PhD Programme in Accounting and Finance

The Department of Accounting and Finance at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) invites applications for its PhD programme 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 Masters level performance 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 starting in October 2027. All studentships pay a generous living allowance and offer a full fee waiver for four years.

About the Department: The Department of Accounting and Finance 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. LUMS is a world-ranked international business school, ranked first in the UK in research power in REF 2014 and 2021, and triple accredited by AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB.

In their first year, PhD students complete a portfolio of PhD level courses and seminars covering finance theory, econometrics, and research methodology. You will then research and write a thesis on a topic you are passionate about. Two subject experts will offer detailed supervision to ensure it contributes new knowledge to the academic community. You can also gain international experience by visiting a leading US/European school. We offer an excellent environment for PhD studies, including dedicated office space, and funding of conference and research visits.

The Department has comprehensive training courses to enable PhD graduates to succeed in the jobs market. We also regularly invite distinguished visiting professors from world-leading universities to deliver doctoral tutorials.

Recent PhD graduates have taken positions at institutions including Australian National University, Bocconi University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, LSE, Tilburg University, Monash University, and Oxford University.

Eligibility: Studentships are open to Home and Overseas applicants, subject to the usual academic criteria (e.g., a relevant Masters degree (UK or equivalent) with Distinction level performance, both overall and in the dissertation; and a Bachelors degree with First-Class Honours) and English language requirements. Successful applicants will have the potential to produce world class research and be able to undertake important teaching duties within LUMS during their scholarship.

Important Deadlines

We recruit candidates on a continuous basis.

We strongly recommend submitting your application no later than Monday 11 January 2027 to ensure it has time to be processed and that you will be in receipt of an offer of a programme place by the time funding is allocated (Application deadline for ESRC scholarships: 22 February 2027; for LUMS scholarships: 15 March 2027).

We will review applications received after this date as they may still be eligible for departmental funding.

Online Information Session

You can attend an online information session about LUMS PhD programmes and funding opportunities on Wednesday 11 November 2026 13:00-14:00 (GMT). To attend, please register at LUMS PhD Studentship & Funding information session - Events - Lancaster University.

More details about our doctoral programmes, entry requirements and application process can be found at: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/our-departments/accounting-and-finance/phd/

To submit an application, click on the apply button above.

If you have any questions, contact:

Dr Mahmoud Gad (PhD Director in Accounting) m.gad1@lancaster.ac.uk

Dr Chelsea Yao (PhD Director in Finance) chelsea.yao@lancaster.ac.uk

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