phd thesis on banking and finance

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Banking and Finance Dissertation Topics – Selected for Business Students

Published by Owen Ingram at January 2nd, 2023 , Revised On August 16, 2023

Looking for an interesting banking and finance research idea for your dissertation? Your search for the best finance and banking dissertation topics ends right here because, a t ResearchProspect, we help students choose the most authentic and relevant topic for their dissertation projects.

Bank taxes, financial management, financial trading, credit management, market analysis for private investors, economic research methods, the economics of money and banking, international trade and multinational business, the wellbeing of people and society, principles and practices of banking, management and cost accounting, governance and ethics in banking, investment banking, introductory econometrics, and capital investment management are among the many topics covered in banking and finance.

Without further ado, here is our selection of the besting banking and finance thesis topics and ideas.

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The following dissertation topics for banking will assist students in achieving the highest possible grades in their dissertation on banking finance:

List of Banking and Finance Dissertation Topics

• A Comprehensive Analysis of the Economic Crisis as It Relates to Banking and Finance
• A Critical Review of Standard Deviation in Business
• The Political and Economic Risks Involving National Bank Transactions
• A Study of Corporate Developments in European Countries Regarding Banking and Finance
• Security Measures Implemented in Financial Institutions Around the World
• Banking and Finance Approaches from Around the World
• An in-depth study of the World Trade Organization’s role in banking and finance
• A Study of the Relationship Between Corporate Strategy and Capital Structures
• Contrasting global, multinational banks with regional businesses
• Preventing Repetitive Economic Collapse in National and Global Finances
• The Motivations for Becoming International Expats All Over the World
• The Difference Between Islamic Banking and Other Religious Denominations in Banking and Financial Habits
• How Can Small-Scale Industries Survive the Global Banking Demands?
• A Study of the Economic Crisis’s Impact on Banking and Finance
• The Impact of the International Stock Exchange on Domestic Bank Transactions
• A 2025 Projected Report on World Trade and Banking Statistics
• How Can We Address the Issue of the Government’s Financial Deficit in Banking?
• A Comparison of Contemporary and Classic Business Models and Companies’ Banking and Financial Habits
• Which of the following should be the principal area of money investment that has arrived at the bank in the form of deposits?
• How to strike a balance between investing money in various plans to generate a profit and managing depositor trust
• What are banks’ responsibilities to their depositors, and how may such liabilities be managed without jeopardising depositor trust?
• How the new banking financing laws enacted by governments throughout the world are better protecting depositors’ rights?
• What is the terminology related to banking finance, which oversees the investment of deposited funds as well as the banks’ responsibilities to depositors?
• Explain the most recent developments in research related to the topic of banking finance
• How research in the banking finance industry assists governments and banking authorities in properly managing their finances?
• What is the most recent credit rating software that assists in determining the rewards and dangers of investing bank funds in the stock market? 
• How banking finance assists the world’s top banks in managing consumer expectations and profit?
• The negative impact of a manager’s poor management of a bank’s banking financing
• Is it feasible to conduct a banking firm without the assistance of banking finance management?
• What are the most significant aspects of banking financing that allow businesses to develop without constraints?

The importance of banking finance cannot be overstated. These are only a few of the most extensive subjects on which you may write a banking and finance dissertation. Remember that if you want to succeed in your studies, you must be able to offer reliable numbers and facts on the history and current state of banking and finance throughout the world. Otherwise, you will very certainly be unable to justify your study effectively. We hope you can take some inspiration and ideas from the above banking and finance dissertation topics .

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Home » Blog » Dissertation » Topics » Finance » Banking and Finance » Banking and Finance Dissertation Topics (28 Examples) For Research

Banking and Finance Dissertation Topics (28 Examples) For Research

Mark May 26, 2020 Jun 5, 2020 Banking and Finance , Finance No Comments

Are you searching for banking and finance dissertation topics? We understand that selecting a dissertation topic is one of the biggest challenges. So, we offer a wide range of banking and finance dissertation topics and project topics on banking and finance. You can also visit our site for corporate finance dissertation topics and other business […]

Are you searching for banking and finance dissertation topics? We understand that selecting a dissertation topic is one of the biggest challenges. So, we offer a wide range of project topics on banking and finance.

Our team of writers can provide quality work on your selected banking and finance research topics. Once you select from the research topics on banking and finance, we will provide an outline, which can provide guidance on how the study should be carried out .

If you have come to this post after searching for corporate finance or finance topics, following are the seperate posts made on these topics.

• Finance Research Topics
• Corporate Finance Research Topics

Banking and finance dissertation topics

Role of micro-loans in the modern financial industry.

Online currencies like Bitcoin brought changes in the concept of fiat currencies.

Identifying the forces causing American retail banking centres to change.

Analysing the treatment of off-balance sheet activities.

Examining the role of internet banking in society.

Evaluating how the modern economy prevents a run on the banks from happening.

To find out whether the technology can replace the role of retail banking centre.

Relationship between housing loans and the 2008 recession.

Impact of foreign direct investment on the emerging economies.

Identifying the best capital structure for a retail bank.

To study the effect of mergers and acquisition on employee’s morale and performance in the case of banks.

Evaluating the credit management and issues of bad debts in commercial banks in the UAE.

To what extent the electronic banking has affected customer satisfaction.

Portfolio management and its impact on the profitability level of banks.

Impact of interest rate on loan repayment in microfinance banks.

An appraisal of operational problems facing micro-finance banks in delta state.

Studying the impact of risk management on the profitability of banks.

Evaluation of bank lending and credit management.

Role of automated teller machine on customer satisfaction and retention.

Examining the impact of bank consolidation on operational efficiency.

Competitive strategies and changes in the banking industry.

Development of rural banking in the case of developed countries.

The effect of electronic payment systems on the behaviour and satisfaction level of customers.

How does the organisational structure affect the commercial banks and their performance?

How can banks use ratio analysis as a bank lending tool?

Evaluating the relationship between e-banking and cybercrime.

Studying the importance of credit management in the banking industry.

