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Lancaster University: Accounting and Finance
| Institution | Lancaster University View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | Accounting and Finance |
| Web | www.lancaster.ac.uk |
| pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +44 (0)1524 592032 |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
The Department of Accounting and Finance at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) invites applications for its PhD programme in Accounting and Finance. You will work alongside world-leading academics in a busy, exciting, and innovative department.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates who have an excellent undergraduate degree and outstanding performance at master's level. Qualifications should be in a related discipline to your intended PhD studies. You should also be committed to pursuing an academic career.
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 programme. It is one of the largest departments within Lancaster's globally recognised, triple-accredited international business school.
PhD students in Accounting and Finance are required to complete a portfolio of advanced courses and seminars that cover finance theory, econometric methods, statistical methods, and research methodology. Upon completing the coursework successfully, you will conduct research and write a thesis on a topic that you are passionate about. Two subject matter experts will offer detailed supervision to ensure that your research contributes new knowledge to the academic community.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to gain international experience by visiting a leading school in the US or Europe that specialises in a relevant research area. We offer an excellent environment for PhD studies, which includes dedicated office space, generous funding for conference and research visits, access to numerous specialised databases, as well as scientific computing facilities, and IT support.
For many years, the department has consistently strengthened its doctoral programme. We have developed a comprehensive PhD training system to help our graduates succeed in the job market. In addition to the training provided by our excellent faculty, the department regularly invites distinguished visiting professors from top universities around the world to conduct doctoral tutorials on specialised research topics. Our PhD students are privileged to receive training from world-leading scholars each summer and have extensive opportunities to consult with external experts.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry 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. 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. 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. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
Summary
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 £18,662 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.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 8 |
| Entry 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. 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. 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. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
MSc
Summary
Our MSc Accounting and Finance allows you to excel at accounting, financial strategy, and emerging technologies. The programme provides you with advanced knowledge in financial reporting, corporate finance, management accounting, and sustainability reporting, alongside cutting-edge skills in data analytics, Excel VBA, and accounting software. You can tailor your learning through optional modules focusing on emerging technologies such as AI and cybersecurity. You will also benefit from personalised guidance from our specialist accounting and finance career coaching team and our strong connections with professional accounting bodies and global employers, including Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC.
Take your career further Career opportunities for graduates include roles such as financial controller, tax and financial advisor, financial manager, analyst, management accountant, consultant and auditor.
A unique feature of the programme is its accreditation by both ACCA and CIMA, which offers exemptions from selected professional exams, strengthening your credentials and accelerating your path to qualification.
MSc Accounting and Finance equips you with the technical, analytical, and professional skills needed to thrive in dynamic financial and corporate environments. Whether your goal is to work in global accountancy firms, financial consultancy, or corporate finance departments, this programme opens the door to a wide range of impactful and rewarding career opportunities.
Industry-led learning The programme reflects the latest industry developments and academic research and is delivered by a team of leading scholars. You will develop a strong foundation in core areas such as data analytics, financial reporting, corporate finance and sustainability reporting. You will explore how financial data is used to drive strategic decision-making in organisations. You will have access to real-world case studies, hands-on training, and expert guest lectures, ensuring your learning is practical, applied, and industry-relevant.
Tailor your learning with optional modules One of the distinctive features of this programme is the opportunity to tailor your learning through a range of carefully selected optional modules. These include cutting-edge topics such as financial statement analysis with AI applications, AI and cyber security for business, advanced corporate finance, and management accounting. This flexibility allows you to shape the programme around your interests and career goals, building both breadth and depth in your expertise.
Enhance your professional toolkit The core module ‘Career Accelerator: Technical Toolkit and Professional Development’ will help you develop soft skills (such as communication), database management skills (such as SQL, Bloomberg, LSEG Workspace and Datastream), coding skills (such as VBA, Stata, Python and R) and practical skills in using industry-standard accounting software (such as Xero).
Over the summer, you will apply your acquired knowledge to an individual, research-driven dissertation project. This work will provide hands-on experience with real-world quantitative research while developing your research planning, time management, and written communication skills.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | 2:2 (UK Hons) in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or another business-related subject. We assess applicants based on their overall academic performance and typically expect good results in accounting and finance modules. Relevant work experience and professional qualifications are also viewed favourably. Graduates from non-business disciplines with a quantitative focus (Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Computer and Data Science, and related disciplines) are encouraged to apply. 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 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
Summary
Accounting today is increasingly complex and global in scope. The MSc Accounting and Financial Management programme provides academic training at the frontier of accounting and financial management knowledge. It’s an excellent foundation on which you can build your career in accountancy, investment banking or financial analysis.
During this programme, if you meet minimum performance criteria during your first term, you will have the chance to train for and sit the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 professional exam during the programme. Upon successful completion of your master's, you will also automatically secure Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) exemptions from most of the Fundamental level papers depending on your module choices during the second term, and 11 exemptions from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) CGMA qualification.
The programme balances theory with applied learning, using practical working examples to enhance skills and understanding. You will learn about the principles of financial reporting and the foundation of finance, and have the chance to study modules such as financial statement analysis, advanced management accounting or advanced investment management. To help address the industry’s skills gap and give you a competitive edge in the jobs market, you will also have the opportunity to develop key transferable job market skills such as data analysis, and computer programming (using Python, R, Stata, MATLAB, and SAS); and will receive training in industry-standard data platforms such as Bloomberg and FactSet.
You are encouraged to select your dissertation according to your future career path. Dissertations are managed in streams and you will be invited to presentation sessions by the stream leader. You will then choose from either empirical asset pricing, accounting, CFA level 1, or corporate finance. You will attend lectures and workshops designed to introduce you to the key literature and research methods on which your dissertation topic is based.
Throughout your programme, you will have access to the School’s career support. Advisers will help shape a one-to-one plan to ensure you make the most of your time here.
We keep pace with the ever-changing standards in accountancy, ensuring absolute relevance. We’re proud to produce graduates who have gone on to thrive in large accountancy firms such EY, PwC and other international firms.
Course outline In the first term, from October to December, you will take four core modules (Quantitative Methods for Finance, Foundations of Finance, Principles of Financial Reporting, and Financial Markets). Each module is split into two parts. The first part takes place over the first three weeks of the term and provides a solid introduction to the topics covered in the second part. In addition, you will have a two-week module on Financial Databases and career sessions spread out through the term.
During your second term from January to March, you will take four assessed modules.
From May to July you work on your Master's dissertation, with guidance from your academic supervisor. During those months, you will attend lectures and computer lab sessions designed to introduce you to the key literature and research methods on which your dissertation topic is based. You will continue to work on your dissertation throughout the remainder of the summer, submitting your dissertation in September, at the end of the Master's programme.
A number of dissertation streams are available including: - Advanced Topics in Investment Strategies, Mutual Funds and Hedge Funds
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Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
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Advanced Topics in Accounting
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CFA Dissertation Stream
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
| Entry requirements | 2:1 (UK Hons) degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Economics or other business-related subject. Graduates in non-business areas with strong quantitative elements may also be considered. We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. |
| Location | Main Site Admissions Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW |
Lancaster University is home to a dynamic postgraduate community and offers a wealth of both taught and research study options across a wide range of subject areas. Studying at Lancaster is all about broadening your horizons, finding new perspectives and discovering new experiences. By living and studying with students and staff from over 130 countries students join a global community and have the opportunity to make international connections.
We are proud to be highly ranked in three major UK league tables. We’ve also been awarded 5 Stars for overall performance in the globally renowned QS World Ratings. The …
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