PhD in Finance
The WBS PhD in Finance is a stream of the WBS Doctoral Programme designed to develop graduates who are qualified for careers in top academic institutions and leading financial institutions, and to foster doctoral research of the highest international quality.
The taught courses in the first year offer structured and specialist training in theoretical and empirical research methods in Finance. Our doctoral researchers are encouraged to participate in the research activities of the WBS Finance Group and there is funding available for them to present work and attend conferences.
Funding for fees & maintenance is available from a variety of sources, including WBS scholarships and ESRC +3 awards.
Course structure
The PhD in Finance has a minimum registration period of three years full-time. We require all of our PhD students to be full-time in the first year. Only under very exceptional circumstances will a doctoral researcher be allowed to move to part-time status, later in the programme. Please note that we do not take part-time Doctoral researchers onto the PhD in Finance and there is no distance learning study option for a doctorate at WBS.
You will register for the degree of MPhil/PhD in the first instance. On successful completion of the first year's research training programme and the presentation of a satisfactory research proposal, your registration will be upgraded from MPhil to PhD status. You will then do research for a thesis of around 80,000 words, under the guidance of your supervisor. The degree of PhD is awarded solely on the basis of this thesis, the criterion for the award being that the thesis makes a significant contribution to knowledge.
Year one research training programme
Your core research training will be undertaken in the first year. It will provide a high-level and structured post-masters training in the Finance area. The Programme is compulsory for all Doctoral researchers registered on the MPhil/ PhD in Finance and you must pass all the assessed modules in order to upgrade to PhD.
The modules will be delivered mainly through lectures and seminars with additional workshops and day schools as required.
Term 1 core modules
- Theory of Finance covering asset pricing, corporate finance and derivative securities - assessed by coursework and final examination
- Quantitative Methods in Finance covering financial econometrics and quantitative techniques - assessed by coursework and final examination
- Planning and Managing Research Part 1 focusing on issues relating to doctoral research such as research process and design, coping with conferences, getting published, and writing skills for researchers - non-assessed
Term 2 core modules
- Frontiers of Research in Finance covering latest research in the fields of international finance, investments and portfolio management, asset pricing, behavioural finance, corporate finance, derivatives, and microstructure of markets - assessed by coursework and final examination
- Planning and Managing Research Part 2 - non-assessed
Term 3 core module
- Methodology of Social Science is designed to enable doctoral researchers to understand the philosophy and paradigms which underlie research in Finance, within the wider context of the physical and social sciences - assessed by coursework
Term 1 and 2 elective modules
Two modules selected from the WBS Finance related Masters or the PhD in Economics at Warwick.
Years two and three
You are encouraged to undertake additional training in Year Two and beyond to broaden your understanding of social science research as well as research in the Finance area. In particular, you are encouraged to take the following modules from the main WBS Doctoral Programme:
- Philosophy of Social Sciences
- Qualitative Research Methods
Research seminars and additional training
As a PhD in Finance researcher you will have the opportunity to participate in the weekly internal and external research seminars of the Finance Group. In addition you will be able to attend a wide range of other courses to improve your personal and professional skills throughout your period of study. The WBS Doctoral Programme Office also works with other University departments (e.g. Careers Service) to deliver training which is specifically tailored to the needs of doctoral researchers.
Supervision
In designing and undertaking your research project, you will be advised by one or two supervisors with appropriate research expertise and interests. Your main supervisor will be provisionally nominated when you are offered a place on the Programme; a second supervisor is normally chosen towards the end of the first year of study.
Search the Finance Group Faculty and their research interests.
More information on choosing your supervisor.
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