phd in finance zurich

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Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics

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The Doctoral program in Finance at UZH is part of the Swiss Finance Institute PhD Program which operates at three campuses in Geneva/Lausanne (Léman), Lugano and Zurich. The program is targeted towards the pursuit of academic excellence. It aims at providing an intellectual environment and a curriculum comparable with the top PhD programs in Europe and North America.

The Program covers a wide range of subjects, including economics, financial economics, corporate finance, mathematical finance, and econometrics. The curriculum comprises two phases: one preparatory year of intensive coursework followed by three years of advanced studies and research. All courses are taught by internationally renowned academics from Switzerland, Europe, and North America. Moreover, a large number of courses in related fields is offered by partner academic institutions in the Swiss Finance Institute PhD program.

Department of Banking and Finance

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Sarah Wikus Study Program Coordinator Tel.: +41 44 634 39 52 E-Mail

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Graduate School of Business

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The Graduate School of Business at the University of Zurich offers two doctoral programs, one in «Business Administration» and the one in «Management and Economics». They are comparable to international PhD programs. The Graduate School of Business at the University of Zurich comprises 26 professors offering PhD courses in four fields of study «Accounting, Auditing & Corporate Governance», «Marketing», «Managing Human Resources and Education», and «Management, Organization, and Strategy».

Talented students with an excellent Bachelor or Master degree who aim at an academic career or leading positions in the public and private sector are invited to apply for one of the doctoral programs at the Graduate School of Business.

Read more about the program structure and the fields of study:

The Graduate School of Business offers two study tracks fitted to the academic background of applicants:

• Track B for students with a Master's degree
• Track C («Fast Track») for excellent students with a Bachelor's degree

Track B: Students with a Master's degree

Track B is considered for students with an excellent Master's degree (likewise a German diploma or a Swiss lic. oec.). Executive MBA programs are not eligible for our doctoral programs. The two semester course program consists of core courses such as Management Theory, Empirical Research Methods, Microeconomics and a number of electives and specialized courses. At the end of their course work, students write their research proposals and start working on their dissertation research under the supervision of a faculty member.

Track C: Excellent students with a Bachelor's degree

Any excellent student with a Bachelor's degree may apply for a «fast-track» program. Students start with Master courses and earn their Master's degrees after two semesters of coursework (60 ECTS) and a Master thesis; if permitted, they then go on with their doctoral course work and their dissertation. The fast track program may save excellent and ambitious students up to two semesters. One particular advantage is that their master thesis (30 ECTS) may serve as a research proposal if it is of outstanding quality. After their research proposals have been approved, students start with their dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member.

The Structured PhD-Course Program of GSB-UZH consists of three parts:

General Program Requirements (18 ECTS)

Independent of the research area, all PhD students have to take the «General Program Requirements» to acquire a solid theoretical and methodological basis in business administration:

• Business Administration for Research Students: Theory (9 ECTS)
• Business Administration for Research Students: Empirical Methods (9 ECTS)

We expect entering students to have sufficient background to perform successfully in these courses. In case a student lacks these prerequisites, additional preparatory courses should be taken prior or during the first year doctoral courses. In addition, fields may designate acceptable substitute courses. Substitute courses are only valid for students' course requirements if officially announced on the GSB homepage before taking a possible substitute.

Field Course Requirements (15 ECTS)

In addition to the General Program Requirements PhD-students choose a field of specialization and are within this field free to choose from a variety of courses (18 ECTS). The GSB offers four attractive fields with structured PhD-course programs that guide students to become competitive on the international academic market.

Generic Competencies (3 ECTS)

Last but not least, students have to take 3 ECTS in courses on «Generic Competencies».

In addition to their PhD-title, students who finish the necessary 18 ECTS according to one of the field-specific study programs receive a formal confirmation issued by the department of business administration signaling their field-specific profile as a PhD-student.

The four fields of study offered by GSB are:

• Accounting, Auditing and Corporate Governance
• Management, Organization and Strategy
• Managing Human Resources and Education

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University of Zurich Department of Business Administration Graduate School of Business Plattenstrasse 14 8032 Zurich Switzerland

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Department of Economics

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Welcome to the Zurich Graduate School of Economics (Zurich GSE), the doctoral (PhD) program of the Department of Economics at the University of Zurich.

Established in 2009, it now offers one of the leading European PhD programs in Economics. The Zurich GSE is highly selective and attracts both Swiss and international students with excellent qualifications and promise for successful independent research. Between 12 and 15 students are admitted to the program every year.

The Zurich GSE offers two years of PhD coursework, taught in English by leading academics, and a world-class research infrastructure.

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Applications for academic year 2025/2026 will open on October 1st, 2024.

Job Market Candidates 2023

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Department of Finance

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Initiative in Sustainable Finance Launch Event

The Initiative in Sustainable Finance was officially launched on 5 March 2024 in the Aula of the University of Zurich.

New Name: Department of Finance

As of March 1, 2024, our new name is Department of Finance. This name is more consistent with the breadth of research and teaching in our department today.

