The economics PhD has a number of sub-specialisations including (but not limited to):

• Financial economics
• Macroeconomics
• International trade and finance
• Public finance
• The Chinese economy
• Game theory
• Econometrics.

The management PhD has a number of sub-specialisations including (but not limited to):

• Entrepreneurship
• General management
• Human resource management
• International business
• Information management
• Marketing
• Operations and supply chain management
• Accounting.

The PhD degree is awarded by the University of Liverpool but taught at IBSS in Suzhou with academic instructors and advisors from both institutions. Upon successful completion of your programme you will receive a degree from the University of Liverpool, which is recognised by the UK’s Department of Education as well as China’s Ministry of Education.

Key benefits of PhD study at XJTLU:

• Our PhD programme equips you with a range of professional skills to help you maximise your future employability
• Our supervisors will guide you through one of the most intellectually satisfying experiences of your life
• Supervision from respected academics at both XJTLU and the University of Liverpool
• PhD students have dedicated travel budgets for participating in international conferences
• The chance to apply for a research visit to the University of Liverpool for up to three months
• Opportunities to work as a teaching assistant and develop crucial academic skills.

Please check the FAQ for further information about studying for a PhD at XJTLU.

1) Apply for a scholarship for a funded PhD project

You can apply for an existing PhD project which has received funds from the university or external funding bodies. These projects have an established research topic and supervisory team.

These projects do not have a specific application deadline and are open until the position is filled. The start date of a PhD programme is normally the first day of March, June, September, or December. The Department has the following funded PhD projects available (this list is regularly updated).

2) Scholarships available in Business, Humanity and Social Sciences, and Design clusters

Additional scholarships are also available to candidates who wish to pursue a research degree at the Department of International Business School Suzhou in the following areas:

• Economics: Behavioural and experimental economics, mathematical economics, labour economics, political economy, energy economics, macroeconomics and finance, economic development, regional economics, urban economics, health economics, economic sociology, tourism economics
• Accounting and Finance: Financial Technology, Big data analytics for accounting and finance, Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Corporate Governance and Managerial Control, Corporate Finance, Asset Pricing, Market Microstructure, Derivatives and Commodity Markets, Financial Economics, Financial Econometrics, International Finance
• Management: Operations and Supply Chain, Strategy and Optimisation, Marketing and Communication, International Business and Strategy, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Human Resource Management and Organizational Behaviour, Management information systems, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

There will be two application rounds for each academic year:

First round – applications submitted by 17:00 CST(UTC+8), 15 October will be reviewed in the first round and the decision will be announced in December.

Second round – applications submitted by 17:00 CST(UTC+8), 15 April will be reviewed in the second round and the decision will be announced in June.

Go to Scholarship page and find more information about how to apply for the scholarships.