PhD in Accountancy: Colleges, Entrance Exam & Admission 2025

• Updated on Aug 19, 2025, by Akangsha Das

PhD in Accountancy typically takes 3 - 6 years to complete, depending on the university, research topic, and whether you enroll as a full-time or part-time student. The course offers a thorough study of accounting, consulting, and financial analysis. Applicants with a Master's degree in Accountancy or a related course with 50% marks can pursue a PhD in Accountancy.

The admission to this course is either merit-based or entrance exam-based, depending on the college. PhD Accountancy Course fees range between 10,000 to 30,000 in private colleges, while most IIMs across India offer fully funded PhD opportunities along with stipends. A few of the PhD Accountancy colleges in India include SPPU, Pune, and GITAM School of Business, to name a few.

PhD Accountancy graduates have the opportunity to find career opportunities in Research Institutes, Educational Institutes, Banking and Finance, Consulting Firms, etc. The students can be employed as a University Professor/ Lecturer, Research Analyst, Consultant, Financial Analyst, etc. The average starting salary package of a fresher is INR 7 LPA to INR 15 LPA.

Table of Contents

PhD in Accountancy Course Highlights
What is a PhD in Accountancy?
Why Choose a PhD in Accountancy?
Who Should Choose a PhD in Accountancy?
PhD in Accountancy Eligibility
PhD in Accountancy Entrance Exams
PhD in Accountancy Colleges in India
PhD in Accountancy Admission Process
PhD in Accountancy Syllabus
PhD in Accountancy Job Profiles
PhD in Accountancy Future Scope
PhD in Accountancy Vs PhD Finance
PhD in Accountancy FAQs

PhD in Accountancy Course Highlights

Given below are the highlights of the PhD Accountancy course:

Feature	Details
Course Name	PhD in Accountancy
Duration	3 - 6 years (Full-time/Part-time)
Eligibility	Master’s in Accountancy or related field with 50% marks
Admission Process	Merit-based or Entrance Exam-based (varies by college)
Colleges in India	SPPU, Pune; GITAM School of Business, etc.
Career Opportunities	Research Institutes, Educational Institutes, Banking & Finance, Consulting Firms
Job Roles	University Professor, Lecturer, Research Analyst, Consultant, Financial Analyst
Average Salary	INR 7 LPA – INR 15 LPA (Freshers)

What is a PhD in Accountancy?

Accountancy PhD is a doctoral programme that offers a systematic study of accounting, consulting and financial analysis. The course deals with research-oriented methods of Accountancy, delving into its theoretical foundations, practical applications, and its relevance in contemporary and intellectual contexts.

It has been planned to suit individuals seeking to contribute to the academic and practical field of Accounting and Finance for careers in academia, consulting, and financial analysis.

Why Choose a PhD in Accountancy?

The decision to pursue of Doctor of Philosophy in Accountancy has a number of advantages. It also offers unique knowledge and expertise in accountancy and financial management at the most advanced degree level, which enables to carry out advanced research that is capable of shaping accounting practices together with its policies.

A PhD trains the candidates to become a researcher who will be able to present original contributions to the field.
This degree will make the candidates a thought leader and master, which will open careers opportunities in educational institutions as a Professor or research scientist, at high-level position in bank and money institutions, consulting and corporate finance.
It also provides a competitive advantage in a highly competitive job market, higher future earning potential and the ability to potentially impact accounting research and governance by forming important policies.

Who Should Choose a PhD in Accountancy?

The ideal professional to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Accountancy is one who has a keen interest in further understanding accounting theory and practice as a consequence of conducting meticulous research.

It is befitting of people contemplating a future as academics, R&D centers or higher management in the field of finance and accountancy.
The postgraduates in any discipline, like MCom Accountancy, who are committed to further knowledge of accounting, involvement in policymaking, university teaching, or strategic financial management and consultancy issues, undertaking a doctoral qualification will give them the qualifications and competencies to succeed.
In addition, it is appropriate to those already working who are willing to develop a long career and stand out in the arena of the accounting profession using advanced knowledge.

PhD in Accountancy Eligibility

Here is the complete details of the eligibility criteria for the PhD in Accountancy course.