Problems related to loan granting and recovery.

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Research Topics & Ideas: Finance

120+ Finance Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

If you’re just starting out exploring potential research topics for your finance-related dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of finance-centric research topics and ideas.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Finance Research Topics

• Corporate finance topics
• Investment banking topics
• Private equity & VC
• Asset management
• Hedge funds
• Financial planning & advisory
• Quantitative finance
• Treasury management
• Financial technology (FinTech)
• Commercial banking
• International finance

Corporate Finance

These research topic ideas explore a breadth of issues ranging from the examination of capital structure to the exploration of financial strategies in mergers and acquisitions.

• Evaluating the impact of capital structure on firm performance across different industries
• Assessing the effectiveness of financial management practices in emerging markets
• A comparative analysis of the cost of capital and financial structure in multinational corporations across different regulatory environments
• Examining how integrating sustainability and CSR initiatives affect a corporation’s financial performance and brand reputation
• Analysing how rigorous financial analysis informs strategic decisions and contributes to corporate growth
• Examining the relationship between corporate governance structures and financial performance
• A comparative analysis of financing strategies among mergers and acquisitions
• Evaluating the importance of financial transparency and its impact on investor relations and trust
• Investigating the role of financial flexibility in strategic investment decisions during economic downturns
• Investigating how different dividend policies affect shareholder value and the firm’s financial performance

Investment Banking

The list below presents a series of research topics exploring the multifaceted dimensions of investment banking, with a particular focus on its evolution following the 2008 financial crisis.

• Analysing the evolution and impact of regulatory frameworks in investment banking post-2008 financial crisis
• Investigating the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-border M&As facilitated by investment banks.
• Evaluating the role of investment banks in facilitating mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets
• Analysing the transformation brought about by digital technologies in the delivery of investment banking services and its effects on efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Evaluating the role of investment banks in promoting sustainable finance and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in investment decisions.
• Assessing the impact of technology on the efficiency and effectiveness of investment banking services
• Examining the effectiveness of investment banks in pricing and marketing IPOs, and the subsequent performance of these IPOs in the stock market.
• A comparative analysis of different risk management strategies employed by investment banks
• Examining the relationship between investment banking fees and corporate performance
• A comparative analysis of competitive strategies employed by leading investment banks and their impact on market share and profitability

Private Equity & Venture Capital (VC)

These research topic ideas are centred on venture capital and private equity investments, with a focus on their impact on technological startups, emerging technologies, and broader economic ecosystems.

• Investigating the determinants of successful venture capital investments in tech startups
• Analysing the trends and outcomes of venture capital funding in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, or clean energy
• Assessing the performance and return on investment of different exit strategies employed by venture capital firms
• Assessing the impact of private equity investments on the financial performance of SMEs
• Analysing the role of venture capital in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
• Evaluating the exit strategies of private equity firms: A comparative analysis
• Exploring the ethical considerations in private equity and venture capital financing
• Investigating how private equity ownership influences operational efficiency and overall business performance
• Evaluating the effectiveness of corporate governance structures in companies backed by private equity investments
• Examining how the regulatory environment in different regions affects the operations, investments and performance of private equity and venture capital firms

Asset Management

This list includes a range of research topic ideas focused on asset management, probing into the effectiveness of various strategies, the integration of technology, and the alignment with ethical principles among other key dimensions.

• Analysing the effectiveness of different asset allocation strategies in diverse economic environments
• Analysing the methodologies and effectiveness of performance attribution in asset management firms
• Assessing the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria on fund performance
• Examining the role of robo-advisors in modern asset management
• Evaluating how advancements in technology are reshaping portfolio management strategies within asset management firms
• Evaluating the performance persistence of mutual funds and hedge funds
• Investigating the long-term performance of portfolios managed with ethical or socially responsible investing principles
• Investigating the behavioural biases in individual and institutional investment decisions
• Examining the asset allocation strategies employed by pension funds and their impact on long-term fund performance
• Assessing the operational efficiency of asset management firms and its correlation with fund performance

Hedge Funds

Here we explore research topics related to hedge fund operations and strategies, including their implications on corporate governance, financial market stability, and regulatory compliance among other critical facets.

• Assessing the impact of hedge fund activism on corporate governance and financial performance
• Analysing the effectiveness and implications of market-neutral strategies employed by hedge funds
• Investigating how different fee structures impact the performance and investor attraction to hedge funds
• Evaluating the contribution of hedge funds to financial market liquidity and the implications for market stability
• Analysing the risk-return profile of hedge fund strategies during financial crises
• Evaluating the influence of regulatory changes on hedge fund operations and performance
• Examining the level of transparency and disclosure practices in the hedge fund industry and its impact on investor trust and regulatory compliance
• Assessing the contribution of hedge funds to systemic risk in financial markets, and the effectiveness of regulatory measures in mitigating such risks
• Examining the role of hedge funds in financial market stability
• Investigating the determinants of hedge fund success: A comparative analysis

Financial Planning and Advisory

This list explores various research topic ideas related to financial planning, focusing on the effects of financial literacy, the adoption of digital tools, taxation policies, and the role of financial advisors.

• Evaluating the impact of financial literacy on individual financial planning effectiveness
• Analysing how different taxation policies influence financial planning strategies among individuals and businesses
• Evaluating the effectiveness and user adoption of digital tools in modern financial planning practices
• Investigating the adequacy of long-term financial planning strategies in ensuring retirement security
• Assessing the role of financial education in shaping financial planning behaviour among different demographic groups
• Examining the impact of psychological biases on financial planning and decision-making, and strategies to mitigate these biases
• Assessing the behavioural factors influencing financial planning decisions
• Examining the role of financial advisors in managing retirement savings
• A comparative analysis of traditional versus robo-advisory in financial planning
• Investigating the ethics of financial advisory practices

The following list delves into research topics within the insurance sector, touching on the technological transformations, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer behaviours among other pivotal aspects.

