The PhD specialization in Finance at McGill prepares students for research-oriented academic careers. While students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, the typical student holds an undergraduate or a master's degree in economics, finance, mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, or physics.
The program is normally completed in five years. The first two years in the program are devoted primarily to taking courses in finance, as well as supporting disciplines (economics, mathematics, and econometrics/statistics). After the first two years, students enter the dissertation phase of the program.
The program is established in collaboration with Montreal’s major universities, allowing students access to a wide range of doctoral courses. Students are expected to interact with faculty professors to orient their dissertations, develop research skills, and initiate potential research collaborations. Overall, the program fosters a collaborative research environment and provides comprehensive support throughout the doctoral process.
Current Area Research Topics
- Asset Pricing
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Governance
- Credit Risk and Default Risk
- Derivatives and Financial Markets
- FinTech, Cryptocurrencies, and Central Bank Digital Currencies
- Financial Econometrics
- Financial Intermediation
- International Finance
- Sustainable and Socially Responsible Finance
Typical Course Structure
First Year
Fall semester
FINE 706 Introduction to Financial Economics
ECON 709 Microeconomic Theory
ECON 662 Econometrics I
Winter semester
FINE 707 Corporate Finance
ECON 711 Microeconomic Theory 2
ECON 663 Econometrics II
Second Year
Fall semester
FINE 702 Asset Pricing Theory
FINE 711 Empirical Corporate Finance
Elective
Winter semester
FINE 703 Empirical Asset Pricing
EDPH 689 Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Elective
Electives
ECON 712 Macroeconomic Theory 1
ECON 713 Macroeconomic Theory 2
ECON 742 Empirical Microeconomics
ECON 763 Financial Econometrics
ECON 661 Applied Time-Series & Forecast
FINE 709 International Finance Seminar
FINE 710 Fixed Income Securities Theory
MPHE 745 HEC80-223 Macro Asset Pricing
MPHE 746 HEC80-646A Stochastic Calculus I
MPHE 743 HEC80222A Contingent Claims in Incomplete Markets
Typical Support Fields
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Econometrics/Statistics