To fulfil the Accountancy PhD eligibility, the students must have completed Master's in Accountancy, MCom Accounting and Finance or a related field from a recognized university.
Entrance exams are conducted by most institutes during Doctor of Philosophy admissions. The institutes and their requirements determine the students' selection criteria.

PhD in Accountancy Entrance Exams

Colleges such as SPPU Pune and IIM Udaipur conduct entrance tests for admissions. Below is the list of entrance tests:

Exam Name	Conducting Body	Application Deadline	Exam Date(s)	Cut-off
UGC NET	National Testing Agency (NTA)	May 2026	June 2026	UR: 172+ OBC: 158+ SC/ST: 150+
CSIR NET	National Testing Agency (NTA)	June 2026 (Tentative)	July 2026 (Tentative)	UR: 58.875 OBC: 50.750 EWS: 49.750 SC: 37.000 ST: 30.625
GATE – XH	Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Oct 2026 (Tentative)	Feb 2026 (Tentative)	UR: 40 OBC: 36 SC/ ST: 26.6
SPPU PhD Entrance Exam	Savitribai Phule Pune University	June 2026 (Tentative)	December 2026 (Tentative)	-

PhD in Accountancy Colleges in India

Given below is a list of Accountancy PhD colleges along with their location and course fees:

NIRF Ranking 2024	College Name	Location	Annual Fees (INR)
16	IIM Udaipur	Udaipur, Rajasthan	Fully funded with a stipend
19	SPPU	Pune, Maharashtra	6,000
-	GITAM School of Business	Bengaluru, Karnataka	30,000
2 (Management)	IIM Bangalore	Bengaluru, Karnataka	Fully funded with a stipend
-	Seacom Skills University	Birbhum, West Bengal	30,000
-	Vikram University	Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh	10,000
-	L M Thapar School of Management	Mohali, Punjab	25,000
1 (Management)	IIM Ahmedabad	Ahmedabad, Gujarat	Fully funded with a stipend

PhD in Accountancy Admission Process

The Accountancy PhD admission process is procedural as per the respective colleges’ selection criteria. For example, the admission process is as follows for the IIM Bangalore:

Step 1: To start with, the candidates need to visit the official website of the college and then head to the admissions page.

Step 2: Next, the candidates need to fill in the required details in the Application Form.

Step 3: Now, the candidate needs to upload the scanned copy of the required documents.

Step 4: The selected candidates will be called for the interview process, and the final merit will be made on the basis of the score of interview.

Step 5: Once received by the college, the college will release the merit list of the candidates.

Step 6: The selected candidates will be called for document verification to complete the admission process.

PhD in Accountancy Syllabus

The PhD Accountancy is a 3-year postgraduate course which focuses on providing an in-depth knowledge of Accountancy and its research, along with practical applications, preparing students for a career in Accounting and Finance. Given below is the syllabus of the course at IIM Udaipur for a 3-year program, but it might vary based on research areas:

Semester	Subjects
Semester 1	Microeconomics, Financial Accounting, Quantitative Methods, Organisational Behaviour, Research Methodology
Semester 2	Macroeconomics, Corporate Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Advanced Statistics, Business Ethics
Semester 3	Advanced Financial Reporting, Management Accounting and Control Systems, Corporate Governance, Econometrics, Elective 1
Semester 4	Risk Management, Investment Analysis, Behavioral Finance, Financial Modeling, Elective 2
Semester 5	Comprehensive Exam, Research Proposal Development, Literature Review, Advanced Research Methods
Semester 6	Thesis Writing, Research Paper Publication, Conference Presentation, Dissertation Submission

PhD in Accountancy Job Profiles

Given below is an overview of career opportunities and starting salary ranges for professionals post the completion of a PhD in Accountancy:

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Associate Professor	Educates university students and conducts research in accounting.	7,20,000 – 12,00,000
Risk Analyst	Assesses and identifies financial risks to help organisations mitigate potential losses.	8,00,000 – 13,00,000
Business Analyst	Analyses business processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.	8,50,000 – 11,00,000
Investment Banker	Provides financial advisory services and facilitates capital-raising activities.	9,00,000 – 11,00,000
Corporate Analyst	Evaluates a company's financial data to guide strategic decisions.	8,50,000 – 11,00,000
Financial Controller	Oversees financial reporting and accounting operations within an organisation.	12,00,000 – 15,00,000

