Education Earned Bachelor, or higher, degree at accredited U.S. institution
• Duolingo English Test: Minimum Overall 110 (as of Spring 2024 admission, the minimum required score will be 115)

A waiver for this requirement is automatically granted to applicants whose education is from countries where English is an official/native language. For more information, visit our English language countries page .

• All tests must have been taken within two years of the semester.
• Some graduate programs have a higher requirement. If so, you will need to take the TOEFL, or equivalent test, and obtain the higher score prior to be granted regular admission.
• Some graduate programs allow admission to be granted to applicants who qualify academically, but have not yet achieved U of I minimum English language requirements. To view information and a list of programs accepting students on this admission, visit our international requirements webpage .

Quick Application Guide

For the best user experience:

• Desktop or laptop advised, mobile devices are not recommended
• Have recommender names and email addresses
• Have electronic versions of your required documents
• Be ready to complete an online application fee

Provide Academic & Personal Information

• Program applying
• Academic background
• English proficiency (if applicable)
• GRE (if applicable)
• Your Contact Information
• Answer varying questions
• Three (3) recommender names and emails
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Purpose
• Program Specific Materials (if required)
• Transcript Scans (if applicable)
• Provide payment information

Popular Links

• Graduate Application Status Portal
• Contact Graduate Admissions
• U of I Graduate Priority Deadlines
• Graduate Admissions FAQs

Recommendation for admission is based on the department's decision. Final admission is determined by the College of Graduate Studies.

Important notes to keep in mind  » Learn More

Tuition, Fees, Scholarships and Costs

Visit the following pages to learn more:

• Scholarships and Costs  (General Annual)
• Tuition and Fees (Semester Breakdown)
• Idaho Residency for Tuition Purposes

Letters of Recommendation

The number of letters is up to the academic department/program. Individual programs may require 1 to 3 letters of recommendation. Please  gather the names and email addresses of your recommenders. You will need to enter this information to complete an online application. Remember to inform recommenders in advance that they will receive an invitation to upload their letter of support directly to your application.

• Please use your references institutional email address
• Preferably, letters of recommendation should be issued on the university or company letterhead
• Preferably, your recommendations should come from teaching or research faculty in an area related to your anticipated field of study or a company supervisor who has worked with you and can articulate your merits

For more information, visit our documental resources page .

Submitting Documents

Include your full name on ALL materials and ensure uploads are LEGIBLE .

Any change in specific degree, major or semester before enrollment requires a new application (including uploaded material) and a non-refundable fee.

To be considered  official , all academic records and test scores (ie. transcripts, degree certificates, GRE, TOEFL) must be sent directly from the institution and/or testing center to Graduate Admissions. When these items are submitted by applicants or educational consultants/agencies, approved or not, they are considered  unofficial .

Direct mailing address is:

Graduate Admissions University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3019 Moscow, ID 83844-3019

Additional items  that applicants upload into the application include (if required):

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae (required)
• Statement of Purpose (required)
• Scans of Official Transcripts (optional, see below)
• Personal Information Form (some programs)
• Writing Sample (some programs)
• Portfolio (some programs)

Note: Failure to adhere to these requirements could delay your credential evaluation and/or admission to the University of Idaho. For more information or assistance,  visit our documental resources page .

Unofficial Transcripts

• Applicants may upload scanned copies of official transcripts and translations via the online application. Only scans of high quality (600 dpi or higher, front and back with grading keys/scales) from the University Registrar’s office, also known as original documents from your institution, are acceptable. These scans may be used to determine your acceptance into the program. However, the  official transcript documents will ultimately be required .

Official Transcripts

• Transferring Internationally earned credits requires a course-by-course professional credential evaluation .
• U.S. Institutions: Academic transcripts from each college or university attended must be received by Graduate Admissions directly from the awarding institution in the officially sealed envelope bearing the institution’s official seal, stamp, and/or appropriate signature.
• Graduate Admissions accepts electronic transcripts from U.S. higher education institutions.
• Current or former U of I students: If you have or are currently attending the U of I, you do not need to order U of I transcripts. Graduate Admissions will secure them for you.

