PhD, MPhil, MRes Accounting & finance
ApplyResearch opportunities
We provide research training in both accounting and finance which will prepare you for a demanding career as:
- an academic
- a professional researcher in the financial services sector
- a manager of a business, government and professional organisations
You can study an MPhil over the course of one year or a PhD over three years.
Under specific circumstances and subject to conditions, part-time study can be arranged.
You can study any option in either of our research areas:
Accounting
Finance
The Place of Useful Learning
UK University of the Year
Daily Mail University of the Year Awards 2026
Scottish University of the Year
The Sunday Times' Good University Guide 2026
Research University of the Year
Daily Mail University Guide 2027
Strathclyde Business School
We offer an excellent academic environment where you can pursue your research degree. As a postgraduate research student, you're required to:
- attend the Strathclyde Business School Faculty Research Methodology Programme, achieving a minimum of Certificate level; it comprises four modules over two to three days each; if you're part-time, you'll spread these over two years
- ensure regular meetings and contact with your supervisors
Entry requirements
| Degree | For entry into our postgraduate research programmes, we normally look for a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree or overseas equivalent, in a relevant business or social science related subject. For PhD applications, we also normally expect a Masters degree with distinction or merit or overseas equivalent, although there are often exceptions. We require clear coverage of Accounting and Finance subjects at undergraduate and/or Masters level. For Finance applicants, we expect clear coverage of quantitative/econometrics subjects in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. When reviewing your academic achievements, we're particularly interested in grades which relate to independent research (for example, a research project or dissertation). A strong score in these elements may allow us to consider entry with a lower degree classification. Strathclyde Business School is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive postgraduate research population. We make decisions on entry by assessing the whole person and not relying solely on academic achievements. On that basis, please ensure that your application (via your CV and covering letter) can evidence your resourcefulness, commitment and resilience as demonstrated by broader professional and life experiences. This evidence should be centred on your ability to undertake and complete a PhD and contribute to a positive PhD community. If English isn't your first language, you'll need an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent with no individual element below 5.5. |
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Full-time students
You'll have access to computing/hot-desking, printing, email and kitchen facilities. You're expected to be in the Department on a regular basis. You'll also attend the Department's research seminar series as well as other occasional workshops.
Part-time students
You'll have hot-desking facilities giving you regular access to the Department and helping you integrate with other students and staff. You're required to attend the Department for at least 10 days per year. This is in addition to the Research Methodology Programme.
Potential applicants should note that there is no dedicated distance-learning programme.
For employers committed to offering meaningful and diverse learning opportunities, supporting a PhD through the PhD@Work route can be a powerful addition to their learning and development strategy.
PhD@Work Programme Graduate
Triple-accredited business school
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are per academic year unless otherwise stated.
Entrants may be subject to a small fee during the writing up period.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study. Any annual increase will not exceed 10%, and in practice this may be lower (for example,. a 6% increase was applied in 2027/28 academic year).
| Scotland | £5,006 |
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| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £5,006 |
| Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| International | £21,550 |
| Additional costs | Course materialsStudents are required to cover the cost of binding their thesis. This varies depending on the length of the thesis and chosen binding company. An average cost of £40-50 should be allowed. Placements and field tripsThe cost of fieldwork or research trips would usually be met by the student. Students can apply for funding to cover conference participation. Study AbroadIf a student chooses to study overseas, the costs would be met by the student. This is not a requirement for our programme. Other costsStudents may wish to have their thesis professionally proofread at their own expense. If required, fees for extensions to maximum duration of study will be met by the student. Graduation gown hire. International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
| Funding | Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information. You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities. |
| Postgraduate research opportunities | Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted are per academic year unless otherwise stated.
