The Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems

The Department of Accounting and Business Information Systems is considered one of the Asia-Pacific region's leading research institutions in its field. PhD graduates are eagerly sought after and have accepted positions in the very top academic institutions around the world.

Learn about the PHD

With research strengths in a number of key areas, the Department can offer PhD supervision for topics in a wide range of specialisations, including:

  • Markets-based accounting research; contracting theory and research; earnings management; valuation, international financial reporting
  • Economics of auditing and auditor behaviour; the pricing of audits; audit quality; audit judgement; the audit market; corporate governance; business forensics
  • Accounting Information Systems, Audit Technology, Decision Aids, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Risk Management, Business Value of IT, Business Processes, Managerial Decision Support, Revenue Management
  • Performance management; performance impact of corporate downsizing; strategic cost management; strategy implementation; management control system design; inter-organisational networks
The Department is committed to building strong international relations through the appointment of eminent visiting scholars and collaborative research grants and programs.

Knowledge transfer and career development

PhD candidates within the Department are actively encouraged to publish their research and significant resources are allocated to support research activities.

PhD students have the opportunity to apply for casual teaching appointments across a range of accounting subjects. Further, PhD students are encouraged to submit their research to national conferences and participate in PhD colloquia such as the of Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) and American Accounting Association (AAA).

Recent PhD theses completed

  • Michael Tian Yoong Lee – Supplier Fight Back: Supplier-Initiated Ecommerce, Dependency Power and Supplier Benefits
  • Alison Parkes – Task Complexity, Decisional Guidance, and Decision Aid Reliance
  • Poh Sun Seow – The Effects of Decision Aid Structural Restrictiveness on Decision-Making Outcomes
  • Gang (Henry) Wu – Preparers’ Control-Risk Assessments under Alternative Audit-Review Processes.
View the handbook entry for this course (including subject details & course objectives)

Financial support

A number of scholarships are available for students who wish to undertake full-time PhD studies. Each scholarship is for a three-year period, and covers tuition fees and a generous living stipend. For more details please click here

Local students are entitled to a HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited graduate research degree. Read more about research scholarships.

For more information, including a detailed listing of academic staff within the Department, please visit: www.abis.unimelb.edu.au

 

Minimum entry

Structure

Either:

  • A four-year honours degree in accounting from an Australian university, or
  • A qualification or combination of qualifications considered by the University of Melbourne Research Higher Degree Committee to be equivalent.

Minimum score of 600 in the GMAT.
Please see admission requirements - research for more information.
Commencement is at the start of Semester One or Semester Two of any given year.

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

One year (or parttime equivalent) of Coursework followed by two years (or part-time equivalent) of Research
 
Oksana Kim - Russia - PhD Candidate

Oksana Kim Russia

I knew that the PhD program in accounting would be challenging and rewarding, but I also knew it would provide excellent employment opportunities. Since commencing the degree I have become more confident in initiating and presenting research ideas and facing the challenges presented by the PhD program. The coursework component allowed me to gain diverse knowledge that is of great use to my research.