Doctor of Philosophy in Finance

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree and the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years.

This course is also offered at overseas locations.

Finance

Finance can broadly be defined as the science of money management. It plays a crucial role in the health of an economy and every business enterprise within it.

Study Finance with us and you will be well prepared for a career in banking, investment management or corporate finance. Because Finance and Accounting are complementary, we strongly recommend you take these subjects as a double major in your Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree. This will give you a broader base of skills and knowledge, and enhance your flexibility in terms of prospective career options. However, you can also study Finance as a double major alongside one of the other majors offered with the BCom. Along with a thorough grounding in your subjects, you will learn to be creative and critical in your thinking, and to apply your learning in contexts outside the classroom.

We invite research proposals in any of the following or related topics:

Investments, asset pricing, financial anomalies and machine learning applications in finance

• The cost of capital - The factors that determine the required rate of return on risky asset, topics related to capital budgeting, the valuation of firms and the regulation of pricing
• Initial public offerings of equity securities and seasoned equity offerings - The factors affecting under-pricing and the history of the under-pricing phenomenon
• Market microstructure - The impact of "market architecture" on the outcomes of the trading process
• Securities’ market regulation - The regulation of information disclosure in financial markets and its impact on the financial information environment
• Risk management - The identification and measurement of financial risks and the management of these risks using financial instruments
• Banking, financial institutions and regulation - Bank supervision and regulation; the global financial crisis

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On possible to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.