PhD Specialization in Accounting

BI boasts some of Europe's leading academic departments within the fields of accounting, economics, finance, strategy, marketing, and management. As an employee at BI Norwegian Business School you will meet exciting challenges in an engaging and international environment, with over 800 colleagues who continuously push the frontiers of knowledge.

The Department of Accounting and Operations Management at BI Norwegian Business School is inviting applications for doctoral scholarships, start date August 2027.

Department of Accounting and Operations Management

The Accounting group in the Department of Accounting of Operation management is divided into two sub-groups: One group conducts quantitative (formal analytical and archival) research in the areas of financial accounting and auditing. The other group focuses on qualitative research in management accounting and control. In line with their research interests, the group members are involved in teaching at Doctoral, Executive, Master, and Bachelor levels, as well as tailor-made corporate courses in the respective areas.

The financial accounting and auditing group members have multidisciplinary backgrounds in accounting, economics and finance. The group's ambition is to conduct high-quality research and its members succeeded in publishing in top accounting journals such as The Accounting Review, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Accounting Research. Management Science, Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, but also in highly renowned finance journals like the Review of Finance or Journal of Corporate Finance.

The group hosts The Scandinavian Accounting Research Conference and Doctoral Consortium and a regular research seminar series. These seminars and other visits by international researchers give PhD candidates an excellent opportunity to reflect and receive feedback on their own research. The department has access to many of the commonly used international databases. Some faculty members also work with unique Norwegian micro data on firms and individuals obtained from official registers.

PhD specialization in Accounting

The PhD specialization in Accounting prepares candidates for careers in the world's leading academic institutions, research-oriented international and national organizations, and the industry.

The four-year program offers rigorous training for candidates with strong analytical skills and intellectual curiosity. It follows a structure that is used in comparable programs around the world. The first three semesters are devoted to course work covering all the major fields in Accounting and core topics Corporate Finance and Econometrics relevant for an Accounting PhD. These courses are mainly taught by BI faculty. The candidates can also take specialized courses and participate in doctoral workshops through different international accounting research networks.

The second year of the program sees candidates transitioning to research work. The candidates will work towards the doctoral dissertation that is typically a collection of three research articles. Research work is done in close co-operation with the supervisor and other faculty members from the department. Projects joint with faculty members may involve collaborators from other research institutions. Candidates also participate in regular research seminars with international scholars and present their research work at departmental workshops. The research environment is supportive and PhD candidates take actively part in all the social life at the department.

Funding:

The four-year scholarship is set according to the Norwegian State Salary Scale and currently pays NOK 623,200 annually (will be adjusted in 2027). The position is linked to The Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse). The scholarship involves 25% teaching obligation.

Application timeline and submission rules:

The application and its attached documents can be submitted only electronically by using the "Send Application" button on the right hand side in this announcement. E-mail or hard copy applications will not be accepted. Kindly note that all documents need to have reached the Doctoral Administration by the deadline stated in this announcement in order to be considered. The only exception to this rule are candidates who are completing their Master's degree in 2027 and do not have a final certificate when applying. You will not be able to revise your application once it has been submitted.

Application requirements:

We encourage applications from candidates who have solid quantitative skills and a strong background in disciplines such as Accounting, Economics, Finance, Mathematics and Statistics. Strong communication and analytical skills are also crucial for successful completion of the program. If applicants are otherwise equally qualified, female applicants will be given preference.

We welcome research interests, theoretical or empirical, in all areas of Accounting.

The following list details the formal application requirements:

1. Academic record

   Eligible applicants must have completed a Master of Science degree with thesis work, a Research Masters/M.Phil degree, or a comparable degree relevant for the specialisation in Accounting by the time the program starts in early autumn of 2027, with a grade point average of B or higher. An MBA degree does not fulfill the requirements for admission.

2. GRE / GMAT

   Applicants who hold a Master's degree from an institution in an EU/EEA country are encouraged to take either the GMAT or the GRE test. Applicants whose Master's degree is not from an institution in an EU/EEA country are required to take either the GMAT or the GRE test.

   Percentile scores and raw scores for the Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing sections of the GRE or GMAT must be submitted together with the application. Incomplete sections or partial scores are not sufficient. A "good score" is generally considered to be 85% and higher. However, there is no minimum cutoff score for the GRE/GMAT.

3. TOEFL / IELTS

   Applicants are encouraged to take either TOEFL or IELTS.

   The codes for BI Norwegian Business School are as follows: GMAT 0529, TOEFL 0529, GRE 7365. For IELTS we accept copies as long as the TRF number is visible.

4. Materials to be uploaded in the electronic application

   You are required to upload the following electronically with your application:

   CV, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and selected academic work:

   • Full CV / resume. In addition to the usual items, this should include a complete list of all research work, including publications (if any), thesis work, and other documented relevant research activities.
   • Letters of recommendations from people who can assess your suitability for doctoral studies. These people would ideally by academics who have taught you, supervised your research work, or have other relevant information about your potential as a researcher. If such people are not available, non-academic professional people can also provide a letter with an emphasis on your research potential. A minimum of two letters is required. Please arrange with the people submitting recommendation letters to email their recommendations to phd.accounting@bi.no by the application deadline.
   • Statement of purpose describing your plans and motivation for PhD studies and your career objectives. The statement should be written in English and should not exceed 1000 words.
   • One selected academic work showcasing your previous academic output. This can be a copy of your Master's thesis or other relevant research work.

   Certificates, test results, and verification document:

   • Certificate of a Master of Science degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
   • Certificate of a Bachelor degree or equivalent, including transcript of grades.
   • A Diploma supplement or a similar document, describing in detail the study and grade system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.
   • Other relevant certificates and transcripts
   • Test scores GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS (if relevant)
   • Certificates from previously completed courses at the doctoral level, if requesting approval of these for the PhD programme at BI Norwegian Business School (see section 2 in our PhD Regulations). If you have taken any courses at PhD level please complete the following form (maximum 18 ECTS).
   • Signed verification document.

Interviews and additional information:

Candidates may, at a later stage, be asked to forward further information and/or be called in for an interview.

Information about the doctoral program and admission requirements can be obtained from the Doctoral Administration at BI Norwegian Business School. E-mail: phd@bi.no