
PhD Programmes in Accounting and Finance
We recruit the finest calibre PhD students of all backgrounds from across the world.
About the programme
Do you want to join a quadruple-accredited, world-ranked Management School? We are the UK’s most research-intensive business school according to the latest Research Excellence Framework. Our programme will provide you with the skills to become outstanding researchers who can thrive in the world’s leading business schools.
Our internationally-respected 4-year PhD programmes in both Accounting and Finance take place in a friendly international community. Our department includes editors of leading journals with academics operating an open-door policy for our doctoral students. You will also have access to cutting-edge databases, scientific computing facilities, IT support, dedicated office space, workshops, conferences, a vibrant seminar series, and an opportunity to spend a semester abroad at one of our U.S. partner schools.
Find a PhD topic
The first step towards your PhD is to find potential research areas that match your interests and the research interests of our faculty. Before you submit your application, please review the research interests of our academics to find a synergy with your own proposed topic area. We do not expect you to contact potential supervisors before submitting your application.

"Throughout my PhD I discussed and debated research thinking with my supervisors, who are excellent and outstanding scholars."
Chi-Hsiou Hung, PhD Accounting & Finance, 2004
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.
Tab Content: PhD in Accounting
Below is an overview of the modules you will study in your first year:
Modules | Credits |
---|---|
Term One | |
Advanced Financial Accounting (Theory) | 15 |
Advanced Accounting (Theory) | 15 |
Quantitative Methods | 15 |
Corporate Finance I (Theory) | 15 |
1 Elective | 15 |
Teaching Skills | Attendance |
Term Two | |
Advanced Accounting (Empirics) | 15 |
Advanced Accounting Seminar II | 15 |
1 Elective | 15 |
Teaching Skills | Attendance |
Term Three | |
Pilot study (draft 1st paper) | 40 |
Teaching Skills | Attendance |
Total: 190 credits |
Tab Content: PhD in Finance
Below is an overview of the modules you will study in your first year.
Module | Credits |
---|---|
Term One | |
Quantitative Methods | 15 |
Corporate Finance I (Theory) | 15 |
Asset Pricing I (Theory) | 15 |
2 Electives | 30 |
Teaching Skills | Attendance |
Term Two | |
Corporate Finance II (Empirics) | 15 |
Asset Pricing II (Empirics) | 15 |
2 Electives | 30 |
Teaching Skills | Attendance |
Term Three | |
Pilot study (draft 1st paper) | 40 |
Total: 190 credits |
Tab Content: Research Training Seminars
These seminars are open to PhD students from all programmes, with two compulsory seminars in the first term. All PhD students are strongly encouraged to attend the seminars that you think will aid your study.
Seminar | Compulsory/Optional |
---|---|
Term One | |
Strategies for Success: Managing your PhD - Getting Started | Optional |
Plagiarism | Compulsory |
Ethics and Research | Compulsory |
Evaluating Academic Literature & Writing Your Literature Review | Optional |
Managing Writing | Optional |
Career Planning Part 1 - preparing to secure an academic post | Optional |
Writing retreat | Optional |
Career Planning Part 2 - Developing an online Academic Portfolio | Optional |
Term Two | |
Career Planning Part 3 - Applying for Academic Jobs | Optional |
Nvivo Training 1 | Optional |
Establishing an Intellectual Identity | Optional |
Strategies for success: Managing your PhD - Staying Focused, Getting Finished | Optional |
Panels and Reviews | Optional |
Enjoying your Viva | Optional |
Writing for Academic Journals in the Context of your Career | Optional |
How to Write a Thesis | Optional |
Writing Retreat / Nvivo training 2 | Optional |
Term Three | |
How to Present your Work in Public and at Conferences | Optional |
Getting an Academic Job and Managing your Career | Optional |
How to get your book published / Atlas Session 1 | Optional |
Postdoc Funding | Optional |
Atlas Session 2 | Optional |
Writing Retreat | Optional |
Tab Content: Databases
Throughout your studies, you will have access to a wide range of leading databases and other resources to enhance your learning:
In Department | |||
---|---|---|---|
Audit Analytics | CSMAR | FDIC | PHLX |
Bank Regulatory | Datastream | Federal Reserve Bank Reports | Refinitiv Eikon |
Bankscope | DealScan | I/B/E/S | SNL Financial |
Bloomberg Professional | Eventus | ISS (formerly RiskMetrics) | TAQ |
BoardEx | Execucomp | OptionMetrics | TRACE |
Compustat | Fama French | Perfect Filings | WRDS |
CRSP |
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Studentships and Funding
Our studentships and funding opportunities for PhD study are available through the UK's research councils, through Lancaster University, and through various other organisations. We provide below the details of some different types of studentships, which include fees and a living allowance, and further links for other funding opportunities.