• Analysing the impact of technology adoption on insurance pricing and risk management
• Analysing the influence of Insurtech innovations on the competitive dynamics and consumer choices in insurance markets
• Investigating the factors affecting consumer behaviour in insurance product selection and the role of digital channels in influencing decisions
• Assessing the effect of regulatory changes on insurance product offerings
• Examining the determinants of insurance penetration in emerging markets
• Evaluating the operational efficiency of claims management processes in insurance companies and its impact on customer satisfaction
• Examining the evolution and effectiveness of risk assessment models used in insurance underwriting and their impact on pricing and coverage
• Evaluating the role of insurance in financial stability and economic development
• Investigating the impact of climate change on insurance models and products
• Exploring the challenges and opportunities in underwriting cyber insurance in the face of evolving cyber threats and regulations

Quantitative Finance

These topic ideas span the development of asset pricing models, evaluation of machine learning algorithms, and the exploration of ethical implications among other pivotal areas.

• Developing and testing new quantitative models for asset pricing
• Analysing the effectiveness and limitations of machine learning algorithms in predicting financial market movements
• Assessing the effectiveness of various risk management techniques in quantitative finance
• Evaluating the advancements in portfolio optimisation techniques and their impact on risk-adjusted returns
• Evaluating the impact of high-frequency trading on market efficiency and stability
• Investigating the influence of algorithmic trading strategies on market efficiency and liquidity
• Examining the risk parity approach in asset allocation and its effectiveness in different market conditions
• Examining the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence in quantitative financial analysis
• Investigating the ethical implications of quantitative financial innovations
• Assessing the profitability and market impact of statistical arbitrage strategies considering different market microstructures

Treasury Management

The following topic ideas explore treasury management, focusing on modernisation through technological advancements, the impact on firm liquidity, and the intertwined relationship with corporate governance among other crucial areas.

• Analysing the impact of treasury management practices on firm liquidity and profitability
• Analysing the role of automation in enhancing operational efficiency and strategic decision-making in treasury management
• Evaluating the effectiveness of various cash management strategies in multinational corporations
• Investigating the potential of blockchain technology in streamlining treasury operations and enhancing transparency
• Examining the role of treasury management in mitigating financial risks
• Evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of various cash flow forecasting techniques employed in treasury management
• Assessing the impact of technological advancements on treasury management operations
• Examining the effectiveness of different foreign exchange risk management strategies employed by treasury managers in multinational corporations
• Assessing the impact of regulatory compliance requirements on the operational and strategic aspects of treasury management
• Investigating the relationship between treasury management and corporate governance

Financial Technology (FinTech)

The following research topic ideas explore the transformative potential of blockchain, the rise of open banking, and the burgeoning landscape of peer-to-peer lending among other focal areas.

• Evaluating the impact of blockchain technology on financial services
• Investigating the implications of open banking on consumer data privacy and financial services competition
• Assessing the role of FinTech in financial inclusion in emerging markets
• Analysing the role of peer-to-peer lending platforms in promoting financial inclusion and their impact on traditional banking systems
• Examining the cybersecurity challenges faced by FinTech firms and the regulatory measures to ensure data protection and financial stability
• Examining the regulatory challenges and opportunities in the FinTech ecosystem
• Assessing the impact of artificial intelligence on the delivery of financial services, customer experience, and operational efficiency within FinTech firms
• Analysing the adoption and impact of cryptocurrencies on traditional financial systems
• Investigating the determinants of success for FinTech startups

Commercial Banking

These topic ideas span commercial banking, encompassing digital transformation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the evolving regulatory and competitive landscape among other key themes.

• Assessing the impact of digital transformation on commercial banking services and competitiveness
• Analysing the impact of digital transformation on customer experience and operational efficiency in commercial banking
• Evaluating the role of commercial banks in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Investigating the effectiveness of credit risk management practices and their impact on bank profitability and financial stability
• Examining the relationship between commercial banking practices and financial stability
• Evaluating the implications of open banking frameworks on the competitive landscape and service innovation in commercial banking
• Assessing how regulatory changes affect lending practices and risk appetite of commercial banks
• Examining how commercial banks are adapting their strategies in response to competition from FinTech firms and changing consumer preferences
• Analysing the impact of regulatory compliance on commercial banking operations
• Investigating the determinants of customer satisfaction and loyalty in commercial banking

International Finance

The folowing research topic ideas are centred around international finance and global economic dynamics, delving into aspects like exchange rate fluctuations, international financial regulations, and the role of international financial institutions among other pivotal areas.

• Analysing the determinants of exchange rate fluctuations and their impact on international trade
• Analysing the influence of global trade agreements on international financial flows and foreign direct investments
• Evaluating the effectiveness of international portfolio diversification strategies in mitigating risks and enhancing returns
• Evaluating the role of international financial institutions in global financial stability
• Investigating the role and implications of offshore financial centres on international financial stability and regulatory harmonisation
• Examining the impact of global financial crises on emerging market economies
• Examining the challenges and regulatory frameworks associated with cross-border banking operations
• Assessing the effectiveness of international financial regulations
• Investigating the challenges and opportunities of cross-border mergers and acquisitions

Choosing A Research Topic

These finance-related research topic ideas are starting points to guide your thinking. They are intentionally very broad and open-ended. By engaging with the currently literature in your field of interest, you’ll be able to narrow down your focus to a specific research gap .

When choosing a topic , you’ll need to take into account its originality, relevance, feasibility, and the resources you have at your disposal. Make sure to align your interest and expertise in the subject with your university program’s specific requirements. Always consult your academic advisor to ensure that your chosen topic not only meets the academic criteria but also provides a valuable contribution to the field. 

If you need a helping hand, feel free to check out our private coaching service here.

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Wharton’s PhD program in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics.

The department prepares students for careers in research and teaching at the world’s leading academic institutions, focusing on Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics.

Wharton’s Finance faculty, widely recognized as the finest in the world, has been at the forefront of several areas of research. For example, members of the faculty have led modern innovations in theories of portfolio choice and savings behavior, which have significantly impacted the asset pricing techniques used by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Another example is the contribution by faculty members to the analysis of financial institutions and markets, which is fundamental to our understanding of the trade-offs between economic systems and their implications for financial fragility and crises.

