Program Overview

---

Program Overview

The Accounting - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed for individuals who are motivated and have a high degree of intellectual curiosity. This program prepares students for a challenging and rewarding academic career in accounting. Students will receive training to develop expertise in a specialty area of accounting research.

Research Fields

• Empirical/Archival Research in Accounting
• Judgement and Decision-Making

Program Details

Department/School

The program is offered by the School of Accounting and Finance.

Faculty

The program is part of the Faculty of Arts.

Admit Term(s)

The program admits students in the Fall term (September - December).

Delivery Mode

The program is delivered on-campus.

Program Type

The program is a Doctoral, Research program.

Length of Program

The program is 48 months (full-time) in length.

Registration Option(s)

The program offers full-time registration.

Study Option(s)

The program offers a thesis study option.

Application Deadlines

• December 1 (for admission in September of the following year)

Admission Limitations

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students that can be admitted. Prospective students are advised to contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss their interest in the program.

Supervisors

• Review the finding a supervisor resources.
• Note that supervisors are assigned after the successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

Admission Requirements

• Successful completion of a master's degree or honour's bachelor's degree with at least an 80% average.
• Students from various backgrounds, including economics, psychology, and other academic disciplines, are encouraged to apply. Admissions will not be confined to those with a background in accounting, finance, or other business-related disciplines.

Degree Requirements

• Review the degree requirements in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that can be anticipated as part of completing the degree.
• Check out Waterloo's institutional thesis repository - UWspace to see recent submissions from the School of Accounting and Finance graduate students.

Application Materials

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Resume
• Statement of interest
  • A statement of maximum 500 words explaining interest in and fit for the program, uploaded as a supporting document in the online application. Review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion.
• Transcripts
• References
  • Three academic references are required.
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
  • TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and Fees

• Visit the graduate program tuition page on the Finance website to determine the tuition and incidental fees per term for the program.
• Review living costs and housing.
  • Learn about the PhD housing guarantee program for admitted students in fall 2026 and winter 2027.
• Review the funding graduate school resources for graduate students.