Test Scores

• ETS Institution Code (U of I): 4843
• The GRE is only required for some graduate programs.
• Department code (if needed and not supplied): 5199
• A waiver for English language proficiency requirement is automatically granted to students whose education is from countries where English is an official/native language.
• Department code (if needed and not supplied): 99

International

Complete and return the following to Graduate Admissions regardless of your source(s) of funding:

• Certificate of Financial Responsibility Form
• Copy of passport for applicant and all accompanying dependents requiring a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20)
• Current I-20

All students currently in F-1 status at any type of institution (college, university, intensive English institute) in the U.S. who plan to transfer to the University of Idaho must complete the transfer procedure through SEVIS. For more information, see the "Student Visa and SEVIS Information" drop-down below.

Student Visa and SEVIS Information

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations require that every student verify the availability of funds to pay for educational and living expenses before an I-20 or DS-2019 form to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. can be issued.

Immigration regulations require that international students holding F-1 or J-1 student visas be certified as full-time students during the academic year. F-1 graduate students are required to be enrolled in nine credit hours and are allowed to take up to three credits of online coursework toward this requirement. J-1 visa holders are also required to enroll in nine credit hours, but are not allowed to take online classes toward the nine credit requirement.

• Additional documents are required for international students , see the "International" section of the "Submitting Documents" drop-down above.
• Not all programs are eligible for an F-1 or J-1. View the "Program Specific" drop-down or contact the program for information.
• All students currently in F-1 status at any type of institution (college, university, intensive English institute) in the U.S. who plan to transfer to the University of Idaho must complete the transfer procedure through SEVIS.

SEVIS Record Transfer Request (PDF Form)

Transfer Procedure:

• Receive admission to the University of Idaho
• Notify your current school of your intentions to transfer
• Complete Part I of this form (only after you have been admitted and choose to attend U of I)
• Have an international student advisor at your current institution complete Part II
• After you and your current school have determined the date to have your SEVIS record electronically released to the University of Idaho, promptly return this form
• After the release date, the University of Idaho will produce an I-20.

Finance & Accounting (Graduate)

• Start Your Search Here
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• Success Center Webinars & Tutorials

American Psychological Association (APA) Style Website  

The official APA website contains a wide variety of support materials for using this style in your writing process. The full edition of the APA Style guide is not free, but the support documents are freely accessible.

The Basics of Style shows users how to do the following:

• structure and format their work
• reduce bias in language
• avoid charges of plagiarism
• cite references in text
• select reference examples

CSU APA Resources

• CSU Citation Guide  (PDF) - This tutorial is based on the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) but is not a complete guide. For all rules and requirements of APA, please refer to the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which is available for purchase from the  APA Style website . Should you have any questions, please contact the CSU Success Center by email at  [email protected]  or by phone at  1.877.875.0533 .

APA Style Blog

The  APA Style Blog  is a great resource for citation information created by the APA experts. Information at the site covers the  Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition .

*Note - When citing information from a database, use the DOI (digital object identifier). If no DOI is available, no retrieval information will be included in the reference. List the author, date, title, journal name, volume number, issue number, and page number. The name of the journal and the volume number will be in italics. The issue number will be in parentheses.

• CSU Study Guide
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• << Previous: Learn How To Search
• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 2:15 PM
• URL: https://libguides.columbiasouthern.edu/finacc

Accounting and Finance MSc

1 year, starting in September 2025

Develop in-depth knowledge of accounting and finance theory and learn to apply it in practice. Graduate prepared for a career in either field.

Receive a theoretical foundation in accounting and finance. You’ll learn to analyse accounting information and financial decisions, and how to apply this knowledge in the real world. Our emphasis on technical and practical skills means you will graduate prepared for a finance or accounting career.

You'll work with and learn from industry experts. This makes sure you'll explore the most topical issues in finance practice. You'll also develop technical skills employers look for like:

• programming
• financial modelling
• applications of FinTech

You’ll have the flexibility to choose one of two options for the summer term:

• do a dissertation (either an academic research project or an applied research project)
• do an internship

Internships are not guaranteed. Places are competitive and we advertise opportunities to students.

Key benefits

• Get an advantage in the job market by developing the skills employers want
• Learn the key contemporary issues in finance practice
• Make the course your own. Customise the degree to suit your strengths and ambitions by choosing two optional units from a range of topics.
• Share your knowledge and experiences with students from all our finance courses. You'll gain global insight working with students from all over the world.

