PhD Study : Accounting and Finance: Current Issues and Trends

Apply and key information  

Summary

A major new initiative from the Ulster University Business School (UUBS) is seeking to increase our research impact in accounting and finance by offering a funded PhD to a student who has studied in this area recently. A number of potential PhD topics are listed below:

*Corporate governance – the impact of CEO incentives. This would look into whether the incentives offered to CEOs affects their ethical judgements so that they act in their own self-interest, and not that of a company’s wider stakeholders.

*Corporate governance – the role of the external auditor. This would look into the role played by the external auditor in ensuring that organisations are presenting an accurate assessment of their financial position and ascertain whether the relationship between the auditor and organisation is impacting upon an objective overview.

*Earnings management practices of listed companies

*Gender equality in the public sector

*Government outsourcing*Narrative reporting by listed companies (could include corporate social responsibility and human capital)

*Risk reporting by listed companies

*Performance measurement and management in the public sector

*The attitude of accounting students towards ethical issues

*The role of not-for-profit organisations in the finance industry

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
  • Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • Masters at 65%

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Friday 14 December 2018
12:00AM

Interview Date
To be confirmed

Preferred student start date
January 2019

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Professor Anne-Marie Ward

Other supervisors