PhD in Finance at a glance

Undertaking a PhD in Finance | EDHEC Business School
 

EDHEC Business School has been offering a unique PhD in Finance program since 2008.
The EDHEC PhD in Finance is a research-oriented program which trains participants to serve as the future architects of the financial industry.
 
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The program is designed to prepare talented and hardworking individuals for challenges requiring an integrated view of the inner workings of financial markets and institutions, a thorough understanding of financial decision-making and its modeling and the ability to autonomously identify, analyse research questions to propose and implement creative solutions. 
 

Abraham LIOUI
Director, EDHEC PhD in Finance, Professor of Finance, EDHEC Business School 

We have created this program, the PhD in Finance, for executives because we felt that there was a gap between the knowledge, the discoveries and the patterns that have been elicited in academia and the practice in the industry.
We wanted this research to be applied within the industry that has to have an impact either by innovations or by reshaping the industry broadly speaking.
 
The EDHEC PhD in Finance program is designed for high-level practitioners who keep their full-time jobs. Executive participants undertake this program as a personal development step towards senior positions in the financial industry or if they already hold these positions as a way to become better leaders.
It can also lead to a change of career towards academia.
 
People who are undertaking this program are mainly after an intellectual challenge. The PhD program offers a platform where people can think deeply about the issues that they have been facing and therefore offer solutions in the most efficient way.
 
The PhD in Finance program is offered in Europe from London and Nice. The program has 40 PhD graduates to date who have gone on to author over 25 publications in top academic journals and leading professional reviews.
 
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11 graduates in academia
9 graduates run their own company
For the graduates in the industry, most changed jobs or got promoted, some teach at the Master’s level.

Neo Teng Hwee
PhD in Finance, EDHEC, Chief Investment Officer, Head of Investment Products and Solutions
 
Practically speaking the EDHEC program is the only program that allows professionals to actually pursue a doctorate yet at the same time maintaining a full-time job. That is because the courses are conducted on a blocked week basis. So this is a very natural decision for me.
 

Messaoud Chibane
PhD in Finance, EDHEC, Assistant Professor, NEOMA Business School
Formerly Global Head of Quantitative Research, Shinsei Bank

I think it's very relevant to finance professionals especially for those who have had a reasonably long experience in finance and who still maintain the willingness to learn fundamental aspects of finance. So, this combined with teachers who have very profound theoretical knowledge but are also very knowledgeable about practical
application of finance. The fit of these two utility functions makes it very relevant to financial practitioners. 
 
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Regions of residence (executive track participants)
Asia 34%
Europe Middle East Africa 30%
Americas 33%
Australasia 3%
 
 
The programme faculty consists of world-class specialists in Finance,  risk and investment management and economic and financial modelling. It brings together EDHEC Business Schools senior economics and finance scholars and affiliate professors from top research institutions around the world including Princeton, Wharton, Oxford, Imperial College London, Chicago, Caltech and the
London School of Economics.
 
The programme is well balanced between courses that are related to methodologies but also to conceptual developments. So, in the first year we do cover the foundations but at the PhD level of finance. And in the following years we provide students with advanced seminars which are taught by top scholars in the world at the cutting edge of the research in several fields, be it econometrics, behavioural finance, asset pricing or corporate finance.
 

Vijay Vaidynathan
PhD in Finance, EDHEC, and CEO, Optimal Asset Management
 

I was very attracted to the PhD programme here in particular because it's a very unique combination of superstar faculty from all over the world. So, what's unusual is for example in our classes, we had faculty from Princeton, we had faculty from the University of Chicago, and these are the very top names in their field. So even if I had done a PhD in Princeton, I would not get the faculty from University of Chicago. If I
do it in Chicago I don't get the University of faculty from Princeton. So it's a very unique combination of the top international talent in terms of faculty and the interactions that are possible with these very eminent faculty. So that was what attracted me the most.
 

Gideon Ozik
PhD in Finance, EDHEC, and Managing Partner and Founder, MKT MediaStats
 

I thought the programme was fantastic. First, when I entered the programme, I had very high expectations. But when I had finished, I realised, it went above and beyond my expectations.
 