Faculty research, both empirical and theoretical, includes such areas as:

• Structure of financial markets
• Formation and behavior of financial asset prices
• Banking and monetary systems
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• Saving and capital formation
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Candidates with undergraduate training in economics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, and other quantitative disciplines have an ideal background for doctoral studies in this field.

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Three essays in banking: corporate governance and corporate finance

Vu, Tuyet Nhung (2020) Three essays in banking: corporate governance and corporate finance. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

This thesis contains three empirical studies in banking: corporate governance and corporate finance. Specifically, I develop three independent yet related research questions to address the criticism over high Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) compensation, understand how executive compensation and financing decisions in the banking sector work under various exogenous shocks and whether banks manage to maintain their current favourable ratings through financing decisions. The first empirical study (Chapter 3) examines the determinants and consequences of U.S. bank CEOs forgoing bonus during the 2007 - 2009 financial crisis. We find that CEOs are more likely to forgo bonus if their banks are larger and better governed, consistent with political cost and corporate information environment hypotheses. Subsequent to bonus forgoing, these CEOs total compensation are not negatively affected, they are less likely to depart, and their bank performance is not economically improved. The results shed light to the debate on CEO compensation and support compensation “shareholder value view”, suggesting that forgoing bonus is a temporary decision and has little economic impact on bank’s performance. The second empirical chapter (Chapter 4) uses a unique dataset of mortgage origination at loan level in the bank holding companies (BHC) operating in the USA, this study examine how incentive mechanisms embedded in CEO cash bonuses influenced the origination of risky mortgages prior to the housing market collapse of 2008–2009. We find that banks were more likely to deny risky mortgages when CEOs’ cash bonus represented a higher proportion of total compensation. The findings are robust to exogenous shocks such as proximity to terrorist attacks and the adoption of FAS 123R. By identifying changes in cash bonus instigated by these shocks we show that banks located near the attacks preferred cash bonus over other forms of compensation, and that cash bonuses increased following the change of accounting policy. Taken together, these findings suggest that cash bonus mitigated the origination of risky mortgages, consistent with theories and empirical studies that predict that the incentive to take risks reduces when cash bonus forms a higher proportion of pay, and that levels of bank CEO cash bonus did not contribute to the 2008/9 financial crisis. Finally, the third empirical study (Chapter 5) explores the impact of bank holding company (BHC) credit rating changes on the supply of local bank mortgage lending to address the question whether banks manage to maintain their current favourable ratings. We find evidence that BHC credit rating upgrades contribute to a tightening in the supply of mortgage credit in the markets served by the BHC’s bank(s). Additionally, the results show no association between credit rating downgrades and mortgage lending at the loan level, unless they heavily rely on non-core finance, in which case they deny more risky loan applications. Further, we also find that reductions in the supply of credit after a BHC rating upgrade are most pronounced for riskier loans and in markets with less competition. Recognizing potential market-based endogeneity, we examine the results for loans originated outside of the BHC’s state of domicile and find similar results. Finally, we do not find evidence that the banks held by upgraded BHCs are moving into other types of loans after the upgrade. Collectively, the results suggest that BHCs move to protect their improved rating after the upgrade at the expense of the supply of local credit.

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Digital Commons @ USF > Muma College of Business > Finance > Theses and Dissertations

Finance Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Do Industries' Political Profiles Affect Their Portfolio Return Performance? , Shaddy S. Douidar

Do Firms Overreact to the Enactment of Corporate Laws: Evidence from Anti-Price Gouging Laws , Mario Marshall

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Essays on CEO Personal Characteristics and Corporate Outcomes: Athlete CEOs and Foreign CEOs , Kirill Pervun

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Predictors of Economic Outlook in Stability Operations , Juan Carlos Garcia

The Warren Buffett Project: A Qualitative Study on Warren Buffett , Christian G. Koch

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Closing America’s Retirement Savings Gap: Nudging Small Business Owners to Adopt Workplace Retirement Plans , Peter W. Kirtland

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Growth Options and Corporate Goodness , Linh Thompson

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Essays on the Tax Policy and Insider Trading , Han Shi

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Two Essays on Lottery-type Stocks , Yun Meng

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Two Essays on IPOs and Asset Prices , Gaole Chen

Essays on the impact of CEO gender on corporate policies and outcomes , Nilesh Sah

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Essays on Corporate Finance , Hari Prasad Adhikari

Two Essays on Individuals, Information, and Asset Prices , Joseph Mohr

Two Essays on Investment , Bin Wang

Two Essays on Corporate Finance , Qiancheng Zheng

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Two Essays on Mergers and Acquisitions , Dongnyoung Kim

Two Essays on Politics and Finance , Incheol Kim

Two Essays on Stock Repurchases-The Post Repurchase Announcement Drift: An Anomaly in Disguise? and Intra Industry Effects of IPOs on Stock Repurchase Decisions , Thanh Thiet Nguyen

Two Essays on Investor Distraction , Erdem Ucar

Two Essays on Politics in Corporate Finance , Xiaojing Yuan

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

On The Efficiency of US Equity Markets , Mikael Carl Erik Bergbrant

Two Essays on the Sell-side Financial Analysts , Xi Liu

Two essays on Corporate Restructuring , Dung Anh Pham

Two Essays on Corporate Governance , Yuwei Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Capital Structure, Credit Ratings, and Sarbanes-Oxley , Kelly E. Carter

Institutional Investors and Corporate Financial Policies , Ricky William Scott

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PhD in Management

Banking and finance.

The Banking and Finance track (B&F track) of the PhD in Management is oriented to study and do research on financial topics. Due to the academic experiences and the skills of the Faculty members and the Scientific committee, the B&F track pay a special attention on research areas that concern consumer finance, new media and financial communication, real estate finance, the governance of financial intermediaries, and neurofinance.

According with the aim of the whole PhD program, the aim of the B&F track is to select and invest in high potential PhD candidates in order to improve their research skills and develop new knowledge about specific financial areas of knowledge, by promoting high quality research outputs.

