A Master’s degree (Merit or Distinction) in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a closely related quantitative discipline.

Applicants must also hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least a UK 2:1 (Upper Second-Class Honours) or international equivalent in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, or Business.

Candidates should demonstrate strong academic foundations in financial management, econometrics, corporate finance, accounting theory, and quantitative research methods.

International qualifications must meet UK equivalence standards (verified through UK ENIC, if applicable).

Prestigious universities such as LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, and Manchester typically expect a first-class undergraduate degree and a Distinction-level Master’s, especially for research-oriented programmes.

A solid background in statistics, mathematics, and programming (e.g., R, Stata, Python) is often required for empirical research.

Work experience is not mandatory, but relevant professional or research experience can strengthen an application.

Applicants with experience in financial analysis, auditing, banking, consulting, or economic research are often preferred.

Prior experience in academic research, data analytics, or quantitative modelling is particularly valuable for applied finance or accounting research.

For professional doctorates (e.g. DBA with a finance specialization), several years of managerial or corporate experience may be required.

Publications, research assistant roles, or presentations at finance or accounting conferences are considered strong evidence of research potential.

IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 7.0, with no component below 6.5.

TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 95–100, with section scores typically above 23.

PTE Academic: Overall score of 68–70, with no component below 62.

Applicants who have completed degrees in English or studied in a majority English-speaking country may be exempt from submitting language test results.

Some business schools (e.g. LSE, Oxford, and Manchester) may require higher scores due to the analytical and writing demands of research programmes.

Official academic transcripts and degree certificates from all completed qualifications (with certified English translations where applicable).

Detailed research proposal (typically 1,500–3,000 words) outlining your intended topic, objectives, theoretical framework, and proposed methodology in finance or accounting.

Personal statement explaining your academic background, research interests, and motivation for pursuing a PhD.

Curriculum vitae (CV) listing academic achievements, research experience, quantitative and programming skills, publications, and professional qualifications (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, CFA).

Two or three academic references, including at least one from a supervisor familiar with your research or analytical work.

Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).

Some universities may request GMAT or GRE scores for applicants from non-UK institutions, especially for quantitative finance research.

Applicants may also be invited to an interview or online discussion to assess research fit and readiness for independent study.