PhD in Accountancy Future Scope

Upon the completion of a PhD in Accountancy, students can follow the following career paths:

One can pursue a DSc in Accountancy for further in-depth knowledge in this field.
Certification courses such as Public Policy or Philosophical Counselling can also be done for upskilling.
Some colleges offer post-doctoral research in Accountancy and related fields that can help with specialisation.

PhD in Accountancy Vs PhD Finance

PhD in Accountancy is more focused on accounting processes, auditing, and compliance aspects, while PhD in Finance is broader in financial theory, markets, and corporate finance management.

Parameter	PhD in Accountancy	PhD in Finance
Domain	Study of accounting principles, financial reporting, cost accounting, tax, auditing, and management accounting	Study of financial markets, corporate finance, investment management, risk management, and financial theories
Course Focus	In-depth research on accounting systems, standards, auditing, and regulatory frameworks	In-depth research on financial decision-making, asset pricing, risk analysis, corporate finance strategy
Eligibility	Master’s degree in Accountancy or Commerce, MBA Accounting with relevant background	Master’s degree, MCom Finance, Commerce, Economics, or related fields
Duration	Generally 3 to 5 years	Generally 3 to 5 years
Curriculum Topics	Financial accounting, cost accounting, auditing, taxation, accounting standards, research methodology	Corporate finance, financial markets, investment analysis, risk management, quantitative finance, research methodology
Career Opportunities	Academic roles (lecturer, professor), accounting firms, auditing companies, research institutions, consultancy	Academics, financial analysts, investment firms, banks, policy research, corporate finance roles
Research Orientation	Focus on theoretical and practical issues in accounting and auditing	Focus on theoretical and applied finance with mathematical modeling
Skills Developed	Analytical skills for accounting systems, compliance, and financial reporting	Quantitative analysis, financial modeling, strategic decision-making
Job Roles	Lecturer, professor, auditor, tax consultant, financial controller, researcher	Financial analyst, portfolio manager, risk manager, professor, economist, researcher
Top Recruiters	Accounting firms, educational institutions, corporate finance departments	Investment banks, financial institutions, academia, consultancy firms

PhD in Accountancy FAQs

Is work experience a prerequisite for a PhD Accountancy application?

Work experience is not a prerequisite for admission, but may be an additional advantage. Exposure to industry in accounting or finance could be helpful to some applicants, particularly in selecting areas of research or academic employment.

What are the major research areas that a candidate can choose upon enrolling in the PhD Accountancy course?

A PhD in Accountancy provides specialization in fields like corporate governance, financial reporting, tax policy, and management accounting. Selecting a specialization according to industry needs of the time can boost research impact and employment opportunities.

Can I do PhD after ACCA?

Yes, but after gaining the ACCA qualification, the candidates should opt for the Master’s degree. The fact that ACCA is a professional qualification in accountancy and finance may require enrolment in a master's or MPhil-related degree or commerce, accounting, or finance before engaging in a doctorate program in such areas.

What is the PhD Accountancy salary in India?

Masters/PhD holders in Accountancy average salary in India is between INR 7 LPA to 14 LPA based on the experience, job position, and employer. The salary structure normally begins at INR 5-7 LPA, and the salaries of senior employees like associate professors, risk analysts, business analysts, and corporate analysts can reach up to INR 12-14 LPA.

Are there any government organizations that provide funds for research in PhD Accountancy?

Yes, there are scholarships offered by some universities, the government, like UGC and ICSSR, and private organizations for PhD students. Scholarships are generally awarded based on study performance, requirement of finance, or research work.

What type of publication requirements do the candidates need to fulfill during the PhD Accountancy course?

Respected universities expect PhD students to publish one or more refereed journal papers before they submit their final dissertation. Composing quality research increases academic prestige and job prospects in academia and consultancy.