MPhil/PhD in Accounting

Programme code: RPAC

Department: Accounting

For students entering in or after the academic year 2015/16.

The Department of Accounting offers an MPhil/PhD Accounting programme with two tracks. The aim is to ensure the highest quality in the development of research students, in their research skills and to support their progression to the completion and defence of high quality theses in their respective specialisms.

Track 1 is devoted to the study of interrelationships between accounting, organisations and institutions. Research in this track examines how accounting practices are much more than a collection of routine techniques, but are shaped by their institutional contexts, have behavioural consequences and can represent different values. Efforts to design internal and external accounting practices are both a function of specific economic and political interests, but are also shaped by social and political aspirations. Research in this track includes a wide variety of accounting topics examined through this lens using primarily qualitative methods, such as studies in management accounting, analyses of accounting systems in the private and public sector, transformations of auditing and risk regulation regimes, historical studies of accounting, as well as broader contributions to social theory.

Track 2 primarily examines accounting and financial reporting issues from an economics perspective. Research in this track covers a wide range of accounting topics including design and choices between alternative accounting methods, the use of accounting numbers for internal reporting, performance measurement, incentive systems, and in economic decision making, assessment of financial reporting quality, the economic consequences of financial reporting and performance measurement, and the interactions between financial reporting, legal and economic institutions, and corporate governance. While much research in these areas takes the form of empirical archival analysis, theoretical analysis and field research can also be relevant in some cases.

When making an application, MPhil/PhD students in Accounting will choose to follow either Track 1 or Track 2 as detailed below.

Track 1

In addition to progressing with their research, students are expected to take the listed training and transferable skills courses. Students may take courses in addition to those listed, and should discuss this with their supervisor.

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

(H) = half-unit course

Year 1
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC500 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Compulsory (examined):
AC502 Foundations in Accounting, Organisations and Institutions (H)

Methodology Training: At least one examined methodology course to the value of one half unit including courses offered by the Department of Methodology, either in their first and/or second year of the programme.

Courses to the value of 1.5 course units from the following normally to be taken in the first year (one course may need to be taken in Year 2):

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
AC501 Empirical Financial Accounting and Capital Markets

Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 2
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC500 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Compulsory (examined):
Students who have completed less than 2.5 examined graduate-level course units in Year 1 will take additional courses, so that at the end of Year 2 all students have completed at least 2.5 examined graduate-level course units.

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology.

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 3
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC500 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology. 

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 4
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC500 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology. 

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Track 2

In addition to progressing with their research, students are expected to take the listed training and transferable skills courses. Students may take courses in addition to those listed, and should discuss this with their supervisor.

(H) = half-unit course

Year 1
Training courses
Compulsory pre-sessional course (examined):
EC400 Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics
Note: This is a pre-sessional course starting in September. All students are normally required to attend EC400, the September Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics, before commencing the Track 2 MPhil/PhD Programme in Accounting.

Compulsory (not examined):
AC501 Empirical Financial Accounting and Capital Markets

Compulsory (examined):
Courses to the value of 1.5 course units, normally taken from the following list in the first year of study (exceptionally one course may need to be taken in the second year of study):

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
AC500 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 2
Training courses
Compulsory (examined):
AC501 Empirical Financial Accounting and Capital Markets

Compulsory (examined):
Students who have completed less than 1.5 examined graduate-level course units in Year 1 will take additional courses, so that at the end of Year 2 all students have completed at least 2.5 examined graduate-level course units.

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology.

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 3
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC501 Empirical Financial Accounting and Capital Markets

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology. 

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Year 4
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined):
AC501 Empirical Financial Accounting and Capital Markets

Optional:
As needed students may take course(s) or research training session(s) offered by the Department of Methodology. 

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined):
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs)
Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops

Optional (not examined):
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department
Relevant seminars in related areas offered elsewhere in the School
Appropriate international workshops and colloquia

Progression and upgrade requirements for Tracks 1 and 2:

Progression requirements: The departmental MPhil/PhD Assessment Review Committee will reach a decision on progression for each student at the end of Years One, Two and Three, and progression from the pre-sessional course (for students on Track 2). All MPhil/PhD Accounting students are normally required to achieve a mark of at least 65% in each of the 2.5 examined graduate-level course units required for progression on both tracks of the programme. The Committee may, in exceptional circumstances, condone a marginal fail if a student has demonstrated strength in other examined courses. Students failing an examined course can, at the discretion of the Committee, and taking into account overall performance, re-sit that course on one occasion only. The Committee may also decide to substitute an alternative assessment to redress any mark deficiencies and has the discretion to set additional requirements for progression where appropriate.

Students are required to make a seminar presentation in each year of their programme. These are formatively assessed. Performance at the seminar presentations will be taken into account by the MPhil/PhD Assessment Review Committee when reaching decisions on progression.

Upgrade: Students will initially be registered for the MPhil. Upgrade to PhD registration will normally happen at the end of Year Two. In order to progress to PhD registration, students must normally have met the progression requirements above (a mark of at least 65% in each of the required 2.5 examined graduate-level course units), and have made satisfactory progress in their research, which normally is understood to mean a solid draft of one complete chapter, plus a detailed outline for the rest of the dissertation with abstracts for each proposed chapter. Materials submitted for upgrade must include a clear framework for the research and a timetable for completion. Students will be provided with an opportunity to defend their submitted written materials orally. The departmental MPhil/PhD Assessment Review Committee will review the progress of each research student, and recommendations for upgrading to PhD will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Award of the PhD in Accounting: Award of the PhD is contingent on the completion and defence of an original research thesis, in accordance with LSE regulations.

Teaching Experience

Students in Tracks 1 and 2 are required to gain teaching experience with appropriate training in years two and three, and they are encouraged to take presentation skills and other training offered by the Teaching and Learning Centre.