Accordion
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Studentships and Loans
LUMS Scholarships - All students
A number of LUMS Studentships are available which include a fee waiver and a stipend of approximately £15,000 per annum. Applicants should indicate that they wish to be considered for a Doctoral Studentship on their application form (under the section on proposed source of funding and in the personal statement) so that they can automatically be considered: there are no separate studentship application forms.
These studentships are available for all the PhD programmes offered by LUMS and for students of any nationality. This is a generous programme of awards, allocated on a competitive basis, which is intended to support promising researchers to undertake their PhD studies in LUMS. Students receiving these studentships will be required to undertake some teaching and/or marking activities.
Eligibility: all students
Deadline for applications: 28 March 2022Programme Studentships - Management Science only
Currently, the Department of Management Science offers programme-specific funded studentships aimed at high achieving applicants.
Eligibility: Management Science applicants only
Interests: Our interests cover information systems and the digital economy; operational research; and operations management, including supply chain and logistics. Supervision is available in all these areas.
More Details: We have a large group of PhD candidates and are seeking others to join them. The funding covers fees and living costs and are currently only available for full time study. Details of potential PhD topics can be found on the Management Science PhD page. For more details, please contact Ms Gay Bentinck.
Deadline: There are two deadlines for 31 December and 15 February each year.
Commonwealth Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships are prestigious awards and are very valuable for international students. They are available on a competitive basis.
Eligibility: overseas students
Postgraduate Doctoral Loan
If you’re starting a doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £27,265 to help with course fees and living costs. It isn’t based on your income or your family’s and it’s paid directly to you. Please visit the Gov.uk website for more information.
Additional Information
Plenty of websites provide information about funding opportunities. We would suggest overseas applicants consider the website of the British Council for helpful information. Among the many other sources, we suggest the following links:
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ESRC Awards
Lancaster University forms part of the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP), which offers a large number of studentships covering tuition and providing a living allowance. Details of the provision and funding offered by the NWSSDTP are available on the NWSSDTP website.
- Eligibility for UK students: no restrictions
- Eligibility for EU students: restrictions apply; please check the ESRC website or contact us for details
- Eligibility for overseas students: eligible to apply for a full award in Economics and topics classed as Advanced Quantitative Methods. For other pathways restrictions apply; please check the ESRC website or contact us for details.
If you are interested in applying for an ESRC Studentship, please contact Sarah Patterson.
Deadline for applications: 5pm 1st February 2022
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STOR-i
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistics and Operational Research in partnership with industry (STOR-i) is a collaboration between Lancaster's Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Department of Management Science. STOR-i's goal is the development of international research leaders through a programme in which industrial challenge is the catalyst for mathematical innovation. The Centre's distinctive mission is based on a partnership with several of the UK's leading companies across a range of sectors, including AstraZeneca, BT, IBM, Shell and SSE. We are currently recruiting for entry onto the programme in 2021.
Further details can be found on the STOR-i website.
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EPSRC
Lancaster University regularly receives funding from the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) to support doctoral researchers working at the quantitative end of Management Science. Applicants will need to:
- Be based in the Department of Management Science
- Have a strong quantitative background (in, e.g., mathematics, physics, computer science or engineering)
- Have a research interest that aligns with the interests of one or more staff members in the department
These studentships are mainly for UK applicants, but there are usually a limited number available for EU and International applicants.
Application Details
Applicants should indicate that they wish to be considered for an EPSRC Studentship on their application form.
It is not necessary to submit a full research proposal, but applications should indicate a preferred supervisor or supervisors and describe how the application aligns with their areas of interest.
