About PhD Program,
As a Bentley PhD, your research will probe some of the most compelling issues in business today, all under the umbrella theme of business, technology and society. You’ll work with Bentley faculty members committed to rigor in a trans-disciplinary environment that’s focused on the individual student.
Your faculty advisor supervisory team might include representatives from various academic departments, but all are true partners. Visit our faculty database to view full-time faculty in the department of accounting and learn more about their research interests.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
During the first two years of our program, you will explore both quantitative and qualitative methodology courses and take a series of core seminars in Financial Accounting, Auditing and Assurance, Managerial Control Systems, Judgment and Decision-Making. Students also take an Accounting Workshop which considers special topics in accounting research, and a specialized Independent Research Project course under the guidance of your faculty advisor. Upon completion of the coursework phase of the program and related comprehensive exams, students advance to the dissertation stage. Dissertation students enroll in a 9 credit Dissertation Course each semester until graduation. The PhD in Accounting can be completed in 4 or 5 years.
We do not have a specific cut-off, however most of our successful applicants have GMAT scores of 650 or better or GRE scores of 160+ for quantitative reasoning and 160+ for verbal reasoning.
The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 100, 7.0 for the IELTS, and 130 for Duolingo.
PhD Funding Coverage,
During the admissions process we review all applicants for a doctoral fellowship. All fellowship packages include a stipend to assist with living expenses, a full tuition scholarship, and individual student health insurance. Stipends range from $40,000-$45,000 per year depending upon which fellowship is awarded. Currently, we offer two fellowships the standard Bentley PhD Fellowship and the Rauch Doctoral Fellowship.
Please click here for more information about fellowships and funding your doctoral degree.
During the admissions process we review all applicants for a doctoral fellowship. All fellowship packages include a stipend to assist with living expenses, a full tuition scholarship, and individual student health insurance. Stipends currently range from $40,000-$45,000 per year depending upon which fellowship is awarded. Currently, we offer two fellowships the standard Bentley PhD Fellowship and the Rauch Doctoral Fellowship.
- Funding is guaranteed for four years, with a fifth-year contingent upon progress in the program.
- PhD students serve as research assistants in years 1 and 2, and teach one course per semester during years 3, 4 & 5. Students may not assume outside work.
- Students must maintain good academic standing to remain eligible for tuition scholarships, university health insurance, and stipends.
Application Requirement,
Applicants to the PhD program typically have a master’s degree from an accredited institution. Those whose graduate degrees are not in business are required to demonstrate their understanding of business subjects, including baseline knowledge of the core subject courses for the PhD in Accounting or business. Professional work experience, including some in a managerial or supervisory capacity, is preferred. The experience can be in business, government, or the nonprofit sector.
- Master’s Degree: A master’s degree is preferred.
- Transcripts: From every college or university in which you were enrolled in a degree-granting program.
- GMAT or GRE Test Scores: Scores taken within the past five years. The preferred GMAT score is 650+. The preferred GRE score is 160+ quantitative and 160+ verbal. The GMAT test codes are 84V-F2-02 for Accounting and 84V-F2-50 for Business. The GRE test code is 3096.
- TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo: Required for international applicants. You may be able to waive the requirement if you are a citizen of a pre-approved* English-speaking nation or completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or higher degree in which all instruction was provided in English (documentation of English instruction is required). If you meet either qualification, you may request a waiver at the time you submit your application; note that your application must be complete before your waiver will be considered, and an interview may be required. Contact us to discuss your potential eligibility for a waiver. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 100, IELTS score is 7.0, and Duolingo score is 130.
- Research Statement: A five-page statement outlining the general area in which you would like to focus your doctoral research. We do not expect a fully developed specification of your research at this time. The research statement will be used primarily to assess your writing and your potential research fit with a faculty member who may act as your primary advisor.
- Personal Statement: Please discuss why you wish to undertake a PhD program and why Bentley University is the appropriate institution.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation, including at least two from faculty members knowledgeable about the applicant’s work and capabilities, who can address the candidate’s potential for completing doctoral-level research.
- Curriculum vitae: Applicants should upload their current CV.
- Interview: Select candidates will be invited for a personal interview.
Application Deadline,
Jan 04, 2025
Application Fee,
We do not charge a fee for applying to the PhD program.
