Research concentrations
London Business School offers seven PhD research concentrations. Interactions within and across the subject areas provide a rich environment for innovative, collaborative and multi-disciplinary research.
Accounting
The London Business School PhD Programme in Accounting recruits and trains highly motivated individuals to conduct high quality research on accounting issues. While the focus is on examining contemporary accounting research topics, rigorous training in microeconomics, information economics, corporate finance, asset pricing, game theory, and econometric methods is provided. Students acquire the necessary multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills during their tenure to produce empirical research that can be published in top peer-reviewed academic journals. The coursework and structure is similar to top US accounting PhD programmes.
World-renowned Accounting faculty at London Business School have published in leading accounting and finance academic journals including Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Review of Accounting Studies, The Accounting Review, Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Contemporary Accounting Research.
Research interests
Faculty research interests span the following broad areas:
- accounting information and capital markets
- fundamental analysis and valuation
- executive compensation
- empirical finance and accounting anomalies
- information intermediaries and corporate networks
- corporate governance
- accounting information and political economics
- accruals, earnings quality and earnings management
- international accounting standards
- private equity and venture capital
Students' views
Read what some of our current students have to say about the programme.
"The PhD programme at London Business School is a challenging life-changing experience. Through the programme you quickly develop the skills to critically evaluate and produce high quality research." Jose M. Carabias, year of entry 2009
"The PhD programme combines rigorous training with a stimulating research environment. Doctoral students greatly benefit from interactions with London Business School faculty across disciplines." Anya Kleymenova, year of entry 2009
"Top-notch faculty and weekly workshop presenters from leading global business schools make you quickly realize that London Business School is at the frontier of accounting research." Atif Ellahie, year of entry 2010
Alumni's views
Read what some of our alumni have to say about the programme.
"The PhD training in London Business School centers around developing students' ability of independent thinking and critical evaluation, which are the most important qualities needed for a researcher pursuing a life-long career in academia." Xi Li, Assistant Professor, Temple University, year of graduation 2010
"The PhD experience at London Business School has developed my critical thinking and analytical skills, and built a solid foundation for my academic career." Li Zhang, Assistant Professor, Rutgers, year of graduation 2010
"The accounting department at London Business School provides excellent training and support for PhD students. A collegiate environment, the involvement in the various research activities of the department, and PhD seminars taught both by the LBS accounting faculty and invited scholars ensure that we are at the frontier of accounting research." Yun Lou, Assistant Professor, HEC Paris, year of graduation 2012
Placements
Recent graduates (with placements) include Yun Lou (HEC Paris), Xi Li (Temple University), Li Zhang (Rutgers Business School), Ana Simpson (London School of Economics) and Yanling Guan (University of Hong Kong).
Economics
The faculty is renowned for both high-calibre research and its application to the problems faced by business audiences and public policy makers.
The programme combines both theoretical and empirical research and within the group there are a range of programmes, initiatives and research centres. This includes the Global Communications Consortium (GCC), a unique academic and business research programme analysing key issues facing communications providers today.
Finance
The Finance faculty's teaching and research topics include:
- asset pricing
- capital markets
- corporate finance
- corporate governance
- corporate restructuring
- derivatives
- equity and bond markets
- financial institutions
- financial regulation
- investment management
- international finance
- market microstructure
- asymmetric information
- behavioural finance.
Management Science and Operations
Research activities place an emphasis on analysing decision making problems across all functional aspects of management, with a focus on the areas of:
- operations research
- statistics and forecasting
- optimisation
- strategic modelling
- computational economics
- Meet the Management Science and Operations faculty
- Current students
- Research examples
- PHD programme details
- How to apply
Marketing
"I found a Marketing department that ranks among the strongest in the world, both academically and professionally. I know I can approach any member of faculty to discuss an idea or to ask for career advice.
"From the first day, they made clear I was more than just a new student: I was one of them, a junior colleague whose objectives and efforts were integrated to those of the whole department."
Hernan Bruno, Marketing PhD2002
The Marketing doctoral program enhances both the quality of research carried out by our Marketing Faculty as well as its external research reputation.
Organisational Behaviour
The PhD programme in Organisational Behaviour is designed to train students to become outstanding and creative scholars in the field. During the programme, you will learn to conduct original empirical research, tutor and teach, and socialise yourself in the traditions of the field.
Our programme has two broad phases. The first two years focus on coursework (12 courses over two years). In years three and four, the focus is on conducting original research.
Strategy and Entrepreneurship (SE)
"The faculty provide tremendous freedom to ensure that it is your research project and not someone else's. I was looking for an intellectually stimulating environment to develop my research skills and definitely found it here!"
Bart Vanneste, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, PhD2004 cohort
This is a programme for committed, top-class thinkers interested in how organisations can create value through superior competitive performance. The focus is on research with practical, managerial relevance, addressing the fundamental questions about organisations and business.
You have the freedom to choose whatever you find interesting in the broad areas of strategy and international management and the programme draws students from all backgrounds, including sociology, economics, psychology, business and engineering.
SE has strong links to other areas in the school - Organisational Behaviour, Management Science and Operations, and Economics, as well as links to other academic institutions.
For more information, contact:
Vaishali Jagjivan
PhD Programme Administrator
Research and Faculty Office
Tel: +44 (0)20 7000 8968
Fax: +44 (0)20 7000 8951
Email: PhD-Info@london.edu