PhD in Accounting

While pursuing your subject on the undergraduate and postgraduate level, have you ever thought about pushing the academic boundaries in your chosen field of specialization and getting yourself enrolled in a PhD program? So, if you are from an accounting and finance background and look forward to making your name in the field of research or striving to become an academician, then, a PhD in Accounting would be a perfect course for you. Through this blog, we’ll help you understand the scope of PhD courses.

Course type	Doctorate Degree
Course Duration	3 years
Course Examination Type	Semester System
Course Eligibility	Post-Graduation with relevant subjects (M.Com or M.Phil.) requiring a minimum of 55% marks along with Qualifying the National and State level Exams such as NET/ SET/ PET, etc.
Course Admission process	Either Merit-based or Entrance test.
Course Fee	INR 15,000-1,50,000
Course Average Salary	INR 7-14 LPA

PhD in Accounting: Overview

Being a research-oriented course that involves robust training and critical judgement of knowledge, PhD in Accounting begins with advanced and specialised courses that emphasise dissertation research. With a focus on Economics, Business, Finance, Accounts, Statistical, and research, a doctoral degree in Accounting would conclude with the submission of a thesis and research work developed over the course of 3 to 6 years. As the subject has a wide varied curriculum, some of the courses on a foundational level include Mathematical Modelling, Research Methods, Econometrics, Capital Market Research, Decision Models, etc. In this program, students learn the employment of quantitative techniques and research methods in understanding and contributing to the field of Accounting. After completing your preparation classes in subjects like Mathematics, Economics and Capital Markets Research, you can work in Taxation, Auditing, Financial Accounting, etc.

Must Read: Accounting Courses in Canada: What You Need To Know

Why Study PhD in Accounting?

There are many good reasons to pursue a PhD in accounting. Good research on accounting, finance, and commerce is required in India. The following benefits influence the student’s decision to enrol in this course:

• It opens up a wide range of employment opportunities in the educational, financial, share market, and commercial sectors.
• Updating their knowledge and skills and opening up better career opportunities gives the student an advantage over other Commerce graduates.
• Students become proficient in accounting and other business subjects, discover connections between them and use them in practical settings.
• With the world going online and good research being more important than ever in the wake of the pandemic, candidates with strong PhD theses will be in high demand. They can also write a book about their research or publish it in a prestigious magazine, and they might even be awarded grants to continue their research.

Eligibility Criteria 

To enter into the rigorous curriculum of a PhD in Accounting, you will be required to fulfil certain eligibility requirements as per the university that you are seeking admission to. Some of these generalised eligibility conditions are:

• If you are planning for an Integrated PhD program you are required to have completed your bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognised institution.
• In the case of a general PhD in Accounting, students should have a master’s degree like MCom/MPhil in Accountancy/Finance from an accredited university.
• GRE score
• English Language Proficiency Tests – IELTS, TOEFL or PTE.
• Some universities require you to have minimum work experience in the related field.

Must Read: MBA in Accounting – Course Structure, Eligibility, Admission & More

Admission Process

Admissions to PhD programmes in accounting are granted by colleges and universities either on the basis of applicants’ performance in the relevant qualifying entrance test or on the basis of merit. Colleges and universities publish merit lists.

Some colleges and universities conduct counselling following the entrance exam, during which GD and PI are conducted to evaluate the candidates’ thesis proposals and abstracts. NET is the most widely used entrance exam used to admit students to PhD programmes in accounting.

Must Read: How to Write a Motivation Letter for PhD Programs?

Syllabus

Semester I	Semester II
Fundamentals of Accountancy, Accountancy in Global Trade and Finance.	Advanced Financial Accountancy, Advanced Cost Accountancy.
Semester III	Semester IV
Advanced Auditing, Direct and Indirect Taxes.	Research Methodology
Semester V	Semester VI
Dissertation/ Thesis	Seminar and Project

Top Universities to Pursue a PhD in Accounting

A doctoral course requires intensive research and hard work to delve deeper into the subject of interest in order to find out the desired results. So, it is beneficial if one gets enrolled in one of the top universities around the world where there are the world’s best facilities in terms of research material, labs, and faculty. So, a few of the popular universities renowned for PhD in Accounting are: 

Abroad

• The University of Melbourne
• Australian National University 
• The University of Manchester
• The University of Queensland 
• University of Bristol 
• University of New South Wales 
• University of Glasgow 
• Lancaster University 
• University of Sussex 
• University of Birmingham 

India

College Name		Average Fees(INR)
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology – [RGIPT] , Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh		10,000 INR
IGNOU		55,000 INR
NMIMS University, School of Business Management – [SBM], Mumbai, Maharashtra		40,000 INR
BML Munjal University, School of Management, Gurgaon, Haryana		60,000 INR
Gautam Buddha University, Uttar Pradesh		40,000 INR
Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (HNGU), Gujarat		1,00,000 INR
BPHE Society’s Ahmednagar College, Gujarat		60,000 INR
Times Business School (TBS), Ahmedabad		1,20,000 INR
Bengaluru School of Management Studies (BSMS), Bengaluru		1,50,000 INR
Vinayaka Missions University (VMU), Tamil Nadu		1,40,000 INR

Must Read: Accounting Concepts

Jobs and Salary

With a plethora of opportunities after a PhD in Accounting, you can look for jobs in both the government as well as the private sector in the domain of Accountancy. Some of the most sought-after profiles with a PhD in Accountancy, along with their average salaries are given below:

Job Profile	Average Annual Salary(INR)
Investment Banker	9-11 LPA
Research Associate	Depends on the project
Money Manager	12-16 LPA
Operations Manager	7-9 LPA
Business Analyst	8.5-11 LPA
Risk Analyst	5-7 LPA
Associate Professor	7.2-12 LPA
Corporate Analyst	8.5-11 LPA

FAQs

Hopefully, we would have provided you with ample information on PhD in Accounting. With a doctoral degree, you would be able to earn your way to top-notch firms around the world and give your career a boost. So, if you need help in identifying which universities to aim for, then, get in touch with our experts at Leverage Edu.