Accounting

PhD in Accounting

Prepare to produce impactful research as an accounting scholar on your path to a tenure-track position at a leading university. Throughout the five-year program, you’ll explore emerging issues in accounting using insights from allied disciplines including, economics, statistics, finance, and political science. You’ll work closely with accounting faculty, globally recognized as some of the top minds in the field. They will serve as your mentors and colleagues while in the program and throughout your career.

At Ross, you have the opportunity to learn from and work with some of the top scholars in the field. The faculty invest a significant amount of time and energy into mentoring PhD students, whether it’s discussing new ideas, providing feedback on early work, or collaborating on joint research projects. After spending five years in this intellectually challenging and collegial environment, you will be equipped with all of the skills that are needed to achieve a placement at a leading research university.

Andrea Down, PhD ’20, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Accounting PhD Program Structure

The PhD program integrates emerging issues in accounting with insights from allied disciplines, such as economics, statistics, finance, organizational behavior, and political science. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of current accounting theory, practice, and research.

You are expected to have completed courses in introductory finance, advanced-level financial accounting, and intermediate managerial accounting in addition to the school’s required background and analytical tools courses. You are also required to complete the following minimum course requirements:

Econometrics/statistics (3 courses)

Economics (2 courses)

Finance (2 courses)

PhD seminars in accounting

Electives (normally fulfilled in economics, finance, statistics, or operations management)

The program requires two projects: a research proposal (at a minimum) completed in the first year, and a small-scale study completed in the second year.

After completing coursework and the first research project, you may take the preliminary written exam. Advance to candidacy after passing the exam and completing a second research project.

The remainder of the program is devoted to the dissertation.

Accounting PhD Faculty

Ross accounting faculty include some of the world's foremost business thinkers and innovative practitioners who focus on issues of importance to the accounting and business communities. Recent research topics include the impact of accounting information on capital markets, and the behavior of decision-makers within firms.