Finance Integrated PhD

Program Overview

The Finance Integrated PhD is a research-focused program that equips students with advanced skills to address global challenges in finance and economics. The unique crossdisciplinary approach combines expertise from the Business Finance Research Group and Quantitative FinTech research group. The program prepares graduates for careers in research, academia, and industry, including positions in universities, government agencies, financial institutions, and consulting firms.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Finance Integrated PhD is a research-focused program designed to equip students with advanced skills to address global challenges in areas like innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusive trade, minimum wage, education, and development. The program emphasizes practical problem-solving relevant to market practitioners and policymakers.

Objectives:

• Develop skilled research practitioners with a broad set of advanced skills.
• Enable students to effectively engage with and shape socioeconomic policies.
• Provide training in quantitative, qualitative, and analytical methods, empirical design, and programming.
• Enhance research and publishing skills, including writing, grant-winning, and stakeholder engagement.

Outline:

Structure:

• The program is structured as an integrated PhD, combining Masters-level modules in the first year with PhD-level research.
• The taught year focuses on developing research skills, preparing students for the PhD research phase.
• Upon successful completion of the taught element, students progress to the research phase, culminating in a research thesis.

Course Schedule:

• Duration: Up to 5 years full-time, 8 years part-time
• Start date: September 2024
• Application deadline: 1 month before start (UK), 3 months before start (international)

Modules:

Core Modules:

• Autumn Teaching:
• Analytical Methods
• Programming and Policy Analysis
• Qualitative Methods and Empirical Design
• Quantitative Methods
• Spring and Summer Teaching:
• Research Proposal

Pathway Modules:

• Spring Teaching:
• Macro Methods (Economics and Finance Pathway)
• Micro Methods (Economics and Finance Pathway)

Teaching:

Teaching Methods:

• The program utilizes a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and individual supervision.
• Students are encouraged to engage in active learning, critical thinking, and collaborative work.

Faculty:

• The program is taught by experienced faculty with strong academic backgrounds and industry experience.
• Faculty members hold various roles in top-tier investment banks, hedge funds, and relevant industries.

Unique Approaches:

• The program emphasizes a crossdisciplinary approach, drawing on expertise from the Business Finance Research Group and the Quantitative FinTech (QFin) research group.
• Both research groups hold regular research seminars with internal and external speakers.

Careers:

• The Finance Integrated PhD prepares students for careers in research, academia, and industry.
• Potential career paths include:
• Research positions in universities, government agencies, and think tanks.
• Consulting roles in financial institutions, corporations, and non-profit organizations.
• Policy-making positions in government and international organizations.

Other:

• The program is accredited by EQUIS and AMBA.
• The University of Sussex Business School is ranked 1st in the UK for annual research income (2019-2022) by the Chartered Association of Business Schools.
• The Business School is ranked 8th in the UK for Economics and Finance by Research.com Best Universities by Discipline 2023.
• The Business School is ranked 8th in the UK for citations in Business and Economics by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
• The program offers both full-time and part-time study options.
• Students can browse funded projects and potential supervisors to propose their own research projects.
• The University provides part-time work opportunities for students.
• The program may involve additional research and training costs, such as travel, equipment, fieldwork, and conference expenses.
• Scholarships are available to support students financially.
• The program does not include the possibility of distance learning for students receiving USA federal Direct Loan funds.