Accounting

Overview

Students of the Accounting PhD from University of Alberta begin developing original research in the summers after the first and second years. After passing the comprehensive examinations, students focus predominantly on their research. By the end of the third year, students take their candidacy examination, in which they present their dissertation research proposal. The remainder of the program is dedicated to completing the dissertation.

What you'll study

Throughout the program, students work closely with faculty. Upon entry, each student is matched to a faculty advisor. The advisor or another tenured faculty member becomes the student's PhD supervisor by the end of the first year. At that time, the student's supervisory committee is also appointed.

A core strength of the program is the scope of the faculty's methodological and substantive interests. We have research-active faculty whose work uses analytical modeling, behavioral economics, empirical / archival research methods, and experimental economics. Substantive areas of faculty research include auditing, capital markets, contracting, corporate governance, disclosure, earnings management, information design, managerial accounting, and performance evaluation. We presently have 10 tenured research-active faculty members. Since 2011, all have published in a top journal in accounting, finance, or economics.