The B&F Track Coordinator is Professor Vincenzo Farina .

Track Schedule

The selection of PhD Students for the new academic year (new PhD cycle) usually starts in Spring time (see the section "Application and Selection procedure"), with exams (written and oral) during the Summer.

The activities of the PhD (for PhD Students of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year) start in September. The list of the activities for the full year (e.g. research methodology classes, seminars, conferences, other learning events) are planned at the beginning of each year.  For the PhD Students of the 1st year the list of the events of the B&F track involves (on average) two full-day classes every two weeks from September to March.

PhD Students are invited to present the state of the art of their research work two times a year (usually in June and in December) during the so called "D-days". The D-days are equally distributed during the year with presentations at the end of the Fall term and at the end of the Spring term.

At the end of each academic year (July) the PhD Students have an official evaluation. In case of a negative evaluation the PhD Student will quit his/her program because will not be allowed to enroll for the next year.

At the end of the third year (October) the PhD Students who complete their thesis can be admitted to the final exam, where a committee made by three members will judge the research work.

Track Program Overview

The B&F track program is a three years program with a structure that is based on 180 credits (ECTS) distributed in research activities (120 credits), learning (50 credits), and other activities (10 credits).

First year During the first year the PhD students are involved in learning activities such research methodology classes, seminars, summer schools, and other initiatives oriented to develop research skills. In the second half of the first year the PhD student has to identify a research question, with the support of a senior researcher that will play the role of Supervisor. At the end of the year a full research proposal has to be submitted to an evaluation committee. The proposal include the title of the thesis, and a full review of the literature that supports the proposal and stress the potential of the research project to advance the frontier of knowledge on a specific area of interest. The proposal includes the research methodology proposed to answer to the research question(s) and - in case of empirical analysis - discuss about the data that are supposed to be used (e.g. availability of the data, structure, arguments behind the decision to use these data, etc.). The evaluation of the research proposal takes into account the ability of the PhD Student to organize a research proposal, the quality of the proposal, and the potential quality of the output. In case of a positive evaluation the PhD Student is admitted to the second year of the program. Whenever the research proposal will not be positively judged, the PhD Student will not be allowed to continue his/her Phd program.

Second year The second year is dedicated to the implementation of the research proposal. During this year the PhD Student can attend further learning events (e.g. seminars, summer schools, etc.) and will participate to academic conferences in order to improve his/her knowledge about the research topic of the thesis. During the second year the PhD Student can spend as a visiting scholar a period in other universities or research centres in Italy or abroad. In the second half of the year the first outcomes of the research are expected (e.g. working papers, conference papers, etc.).

Third year In the third year of the PhD program the PhD Students complete their research project, presenting the output of their research in academic events (e.g. seminars, conferences, etc.) and submit their outputs for publications in academic journals. At the end of the third year, the thesis has to be defended in front of a commission in a final exam.

During all the three years, the PhD Students have to present the state of the art of their research, stressing the improvements and new results achieved, in front of the Faculty and Scientific committee members in a "D-day". Three D-days every year are scheduled (Spring D-day, Summer D-day, Autumn D-day).

Track Special Lectures in Banking and Finance 

Special lectures_2023/2024.

November 9 - December 15, according to this schedule (elective activity): Coding and Data Analysis for Finance , Prof. Davide Pirino;

January 26, 10 am - 1 pm, classroom B -compulsory, and on-site-: WINTER D-DAY

February 14, at U. of Naples Parthenope -elective attendance-: Climate Finance Workshop on " Nature-Related Financial Risks "

March 7, 10 am - 1 pm, classroom A -compulsory, and on-site-: Doing research in Banking and Finance , Prof. Franco Fiordelisi (U. RomaTre);

Innovation in Banking and Digital Finance , Nicola Maria Forti:

March, 5, 2 pm - 6 pm, classroom S10 -compulsory to 1st year, elective for other PhD students-: Digital innovation, Megatrends, Instant Credit, Corporate Banking Silvia Attanasio (ABI and ABILab) & Roberto Nicastro (Banca Aidexa);

March, 12, 2 pm - 6 pm, classroom S10 -compulsory to 1st year, elective for other PhD students-: New trends in Payments and CBDCs, Open Banking, AI Alessio Botta (McKinsey) & Giulio Rattone (Fabrick);

March, 19, 2 pm - 6 pm, classroom S10 -compulsory to 1st year, elective for other PhD students-:  Digital Champions, Defi, Crypto and Digital regulation Manuel Pincetti (Deloitte) & Niccolò Bardoscia (Intesa Sanpaolo);

March, 26, 2 pm - 6 pm, classroom S10 -compulsory to 1st year, elective for other PhD students-: Tokenization & The Future of Banking and Financial Services Andrea Martellone (CRIF).

May 9, 1 pm - 6 pm, Sala del Consiglio (2nd floor, Bldg B): Celebration for the 30 years of  PhD research in Banking and Finance registration is mandatory by March 15 at  https://forms.gle/rj7zvgso5RwgrVfP6

Special Lectures_2022/2023

November 2 - December 7, according to this schedule , at 2.00-4.00, classroom S11: Coding and Data Analysis for Finance , Prof. Davide Pirino (elective activity);

November 3, 2 - 6 pm, classroom S6 -compulsory just to 1st year-: Digital innovation, Open banking and Financial Platforms Manuel Pincetti (Deloitte) & Giulio Rattone (Fabrick), Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 10, 2 - 6 pm, classroom S6 -compulsory just to 1st year-: Innovation in Payments and in Real Estate Alessio Botta (McKinsey) & Fabio Siano (Casavò), Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 17, 2 - 6 pm, classroom S6 -compulsory just to 1st year-: Digital Corporate banking, Crypto and Digital Regulation Roberto Nicastro (Aidexa)  & Roberto Ferretti (Annunziata & Conso), Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 24, 2 - 6 pm, classroom S6 -compulsory just to 1st year-: The Future of Retail Banking and Financial Services Andrea Martellone (CRIF) & Paola Papanicolaou (Intesa Sanpaolo), Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 30, 2 - 6 pm, classroom S6 -compulsory just to 1st year-: Challenge BINANCE Prof. Nicola Forti; 

December 12, 3 - 5 pm, classroom A -compulsory, and on-site-: The Twin Peaks model for financial sector regulation , Prof. Andrew Schmulow (U. of Wollongong, Australia).

