phd in finance exeter

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MRes Finance (Pathway to PhD)

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Finance (Pathway to PhD) MRes

Masters applications for 2023 entry are now closed.

Applications for September 2024 will open on Monday 25 September. Applications are now open for programmes with a January 2024 start. View our programmes »

The MRes in Finance (PhD pathway) is a two-year programme which allows you to specialise in finance and economics at the post-graduate level in preparation for progression to a PhD in Finance.
Gain PhD-level training in a range of topics such as econometrics, finance theory and research methods used in finance and economics to prepare you for further study or employment
You will receive instruction and guidance from our internationally respected academic staff who conduct and publish world-leading research
Opportunity to finish at the end of year one and two with a level seven Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Studies and Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Economics.
Fully funded scholarships are available for students who intend to progress onto a PhD in Finance at the University of Exeter

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AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

More than 91% of our research outputs in Economics and Econometrics are internationally excellent

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Entry requirements

A first-class honours degree in finance or closely related subject, or a Merit in a MA/MSc in finance or closely related subject, with evidence of excellent mathematical ability.

Students who apply for University of Exeter Business School funding are required to submit GRE/GMAT scores.

We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study.

Pre-Masters programme for international students

The Graduate Diploma in Finance run by the INTO University of Exeter Centre is a pre-Masters programme designed to enhance your subject knowledge, study skills and English ability. Successful completion of the Diploma (subject to achieving the specific grades of entry) gives students from overseas the skills needed for acceptance onto this Masters programme.

Entry requirements for international students

Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements .

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2 . Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

The MRes in Finance (PhD pathway) is a two-year programme which allows you to specialise in finance and economics at the post-graduate level in preparation for progression to the PhD in Finance.

In the first year, you will receive advanced PhD-level training covering both theoretical and empirical aspects of economics and econometrics with built in provision for training in econometrics software and research databases. During the second year, you will build on this foundation and choose specialisation subjects which will expose you to frontier research in finance and related disciplines (e.g. economics, business and management, or accounting) to develop your MRes dissertation.

The programme is highly analytical, the teaching will be research driven, and you will start developing research independence through the preparation of the MRes dissertation.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Year 1 modules

Stage 1 (Term 1): 60 credits of compulsory modules, 0 credits of optional modules

BEEM136 Research Methods I BEEM137 Microeconomic Theory I BEEM138 Macroeconomic Theory I BEEM139 Econometric Theory I

Stage 1 (Term 2): 60 credits of compulsory modules, 0 credits of optional modules

BEEM143 Research Methods II BEEM140 Microeconomic Theory II BEEM141 Macroeconomic Theory II BEEM142 Econometric Theory II

Compulsory modules

Year 2 modules

Stage 2 (Terms 1 and 2): 0 credits of compulsory modules, 60 credits of optional modules

BEA3028 Sustainable and Responsible Finance BEAM024 Advanced Financial Accounting BEAM029 Topics in Financial Economics BEAM042 International Financial Management BEAM052 Corporate Governance and Finance BEAM053 Mergers, Management Buyouts and Other Corporate Reorganisations BEAM065 Bank Management BEAM078 Applied Empirical Accounting and Finance BEAM079 Coding Analytics for Accounting and Finance BEEM061 Fundamentals of Financial Technology BEEM103 Optimisation Techniques for Economists BEEM117 Economics of Corporate Finance BEEM144 Topics in Microeconomic Theory I BEEM145 Topics in Macroeconomic Theory I BEEM146 Topics in Empirical Economics I BEEM147 Topics in Microeconomic Theory I BEEM148 Topics in Macroeconomic Theory II BEEM149 Topics in Empirical Economics II BEFM015 Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation BEFM016 Equity Valuation Models and Issues BEFM017 Credit Instruments and Derivatives BEMM065 Quantitative Research Methods BEMM067 Business and Management Research Design BEMM158 Business and Management Research Skills BEMM216 Advanced Research Methods and Analysis

Stage 2 (Term 3): 60 credits of compulsory modules, 0 credits of optional modules

BEFM029 Finance MRes Dissertation

Optional modules

2025/26 entry, uk fees per year:.

£ 6,900 full-time

International fees per year:

£ 15,900 full-time

Scholarships

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Find out more about tuition fees and funding »

Teaching and research

Assessments will be conducted via a combination of individual written coursework, group presentations, peer assessment of group work, written examinations, and MRes dissertation.

Supervision

Students will be assigned an academic tutor and a pastoral tutor from the first day of their MRes. During the MRes period you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss your research interests with a range of faculty members to help ensure you have the right fit in you continue to do a PhD. This is designed to expose you to various faculty members within the academic group on a rotation basis and also to provide a more integrated experience where you will have the chance to develop their ideas with junior faculty.

