Notre Dame Finance PhD Program

The Finance PhD program at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business is a rigorous and highly selective program designed to train future leaders in financial research and education. It aims to equip students with the theoretical knowledge, methodological skills, and professional development necessary to excel at top-tier universities and research institutions.

Curriculum

The curriculum is demanding, typically requiring four to five years of study. The initial years are heavily focused on foundational coursework in economics, mathematics, statistics, and econometrics. These courses provide the necessary quantitative and analytical framework for advanced study in finance. Core finance courses cover topics such as asset pricing, corporate finance, and financial econometrics. Students delve deep into these areas, studying seminal papers and learning to critically evaluate existing research.

Beyond core courses, students choose elective courses tailored to their research interests. The program offers flexibility in specialization, allowing students to focus on areas such as behavioral finance, derivatives, fixed income, market microstructure, and sustainable finance, among others. This allows for the development of highly specialized expertise. Throughout their coursework, students are encouraged to engage in independent research projects, fostering their ability to formulate research questions, develop appropriate methodologies, and analyze data.

Research

Research is at the heart of the Notre Dame Finance PhD program. Students work closely with faculty members who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research and are committed to mentoring doctoral students. Faculty expertise spans a wide range of financial topics, providing students with ample opportunities to collaborate on impactful research projects. The program emphasizes early involvement in research, encouraging students to begin working on research projects from their first year. This early exposure helps students develop their research skills and build a strong research pipeline.

Notre Dame provides access to comprehensive research resources, including extensive databases and software packages. The program also supports student participation in academic conferences, allowing them to present their research and network with other scholars in the field. The goal is to prepare graduates to publish in top-tier finance journals.

Faculty

The faculty are a distinguishing feature of the program. They are dedicated scholars with strong publication records in leading finance journals. They are committed to providing personalized attention and guidance to students, fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Faculty members actively mentor students, providing feedback on their research and assisting them in navigating the academic job market.

Placement

Graduates of the Notre Dame Finance PhD program have been placed at leading universities and research institutions around the world. The program’s rigorous training and emphasis on research excellence prepare graduates for successful academic careers. The placement record reflects the program’s commitment to producing highly qualified candidates who can contribute meaningfully to the field of finance.