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OR-MASTER
4-Year PhD studentships in Mathematical Models and Algorithms for Managing Airport Capacity
“Mathematical Models and Algorithms for Allocating Scarce Airport Resources” (OR-MASTER) is a six-year Programme Grant funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). OR-MASTER aims to develop new mathematical models and algorithms for solving complex, large-scale resource allocation problems, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative decision support capabilities for airport capacity allocation and management. These studentships provide great opportunities for individuals to develop their mathematics/computer science skills while making a contribution to an area of immense importance to society.
The Programme represents a strong partnership between academia and the air transport industry. Over the six years of the Programme, OR-MASTER will involve close collaboration with a host of international organisations (including airports, air traffic management organisations, airlines, ground handling services providers and global security organisations; international research centres and research networks) that will support the project, providing real-world data, insights and expertise. There will be opportunities to work closely with our partners.
For further information, please download OR-MASTER.
The complete application consisting of a cover letter (that includes a statement of your understanding of the project), curriculum vitae, transcripts and a recommendation letter needs to be sent to the indicated contact address.
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EPSRC - Operational Research
Following substantial recent investment in the Mathematical Sciences at Lancaster University, we
invite applications for a fully funded PhD studentship in Operations Research for entry in October
2022, to be supervised by Dr. Xishu Li.Research project
The studentship will be to work on a project related to one of the followings:
Flexible and Effective Contracting in the Gig EconomyTrust and Fairness in the Sharing Economy
Community-Based Sharing Models for Private Goods and Services
In these projects, we answer questions such as what drives trust and fairness on each side of the
sharing economy, how to maintain a sustainable labor supply in the gig economy through contracting,
and how to enhance social welfare and reduce over-consumption through a community-based
sharing model. Research methods could be Markov decision process, stochastic programming,
game theory, behavioural experiments and simulation.However applicants are welcome to propose other projects within the research interests of the
supervisor.Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to have, or shortly to be awarded, a minimum of an
upper-second class honours degree, or its equivalent, in Mathematics, Statistics or a related
field, relevant to the research areas outlined above. Preferably applicants will hold, or be
expected to achieve, a first-class honours degree in MSci or MMath Mathematics, a distinction in
MSc Statistics or MSc Operational Research, or an equivalent qualification. Those who have
excelled, or are excelling, at BSc level will also be considered positively.Funding eligibility
These studentships cover up to four years of full payment of tuition fees at the Home (UK) level
plus an annual stipend for living expenses. Regrettably non-UK applicants are not eligible for
this funding.Application process
All applications received before 1200 on Friday 3rd June 2022 will be considered equally.
Applications received after that time will be assessed on a rolling basis. Guidelines on the application process
may be found here.Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies, and seek to promote a healthy work-life balance. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN and has held a Bronze award since 2008, in recognition of good employment practice to address gender equality in higher education and research. The Department achieved its own Athena SWAN Bronze award in 2017 and is a registered supporter of the London Mathematical Society’s Good Practice Scheme. We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.Contact
Those interested are encouraged to discuss their application with Dr. Xishu Li.

Job Market Candidates
Our Accounting and Finance job market candidates are listed below. For a full list of LUMS candidates, please visit our PhD Job Market Candidates page. For further details, please contact the Doctoral Office.
Visiting PhD Scholars Program
Eligibility
- The Visiting PhD Scholars program is intended for current doctoral students who are sufficiently fluent in English and proficient in their disciplines to make a positive contribution to the research culture of Lancaster University Management School (LUMS).
- Applicants must be doctoral students. Individuals who have already obtained their PhD are not eligible for this program.
- The Visiting PhD Scholars program and its requirements and procedures are subject to change without notice.
Cost
Visiting PhD Scholars are charged a registration levy of £500 for visits of up to 3 months.
For visits more than 3 months, visiting PhD Scholars are charged a tuition fee at the standard rate (e.g., £18,590 per year at the 2021/22 rate) or on a pro-rata basis. The department is a member of the EAA ARC International PhD Visit Scheme that 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 in the Faculty pages.
To be considered, applicants must submit the following documents to PhD Director in Accounting, Professor Igor Goncharov or PhD Director in Finance, Dr Chelsea Yao.
- CV
- 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.