Course details

Summary

The PhD is a globally recognised postgraduate research degree, the highest level of degree you can achieve. PhD students are critical, curious, creative thinkers who undertake original research over at least 3 years. As well as your supervised original research, through your doctoral programme you will have opportunities to expand and develop your personal and professional skills. Doctoral candidates present their work at local and international conferences, and are encouraged to network and collaborate with a wide range of experts in their research field.

This course is also offered at overseas and Manukau location.

Media, Film and Television

The Business School’s finance researchers are examining how investors and firms allocate scarce resources over time. This covers corporate financial decision-making, investment analysis, portfolio management and financial instruments, and institutions and markets.

The finance group’s research currently addresses:

Asset pricing

Determining the factors that determine the required rate of return on risky assets

The cost of capital

Its application to capital budgeting, the valuation of firms and the regulation of pricing.

Initial public offerings of equity securities

The factors affecting under-pricing and the history of the under-pricing phenomenon.

Market microstructure

The impact of "market architecture" on the outcomes of the trading process.

Securities’ market regulation

The regulation of information disclosure in financial markets and its impact on the financial information environment.

Risk management

The identification and measurement of financial risks and the management of these risks using financial instruments.

Banking, financial institutions and regulation

Bank supervision and regulation; the global financial crisis.

Programme structure

The University of Auckland PhD is a three-to-four year full-time advanced research degree.

On entry to the PhD programme, you will be enrolled provisionally. By the end of your first year, you must meet a number of goals to be confirmed into the PhD programme, including developing a full thesis proposal. After confirmation, you will continue to work on your research before submitting your thesis for examination after three years and within four years of your start date. The examination process includes an oral exam.

As part of your PhD study, you can take part in our doctoral skills programme, designed to help you achieve success in your research and develop skills for your future. We have a dedicated postgraduate careers advisor, and our library service includes specialist subject librarians to help you in your research. The central School of Graduate Studies provides dedicated support and advice for the doctoral community.

Where could this programme take you?

Our PhD graduates are successful in a wide range of fields and careers, as well as the traditional academic research career path. The PhD gives you extensive specialist and transferable skills, which are sought after in many sectors, including industry and government, and can even help you to develop entrepreneurship skills to run your own startup.

Entry criteria

• Masters-level qualification or the equivalent of a bachelors degree with honours
• GPE 5.5
• Evidence of significant research, usually undertaken as part of prior study

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.