Entrants may be subject to a small fee during the writing up period.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually. The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding. Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study. Any annual increase will not exceed 10%, and in practice this may be lower (for example,. a 6% increase was applied in 2027/28 academic year).
| Scotland | £5,238 |
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £5,238 |
| Republic of Ireland |
If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
| International | £22,750 |
| Additional costs | Course materialsStudents are required to cover the cost of binding their thesis. This varies depending on the length of the thesis and chosen binding company. An average cost of £40-50 should be allowed. Placements and field tripsThe cost of fieldwork or research trips would usually be met by the student. Students can apply for funding to cover conference participation. Study AbroadIf a student chooses to study overseas, the costs would be met by the student. This is not a requirement for our programme. Other costsStudents may wish to have their thesis professionally proofread at their own expense. If required, fees for extensions to maximum duration of study will be met by the student. Graduation gown hire. International studentsInternational students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information. |
| Funding | Take a look at our funding your postgraduate research web page for funding information. You can also view our scholarships search for further funding opportunities. |
| Postgraduate research opportunities | Search for all funded and non-funded postgraduate research opportunities. |
Please note: the fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.
Supervisors
If you're interested in studying for a research degree we recommend that you identify members of staff with relevant expertise before applying. You should email the member of staff to chat about the potential for supervision, explaining how your proposed research topic relates to their research interests.
If your chosen supervisor is available to work with you, they'll confirm this you should then make a full application via Pegasus.t
| Name | Contact | Areas of interest |
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Professor Graeme Acheson |
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Professor Dimitris Andriosopoulos |
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Dr Devraj Basu |
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Dr James Bowden |
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Professor Mark Cummins |
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Professor Jonathan Fletcher |
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Professor Lars Helge Hass |
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Professor David Hillier |
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Dr Muhan Hu |
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Dr Kyung Yoon Kwon |
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Dr Panagiotis Loukopoulos |
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Dr Linxiang Ma |
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Professor Andrew Marshall |
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Dr Patrick McColgan |
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Dr Biwesh Neupane |
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Dr Yinuo Pan |
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Dr Livia Pancotto |
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Dr Julia Smith |
Empirical quantitative and qualitative research in a number of core areas, as follows:
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| Dr Leilei Tang |
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Dr Chandra Thapa |
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Dr Xiaoyu Xu |
My research focuses on the institutional and social perspectives of professions, professional service firms, and professionalisation. Under this research interest, I have conducted research in various empirical settings involving auditors, sustainability professionals, and financial analysts.
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Dr Lijie Yu |
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Dr Hai Zhang |
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The diversity of the community and the researchers’ enthusiasm are impeccable. I get to learn about various cultures, research areas, methodologies, and ways to contribute.
Support & development
Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Research Methodology in Business & Management
As part of your PhD degree, you'll be enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methodology in Business and Management.
This certificate is designed to support you by developing your skills as a researcher. Your researcher training will provide you with the intellectual foundations that you will need for your journey into either the higher-level learning needed for advanced postgraduate research degrees or to work in a range of research focussed roles within organisational settings.
Course highlights:
- course can be studied as a blended or fully online programme depending on your circumstances
- course is ideally suited to part-time students juggling studies with other work
- strong practical focus including training in software and advanced quantitative and qualitative methods
- rich and diverse learning environment where you will study with students from around the world and studying a range of postgraduate research degrees
- opportunity to learn from academics who are leaders in their field and working at the cutting edge of business research
Most students complete the PgCert in their first year but you can take courses throughout your degree.
Doctoral Training Centre
We have taken a lead (with Edinburgh University) in providing advanced training to Doctoral Training Centre students across Scotland. From 2013, the two institutions have collaborated to offer three intensive doctoral-level courses:
- Corporate Finance
- Empirical Accounting
- Qualitative Accounting
Our aim is to train skilled students who will be able to compete with the best graduates in their future careers.
Careers
The University Careers Service can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation.
Student support
From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have a wide range of support for all students here at Strathclyde. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.
PGR Enhancement & Development
The PGR Enhancement and Development programme at the University of Strathclyde provides a comprehensive, student-centred research and training environment designed to support the growth and development of current and future research talent.