Highly-ranked

We’re ranked 2nd in the UK for Accounting and Finance in our undergraduate courses in the Complete University Guide 2025 and top 5 by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024.

We give you the edge

We combine the latest research with many opportunities to apply it. This will help you stand out from the crowd. You'll develop key professional skills and work with our partner organisations on optional projects from day one. Find out more about optional activities .

Some of our industry partners include:

Studying a Finance-related course gives you access to a range of financial databases and terminals like Bloomberg, Refinitiv Workspace (for Datastream/Eikon and Thomson One), Morningstar Direct, Wharton Research Data Services, Mergent and FAME.

Our graduates have a great employment record. Most go on to careers in a range of areas, start their own business or begin a PhD. Find out more about how we prepare you for career success .

Watch this video to find out more about how we get you ready for the job market .

Graduate career data

76% of our 2022 and 2023 graduates had accepted a job offer within three months of completing their degree. View more graduate career data .

Building for the future

Our School of Management building opened in June 2022 . The latest technology gives you a flexible and modern learning environment. The design focuses on working together, with an open layout to enable effective teamwork.

Our building encourages engagement with other students and academics. A dedicated Employment Hub provides a space for you to meet and network with our industry partners. 

Learning and teaching  

You’ll learn from staff with backgrounds and expertise in relevant areas of accounting and finance. This course has been designed to ensure the available units complement each other to meet its overall aims.

2024/25 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

• Course structure

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

You’ll choose 5 credits of optional units.

Compulsory units

Econometrics and data analysis for accounting and finance, financial and management accounting, fundamentals of finance, optional units, introduction to quantitative finance, programming for finance, technology and financial services, audit and assurance, uk tax, tax planning and principles of taxation, contemporary issues in finance practice, financial statement analysis and equity valuation, investment and portfolio management, sustainability accounting.

You’ll have the flexibility to choose one of two options.

Dissertation

Summer internship.

• Learning and assessment

These lists are to give you an idea of some, but not all, of the learning and assessment methods used on this course. They are not exhaustive lists and methods are subject to change.

Learning and teaching

Overall workload  .

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activities. The balance of these elements within your overall workload may vary depending on the units you choose.

Contact hours  

Timetabled contact hours, which can be made up of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically between 10 and 16 hours a week during the taught semesters. 

Additional briefing sessions will be provided to help you prepare for the dissertation period and as part of the co-curricular offering of live projects. (See below for the co-curricular offering.) You will receive direct guidance from an allocated member of academic staff for your dissertation activity.

Independent learning

As well as timetabled contact hours, you're expected to undertake independent learning and assessment. Typically, this might be around 25 - 30 hours per week, and include individual research, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, preparing coursework, presentations, or revising for exams.

Assessment breakdown

You will experience a broad balance between different forms of assessment: individual and group assignments, as well as examinations. The work required may include written submissions, live presentations and recorded videos. Assessment on the course has been designed to support your professional development in important business skills.

The final degree grade is determined by a weighted average of the taught semesters (two thirds) and the dissertation/practice activity (one third).

We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. Take a look at our Disability Service’s pages  for information.

Professional exemptions

We are currently going through the accreditation process with ACCA and are waiting on the outcome.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

‘At Bath they have a huge range of extracurricular activities, like consulting projects which you do with local companies.’

• Entry requirements

Origin of qualifications

British qualifications, type of degree.

2:1 or above (or international equivalent) undergraduate degree. Your degree can be in any discipline but a quantitative background/aptitude required.

Such subjects include engineering, mathematics, economics and physics. We may consider other subjects if they have enough quantitative content.

If you are a UK student and completed your undergraduate degree abroad, your qualification must be equivalent to a 2:1 or above.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree.

Work experience

In exceptional cases, relevant work experience may be a substitute for the degree requirement. You should have no more than three years’ relevant work experience.

English language requirements

You will need an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of at least 6.5 overall . Your scores for reading, writing, listening and speaking must be at least 6.0 .

These results must be no more than two years old from the start date of your MSc course.

Read more on the IELTS website .

IELTS alternatives

We also accept other language tests, including PTE Academic, TOEFL. iBT, CPE and CAE.

Read more about alternative language tests .

