MPhil/PhD in Accounting
Programme Code: RPAC
Department: Accounting
For students starting this programme of study in 2018/19
Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations
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. | ||
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Paper |
Course number, title (unit value) | |
Year 1 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
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AC500 Topics in Accounting Research (AOI) (0.0) | |
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Compulsory (examined): | |
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AC502 Foundations of Accounting, Organizations and Institutions (0.5) | |
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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. | |
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Courses to the value of 1.5 units from the following normally to be taken in the first year (one course may need to be taken in Year 2): | |
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AC411 Accounting, Strategy and Control (0.5) | |
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AC412 Accountability, Organisations and Risk Management (0.5) | |
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AC415 Management Accounting for Decision Making (0.5) | |
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AN473 Anthropological Approaches to Value (0.5) (not available 2020/21) | |
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EH429 History of Economics: Ideas, Policy and Performativity (0.5) | |
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EH463 The Long-Run Analysis of Firms and Industries (0.5) | |
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GV481 Quantitative Analysis for Political Science (0.5) | |
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GV488 Law and Politics of Regulation (1.0) | |
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GY420 Environmental Regulation: Implementing Policy (1.0) | |
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GY423 Environment and Development (1.0) # (withdrawn 2019/20) | |
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GY455 Economic Appraisal and Valuation (0.5) | |
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LL440 Corporate Law and Accounting (1.0) (withdrawn 2020/21) | |
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LL4BX Corporate Governance - Advanced Topics (0.5) (withdrawn 2020/21) | |
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PP478 Political Science for Public Policy (1.0) | |
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SO425 Regulation, Risk and Economic Life (1.0) | |
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SO430 Economic Sociology (0.5) | |
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Any other graduate-level course available in the School with permission from the PhD Programme Director. | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs) and Accounting, Organisations and Institutions Research Seminars and Workshops | |
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Optional (not examined): | |
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AC501 Topics in Accounting Research (EoA) (1.0) | |
|
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department, relevant seminars in related areas elsewhere in the School, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 2 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
AC500 Topics in Accounting Research (AOI) (0.0) | |
|
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. | |
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Optional: | |
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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) and 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, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 3 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
AC500 Topics in Accounting Research (AOI) (0.0) | |
|
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) and 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, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 4 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
AC500 Topics in Accounting Research (AOI) (0.0) | |
|
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) and 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, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
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. | ||
Paper |
Course number, title (unit value) | |
Year 1 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory introductory course (examined): | |
|
EC400 Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics (0.0) # A | |
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Compulsory (not examined): | |
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AC501 Topics in Accounting Research (EoA) (1.0) | |
|
Compulsory (examined): | |
|
AC411 Accounting, Strategy and Control (0.5) | |
|
AC415 Management Accounting for Decision Making (0.5) | |
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FM481 Financial Econometrics for Research Students (1.0) # (not available 2020/21) | |
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FM502 Corporate Finance for Research Students (1.0) | |
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FM503 Asset Pricing for Research Students (1.0) | |
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LL440 Corporate Law and Accounting (1.0) (withdrawn 2020/21) | |
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MY457 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (0.5) # | |
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Any other graduate-level course available in the School with permission from the PhD Programme Director. | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
Department of Accounting Research Forums (ARFs) and Economics of Accounting Research Seminars and Workshops | |
|
Optional (not examined): | |
|
AC500 Topics in Accounting Research (AOI) (0.0) | |
|
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department, relevant seminars in related areas elsewhere in the School, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 2 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (examined): | |
|
AC501 Topics in Accounting Research (EoA) (1.0) | |
|
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) and Economics of Accounting Research Seminars and Workshops | |
|
Optional (not examined): | |
|
Other research workshops and seminars held across the Department, relevant seminars in related areas elsewhere in the School, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 3 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
AC501 Topics in Accounting Research (EoA) (1.0) | |
|
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) and Economics of Accounting 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, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Year 4 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
AC501 Topics in Accounting Research (EoA) (1.0) | |
|
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) and Economics of Accounting 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, and appropriate international workshops and colloquia. | |
Footnotes
A : EC400 is an introductory 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.
# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.
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 1, 2 and 3, and progression from the introductory 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.
Note for prospective students:
For changes to graduate course and programme information for the next academic session, please see the graduate summary page for prospective students. Changes to course and programme information for future academic sessions can be found on the graduate summary page for future students.