January 24, 9 am - 1 pm, classroom A -compulsory, and on-site-: Personal Research Experience , Prof. Arnold Toth (U. of Public Service, Ludovika, Budapest).

January 24, 2 pm - 5 pm, classroom A -compulsory, and on-site-: WINTER D-DAY

March 14 and 17, 2.30 - 5.00 pm, Consorzio Universitario di Pordenone, and U. Roma Tre: Officina di Neuroeconomia , Cristina Compagno, Stefano Miani, Simona Luzzi et al.; Daniele Previati, Lucia Leonelli, Vincenzo Farina et al. May 30, 10.30 am - 1.00 pm, classroom B -compulsory, and on-site-: Banking Supervision and Risk Management in Central Banks, Ana Paula Serra (U. of Porto).

July 10, 9.30 am, classroom A -compulsory, and on-site-: SUMMER D-DAY

Special Lectures_2021/2022

November 2, 9 am - 1 pm: Digital innovation and financial needs , Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 2 - December 10, every Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2.00-4.00, and Thursdays at 11 am - 1 pm: Coding and Data Analysis for Finance , Prof. Davide Pirino (elective activity);

November 9, 9 am - 1 pm: Innovation in Retail financial services , Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 16, 9 am - 1 pm: New trends in Corporate Banking , Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 23, 9 am - 1 pm: Open banking and business models , Prof. Nicola Forti; 

November 30, 9 am - 1 pm: Real Estate Financing and Insurtech , Prof. Nicola Forti; 

December 9, 4.30 - 6 pm: Computational Finance - Matlab for Big Data, Machine Learning and AI , Prof. Alessandro Ramponi (elective activity);

December 13, 10 am - 12 pm: Welcome Meeting 2021 _B&F Track, Prof. Vincenzo Farina;

December 17, 10.30 am - 12 pm: Doing research in Banking and Finance , Prof. Franco Fiordelisi (U. RomaTre);

January 24, 10 am - 1 pm: Winter D-Day , PhD students presentations; 

February 4 - March 11, every Friday at 4 pm - 6 pm: Python , Dr Gabriele Rovigatti (Bank of Italy) - elective;

May 4, 10 am - 11.30 am, room D: PhD Stories , Dr Silvia Intini (LUM) - compulsory for 1st year of this Track, elective for others;

May 25, 26 and June 1, room B: La regolamentazione bancaria europea , Dr Giulia Scardozzi (UNINT);

July 8, room A: Summer D-Day , PhD students presentations.

October 25 and 26, 10 am - 1 pm, room B: To be defined, Prof. Marlene Haupt (Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences - RWU);

October 25, 2.30 - 4.30 pm, room B: Track B&F Colloquium

October 25, 4.00 - 5.00 pm, room TL: Neurofinanza: neuroscienze e decisioni finanziarie , Future Sight Tor Vergata40 (elective attendance)

Special Lectures_2020/2021

January 12, 4.00 - 6.00 pm on Teams: Doing research in Banking and Finance , Prof. Franco Fiordelisi (U. RomaTre).

January 22, 10.00 am - 1.00 pm, on Teams: WINTER D-DAY 2021 PhD Students present the state of the art of their research work.

March 11, 6.00 -7.00 pm, on Teams: Happy Hour in your Head! , Prof. Lucrezia Fattobene.

Innovation in Banking and Digital Finance , Prof. Nicola Forti (Director Bancaria Editrice): - April 22, 2.00 - 6.00 pm, on-line: Banking context and banking evolution. - April 29, 2.00 - 6.00 pm, on-line: Innovation in Corporate banking. - May 6, 2.00 - 6.00 pm, on-line: New trends in Retail banking.  - May 13, 2.00 - 6.00 pm, on-line: Asset Management and Insurance. - May 20, 2.00 - 6.00 pm, on-line: The future of Payment system. First year PhD students are supposed to attend lectures on Research Methodologies instead of the Track activities when lectures overlapping.

July 23, 10.00 am - 1.00 pm (time to be confirmed), on Teams: SUMMER D-DAY 2021 PhD Students present the state of the art of their research work.

Other suggested activity:

August 25, format to be confirmed: EFA Doctoral Tutorial │ EFA Doctoral Workshop organized by the European Finance Association - EFA   CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS & APPLICATIONS – Deadline: Monday March 15, 2021 – 

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Banking & Finance

How to apply

PhD students in our school normally commence their study in Term 1 around early February each year. Prospective candidates are invited to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI) between  May 1st and  July  31st  to be considered for admission in the following year. Please send your EOIs via email to  Banking and Finance HDR Admissions . Only selected applicants will be invited to apply via the UNSW central portal.

Out of round EOIs submitted after the deadline could be considered only for interested candidates with strong prior research experience, e.g., with a masters by research degree from a leading global institution.

Important:  Make sure you satisfy the UNSW academic and language entry requirements before submitting your EOI. Please read the “Entry Requirements” section below. 

Academic Entry Requirement

The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 1 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Economics, Finance, and related subjects) with first or upper second class honours. The minimum academic entry requirement for Stream 2 is the equivalent of a four-year UNSW Bachelor’s degree with an Honours year (research), or the equivalent of a UNSW Masters’ degree with substantial research component with first or upper second class honours.

Note: an  upper second class honours  is equivalent to a weighted average mark of at least 75/100 (i.e., a Distinction) at UNSW and is allocated to roughly the top 30% of students. Grading systems vary across countries. For more information, read this  guide for grade equivalencies between countries .