UZH Team Advancing to the EMEA Rounds!

The UZH team will represent CFA Society Switzerland at the EMEA sub-regional final in March!

Launch of the "Initiative in Sustainable Finance" by the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich

This new initiative builds bridges between academia and industry, policymakers, and society.

Malte Schlosser wins Master's Thesis Award 2023

Malte Schlosser wins “Best Quantitative Finance Master's Thesis Award 2023 – sponsored by Robeco”.

Stefan Zeisberger receives Netspar Theme Grant

Stefan Zeisberger receives the competitive Netspar Theme Grant for the project “Understanding, measuring, and applying sustainability preferences”.

20 Years Quantitative Finance UZH ETH

On November 3rd, 2023 it was time to celebrate "20 years Quantitative Finance UZH ETH" with over 100 alumni and about 20 invited guests.

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Awards & Grants

The high quality and innovative spirit of our researches and teachers is being recognized and rewarded.

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Registration Modules

There are special registration requirements for certain modules. You can find the complete list here .

• Job Market Candidates

A strong group of our PhD Graduates is on the academic job market 2023/2024. Learn more about their research interests and profiles.

• Thu, 11.4. 12:15 Uhr 11.4.2024, 12:15: Macro-Finance Seminar More More
• Fri, 12.4. 12:15 Uhr 12.4.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Fri, 19.4. 12:15 Uhr 19.4.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Fri, 26.4. 12:15 Uhr 26.4.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Fri, 3.5. 12:15 Uhr 3.5.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Fri, 17.5. 12:15 Uhr 17.5.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Wed, 22.5. 10:15 Uhr 22.5.2024, 10:15: Macro-Finance Seminar More More
• Fri, 24.5. 12:15 Uhr 24.5.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Fri, 31.5. 12:15 Uhr 31.5.2024, 12:15: Finance Research Seminar More More
• Thu, 6.6. 09:00 Uhr 6.6.2024, 09:00: Zurich Workshop on the Frontier of Quantitative Macroeconomics: Methods and Models More More
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• Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) PhD Programme in Management (PMA) Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) Computer Science (DCS) Law (DLS) Organization Studies and Cultural Theory (DOK) International Affairs and Political Economy (DIA) Early Career Programme

The Graduate Programme in Economics and Finance (GPEF) trains students to achieve academic excellence in the areas of Economics, Econometrics and Finance with a particular focus on policy relevant theoretical and empirical research.

GPEF Graduates are regularly selected for very reputable academic and non-academic positions. The GPEF Ph.D. programme provides a solid basis for starting an international academic career. Recent academic placements include Erasmus University in Rotterdam, King's College in London, Northeastern University in Boston, Drake University, Goethe University in Frankfurt, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Lausanne, Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University, and University of Zürich.

The GPEF offers a structured Ph.D. programme tailored towards a high-quality and internationally oriented education in economics, econometrics and financial research. Graduates are regularly selected for very reputable academic and non-academic positions. The University of St. Gallen is one of the most renowned universities in the fields of finance, economics, and business in Europe.

"After spending a few years in management consulting, I wanted to deepen my understanding of banking, asset pricing, and corporate finance. The Ph.D. Programme in Finance gave me an opportunity to delve into research of my choosing on these subjects. Ultimately, the program prepared me to compete with top graduates from around the world. It gave me the theoretical and empirical foundations to apply my knowledge to important academic and policy questions."

"I joined the Ph.D. Programme in Economics and Finance after working in the financial sector. My motivation was to build expertise in macroeconomics and to get closer to policy institutions. The  programme provided me with rigorous foundations in economics during the course phase. As a doctoral student, I could also benefit from the accessible faculty. The programme entails various interactions with faculty members and distinguished speakers. I had sufficient time for my research and could also engage in teaching activities. I am still in contact with the faculty and continue to value what the programme brought me."

Admission Spring Semester 2024 PEcon

Admission autumn semester 2024.

GPEF Curriculum

Academic vacancies for autumn 2024, gpef job market candidates, discover more.

GPEF Students and Alumni

Sfi the university of st.gallen has become part of the sfi and the pif programme is now part of the sfi ph.d. campus.

GPEF Regulations

The phd programme in finance, pif, is now part of sfi.

Mirela Keuschnigg

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Tereza Tykvová

Member of the Steering Committee

Academic director PiF

Beatrix Eugster

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Michael Lechner

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Peter Kress

PhD student

Marcel Freyschmidt

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General information about the ph.d. studies.

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Department of Management, Technology, and Economics

Doctoral studies in economics.

Doctoral studies in economics include advanced micro- and macroeconomics, econometrics, computational economics, environmental and resource economics, the design of institutions, and policy dynamic macroeconomics.

In order to be eligible for doctoral studies in economics, prospective doctoral candidates must apply for an open position at a CER-ETH chair .

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Arizona president Robert Robbins, key figure in conference realignment, stepping down from post

Robbins oversaw the university during conference realignment as well as a financial crisis that engulfed the school.

