Accounting and Finance

Entry requirements

We will consider all applicants with 2:2 or above, or equivalent international qualifications. For some courses, there may be additional requirements which can be found on our website.

Months of entry

January, April, October

Course content

This research programme gives you the opportunity to undertake advanced empirical research in the fields of accounting and finance. You gain in-depth knowledge of the research methods used in capital market analysis and can explore areas high on the agenda of financial institutions.

You may choose to explore areas such as:

• banking and financial institutions
• mergers and takeovers
• the role of financial analysts
• shareholder activism

You can follow a 'three paper' thesis, where you produce three research articles, framed by an introduction and conclusion. Alternatively, you may opt to follow a traditional thesis approach, writing a complete and systematic account of your research in a dissertation. Your supervisors support you to submit your work to conferences and for publication in international journals, so you can begin to build you international research portfolio well before graduation.

You study at Essex Business School (EBS), world renowned for high quality empirical research in accounting, finance and related disciplines. We are the largest department at the University of Essex, giving you the opportunity to work alongside expert academics with a diverse range of research interests and viewpoints on financial practice and policy.

Our accounting group has an excellent reputation for research on governance, auditing practices in developing countries and the impact of accounting practices in a globalised world. We explore alternative aspects of accounting through a social science lens and champion responsibility and ethics in business. For example, Emeritus Professor Prem Sikka's criticisms of corporation tax avoidance can often be found in the national and international media.

We are also home to one of the largest and most respected finance groups in the UK. Our work has been cited in the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve.

You benefit from insight from our many accounting and finance research centres:

• Essex Accounting Centre
• Essex Finance Centre
• BAFA Accounting and Finance in Emerging Economies
• Essex Centre for Macro and Financial Econometrics

They organise seminars throughout the year where you have access to the latest academic thinking and the opportunity to network with colleagues and visiting scholars from across the world.

PhD Accounting and Finance can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis and we also offer an Mphil and a Masters by dissertation in this subject.

You may also be eligible for a PhD scholarship.