PhD in Finance

Our PhD in Finance, offered within the Finance & Accounting department at Henley Business School (University of Reading), is delivered by the ICMA Centre - an innovator in finance education with deep-rooted connections to the financial services industry.The programme is designed to equip you with the expertise, skills, and confidence to excel in cutting-edge research in finance and prepare you for impactful careers in academia or industry.Key research areas include (but are not limited to):Asset Pricing and Market MicrostructureBanking and Financial MarketsBehavioural FinanceClimate Finance and ESGCorporate Finance and Corporate GovernanceFinancial Risk ManagementFinTech, Cryptocurrencies and Machine LearningResearchers have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including three dealing rooms and key databases, such as WRDS, LSEG, Bloomberg, and DataStream, providing a practical edge to your research endeavours.Programme StructureThe programme is structured to provide a robust foundation in research methodologies relevant to modern finance. In the first year, the PhD programme includes rigorous training in quantitative skills and research methodologies. These modules are designed to equip researchers with the necessary skills to conduct high-quality research in their chosen area of research. The PhD journey includes a confirmation of registration in the second year, where PhD candidates present and defend their research. The subsequent time is dedicated to completion of the research and writing of the thesis, culminating in a viva examination. Throughout the programme, PhD candidates benefit from personal development modules and workshops aimed at enhancing their research capabilities and professional skills. Dedicated supervisors provide expert guidance to help you achieve academic and professional success.The ICMA Centre's unique practice-centred approach, combined with its proximity to London's financial hub, offers PhD candidates strong opportunities for industry engagement and career development. Graduates of the programme are well-prepared for successful careers in academia, industry, or governmental roles worldwide.List of topicsAlgorithmic Trading and Trade Execution StrategiesAlternative InvestmentsAsset Backed SecuritiesAsset PricingBankingBehavioural FinanceClimate Financial RiskCommodity MarketsCorporate Finance and GovernanceCryptocurrenciesEmerging and Frontier MarketsEmpirical Asset Pricing with Liquidity and Uncertainty PremiaEmpirical Credit RiskEmpirical Market MicrostructureFinancial Economic HistoryFinancial EconometricsFinancial EngineeringFinancial RegulationFinancial Risk ManagementFinTechGender in FinanceGovernment Bond Issuing and TradingGreen Finance Climate FinanceGreen, Social and Sustainability BondsHigh Frequency EconometricsInstitutional InvestorsInvestors Behaviour and Decision MakingLiquidity RiskLoan SyndicationMachine Leaning in FinanceMacroeconomic and financial market uncertaintyMacroeconomic forecasting and survey expectationsMergers & AcquisitionsModel RiskMoney MarketsOption PricingPension SchemesPortfolio Management and Performance AssessmentQuantitative FinanceRetail InvestorsSmall and Medium EnterprisesSocially Responsible InvestingSports FinanceStock Index FuturesTextual AnalysisThe effect of information on financial marketsVolatility and Correlation Modelling