If you have already taken a test but have not met the required standard, you can apply to take a pre-sessional course at the University. Find out more about pre-sessional courses .

If you are already studying in the UK

If you completed all of your undergraduate studies in:

• a country where English is the official first language

You may be exempt from our English language requirements.

Combined offers

If you have an overall IELTS score of 6.0 or 5.5 you may qualify for a combined offer.

Five-week course

An overall IELTS score of 6.0 may allow you to take a five-week English course before your MSc. Each of your listening, reading, writing and speaking scores must be at least 5.5.

Ten-week course

An overall IELTS score of 5.5 may allow you to take a ten-week course before your MSc. Each of your listening, reading, writing and speaking scores must be at least 5.5.

Find out more about combined offers .

South Korean qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Haksa) with a final overall result of at least 3.0 out of 4.3 or 3.5 out of 4.5.

Swiss qualifications

A Bachelor Degree (Baccalauréat Universitaire) with a final overall result of at least 5 out of 6.

Turkish qualifications

A Lisans Diplomasi (Bachelor degree) or Mühendis Diplomasi with a final overall score of at least GPA 2.8-3.0 on a 4-point scale, depending on the institution you have attended.

Indonesian qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Sarjana I) with a final overall result of at least 3.0 out of 4.0.

Iranian qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or Professional Doctorate with a final overall result of at least 14 out of 20 when studied at a state university and 15 out of 20 when studied at a private university.

Irish qualifications

A Honours Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least Second Class Honours (Grade I).

Egyptian qualifications

You should have a Bachelor degree from a university with a final overall result of at least 75% (Very Good) or 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

South African qualifications

You should have a Bachelor Honours degree, Professional Bachelor degree or Baccalaureus Technologiae (Bachelor of Technology) with a final overall result of at least Second Class (Division One) or 70%.

Spanish qualifications

A Título Universitario Oficial de Licenciado en (subject area) (Licenciatura), Título Universitario Oficial de Graduado en (subject area) (Grado), Título de Ingeniero or Título de Arquitecto with a final overall result of at least 7 out of 10 (Notable/Very Good).

Kenyan qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division).

Polish qualifications

A Licencjat or Inżynier (Bachelor degree) with a final overall result of at least 4.5 on a 5-point scale.

Romanian qualifications

A Diplomă de Licență (Bachelor degree), Diplomă de Inginer or Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat with a final overall result of at least 8 out of 10.

Swedish qualifications

A Kandidatexamen (Bachelor Degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelor degree) with a final overall result of at least Grade B. Please contact us if your institution uses a different grading scale.

Ukrainian qualifications

A Bachelor degree (awarded after 2007) or Specialist Diploma with a final result of at least 80% or 3.5 on a 4-point scale. Please contact us if your institution uses a different grading scale.

American qualifications

A Honours Bachelor degree or Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least CGPA 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

Danish qualifications

A Bachelor degree, Candidatus Philosophiae, Diplomingeniør (Engineer), Professionsbachelor (Professional Bachelor degree) or Korrespondenteksamen with a final overall result of at least 7 out of 10.

Chinese qualifications

A four year Bachelor degree with a final overall score of at least 70-80% depending on the institution attended.

German qualifications

A Bachelor degree, Esrte Staatsprüfung (Primarstufe / Sekundarstufe I), Fachhochschuldiplom / Diplom (FH) or Magister Artium with a final overall result of at least 2.5 (Gut).

Vietnamese qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Đại Học/Bằng Cử Nhân) of at least four years or a Masters (Thạc sĩ) from a recognised degree-awarding institution with a final overall result of at least 7.0 on a 10-point scale.

Finnish qualifications

A Kandidaatti / Kandidat (University Bachelor Degree), (Professional Title) (AMK/YH) (Bachelor degree from a University of Applied Sciences), Arkkitehti / Arktitekt / Diplomi-insööri / Diplomingenör / Proviisori / Provisor with a final overall result of at least 3.5 on a 5-point scale.

Ghanaian qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of Upper Second Class (60% or 3.25 on a 4-point scale).

Greek qualifications

A University Bachelor degree (Ptychio) or Diploma with a final overall score of at least 6.5 out of 10.

