Collaborative Studentship: Professional Competitions and Collaboration in the Financial Services Industry

Subject areas:

Business.

Funding type:

Tuition fee. Stipend.

Country: 

All nationalities.

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship at the King’s Business School under the supervision of Professor Alex Preda.

Award details

The Project

This ethnographic project, conducted in collaboration with a major asset management firm, investigates the dynamics of competition and collaboration among finance professionals and its consequences for the performance of financial organisations. The project investigates how competitive and collaborative activities relate to each other, how they impact professional relationships and investment decisions, and what consequence they have for financial expertise and organisations. We are seeking an outstanding student with a background in (economic) sociology or social anthropology, strong qualitative research skills (especially ethnography), excellent command of English, and excellent communication skills to embark on this exciting PhD project.

Based in the iconic Bush House in the heart of London, King’s Business School has strong qualitative researchers/ sociologists in its Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) and Work, Interaction and Technology (WIT) groups. We offer a unique opportunity to conduct an exciting PhD project on a salient topic for economic sociology, the sociology of finance, professions, and expertise, in collaboration with a major, international asset management firm. Advanced PhD research training will be provided through the King’s Business School and the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS-DTP).

Entry: PhD Enrolment October 2020 start.

Award value

• Home/EU Tuition fees
• Annual stipend (approx. £17,285)
• Generous annual conference and training grant
• Additional paid teaching opportunities

Eligibility criteria

Academic requirements

• Satisfy the entry requirements of the King’s Business School PhD programme - Master's degree with at least Merit and a Bachelor's degree with at least 2:1 in a relevant subject.
• English Language requirements (ILETS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skill)

Residential requirements

• UK/EU applicants will be eligible for a full award paying tuition fees and maintenance.
• International (non-EU) students may apply but will need to fund the difference in fees between Home/EU and international fees themselves

Application process

Your application should consist of:

• A letter of interest of up to three pages in length outlining your background, interest and research skills related to the topic, and how you satisfy the requirements described above.
• A detailed CV
• A writing sample of no more than 20 pages
• Two academic reference letters, recently dated

Your application should be emailed to kbs-phd@kcl.ac.uk

Please note that applicants must also submit a formal application to King's by 28 August 2020.

Contact details

To discuss the project, contact Professor Alex Preda.