PhDs in Accounting

We offer two programmes: the traditional three-year (or six-year part-time) PhD in Accounting and the four-year (or eight-year part-time) PhD in Accounting (with Integrated Studies).

Our traditional PhD programme involves three years of supervised research, followed by one additional write up year, if needed.

The Integrated PhD program, typically completed over four years of full-time study, includes a taught phase in the first year (see below for the course structure*), followed by a three-year research phase. The integrated PhD programme combines advanced specialist courses, skills training, and research study into a comprehensive learning experience. This approach allows you to deepen your subject knowledge while exploring interdisciplinary perspectives to broaden your expertise. At Durham, our PhD programmes offer a rigorous research training, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to become an expert in your chosen field.

Our experts in the Accounting Department work on exceptionally diverse areas of Accounting research around accountability, digitalisation and sustainability, and publish in top journals such as Accounting, Organisations and Society, Contemporary Accounting Research, Accounting Review, Accounting Forum, Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, British Accounting Review, European Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Literature, Critical Perspective in Accounting, Accounting Forum, Financial Accountability and Management and Public Management Review . We, therefore, offer you the opportunity to pursue your PhD research on various accounting topics, including (but not limited to) accountability, corporate reporting, auditing, accounting information systems, management accounting, big data analytics, AI and machine learning in accounting and auditing, public sector accountability and sustainability.

You will receive close guidance and mentorship from a team of supervisors who are experts in their field. You will be an integral part of the Department’s research activities, including attending our research centres and departmental seminars and workshops that attract internationally renowned speakers. We also encourage and support you to present your PhD research at national and international conferences and submit for journal publications.

You will have access to numerous database subscriptions to support your research, such as Audit Analytics, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, CSMAR, Thomson Reuters, and Wharton Research Data Service (WRDS) which features, amongst others, access to Boardex, Compustat, CRSP.

Course Structure - PhD Accounting (with Integrated Studies)

The PhD in Accounting (with Integrated Studies) is a programme for exceptional postgraduate researchers with a passion for scientific discovery who aspire to become critical and independent thinkers and deliver academic work of the highest calibre to shape the future of Accounting scholarship.

Full-time students will complete the modules during their first year of studies. Part-time students have the opportunity to complete the modules over the first two years. All students are required to be in Durham for all elements of the modules that take place in the classroom.

Funding opportunities

We offer a range of scholarships for our PhD students. Please regularly check this website as details of new scholarship opportunities will be frequently updated throughout the academic year. https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/scholarships/international/chinese-scholarships-council/#how-to-apply

For further enquiries, please contact us via email at business.phd.accounting@durham.ac.uk