Dissertation module

In this module, you will write an academic dissertation under the supervision of one member of the faculty. The academic dissertation will allow you to demonstrate your ability at identifying and analysing a finance problem using economic models and/or econometric/statistical methods. You will come up with a topic of your own choice, which can be theoretical or empirical in nature, manage self-driven enquiry and write up a piece of research.

By solving statistical/mathematical problems and exercises during your dissertation project, you will be equipped with practical problem-solving skills, theorising skills, and an understanding of mathematical relationships. All of these are highly valuable in both academic and non-academic jobs.

Progression to PhD

Although the MRes can be studied as a two-year standalone programme, it is a pathway to PhD for the majority of students.

Progression on to the PhD is subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the PhD. This includes (1) successful completion of the MRes (achieving at least an average of 60% across all modules and at least 65% in the Dissertation) and (2) the identification of a member of academic staff in the University of Exeter Business School who has agreed to supervise your PhD.

After the programme

The MRes programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to carry out PhD level research and subject to meeting the entry criteria (see above) you will be able to progress onto our PhD Finance programme.

The Business School is home to the following research centres

Centre for Entrepreneurship
Centre for Innovation in Business Education
Centre for Simulation, Analytics and Modelling (CSAM)
Exeter Centre for Social Networks (ECSN)
Exeter Centre for Leadership (ExCL)
Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre (ESF)
Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter (INDEX)
Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP)
Research Methods Centre
Tax Administration Research Centre (TARC)
The Exeter Centre for Circular Economy (ECCE)

The analytical and quantitative skills learnt will be highly transferrable, and upon completion you will be well equipped to pursue careers in academia, business, government and international organisations. Many of our recent research students have gone on to be successful academic jobs and have published their doctoral work in well-established journals.

Developing your skills and career prospects

The University of Exeter Business School provides a range of support to help you develop skills attractive to employers. Visit our postgraduate  Business School careers service web page for more information.

Related courses

Economics (pathway to phd) mres.

Streatham Campus

Management MRes

Accounting and finance msc.

View all Finance courses

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Module details

For students

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PhDs and research degrees

The University of Exeter Business School aims to train world-class researchers who will shape our understanding of and responses to the most important societal challenges.

We offer MPhil and PhD programmes with expert academics in 5 core areas of business and economics (see PhD programmes below). We have a very generous funding scheme to support the most outstanding students (see funding opportunities). We also welcome applications from current doctoral students who are interested in visiting the School (see visiting student programmes below).

MRes and PhD programmes

MRres and PhD funding

Visiting student programmes

Find a supervisor

Related programmes

Students may apply for direct entry to one of the University of Exeter Business School’s PhD programmes.

However, we strongly encourage all applicants to consider applying for the Masters in Research. These programmes provide a rigorous foundation in the skills that are required to conduct high quality research. Students who successfully complete the MRes are expected to progress to the PhD.

The MRes programmes

The two-year MRes in economics or finance is suitable for students who intend to pursue a PhD in an area requiring a strong grounding in econometrics (e.g., economics or finance).

The one-year MRes in management is suitable for students who intend to pursue a PhD in an area requiring diverse methodologies and a solid grounding in theory (e.g., management, entrepreneurship, accounting).

The PhD programmes

We offer MPhil and PhD programmes with expert academics in 5 core areas of business and economics. Our students get demanding graduate level training, participate in research seminars and international conferences and conduct innovative research.

University of Exeter Business School funding

We run two funding schemes that provide fully funded MRes to PhD scholarships and annual bursaries for Black British research students and, for truly exceptional applicants, Dean’s Scholarships.

Successful applicants will receive funding to complete one of the University of Exeter Business School’s Research Masters ( MRes ), which provide a rigorous foundation in the skills that are required to conduct high quality research. Students who meet the PhD entry criteria on completion of the MRes will then receive funding for full-time study in one of the University of Exeter Business School’s PhD programmes.

To find out more about these schemes and to apply, please click on the links below.

Additional funding opportunities

The University offers a wide range of scholarships and bursaries and you can find out more on the funding pages of the University’s website.

International students outside Business School

The University of Exeter Business School is committed to its active and vibrant research community and to supporting outstanding researchers. We welcome visiting doctoral students from many countries and institutions including in recent months from China, Japan and Sweden.

If you are a currently registered doctoral researcher interested in spending a period of time the University of Exeter Business School as a visiting doctoral researcher, guidance and information is available to you below:

What would be available to you

Use of a desk in our postgraduate research student centre
Use of a desktop computer in our postgraduate research student centre
Use of the University library and IT access
Participation in doctoral training seminars and events within the Business School
Invitations to departmental and Business School wide research events and social activities

Please see further information about the support available to you as a Visiting PGR Student on our Doctoral College website .