The Finance doctoral program at Ivey prepares students to conduct rigorous research and pursue academic careers in finance. Research in finance examines topics related to firms, investors, capital markets, financial institutions, and regulation, with a focus on producing scholarship that contributes to academic knowledge and deepens our understanding of financial markets, financial decisions, and their impact on the real economy.
Finance PhD students join a small, research-intensive scholarly community and work closely with faculty in the Finance Area Group. The program emphasizes faculty interaction, mentorship, and the development of skills needed to identify important research questions, build strong theoretical and empirical research designs, interpret evidence carefully, and communicate findings to academic audiences.
Students take a combination of PhD courses in corporate finance and asset pricing, along with methodological training and relevant courses across Ivey Business School and Western University. The early years include rigorous coursework, and are designed to provide a strong foundation in finance, economics, econometrics, and empirical research methods.
Research development begins early in the program. Students participate in research seminars and workshops, learn how to evaluate and present academic research, and develop their own research ideas through faculty interaction. As students progress, they are expected to develop independent research projects, including early-stage papers and research proposals, that help prepare them for dissertation work.
This training is designed to prepare students to become independent scholars who can develop and publish original research. Applicants whose primary goal is a professional career in the financial industry may find that Ivey’s MBA or MSc programs are better aligned with their objectives.
Areas of Research Focus
- Corporate finance
- Financial intermediation and banking
- Asset pricing, investments, and value investing
- Capital markets and market microstructure
- IPOs, securities issuance, and underwriting
- Corporate governance
- Financial regulation and policy
- Entrepreneurial finance and private capital markets
PhD Student Opportunities
The Finance discipline welcomes applications from students with strong academic preparation, a serious interest in research, and the motivation to pursue an academic career in finance. Because the first years include rigorous coursework in finance, economics, and research methods, students with prior training in finance, economics, or related quantitative fields are especially well positioned for the program.
Students will have opportunities to work closely with faculty members in Ivey’s Finance Area Group, participate in seminars and workshops, and become part of Ivey’s broader community of doctoral students and scholars. Faculty mentorship and advisor relationships develop as students move through the program and refine their research interests; students are not expected to identify a supervisor before applying.