English Language Requirement

UNSW recognises the follow countries as English-speaking: American Samoa, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada, Fiji, Gibraltar, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, The Gambia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If you are not a citizen of an English-speaking country, then you will need to establish that you have sufficient English language fluency. There are four ways to establish sufficient English language fluency: English Tests (including IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson and Cambridge), UNSW Global English Course, Prior Study, or an English Waiver. For details on each of these, please review our  English language requirements .

About the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Banking & Finance

UNSW’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Banking & Finance will prepare you to become a globally focused and socially engaged research leader. You’ll be joining a cohort of high-achieving research students in tackling modern-day challenges at the forefront of Banking & Finance, working alongside leaders in the field (ranked 20 th in the world, QS Subject Rankings , 2022). This is your opportunity to become integrated into the UNSW Business School’s community of scholars.

You’ll first undertake rigorous coursework covering relevant theories and research methods. As part of the program, you’ll also be involved in research projects from an early stage. This training will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse, and solve problems in the field.

You’ll then pursue independent research under the supervision of high-profile UNSW academics, culminating in a doctoral thesis. Your PhD thesis will showcase your research skills and enable you to make an original contribution to the field of Banking & Finance.

There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to interact with industry leaders, and to develop your teaching portfolio. The training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

PhD program structure

Most students complete the overall PhD study (including the MPDBS year as illustrated below) in four to five years. For candidates with a strong prior research experience, e.g., with a masters by research degree from a leading global institution, it is possible to complete the study in three to four years without the MPDBS year. Admitted students will be notified in the admission offer about the need of completing the MPDBS study. 

Year One: Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS)

The first year of study is designed to provide a rigorous foundation to conduct independent research. You’ll learn a range of methodologies and build your communication and presentation skills.

Your first year of coursework study will cover fundamental research methods. You’ll also start developing key research skills such as identifying, framing, presenting, and writing academic contributions. You’ll work as a research assistant on faculty research projects and start working on your own research as your skills develop.

The first year will help you identify your potential thesis supervisor for the PhD component of the program. Upon successful completion of the first year, you’ll be awarded a Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies. A brief overview of the first year is presented below.

• Program Core Course: Foundations of Business Research; Econometric Analysis; Business Research Project Seminar
• Stream Core Courses: Microeconomic Theory I; Mathematical Economics; Asset Pricing Theory; Research Methods in Finance 2; Empirical Corporate Governance
• Research Assistance Work

Year Two: Specialised Coursework & Thesis Work

During the second year, you’ll continue in the Banking & Finance stream with a further year of advanced coursework.

Examples of courses you may take include:

• Empirical Corporate Finance
• Corporate Finance Theory
• Empirical Asset Pricing

Your second year is also when you’ll identify your thesis topic with your supervisor. You’ll engage in literature review, research design and present your research proposal to the School at the end of the year.

Years Three Onwards: Thesis Work

The final two or three years of the program are focused on conducting full-time research and completing your doctoral thesis. This is your opportunity to address some of the biggest challenges in Banking & Finance and make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field. Your research will offer new critical thinking and withstand critical analysis from expert researchers in the area.

For more details about the School of Banking & Finance and our PhD program, check out our home page, people page and research students page.

As with most other OECD countries, the number of PhD completions in Australia has grown dramatically – more than doubling in the last two decades.

An increasing number of PhD graduates find employment in business, government, and the non-profit sector. Nineteen of the largest ASX companies have PhD graduates on their senior executive teams.

Your PhD will set you on the path to a career in a premier research institution, anywhere in the world. Throughout your research degree, you’ll also have many opportunities to develop your teaching portfolio.

Beyond academia, there’s also significant demand in the private and public sectors for people with deep knowledge and sound research and analytical skills*.

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in academia, or take your research skills out to industry, a PhD in Banking & Finance from UNSW will get you there.

* Source:  2019 Advancing Australia’s Knowledge Economy Report

Degree type

Postgraduate Research

4 years full-time, 5-8 years part-time

Commencing terms

Term 1 – February

Program code

Delivery mode, domestic / international.

International

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Department of Finance

Quicklinks und sprachwechsel, main navigation.

The preparation for the application as well as the writing of the Bachelor or Master's thesis at the Department of Finance entails different steps, whereby the application process is described in detail here.

• You find your own topic, write a Research Proposal and submit it via DF Thesis Market.
• Choose one of the provided Topic Proposals and apply for the corresponding topic on the DF Thesis Market including a letter of motivation.
• Supervisor: If your Research Proposal has been accepted or your application for an existing topic has been successful, you will be contacted by the person who will supervise you in your thesis. Based on your Research Proposal inputs, your supervisor will formulate the thesis assignment.
• Thesis assignment on OLAT: The task assignment includes your official thesis assignment for the written thesis. It can be collected on OLAT from the moment you have been informed by your supervisor. Once you collect the thesis assignment on OLAT, the time limit of six months starts.
• Time limit: Start working on your thesis early and discuss problems with your supervisor. Nevertheless, remember that a Bachelor or Master’s thesis is to be written independently.
• Submission: You must submit your thesis via OLAT i.e. you upload your thesis and any additional documents/attachments as a ZIP-file to OLAT.
• Grading of task: You receive your grade within a month after submission.

The following Video in German shows the recording of a presentation (PDF, 276 KB) in which the students were informed. It goes more into detail about the individual steps.

The prerequisite for writing a Bachelor and Master's thesis at the Department of Finance is relevant prior knowledge in the corresponding subject area. In particular, the relevant lectures must have been attended and passed. Provided Topic Proposals may contain further requirements, which you will find in the respective proposal.

It is also important that the rules and instructions of the Dean's Office ( study and graduation ) are generally to be noted. The responsibility regarding compliance with these regulations lies with you.

Application

In order to write a thesis at the Department of Finance, a digital application via the DF Thesis Market is required. You will need the following documents for the application:

• Curriculum Vitae (as PDF)
• Transcript of records (as PDF, current export from the Module Booking)
• Research Proposal (if you propose a topic of your own)

For the application via the Department of Finance Thesis Market, you also need your UZH login credentials (shortname and password).

