PhD in Business Informatics & Data Science
For dissertations that develop, implement or evaluate methods, models and systems: machine learning in finance, market simulation, trading technology, data infrastructures, RegTech.
PhD programmes
Research the markets of tomorrow.
The PhD in Business Informatics & Data Science and the PhD in Business Administration are structured doctoral programmes at MQF/EQF Level 8. They are for professionals and researchers who want to add original knowledge on quantitative finance, market microstructure, digital assets and regulation.
Doctoral candidates at SIDF work on research questions at the intersection of finance, data and regulation. SIDF and EIM faculty supervise each candidate individually. The programme has a structured first phase with doctoral coursework and a longer research phase. It ends with the dissertation and the oral defence (viva voce).
PhD in Business Administration
For dissertations on management, governance, regulation and behaviour: market design and supervision, digital asset regulation, sustainable finance, investor behaviour, entrepreneurship in FinTech.
Programme structure
Phase 1: Doctoral coursework (approx. 12 months)
- Philosophy of science and research design
- Advanced quantitative and qualitative methods
- Academic writing, publication and research ethics
- Doctoral colloquium and proposal development
- Proposal defence
Phase 2: Research (24 to 48 months)
- Independent research with individual supervision
- Regular colloquia and progress reviews
- Publication of one or more peer-reviewed articles or conference papers (recommended)
Phase 3: Dissertation and viva voce
- Submission of the dissertation (monograph or cumulative)
- Examination by an examination board and oral defence
Research areas
- Quantitative finance and machine learning: pricing, risk, forecasting, model validation
- Market microstructure, algorithmic and high-frequency trading, market design
- Digital assets, tokenisation, decentralised finance and derivatives infrastructure
- Financial market regulation, supervision and RegTech (EU/EEA and Switzerland)
- Sustainable and ethical investment; principles of responsible finance
- Retail investor behaviour in financial and crypto markets; prediction markets and collective intelligence
- Entrepreneurship, creative destruction and digital innovation in FinTech
Admission requirements
- Master’s degree (MQF/EQF Level 7) with good results in a relevant discipline
- Research proposal (approx. 5 to 10 pages) in one of the research areas
- Curriculum vitae, transcripts and publications, if applicable
- English at level C1 or equivalent
- Interview with the prospective supervisors
Supervision
Each candidate has a principal supervisor and a second supervisor. The supervisors come from the SIDF faculty, the EIM faculty and, if applicable, from external experts in academia and industry.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digital PhD a full doctorate?
Yes. The PhD is a Level 8 qualification. EIM awards it under its MFHEA licence. It has the same structure as a doctorate at any European university: coursework, proposal, dissertation and defence.
Can I combine the PhD with a full-time job?
Yes. The programme is part-time. Most candidates work during their research. A realistic plan is 15 to 20 hours per week for 3 to 5 years.
Do I need to publish?
We strongly recommend publication in peer-reviewed journals or at conferences. The doctoral colloquium and your supervisors support you.
Interested in a PhD or a research collaboration?
Talk to us about your research idea or a joint project.