Have you ever thought about getting a Ph.D.? A doctoral degree qualifies you to pursue an academic career as a researcher and educator. An academic career provides not only tremendous intellectual freedom, but makes it possible to work with bright people throughout your life. You really can make a difference through the scholarly research you create, and the lives you shape through your teaching. The life style is great, and the pay is good! Frequently, finance Ph.D. graduates’ starting salary range from $140K to $180K, depending on placement, which is largely determined by performance in the doctoral program. Moreover, the job market for Finance PhDs has been strong, and in recent years more positions have been available than candidates pursuing jobs. Thus, it is not surprising that the position of a university professor is frequently ranked as one of the most desirable jobs in the world.

Why in Finance? A PhD in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics. Students build on this foundation and apply these tools to study frontier issues in asset pricing, corporate finance, financial institutions, international finance, and behavioral finance. We develop the cutting edge ideas that mutual fund managers, investment bankers, and CEOs use to make their firms more productive.

Why at Georgia Tech? GT’s Ph.D. program is strongly research oriented, and emphasizes the early involvement of our students in research projects with world-wide leading faculty. The finance group has a proven track record of teaching students the skills necessary to conduct original research. Our Ph.D. students have gone on to publish a number of papers in leading finance journals. The Ph.D. program will also help you sharpen your instruction skills as you teach during the final years of the program.

Given the small size of the program, the tutorial-mentor model is the primary educational approach employed. Thus, doctoral students experience significant attention and support by a diverse set of world-class faculty.
For more information, see:

http://mgt.gatech.edu/finance

Here is what some current and former PhD students have to say about Georgia Tech's Ph.D. program in Finance:

"I really enjoyed the learning environment that the finance faculty had provided. The first and second year papers were very effective in motivating me to think and work on research projects leading to my dissertation during early years of my study."

"Getting a PhD in finance at Georgia Tech was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I love my career as a professor. The research and teaching are both challenging and rewarding. The faculty at Tech were excellent mentors and the program truly prepared me for a successful academic career."

"I owe much of my academic success to the Georgia Tech PhD program. The training I received there has laid a good foundation for me to become a top-level researcher."

"What I have learned from Georgia Tech Finance Program is how to do research. Faculty are very approachable and are willing to share their knowledge and experience with Ph.D. students. I had a great opportunity to work with them and got two papers published before graduation! I strongly believe that my experiences at Georgia Tech will surely help me to be a successful research in the future."

Along with the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the finance group hosted annually for eleven years the leading international finance conference in the world. Keynote speakers have included a number of Nobel laureates.

How do I finance the program, and how do I apply? If admitted to the program, we’ll pay you to go to school to get your degree! Your tuition will be waived and you will receive a monthly stipend. The application deadline is December 6th for admission the following fall semester (starting mid-August). All relevant financial information, including the application package is online at http://mgt.gatech.edu/programs/phd.html?link=left_info_for. Contact the Finance PhD coordinator, Professor Cheol Eun at for any remaining questions.

More About Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech’s College of Management is ranked 25th by U.S. News & World Report, in the top 50 by Business Week, and in the top 25 by Forbes among public schools. The College of Management is housed in a new, state of the art $55 million facility, which is part of the $260 million building complex of Technology Square in midtown Atlanta, in addition to Georgia Tech’s Business School, the GT Conference Center and Hotel, the Global Learning Center, the Economic Development Institute, and the Advanced Technology and Development Center (ADTC), one of the leading incubators in the United States.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (http://www.gatech.edu) is one of the nation’s top research universities, distinguished by its commitment to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. Georgia Tech’s campus occupies 400 acres in the heart of the city of Atlanta, where more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive a focused, technologically based education. Georgia Tech consistently ranks among U.S. News & World Report's top ten public universities in the United States. In a world that increasingly turns to technology for solutions, Georgia Tech is using innovative teaching and advanced research to define the technological university of the 21st century.

About Atlanta: Atlanta, home to over 5 million people, is the 9th largest metropolitan area in the US, and one of the fastest growing cities. It serves as cultural and economic hub of the southeastern U.S., with world-class shopping, outstanding restaurants, and five professional sports teams. Compared to other large cities, Atlanta offers a lower cost of living and excellent weather. About 120,000 companies have operations here, and Atlanta is 3rd in the list of cities with the most Fortune 500 Headquarters. Atlanta is home to corporate giants like Home Depot, Coca-Cola, CNN, Newell Rubbermaid, UPS, Equifax, and Delta Air Lines. Atlanta is one of the top 10 places for business and careers (by Forbes) and one of the top 3 U.S. cities for entrepreneurs (Entrepreneur magazine and Dun & Bradstreet). Atlanta’s international airport, the world’s busiest, makes Georgia Tech readily accessible to any part of the world – 80% of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight. Atlanta is also one of the top 5 U.S. cities for singles (by Forbes), one of the top 40 cities for families (by Child.com), and the #1 city for African-Americans (by Black Enterprise magazine). For more information, see www.atlanta.net/movinghere/index.asp.