Finance - Research

The Department of Finance is an energetic and enterprising research cluster that continuously strives for excellence in both its teaching and scholarship.



The group's expertise spans equities, derivatives, banking, corporate finance, and financial history, with particular strengths in financial markets and institutions, financial history, empirical asset pricing, household finance, sustainable finance, and machine learning and AI in finance.



Research students benefit from:

• Tailored finance courses and reading groups for rigorous preparation

• Access to FinTrU Trading Room facilities, including Bloomberg terminals, real-money student-managed funds, and high-frequency trading simulations

• Engagement with the Finance & Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (FAIR)—an innovative hub exploring fintech, AI safety, risk analytics, and regulation



Queen's Business School prides itself on research-led teaching and offers its research students experience as teaching assistants in a variety of undergraduate courses. Students regularly attend the School's various seminar series, which attract leading academics from around the world. Students also present their work at these events, gaining invaluable advice and preparation for the academic job market.

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a UK 2.1 Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) and a UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline with a final result of 60% (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University). In cases where applicants have not completed a Master's degree, applications may be considered where applicants hold a 1st class Honours undergraduate degree from a high-ranking, research focus university and have demonstrated an ability to conduct academic research.



International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country at https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/your-country/



English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).



International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.



For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.



If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.



Find a supervisor

If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.



To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles at https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/find-a-phd-supervisor/?school=Queen%27s%20Business%20School



You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

A PhD programme runs for 3-4 years full-time or 6-8 years part-time. Students can apply for a writing up year should it be required.

Entry Year: Academic Year 2026/27

Career Prospects

Introduction

The School has a proven track-record of placing its PhD graduates in tenure-track research and teaching posts at top universities in the UK and elsewhere.

Research information


Associated Research

Corporate finance

Corporate governance and corporate law

Historical asset pricing

Financial crises, manias and bubbles

UK equity markets in the 19th and 20th centuries

UK financial institutions in the 19th and 20th centuries

Capital structure behaviour in UK-quoted firms

Demographic change and international capital flows

Equity, bond, foreign exchange and derivative markets

Long memory, heterogeneity and trend-chasing in financial prices

Price discovery in bond markets

Credit unions

Diversification options for not-for-profit financial institutions

Efficiency and performance of not-for-profit financial institutions

Networks and co-operation benefits for not-for-profit financial institutions