The PhD with Integrated Study in Accounting trains students as researchers, allowing them to develop advanced techniques and in-depth knowledge within the subject of Business. The programme is underpinned by a student-dependent selection of foundational training courses which students will use to develop an all-round knowledge of their discipline, enhance their research abilities and gain a broad range of transferable skills.
Working under the guidance of supervisors, students will carry out independent research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge of their field.
Those joining the programme also have the opportunity for collaborative research and supervision from experts in more than one group, or collaboration from multiple Schools within or outside the University of Edinburgh.
The prescribed period of study for the full-time PhD is 48 months, with students allowed an additional 12 months to write-up their final thesis. To be awarded a PhD students will need to defend their submitted thesis in an oral examination called a viva (assessed according to the University's regulations).
Students who obtain an unconditional offer on the programme will be required to undertake 180 non-thesis credits of taught courses during year 1 of study.
Before starting your studies you should submit your course selection to Research Support Office (office.pgr@business-school.ed.ac.uk). Please consult your Supervisor regarding all course choices, as they will be required to approve your selection. The Research Support Office will be in touch with all incoming students on how to select and submit their course selection.
The anticipated milestones for doctoral students are as follows:
Stage 1: First year of a PhD is normally spent preparing for your main research work. You will follow a programme of training (i.e. foundation courses), reading and reflecting on relevant literature with the support of your supervisor.
Stage 2 and 3: Second and third year are spent undertaking the main body of the research, usually with empirical data collection and analysis, or selection and analysis of defined primary theoretical sources.
Stage 4: Finally, years four and five are spent completing the analysis, writing and submitting the thesis and then undertaking the oral examination (Viva).
In order to progress to the next year of study, students are required to complete an annual progression review. This is assessed by academic staff members (including their advisory team) to determine the student's suitability for progression.
Students in their first year will have their taught course results taken into consideration as part of the annual progression review. It is expected that in order to progress, first year students are expected to have achieved a minimum mark of 50 in at least 120 credits of taught courses within the first year and their supervisors will need to confirm that their progress has been satisfactory through the annual review EUCLID form. Due to the timing of the first annual progression review, dissertation marks are unlikely to be available. Supervisors can assess satisfactory progression based on:
1) The compulsory Supervised Reading: Refining the Proposal (CMSE11442) taken in the second semester, which will have been presented to members of the subject group during the annual spring presentations and received communal feedback that will feed forward into the Annual Review meeting.
2) Marks achieved as part of the taught component.
3) Work completed thus far for the dissertation.
If a PhD student passes the first year annual progression review based on understanding given to supervisors from the above three information points but subsequently fails the dissertation, any concerns will be addressed at the second year annual review, where there is the option to exit with a Master of Science by Research.
If supervisors are unsure whether the student has progressed satisfactorily, they are strongly encouraged to recommend a repeat review, which will occur within another 3 months, and after the student's dissertation grades are known, and thus can inform progression.
Should a student fail a course, the following scenarios may be considered:
1) The Exam Board may award credits on aggregate for the failed course, or recommend that the student take another course in their second year.
2) In cases where a student has not achieved 50% in 120 credits of courses and has not passed the dissertation, a recommendation of an exit award of Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate may be made.
Success in the courses and the dissertation does not guarantee progression by itself; progress is deemed satisfactory over a wider context. If supervisors and the PGR Programme Director are aware of external issues which may have affected performance in the courses, e.g. illness, personal issues, they can allow progression to the next year and any concerns will be monitored and addressed at the second year annual review, where there is the option to exit with a Master of Science by Research.
Progression decisions for all doctoral students moving into the next year of study are confirmed by the Research Degrees Committee, or where appropriate, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Exams Committee.
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