PhD studentship, Department of Finance

• Student-led. Apply by Friday 15 March 2024.

The Department of Finance at the University of St Andrews Business School is offering competitive PhD studentships to fund student-led projects, commencing September 2024. The studentship will comprise a stipend at UKRI level, which in 2023-2024 is £18,622, and full tuition fees at UK or Overseas level for three years.

In addition, the studentship offers:

• research funding of up to £500 per academic year to help with costs arising from research
• funding for travel, accommodation and conference fees to support attendance at academic conferences, including one international conference
• support for academic and professional development both internally with the Centre for Educational Enhancement and Development, GRADskills and University social sciences research modules and externally with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science
• paid teaching opportunities in the Business School with dedicated training and mentoring. All students funded from this call will be expected to contribute to teaching within the School, typically taking on tutoring and marking duties, to be paid separately via a graduate teaching assistantship contract.
• opportunities to complete a Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice.

Exceptional graduates who wish to be considered for a funded studentship are invited to submit a PhD proposal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their proposal with topics in either:

• asset pricing
• banking
• corporate finance
• household finance.

Read more about the research interests of the Department's Faculty.

The Department of Finance is situated within the Business School which was launched in September 2023 following a merger between the Schools of Economics & Finance and Management. The Department also hosts the Centre for Responsible Banking & Finance.

Successful applicants will join a vibrant international community focused on research and teaching excellence.

The University of St Andrews was ranked overall first in the UK by The Times University Guide 2024 and first by  the Guardian University Guide 2024.

About the PhD programme

PhD students are situated in a stimulating, developmental and collegial research and learning environment. Working closely with supervisors, doctoral candidates undertake a focused piece of original research over the three-year programme. Students showcase their research and progress annually, receiving developmental feedback from leading experts in their field. Candidates will engage with diverse disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and methodologies through research seminars, workshops, reading groups and developmental activities organised by thematic groups and research centres. Students are expected to participate in academic conferences, contribute to the School's teaching provision, and may submit papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals by PhD completion.

The Business School's PhD graduates are held in high esteem and have pursued careers in academia, research and policy institutions and a range of private, public and third sector professions.

An Athena SWAN Bronze award holder, the Business School is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.  PhD students have extensive support mechanisms and, through student representation, multiple opportunities to shape their doctoral studies and School initiatives.

Affiliation with St Leonard's Postgraduate College offers PhD students opportunities to participate in the University's wider intellectual and social community. You can read more about the University and its beautiful surroundings.

How to apply

Applicants should have completed – or expect to complete – their Masters degree with merit or  distinction, and are expected to have undertaken a significant component of advanced study in the intended specialist research area.

Interested candidates should demonstrate their commitment to research, knowledge exchange and teaching activities. Applicants must contact a potential supervisor before making a formal application.  

Additional entry requirements and further details about the PhD proposal, application procedures and supporting documentation is available at Postgraduate research.

Your application must include:

• covering letter stating research area, motivation for the project and its relevance to a particular research area in finance
• research proposal, which must be no longer than 1,500 words excluding references
• up-to-date curriculum vitae
• details of two academic referees, including email addresses
• academic transcripts, which must be certified copies
• a piece of written work by you, in the area in which you intend to study. This must be different from your research proposal and no longer than 4,000 words.
• IELTS or TOEFL certificate if English is not your first language. The School requires an IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with a minimum score of 6.5 in every section of the test.
• confirmation of supervision agreement.

Applications should be made online by Friday 15 March 2024.  Incomplete applications will not be processed. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to conduct an econometric exercise, followed by formal presentations of their research. Online interviews are expected to be held in March or April 2024.  The School strongly advises students to reach out to potential supervisors prior to making any formal application.

For further queries, please contact Professor John O.S. Wilson, Head of Department of Finance, on jsw7@st-andrews.ac.uk and cc phdres@st-andrews.ac.uk.