Department of Economics & Finance
AACSB International EQUIS - European Quality Improvement System

PhD/MPhil (Finance)

Introduction

The Department is committed to training and fostering prospective students to become excellent researchers and outstanding professionals in the areas of economics and finance. We offer research degree programmes leading up to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil). Upon completion of the programme, students will be well-equipped to work and be able to contribute significantly in academic institutions and in various business sectors. The Department has one of the strongest research teams in Asia in the field of economics and finance. The areas of strength of our current faculty members include, among others, international trade and finance, economic development and growth, micro and macro economic theory, econometrics, money and banking, urban and real-estate economics, Chinese economy, public economics, corporate finance, financial markets, market microstructure, security analysis and portfolio management, derivative instruments, banking system and financial institutions, and management of financial institutions.

Research Rankings of the Department of Economics and Finance in Asia:

  • No. 1 in the top 25% institutions in Hong Kong and 4 faculty members ranked amongst the top 25% authors in Hong Kong (IDEAS, RePEc website), accessed in March 2018
     

Finance

Graduate Placements

(Outstanding)

ADASI MANU Sylvester              Research Associate, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
CHEN Chong Associate Professor, Central University of Finance & Economics, China
CHEN Shan Assistant Professor, Southwestern Finance University, China
CHEN Tao Assisant Professor, Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
GAO Haoyu

Professor, Renmin University of China, China

HE Xiaoxiao Assistant Professor, South-West University of Finance and Economics, China
JIANG Ping Associate Professor, University of International Business and Economics, China
LI Wei Ping Assistant Professor, Sun Yat-sen University
LIU Min Assistant Professor, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China
LIU Xiaotian Lecturer, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, China
LU Weijie Assistant Professor, Wuhan University, China
LUO Miao Assistant Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, China
MOK Edwin KM Lecturer, Department of Finance, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
XIAO Junchao Postdoctoral Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
XIONG Chenyu  Assistant Professor, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China
WANG Yun Associate Professor, University of International Business and Economics, China
YANG Bin Assistant Professor, Jinan University, China
YE Yan Yi                 Postdoctoral Fellow, Tsinghua University, China
YUAN Tao Assistant Professor, Nanjing University Business School
YUN Xin Postdoctoral Fellow, Fudan University, China
ZHAO Zhenling Assistant Professor, University of Science and Technology of China, Chan
ZHONG Xiaoling Research Fellow, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
ZHOU Kaiguo Department Head and Professor, Department of Finance, Sun Yat-Sen University, China

Programme Details

Programme Structure

Coursework Requirements
PhD/MPhil students are required to take the stipulated courses specified by the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies and the College of Business. In addition, students have to fulfill the following coursework requirements designated by the Department.

PhD (for cohort 2025 and thereafter)

Year 1   Semester A    EF8070 Advanced Microeconomics
    EF8090 Advanced Econometrics
    EF5250 Stochastic Calculus for Finance
    EF8083 Empirical Asset Pricing
  Semester B SG8001 Teaching Students: First Steps
    EF8077 Theoretical Asset Pricing
    EF8084 Corporate Finance
  Summer Qualifying Examination
     
Year 1 or 2 Semester A / B Course(s) (at least 6 credits) from other departments of the College of Business
     
Year 2 Summer FB8905 Project (Thesis Proposal Defense)
     
Year 3 Semester A Con't FB8905 Project (Thesis Proposal Defense)
  Semester A / B FB8914 Doctoral Seminar
    Submission of PhD Thesis

MPhil

Year 1   Semester A / B SG8001 Teaching Students: First Steps
    EF8080 Empirical Corporate Finance 
    EF8081 Advanced Corporate Finance
     
Year 2 Semester A / B 1 course (at least 3 credits) from other departments of the College of Business
    Submission of MPhil Thesis

 

PhD students are also required to complete the Qualifying Examination successfully by 31 December of the second year of study.

Thesis Submission
An MPhil thesis should present the results of research investigation, give evidence of a sound understanding of the area of study, its context and applicability, and make a contribution to knowledge. A PhD thesis, in addition to the above, should make a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the subject area concerned.

Supervisory Arrangement

During the study period, research degree student will be supervised by at least one teaching staff of the Department.

Study Period

Students are required to complete their studies, including the submission of their theses, within the below stipulated study periods.

Degree Period of Study (year)
Full-time Part-time
MPhil 2 4
PhD 4 8

Admission

Admission applications should be sent directly to Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies. For admission details, please refer to the below websites. To apply on-line, please click Apply Now.

Research Proposal
Although the submission of research proposal is not compulsory, applicant is encouraged to provide a few-page proposal on the topic you intend to study, and how you want to approach the problem. Inclusion of details of your plan and a reference list would be helpful too.

