Finance (Integrated) (Research)

1st in the UK for annual research income (Chartered Association of Business Schools 2025)
10th in the UK for Economics and Finance (Research.com Best Universities Ranking 2025)
Top 20 in the UK for Finance (Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025)

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 cross disciplinary 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.

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.