Doctoral Programs in Accounting, Finance and Taxation – 12 doctoral positions

Qualified graduates are encouraged to apply for the full-time doctoral programs at the Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) starting in September 2025.

Benefit from internationally recognized teaching and unique interdisciplinary training across the boundaries of the economic and social sciences according to your research interests. Engage with the outstanding faculty of our triple accredited Business School (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA).

Doctoral Degree in Accounting

Our program in Accounting provides students with core competencies in methods of analytical, empirical, and data-analytics research as well as a profound knowledge of the relevant institutional details in the fields of Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting as well as Sustainability/ESG reporting and management. The program offers links to other academic disciplines and integrates them into a coherent curriculum conforming to top international standards. We frequently offer students research visits abroad at later stages of the program. We have a persistent record of placing our graduates at top schools, including leading U.S. universities.

Doctoral Degree in Finance

Our program in Finance covers research fields such as Asset Pricing and Asset Management, Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance, Behavioral Finance, Market Microstructure and others. It provides students with core competencies in analytical and empirical research methods as well as a thorough knowledge of modern tools from areas like machine learning and NLP that recently became more important in our field, while offering links to other academic disciplines. The focus of the program is on empirical research and we offer access to a large array of databases. We encourage and support research visits and our students are intensively prepared for the academic job market, where we regularly place our students at top schools around the world.

Doctoral Degree in Taxation

Our program in Taxation is integrated with the Leibniz Science Campus Mannheim Taxation bundling the expertise in tax research across the disciplines of public economics and business taxation. The program provides students with core competencies in analytical and empirical research including methods such as machine learning or NLP. After the initial course phase, doctoral students have the opportunity to integrate with research teams at the University or at the ZEW Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research. We encourage and support research visits abroad. Our students are thoroughly prepared for the academic job market and we frequently place our graduates at top universities.

DISCOVER GESS

• All doctoral programs in English.
• Modern doctoral education with a structured course program and skills courses in teaching, academic writing, and presenting.
• Guaranteed funding for the duration of the program.
• Stimulating research environment.
• Work with outstanding faculty that persistently publishes in the top academic journals.
• Research stays with partner universities worldwide.
• Access to major databases and excellent libraries.
• Modern offices and equipment.
• Boost your career options with a professional job market training.
• No tuition fees – government funded first-class education.

The research findings of our students and graduates are regularly published in leading journals of the fields. Our graduates pursue careers both in academia and the private sector, taking up professorships, assistant professorships and postdoctoral positions at internationally renowned academic institutions and research positions at public institutions (government, central banks, international organizations). Excellent past placements include The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Illinois State University, Carnegie Mellon University, HEC Montréal, Aalto University, Aarhus University, Bocconi University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Tilburg University, Washington University, University of Michigan, National University of Singapore, European Central Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Early Application Deadline: 15 January 2025
Final Application Deadline: 31 March 2025

Applications received by the early deadline will be considered for early admission. Unsuccessful applications in the early round will be reconsidered with all other applications after 31 March 2025. Only applications received via the online application tool will be considered.

For more information on our programs and application requirements, please visit our website.

Do not miss this unique opportunity to become part of a leading doctoral program and APPLY NOW!