Indian qualifications

Typically, we require a Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least First Class. However, due to the number of different grading scales in use, we ask that you upload a copy of the grading scale used by your institution, along with your transcript, when you submit your application.

Kazakhstani qualifications

A Bakalavr (Bachelor degree) or Specialist Diploma with a final overall result of at least 4.5 on a 5-point scale or 3.2 on a 4-point scale.

Icelandic qualifications

A Baccalaureus or Candidatus/a with an overall final result of at least 7.25 on a 10-point scale.

Nepali qualifications

A four year Bachelor degree from a recognised university with a final overall result of at least 65% or 3.25/4.0 or Masters degree following a three year or four year Bachelor degree.

Pakistani qualifications

A four-year Bachelor degree from a high ranked (HEC) university with a final overall result of at least a First Class (Division 1). CGPA of at least 3.0 and above depending on grading system.

Italian qualifications

A Laurea, Laurea in Ingegneria / Architettura, Diploma Accademico di Primo Livello, Diploma di Mediatore Linguistico or Licenza di Academia di Belle Arti with a final result of at least 102 out of 110.

Taiwanese qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least 75% depending on the institution attended.

Thai qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least CGPA 3.0.

Austrian qualifications

A Bachelor degree or Fachhochschuldiplom/Diplom (FH) with a final result of at least Gut.

Nigerian qualifications

Cypriot qualifications.

A Bachelor degree (Ptychio) with a final overall result of at least 6.5 out of 10.

Malaysian qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least Second Class (Division 1).

Mexican qualifications

A Título de Licenciado or Título (Profesional) de (subject area) with a final overall result of least 8 out of 10.

Dutch qualifications

A Bachelor degree or Doctoraal with a final overall result of at least 7 out of 10.

Portuguese qualifications

A Licenciado with a final overall result of at least 15 out of 20.

Norwegian qualifications

A Bachelorgrad (Bachelor degree), Candidatus/a Magisterii, Sivilingeniør or Siviløkonom with a final overall result of at least B.

Australian qualifications

A Bachelor Honours degree with a final result of at least Second Class (Upper Division) or a Bachelor degree with a final result of Distinction or higher.

Belgian qualifications

A Bachelier, Licencié or Licentiaat and other two cycle diplomas with a final overall score of at least 16 out of 20.

Brazilian qualifications

A Titulo de Bacharel, Titulo de (subject area) or Licenciado/a with a final overall result of at least 7.5 out of 10.

Canadian qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Honours) or Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least CGPA 3.0 on a 4-point scale (B or 70%). Please contact us if your institution uses a different grading scale.

Emirati qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least 3 out of 4, 80% or B.

French qualifications

A Grade de licence / Grade de licence professionnelle with a final overall result of at least 13 out of 20.

Hong Kongese qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Honours) with a final overall result of Second Class (Division 1) Honours or 3.0 out of 4.0.

Japanese qualifications

A Bachelor degree (Gakushi) with a final overall result of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 (B).

Other qualifications

We welcome applications from graduates from all countries. If you can’t see your country in the list, please contact our admissions team for advice about your specific entry requirements.

To apply for this course, you should have an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK 2:1 or above. Your degree can be in any discipline but a quantitative background/aptitude required.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the course.

Saudi Arabian qualifications

A Bachelor degree with a final overall result of at least 3.5 on a 5-point scale or 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

Singaporean qualifications

A strong Bachelor (Honours) degree when studied at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Institute of Technology or Singapore University of Social Sciences with a final overall result of at least Second Class (Upper) Honours, or a strong Bachelor degree when studied at Singapore Management University (SMU) or Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Typically, we require a final overall result of at least Second Class (Upper) Honours, 60% or B, however we ask that you upload a copy of the grading scale used by your institution, along with your transcript, when you submit your application due to the range of grading scales used by different institutions.

• Fees and funding

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses .

Extra costs

All School of Management MSc courses have a £60 application fee. Do not pay the fee until you have completed your application. You can pay the fee using the University’s online payment system .

If we offer you a place on a course, you will need to pay a £1,500 deposit to secure it.

Tuition fee loans

If you are studying a postgraduate course, you may be able to take out a loan for your tuition fees and living costs.

Scholarships and bursaries

Msc scholarships.

A range of scholarships are available with varying award amounts, with over 50 scholarships available.

