Accounting and Finance

The PhD programme offered by the Accounting and Finance subject group is designed to help satisfy the growing demand for rigorous and well-trained researchers in all aspects of accounting and finance. With the rapid rate of global change in organisations, economies, societies and education, the need for research of the highest quality has never been higher.

In response to this, we offer PhD supervision to a range of topics within the Accounting and Finance subject area, in line with our staff’s research interests. This results in students to be able to graduate with a PhD in their area of research specialism:

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

The programme is 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. It normally takes up to four years (full-time) to complete, although this may vary depending upon the candidate’s prior experience.

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.

Assessment

Supervisors and students are required to complete a Progress Report in June 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).