PhD in Finance - Durham University Business School

PhD (Finance) Programme

The PhD (Finance) programme at Durham offers a rigorous research training program and provides you with the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen field in finance.

Our experts in the Finance Department work on exceptionally diverse areas of finance, and publish in top journals such as the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Economics, Journal of Econometrics, and Journal of Accounting and Economics. We therefore offer you the opportunity to pursue your PhD research on a variety of finance topics, including (but are not limited to) asset pricing, banking, corporate finance and governance, green finance, household finance, Islamic finance, financial econometrics, financial technologies and financial engineering, and market microstructure.

You will spend three years of supervised research (full-time), followed by one additional writing-up year, if needed. 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 weekly departmental seminars 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 significant computing and database facilities within the department to support your research, such as AuditAnalytics, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, CSMAR, Thomson Reuters, and Wharton Research Data Service (WRDS) which features, amongst others, access to Boardex, Compustat, CRSP.

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.

Durham Doctoral Teaching Fellowship (DDTF)

Apply for a fully funded PhD in Finance, Durham University

The Department of Finance at Durham University Business School is very pleased to offer a Durham Doctoral Teaching Fellowship (DDTF), we encourage applications from PhD candidates aspiring an academic career.

The purpose of the DDTF is to support the successful Fellow in producing a high-quality PhD thesis while at the same time acquiring teaching skills that will enhance the Fellow's career progression. In the teaching role, the DDTF will assist and support faculty staff to deliver teaching and support learning. The role aims to enhance the Fellow's own progression and achievements whilst providing stable and supported employment within the University.

The Fellow will work under the supervision of academic faculty in the Department of Finance and will be assigned to a teaching mentor (normally a single member of academic staff) who will provide oversight, supervision and support for all teaching-related activities. The teaching mentor will normally be distinct from the supervisor of the research project. Once fully implemented, new DDTFs will be offered mentorship from more experienced fellows and all DDTFs will belong to a DDTF community.

For more information, please contact out PhD co-ordinator at business.phd.finance@durham.ac.uk.

Eligibility	The fellowship is only available to PhD candidates who qualify as home fee paying students
Scholarship value	Support for Studies (fee support) The DDTF covers the cost of Home (UK) fees for 42 months over the duration of the programme (£4,500 p/a full time at 2021/22 rates). The DDTF will pay a stipend at UKRI rates for 42 months over the duration of the programme (£15,609 p/a full time at 2021/22 rates). Employment Benefits DDTFs will be employed on a Grade 6 salary for the fellowship element of the programme. As an employee they will be eligible for all normal staff benefits, including pensions, paid holidays and many other benefits. Further details here: https://www.durham.ac.uk/job-vacancies/academic-talent/benefits-rewards/ The DDTF will be entitled to a total of 42 months of stipend and 12 months of salary during the duration of the fellowship. How this time is divided will depend on the structure of the DDTF agreed with the academic department.
Application process	In order to apply for this scholarship, the candidate must hold an offer to study a PhD in the Department of Finance, Durham University. The PhD in Finance at Durham offers a rigorous research training programme and provides you with the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen field. Further details about our programme and how to apply can be found here: Application process - Department of Finance, Durham University Business School At the point of submitting your PhD application candidates should indicate that they are applying for funding via a DDTF.
Application deadline	The deadline for applications will be 31st October 2024. If you have any queries, please contact business.phd.finance@durham.ac.uk

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) NINE DTP studentships.

The ESRC offers a range of studentships available for a 3-year PhD, or a Masters by Research and PhD (1+3 year), or a 3.5-year PhD plus research training.

Eligibility	Available for both home and international students
Scholarship value	Covers home or international fees, and a generous annual stipend of £18,622.
Application process	Please check the following guidelines on the application process. For more information, please check this recorded webinar.
Application deadline	The deadline for 2025 entry applications is 20 January 2025. Please contact business.phd.finance@durham.ac.uk for more information.

Durham-Chinese Scholarships Council (CSC) studentships.

The scholarships are open to applicants from Mainland China wishing to study for a PhD at Durham. There are 25 awards available in all disciplines for the 2025/26 cohort.

Eligibility	Applicants must be citizens and permanent residents of Mainland China at the time of application. This excludes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Chinese citizens who are studying PGT programmes at overseas institutions at the time of the application are eligible, as long as their permanent address is in the People's Republic of China.
Scholarship value	Provides full payment of international tuition fees, a monthly living stipend (including overseas student health cover), a return airfare to the UK, and visa application fees.
Application process	Applicant needs to hold an unconditional offer for a full-time PhD programme at Durham, or a conditional offer with the only condition being 'receiving final degrees'. They must also satisfy the University's English language requirements at the time of submitting the scholarship application to the CSC. Please check the following guidelines on the application process.
Application deadline	The deadline for PhD applications to Durham for 2025 entry is 23:59 on 15th January 2025. The CSC application portal will be open from mid March 2025 to end of March 2025 and it is estimated that CSC results will be announced in June 2025.

For further information contact us via email at business.phd.finance@durham.ac.uk