Admission Handbook - Research Degree Programmes (Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies)

It provides information about entrance requirements, English proficiency requirements, application procedures, tuition fees, financial supports and scholarships.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Applications

Applications are accepted throughout the year and will be considered mainly in one admission round. The application deadline for 2025 entry is 1 December 2024 at noon (Hong Kong time or GMT +8 hours) and the application results will be announced in March 2025.

For application procedures, please visit Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies website.

Note: Applicants do not need to contact individual professors before applying.

Scholarships

Entrance Scholarships

Scholarships are available for government-funded research students:

  • Postgraduate Studentships (Basic Rate: HK$19,100/month for 2025-2026)*
  • Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Scholarships (to cover student's tuition and on-campus hostel accommodation fees in first year of study)
  • Research Tuition Scholarship (in the form of an exemption for students from paying tuition fees)
  • Conference Grant (HK$10,000 maximum)*
  • Research Activities Fund (HK$30,000 maximum)*

​* Subject to revision every year

Awards offered by Department of Economics & Finance

  • The Best Summer Paper Awards to Junior Ph.D. Students (HK$5,000/award)
  • EF PhD Studentship Extension Sponsorship (maximum 10-month studentships during extended study period) (subject to fundng and approval)

 

Current Research Students and Specializations (2025 cohort and before)

Current Research Students Research Specializations Supervisors
BEI Zeyun Financial Risk Management and Asset Pricing Prof. QI Yaxuan
CAI Nuoxuan TBC Prof. CUI Liyuan
CAI Shuman TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
CUI Chengyu TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
DENG Yifan TBC Prof. ZHANG Lei
EFFAH Ebenezer Corporate Finance Prof. QI Yaxuan
FAN Chengheng TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
FAN Mengna TBC Prof. ZHANG Lei
FAN Yueqi Entrepreneurial Finance, Venture Capital and Innovation Prof. WANG Junbo
FANG Mengyi Corporate Finance; Financial Theory Prof. QI Yaxuan
FENG Zulin TBC Prof. DUAN Ran
GAO Shuo TBC Prof. James O'DONOVAN
GORCHUBAYLI Mahammadali TBC Prof. HSHIEH Shenje
HU Zhenqi Macro Finance and Monetary Economics Prof. LI Tao
HUANG Zeyuan TBC Prof. ZHANG Lei
JIANG Shan Financial Markets, Machine Learning and Empirical Asset Pricing Prof. WANG Junbo
KONG Tongyang TBC Prof. ZHANG Lei
LI Jiayan TBC Prof. CUI Liyuan
LI Qi TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
LI Yanzhuo TBC Prof. CHEN Zhiyao
LI Yichong TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
LIAO Xiaojie Empirical Corporate Finance Prof. HSHIEH Shenje
LIU Yunting TBC Prof. XU Zhengyang
LIN Yan TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
LIU Hao Financial Risk Management and Asset Pricing Prof. WANG Junbo
LIU Zhou Empirical Asset Pricing Prof. WANG Junbo
LU Jieyi Empirical Corporate Finance Prof. HUANG Qianqian
OBUOBI Nathaniel Kwapong Sustainable Energy Finance and Corporate Governance Prof. James O'DONOVAN
PAN Jun Asset Pricing and Financial Risk Prof. CUI Liyuan
SONG Zeyu TBC Prof. HSHIEH Shenje
SUN Qi TBC Prof. YU Wayne W.
WANG Long TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
WANG Shengyu Machine Learning, Credit Market and Empirical Asset Pricing Prof. WANG Junbo
WU Bingxuan Empirical Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance Prof. ZHAO Shan
WU Liyang Asset Pricing Prof. HSHIEH Shenje
WU Yuhan TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
WU Yuze Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance, and CSR Prof. HUANG Qianqian
XIONG Hanzhe TBC Prof. CHEN Zhiyao
XIONG Pengchong TBC Prof. MA Yue
XIONG Yang Asset Pricing and Market Microstructure Prof. CHAN Kalok
XU Ningxue TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
XU Ran TBC Prof. QI Yaxuan
YAN Han Corporate Finance Prof. MA Yue
YANG Jiangshan Asset pricing and Financial Econometrics Prof. CUI Liyuan
YANG Lihai Asset Pricing (Theoretical and Empirical) and Derivative Market Prof. WANG Junbo
YE Zhenghua TBC Prof. James O'DONOVAN
YU Conghui TBC Prof. HUANG Qianqian
YU Minfeng Corporate Finance Prof. ZHANG Lei
YUAN Haoyang TBC Prof. HUANG Qianqian
YUAN Ruiqi Corporate Finance Prof. ZHANG Lei
ZENG Xinru TBC Prof. WANG Junbo
ZHANG Zhiyu Institutional Investors, Empirical Asset Pricing and Innovation Prof. ZHANG Lei
ZHAO Jing Corporate Finance Prof. QI Yaxuan
ZHANG Aomeng TBC Prof. CHEN Zhiyao
ZHOU Zongli TBC Prof. MA Yue
ZHU Yabei Empirical Asset Pricing and Derivatives Prof. LI Tao