Overview

Accounting is essential to the functioning of the economy and, indeed, society in general. Accounting is the means by which we monitor our governments, our corporations, and our non-profit organizations. For business firms, accounting not only monitors the managers, but also informs the investors in these firms of the potential payoffs, the risk to those payoffs, and the consequent valuations.

This “financial accounting,” determines the allocation of investment to its most efficient use in the economy and promotes well-functioning capital markets with transparent pricing. “Managerial accounting,” the accounting to managers rather than about managers, promotes decision making and efficiency within the firm.

The Accounting program from the Columbia University prepares students for careers in scholarly research through courses in accounting and related disciplines such as finance and economics, and through close research collaboration with faculty. Graduates take jobs primarily in academic or research institutions.

Research

Beginning in the first year of the program, each candidate has an opportunity to work closely with a member of the faculty on research projects. Students also participate in Columbia’s Burton Conference, in which distinguished accounting scholars from other institutions join Columbia faculty members in a series of informal workshop sessions to review and evaluate current research.

Building on this foundation, doctoral candidates select a subfield as the focus of dissertation research — financial accounting, managerial accounting, or auditing. Financial accounting requires additional course work in financial market theory and econometrics; managerial accounting requires supplementary work in microeconomic analysis, management, management science, or information systems.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Accounting Theory

Economic Analysis

Mathematical Methods

Empirical Research in Accounting

Financial accounting

Managerial accounting

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 84 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-08 00:00:00

Application deadline not specified.

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7.5

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Manhattan, United States

Disciplines

Accounting View 43 other PhDs in Accounting in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7.5

Prepare for Your English Test

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Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Application Materials:

Essay

The Accounting Division is interested in your reasons for pursuing doctoral studies. Please describe them in an essay that is less than 1000 words.

Recommendation Letters

Two letters of recommendation are required, however a total of four may be submitted.

Transcripts

A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (i.e., a four-year course of study in an accredited college or university) is required for admission. A master’s degree is not required, although some applicants have a master’s degree. Superior academic performance is expected.

GMAT or GRE

Applicants may take either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), but scores from one are required.

Application Fee

An application fee of $100 must be submitted with your application. An application is not considered complete until the fee has been paid.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

56840 USD / year

≈ 56840 USD / year
Out-of-State

56840 USD / year

≈ 56840 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

56840 USD / year

≈ 56840 USD / year

Living costs

Manhattan

United States

2638 - 5751 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Accounting.

Available Scholarships

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About

Overview

Research

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying Business & Management

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Manhattan

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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