The PGR Enhancement and Development Team works closely with all four Faculties to enhance the postgraduate research experience, providing opportunities for researcher development and collaboration, and ensuring that training and support provision is of the highest quality.
Throughout your research degree, you’ll have access to a wide range of training, development opportunities, events, and support designed to help you make the most of your postgraduate research experience.
International students
We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world. Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.
One of my main criteria for choosing a PhD program was academic excellence and the Department of Accounting & Finance at Strathclyde is among the top in the UK. I was impressed by many of the faculty members during my studies at Strathclyde and I wanted to work in the same place as them.
Apply
Entry requirements
For entry onto our postgraduate research programmes, we normally look for a first-class or upper second-class UK Honours degree, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant business or social science related subject. For PhD applications, we also normally expect a Masters degree, or overseas equivalent, although there are often exceptions. For technical social subjects, such as Accounting/Finance, in addition to Accounting/Finance/Economics subjects, we also expect decent coverage of quantitative/econometrics subjects in the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. When reviewing your academic achievements, we're particularly interested in grades which relate to independent research (for example, a research project or dissertation). A strong score in these elements may allow us to consider entry with a lower degree classification.
Strathclyde Business School is committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive postgraduate research population. We make decisions on entry by assessing the whole person and not relying solely on academic achievements. On that basis, please ensure that your application (via your CV and covering letter) can evidence your resourcefulness, commitment and resilience as demonstrated by broader professional and life experiences. This evidence should be centred on your ability to undertake and complete a PhD and contribute to a positive PhD community.
You can prove your knowledge of English by:
- Passing a Secure English Language Test from our list of accepted providers with an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5, with no individual element below 5.5.
- We will also consider evidence of prior study using English as the medium of instruction if this study was in the last five years.
- The University has an English Language Teaching unit that offers a pre-sessional course – both on campus and online - allowing applicants to upskill in the use of English language in preparation for undertaking a postgraduate research degree. More information on the course and how to apply is available on the Pre-sessional webpage. PGR applicants should add a Pre-sessional application to their main degree application on the Applicant Portal, selecting the Pre-sessional programmes for Postgraduate students. For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact elt@strath.ac.uk.
Before you apply
Writing your research proposal
When preparing your research proposal please use the following template:
1. Working title
2. Layman’s summary of proposed research [max. 250 words]
Give us a brief summary of your proposed research project written for members of the public, rather than researchers or professionals. Why is this research important? What global/societal issues does it solve? What impact could it have on business and management in the future.
3. Research aim and objectives (or question(s)) [max. 500 words]
What’s the question you want to answer? How will you attempt to answer this question?
4. Literature review [max. 500 words]
Provide a brief overview of relevant literature to indicate any debates the research aims to engage with; any gaps or problems that have been identified; or what models the project hopes to explore or test.
5. Methodology [max. 300 words]
Provide an outline of the proposed research methodology.
6. Timeline [max. 300 words]
A PhD is 36 months minimum study (full time). In 6 months increments, indicate what you think the main activities will be. This is important as we need to assess the achievability of your proposal. This should be presented in tabular format.
6. References
Please use Harvard referencing throughout.
Notes:
- please use Times New Roman 12 pt font
- 1.5 line spacing
- 2.5cm margin all round
- hard return between paragraphs
Getting a reference
Read our help on how to choose references and what the referees need to supply.
The application
During the application you’ll be asked for the following:
- your full contact details
- a copy of an up-to-date CV
- Academic transcripts for both your degrees which clearly show the modules studied and the grades gained for each module
- proof of English language proficiency, less than two years old, if English isn't your first language
- two references, one of which must be academic – the references should focus on your academic and research skills, as well as your suitability to undertake PhD level study
- funding or scholarship information
- research proposal, clearly demonstrating the potential contribution both in theory and practice; please use our guidance above and attach this with your application
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.
Accepting an offer
Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we ask.
UK or EU students
If you're applying as a UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.
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