PhD position in Accounting

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.

The Department of Accounting, Finance & Insurance is looking for highly motivated candidates, interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Economics at KU Leuven on topics related to corporate tax planning, corporate governance or financial reporting.
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Project

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct rigorous research on topics related to corporate tax planning, corporate governance or financial reporting.
• Collaborate with faculty members and fellow researchers on a range of research projects.
• Actively participate in academic and departmental activities, including seminars, workshops, and national and international conferences.
• Publish research findings in high-quality peer-reviewed academic journals.
• Contribute to the teaching of undergraduate and/or master's level courses, as required by the department.
• Supervise undergraduate and/or master's theses as required by the department.

Profile

To enter the doctoral program immediately, students must have successfully completed a master's degree in (applied) economics, econometrics, finance or business administration or business engineering by September 2026.

Successful candidates should have excellent qualifications at bachelor and master level. The candidate should have a high level of proficiency in English sufficient to communicate effectively with colleagues.

Offer

We offer a full-time position as a Ph.D. scholarship recipient, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which – upon positive evaluation – will be extended to a maximum of 4 years.

The individualized doctoral program allows the doctoral student to devote four years to full-time research. The program ultimately leads to a doctoral degree and prepares the student for an academic career at a top university or a career as a researcher in a policy institution.

Detailed information about the program, including admission requirements and placement records, can be found at https://feb.kuleuven.be/ research/PhD/businesseconomics/Business

The Department of Accounting, Finance & Insurance offers a dynamic, stimulating and pleasant working environment. The student will be part of the Research Group Accounting, which enjoys a strong international reputation and is part of a wide network consisting of other universities, companies and institutions.

The student will be able to further develop skills through Ph.D. courses, seminars and international conferences. The contract can start as of November 1, 2026

The application should include the following documents:

Research statement or working paper

Transcript of all university grades

(recommended) GRE or GMAT test score and/or evidence of English proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS test scores

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

2026-09-30 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
2026-09-30 23:59 (CET)

Closing on: 2026-10-15 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-02 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-16 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-15 (Europe/Brussels)

Closing on: 2026-10-30 (Europe/Brussels)