Finance Integrated PhD

Key information

Duration:
Up to 5 years full time, 10 years part time
Start date:
September 2025
Apply by:
1 month before start (UK), 3 months before start (international)

Find solutions to the practical problems that market practitioners and policy-makers face. You’ll become a skilled research practitioner with a broad set of advanced skills to help you address global challenges. Your training on this integrated PhD will enable you to effectively engage with – and shape – socioeconomic policies. This includes areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusive trade, minimum wage, education and development.

You’ll work with researches who have strong academic backgrounds. Some also have significant industry experience, having held various roles in top-tier investment banks, hedge funds and relevant industries. Our research is mainly conducted within two research groups: 

  • Our crossdisciplinary Business Finance Research Group focuses on corporate finance and governance in both public and private companies, as well the roles of private equity firms, banks and other financial intermediaries. The group publishes on areas such as financial misconduct, banking regulation, entrepreneurial finance and the impact of global crises on corporate finance. 
  • Our Quantitative FinTech (QFin) research group includes experts in quantitative finance, FinTech and climate finance. The group collaborates with business and industry on numerous research initiatives with direct relevance to important problems in global financial markets. 

Both groups hold regular research seminars with internal and external speakers.

Find out more about research at the University of Sussex Business School

What is an integrated PhD?

An integrated PhD includes taking Masters-level modules in your first year as preparation for PhD-level research.

The taught year will help develop your research skills, ready for your PhD. It covers:

  • quantitative, qualitative and analytical methods
  • empirical design
  • programming. 

Through the taught modules, you’ll gain a meaningful progression point and all the support you need for your PhD. Once you’ve successfully completed the taught element of the degree, you’re ready to progress to the research phase of your PhD including your research thesis.

During your PhD, you’ll continue to receive training. You’ll develop more advanced research and publishing skills including:

  • writing
  • winning grants
  • stakeholder engagement

The integrated PhD offers the depth rigour and focus of a PhD, while developing your research and employability skills. 

Accreditation

You’ll join the EQUIS and AMBA-accredited University of Sussex Business School. Learn more about all of our course accreditations here. Find out more

    We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

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    Entry requirements

    Degree requirements

    You’re normally expected to have at least a Merit (an average of 60% of overall) in a relevant Masters degree and an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree.

    Subject-specific requirements

    You may also be considered for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show evidence of long-term work experience in a related area.

    Please select your country from the list.

    English language requirements

    IELTS (Academic)

    High level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).

    IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about IELTS

    We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

    We do not accept IELTS Online.

     

    Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

    Alternative English language qualifications

    Proficiency tests

    English language qualifications

    Country exceptions

    English language support

    If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

    Visas and immigration

    Find out how to apply for a student visa

    Admissions information for applicants

    Research proposal

    If you are applying for an Integrated PhD, you will need to write a research proposal. Find out how to write a research proposal.

    If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

    Modules

    Core modules

    Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

    Autumn teaching
    Spring and summer teaching

    Pathway

    Alongside your core modules, you take the pathway modules below.

    Spring teaching

    We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

    We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

    Check back in January 2025 for the modules running in the academic year 2025/26.

    How to apply

    If you’d like to join us as a research student, there are two main routes:

    Find out how to apply for a PhD at Sussex

    Full-time and part-time study

    Choose to work on your research full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. For details about part-time study, contact us at business-researchstudents@sussex.ac.uk

    Our supervisors

    Explore our research interests and find potential supervisors.

    Funding and fees

    How can I fund my course?

    Funded projects and scholarships

    Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals. Don’t miss out on scholarships – check the specific application deadlines for funding opportunities. Note that funded projects aren’t available for all our PhDs.

    Applying for USA Federal Student Aid?

    If any part of your funding, at any time, is through USA federal Direct Loan funds, you will be registered on a separate version of this degree which does not include the possibility of distance learning which is prohibited under USA federal regulations. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid.

    Part-time work

    We advertise around 2,500 part-time jobs a year so you can make money and gain work experience. We have a special scheme to employ students on campus, wherever possible.

    Find out more about careers and employability

    How much does it cost?

    Fees for self-funding students

    Home students: Fees are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26. Fees will become available once set by United Kingdom Research and Innovation.

    Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: Fees are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26. Fees will become available once set by United Kingdom Research and Innovation.

    International students: £22,575 per year for full-time students

    Home PhD student fees are set at the level recommended by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) annually, rising in line with inflation. Overseas fees are subject to an annual increase - see details on our tuition fees page

    Additional costs

    Note about additional costs

    Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life.

    Empirical research costs

    On top of your PhD fees and living costs, you may also need to cover some research and training costs, relevant to your research project. These costs will depend on your research topic and training needs, but may include:

    - travel (to archives, collections or scientific facilities)
    - a laptop
    - overseas fieldwork costs (travel and accommodation, and language training)
    - conference costs (travel, registration fees and accommodation)
    - laboratory consumables and workshop materials
    - participant costs
    - transcription or translation costs
    - open-access publication costs.

    If you have a scholarship from one of the UK Research Councils, your scholarship should cover these types of costs. You'll receive details of how to claim this additional funding.

    If you're self funded, or if your scholarship doesn’t cover these costs, check with the Research and Enterprise Co-ordinator in your School for details of School or Doctoral School funding that may be available.

    Living costs

    Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

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