Other payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer. You may also be eligible for a student loan to help you pay your fees.

As well as the cost of books, you will also need to cover the cost of scanning and photocopying. You should budget at least £100 for this.

Some courses involve engagement away from the University campus, and you may be required to pay some or all of the costs for these optional events.

• Application information
• Course title Accounting and Finance
• Final award MSc
• Mode of study Full-time
• Course code TDUMN-AF01
• Department School of Management
• Location University of Bath Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full.

We recommend you apply early as we may close applications before the deadline if a course is full. We may consider late applications but if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK, you will need time to apply for and receive your visa to be in the UK by the start of the course.

• Application eligibility Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply
• Regulator The Office for Students (OfS)
• Course enquiries

School of Management MSc team

Apply for 2025 entry.

• Related courses
• Finance MSc – 1 years
• Finance with Risk Management MSc – 1 years
• Finance with Banking MSc – 1 years

On this page

• Course changes for 2025/26
• Professional accreditations
• Recognition of Professional Qualifications

Develop a broad understanding of the theoretical framework as well as the practical principles of auditing and other assurance engagements. You'll learn about the current regulations, developments and techniques in audit practice. You'll also develop the skills to deal with real-world issues and complexities of the audit process.

This unit is:

• compulsory on Management with Finance 
• optional on the other Management streams 

Develop a broad understanding of the topical issues in the finance practice. You'll learn how theory is applied in practice and the challenges you may face as a finance practitioner. Topics covered will change to reflect contemporary finance, but some topics we would have explored in recent years include blockchain, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

Research a topic in detail. You'll be able to focus on either an academic research question(s) or a practical challenge. Your analysis might be based on primary data, secondary data or a synthesis of existing literature. You’ll produce recommendations for theory and/or practice.

Develop a fundamental understanding of various research methods, econometrics techniques and data analysis tools for accounting and finance research. You'll also develop the skills and knowledge to obtain information through database research. You'll conduct a comprehensive investigation over a range of accounting and financial relationships and evaluate your findings.

• Year 1 - Semester 1
• Year 1 - Semester 2

Get a comprehensive overview of accounting theory and practice. You'll develop your understanding of:

• financial reporting practice
• the strategic and conceptual issues associated with management accounting techniques
• the role of accounting information in capital markets
• how to prepare financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards requirements
• how to use management accounting information for decision making and performance measurement

Develop a broad understanding of both the theory and the practice of financial statement analysis. You'll learn about valuation techniques and how to use them in equity valuation.

Develop your understanding of the key theoretical principles of:

• financial decision making
• corporate policy

You'll develop the knowledge and skills to analyse corporate policy, identify and apply the appropriate techniques for investment appraisals and price financial assets.

Develop a broad understanding of the complete and incomplete markets and how to apply them to asset pricing. You'll also explore a range of financial derivatives and gain the skills to apply mathematical tools to price and hedge financial instruments.

Develop your understanding of the fundamental principles of portfolio theory and investment decisions. You'll gain the knowledge and skills to:

• analyse investment opportunities
• build and manage portfolios
• evaluate the performance of investment portfolios

Develop your understanding of programming languages used in the finance industry, like Python, SQL, C++ and JavaScript. You'll learn to apply your coding skills to a variety of financial problems like:

• developing trading strategies
• portfolio construction
• risk analysis

Apply your academic knowledge in a real job with a summer internship at an organisation. You'll develop your skills, learn about an industry and gain experience of a practical work environment.

We can't guarantee internships, but our MSc Careers team will support you with your job search and at all stages of the application process.

Develop a broad understanding of the reporting standards and framework on sustainability. You'll explore standards issued by bodies like:

• Global Reporting Initiative
• Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
• the International Accounting Standards Board

You'll also gain the knowledge and skills to measure and report on social and environmental performance.

Develop your understanding of how to apply recent technological innovations in the finance sector and their implications for financial services. You'll explore topics like:

• artificial intelligence
• machine learning
• distributed ledger technology

Develop your understanding of the UK tax system and policies for the main types of taxation. You'll develop the knowledge and skills to prepare computations of UK tax liabilities and provide tax advice to individuals, partnerships and corporate entities . The unit’s emphasis on the principles of taxation will enable you to apply your knowledge to other tax environments.