The workload is something that was a bit surprising. We expected a very intensive workload. However, it turned out that the work was a lot more difficult and demanding that we initially anticipated. So it’s a real PhD.
The professors that are involved in the programme are among the top in the finance world.
 
Number of participants enrolled: 62
Countries represented: 31
International participants: 92%
Average professional experience of executive track participants: 15 years
 
The PhD in Finance offered by EDHEC Business School is the foremost academic
and professional qualification for experienced practitioners. Sponsoring organisations benefit from the learning experience of their executives whose critical thinking and analytical and research skills enhanced by doctoral studies are of considerable value. The program requires exceptional dedication but the satisfaction of working at the frontier of knowledge and practices and Finance, and the career impact are ample rewards for those who make this commitment.
 
This program is super challenging not only academically and intellectually but also practically because people have at the same time to manage their job, their family and on top of this, an extremely demanding program.
 
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Offered since 2008, the EDHEC PhD in Finance equips professionals with the scientific background and research skills required to advance knowledge and practices in the financial industry. 
It is delivered over three years in a format that minimises residency requirements to allow professionals from over the world to participate without interrupting their careers. The programme welcomes over sixty participants from some thirty countries and is offered in Europe (London and Nice).
EDHEC Business School has designed its doctoral programme according to international academic standards and awards a PhD in Finance degree which is covered by its AACSB and Equis accreditations.
 

Impacting future generations.

EDHEC Business School has been offering management training and development programmes since 1906. One of the leading business schools in Europe, it delivers degree courses to more than 8,500 students and trains more than 10,000 professionals annually through its executive courses and research events.

The School’s mission is to develop talent through high-quality business education, advance knowledge, impact business practices and contribute to the social and economic debate. Research conducted by its 175 permanent faculty members and its full-time researchers drives all of these activities and is at the very core of the School’s offerings.

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Research and entrepreneurship serving a responsible economy
EDHEC spends more than 20% of its resources on research, which lies at the heart of its business model.

Lean more: EDHEC Business School: Our Research & Innovation Resources.

Business and value creators benefit directly from the contribution of EDHEC’s research centres. Our research guides major institutions in their global business actions: the EDHEC-Risk Institute in the case of asset management, the EDHEC Infrastructure Institute when it comes to long-term investment and the EDHEC Augmented Law Institute for legal business management.

One of the top 10 European Business Schools, with three international accreditations.

EDHEC features in all of the honours lists and top rankings published globally each year. These benchmarking tools put EDHEC among the best business schools in France and beyond, for all of its programmes, be it undergraduate, Grande Ecole, masters or executive education. Our excellence and commitment to being No. 1 are confirmed by our continued placement in the lists of best academic institutions worldwide. The latest Financial Times ranking of Best European Business Schools cemented EDHEC Business School’s presence among the top 10 for the fourth year running. This ranking corroborates the success of EDHEC’s strategy: to embed applied research into relevant academic programmes.

EDHEC Business School was among the first institutions worldwide to be awarded three international accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS, Association of MBAs) for the academic excellence and professional relevance of its programmes, its strong links with the business community, its international orientation and its commitment to ongoing quality improvement.

A wide range of graduate programmes, taught fully through English.

EDHEC Business School offers a wide range of graduate programmes, taught fully through English, attracting students from a wide range of countries, cultures and academic and professional backgrounds. The diversity of the student body contributes to the richness of the learning environment, which is highly conducive to personal and professional development.
EDHEC’s international strategy sets great store in giving students real exposure to ‘difference’, be it on our campuses, through our academic exchanges or our double degree programmes.

EDHEC Alumni share values and the School’s vision of business serving society.

EDHEC Business School graduates are lifelong members of a thriving network of more than 50,000 professionals in 127 countries and every industry. This friendly and supportive community of business leaders organises events and meetings throughout the year to facilitate an exchange of ideas and networking, while supporting students in designing their career plan and helping graduates to promote their business and career. EDHEC Alumni is also a force for the dissemination of best practices, shared values and the School’s vision of business serving the greater good.