Arizona president Robert Robbins, a major figure in athletics and conference realignment, will resign at the end of his current term. Robbins' contract expires in 2026, but he expressed openness to moving on sooner if the board appoints a successor. A national search for his replacement will begin immediately. 

Robbins was one of the most vocal figures during the collapse of the Pac-12; Arizona was one of four schools to depart the dying league for the Big 12 in 2024. After details of a proposed contract with Apple TV came to light that created commissions based on subscription numbers, Robbins compared the deal to selling "girl scout cookies." 

After Colorado announced its intention to join the Big 12 one week earlier, Arizona followed after a disastrous meeting during which former Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff presented the Apple TV deal. Four other schools left for the Big Ten, while two headed to the ACC. Only Oregon State and Washington State remain without a long-term conference home. Arizona had been in the Pac-12 Conference since 1978. 

"The past 18 months have been difficult for our university, but I am confident that our passion and commitment for doing what is right, as well as our thorough and thoughtful analysis to address our ongoing challenges, will bring our institution greater stability in short order," Robbins said in a statement.

Robbins' decision comes less than a year after the university discovered an accounting modeling error created a $240 million deficit in the university budget. Athletics have taken center stage in the scandal. The school gave the athletic department a $55 million loan to survive the pandemic, but the athletic department has been slow to honor the repayment agreement. Robbins noted in a board meeting that cutting sports is on the table. Upon his request, Robbins' salary was reduced 10% in March. 

In the months since the financial scandal broke, Arizona football lost coach Jedd Fisch to Washington along with a slew of transfer players. The university also fired athletic director Dave Heeke for "financial and operational mismanagement," according to  Action Network . Prior to his firing, Arizona hired San Jose State's Brent Brennan as coach. 

After firing Heeke, the university was able to attract athletic director -- and Arizona law alum -- Desiree Reed-Francois from Missouri . Reed-Francois is highly thought of within the industry. 

Even prior to the accounting error, Robbins battled through a tumultuous tenure. In March 2023, the University of Arizona Faculty Senate approved a "no confidence" vote in Robbins in relation to the murder of a professor on campus by a former student. 

Robbins, along with Heeke and Fisch, are only the latest figures from the legacy Pac-12 to leave their institution. Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson was fired after the Big 12 announcement. Oregon State football coach Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State , while UCLA's Chip Kelly took a demotion to Ohio State offensive coordinator. 

Washington's Kalen DeBoer left Seattle to coach Alabama , and athletic director Jen Cohen took the same role at USC . Replacement AD Troy Dannen lasted only months before leaving for Nebraska . Not to be outdone, Washington swiped rival athletic director Pat Chun from Washington State. On the basketball court, Wazzu's Kyle Smith left for Stanford and USC's Andy Enfield chose SMU . 

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McKelvey Engineering offers graduate certificate in financial engineering

Certificate offered through Electrical & Systems Engineering, Olin Business School

Graduate students in the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis can now earn a graduate certificate in financial engineering. While a second major in financial engineering is offered for undergraduates, this is the first graduate certificate in the specialty.

A collaboration between the McKelvey School of Engineering and the Olin Business School, the certificate program is administered by the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering and directed by Vladimir Kurenok , director of the second major in financial engineering program. Faculty from the master’s in electrical engineering, systems science & mathematics, and data analytics & statistics programs in McKelvey Engineering and Olin finance will teach the courses.

Financial engineering combines applied math, statistics, computer science, financial theory and economics to analyze the finance markets.

“We already have a second major in financial engineering that was established in 2017 between the Engineering and Olin schools,” said Vladimir Kurenok, director of the second major in financial engineering program. “It has been a successful joint project. The wish has been to expand this successful program to graduate students because many of them have expressed interest in having such a program.” 

Todd Gormley, professor and chair of finance and academic director of global master of finance at Olin Business School, has been very supportive and was essential in creating the program, Kurenok said.

“The Olin Business School is excited to work with McKelvey Engineering to help create this opportunity for graduate students in McKelvey Engineering,” Gormley said. “There is strong demand from financial firms for individuals with the skillset needed to succeed in financial engineering, and this certificate is designed to help WashU students meet that need. We expect many students will benefit from the new program, and Olin continues to explore ways to deepen our collaboration with McKelvey Engineering on this front.”

Required courses for the certificate program include ESE 427 – Financial Mathematics; ESE 4261 – Statistical Methods for Data Analysis with Applications to Financial Engineering; and FIN 500Q – Quantative Risk Management. Suggested electives include FIN 537 – Advanced Derivative Securities, and ESE 513 – Large Scale Optimization for Data Science. New and required classes will be offered at least once a year.

“Based on the success of similar graduate certificates, the partnership between McKelvey Engineering and Olin Business helps achieve the university’s goal of fostering greater collaboration among schools,” Kurenok said.

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Faculty in this story

Vladimir Kurenok

Senior Lecturer

Todd Gormley

Professor and chair of finance; Academic director of global master of finance at Olin Business School

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