There are two ways to apply for a thesis at the Department of Finance:

Option A: Own topic

Elaborate your own suggested topic and write a Research Proposal. On two to three pages, the Research Proposal summarises your motivation, the objectives, the planned procedure and the expected results. The following documents serve as a guide:

• Instructions for writing a Research Proposal (PDF, 114 KB)
• Example of a Research Proposal (PDF, 205 KB)

If you would like to write an empirical paper, check before submitting your application whether the data you need can be found in the available databases . It is advisable to check with a concrete example whether the data quality is sufficient (e.g., availability of time series).

It is important that you assign your Research Proposal to the correct research area so that it can be made available to appropriate supervisors. The research areas and fields of interest listed in the table below can serve as a decision-making aid. The links of the Professors lead to the Bachelor and Master's theses that they supervised so far. They can give an intuition on typical topics for writing a thesis.

Based on your Research Proposal, the final thesis assignment will be issued. However, the Department of Finance reserves the right to ask for improvements to the proposal, to make changes, to provide a different topic or to reject the application.

Option B: Provided topic

Apply for a topic provided by a supervisor via DF Thesis Market . Look at the topics on the marketplace, choose one and apply. Note that in addition to a CV and transcript of records, a short letter of motivation is also required for the application. Describe how the provided topic matches your skills and interests, and how the topic fits into your course of study.

Useful documents

As guidance to help you estimate the length of a thesis, we provide you with two sample theses:

• Bachelor’s thesis: The different theories of the 2010 Flash Crash with main focus on high-frequency trading (PDF, 1 MB)
• Master’s thesis: Strategic Allocation to Return Factors (PDF, 1 MB)

Additionally you can find a template for LaTeX (ZIP, 414 KB) .

Further notes

The Department of Finance strongly recommends that you start finding a topic for your Bachelor or Master's thesis at an early stage. The application must be submitted at least one month before the desired starting month. For example if you want to start writing your thesis at the beginning of May, you must apply by the end of March. 

The matching process usually takes about a month, sometimes longer (especially for your own proposals), since all supervisors supervise several theses, and your own proposal must match the interests of your supervisor in terms of content. We will inform you as soon as the matching process is completed, or if we need further information or adjustments from you. If you want/need to start as soon as possible, you also have the option to apply to one of the posted proposals.

The DF endeavours to offer all applicants the opportunity to write a thesis at the Department of Finance, but we cannot guarantee a specific topic or a specific supervisor. Temporary bottlenecks may occur in the supervision. If you have any questions or problems in connection with your application, please contact the study coordinator and Managing Director of the DF, Dr. Benjamin Wilding, at [email protected] .

Research interest

Bereichs-navigation, unterseiten von theses.

• DF Thesis Market
• FAQ for Students

• People/Staff

Become an authority in a specific area of finance by conducting your own research.

• The PhD in finance is an opportunity for high-level research into areas of interest such as corporate finance and investments.
• The degree (Programme code:  CDA00 ) is the School’s highest degree and is only offered through supervised research, to be conducted on an approved topic.  
• The candidate must conduct original, empirical research on an approved topic.
• The thesis can be a maximum of 100 000 words.
• It is also possible to attain the PhD by publication. For more information, please contact the PhD Co-ordinator.
• The PhD can be taken part-time or full-time and is by research only. Additional courses may be prescribed that assist the candidate in their research. 
• It is important to note that the PhD in Finance offered by the School in Economics and Finance, is NOT the same as the PhD in Management, offered by the Wits Business School. Entrance requirements do differ and candidates are encouraged to contact relevant schools for more information. 
• The Statistical Properties of Security Returns
• Behavioural Finance
• Financial Data Science
• Efficient Capital Markets
• Portfolio Theory and Asset Pricing
• Portfolio Management and Evaluation
• Capital Flows, Leverage and Liquidity
• Agency Theory
• Capital Structure
• Investment Banking and IPOs
• Dividend Theory
• Market for Corporate Control
• Loan Syndication, CDOs and Default Risk
• Risk Management
• Derivatives

Entry Requirements

• A relevant Masters degree or an equivalent qualification from Wits University or another university. Relevance is defined in the context of Corporate Finance and Investment, as offered in our Finance curricula.  
• The overall average of the Masters degree should be above 65%.
• A supervisor from the School must be identified and approached prior to application. You will find a list of staff with their research interests on the School website . Please filter for those in the Finance Division.

Work experience is NOT a requirement, although it can assist the panel in deciding on an application.

University Application Process

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC) . Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.  Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online . Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal .
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the  Self Service Portal .
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students , please check this section .

For more information,  contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits .

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here . Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.  NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies.  External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

Department of Banking and Finance

Welcome to the homepage of the department of banking and finance. Our department consists of the following chairs:

Professor of Banking

Head of Department, Professor of Empirical Finance

Professor of Finance

Professor of Risk Management

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PhD contract in sustainable finance - 2024-2027

03 april 2024, 01 september 2024, 01 september 2027, 17 may 2024, phd programs, phd in economics.

Aix-Marseille School of Economics (AMSE) and fintech  WeeFin are offering a three-year PhD contract in the field of sustainable finance. The aim of the PhD project will be to decode and decompose environmental indicators to maximize their use, relevance and usefulness for financial players.

The thesis will be carried out under an  French industrial fellowship programme (CIFRE) based on a cooperation between WeeFin and AMSE. The PhD student will be enrolled in the  Doctoral School of Economics and Management at the University of Aix-Marseille, and will be part of the  AMSE doctoral program . He/she will be based at Weefin's premises in Paris.

The thesis project will address the following research questions:

• Which sustainability indicators should be chosen to support corporate investment strategies, according to various climate scenarios? In the medium and long term, companies, and investors risk misalignment due to insufficient ambition.
• What are the best indicators to help financial players make better investment decisions? In the short term, investors risk misaligning their investment decisions, which could lead to financial controversies.

Call for submission In French / In English

Contact information Christelle Lecourt: [email protected] Léo Fargeas: [email protected]

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• environment
• sustainable
• aix-en-provence

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