The PhD degree is awarded for the accomplishment of independent and original research and reporting thereon in a dissertation. The primary requirements include course work, the passing of a comprehensive examination and acceptance of a thesis by a supervisory committee. Use the Become a Student link on the left to learn about the history of our program, the areas of concentration, what to expect during your time at University of Waterloo and information about the admissions process and financial assistance. Use the other links to find out about students currently enrolled in the program, the research interests of our faculty and general information about the School of Accounting and Finance. The school's PhD program in accounting enrolled its first students in 1988. This program is the largest in Canada and has earned the respect of accounting professionals and academics everywhere. As shown in our alumni page, our graduates hold academic positions at universities in Canada and abroad, and have published in well-known accounting journals such as Journal of Accounting Research, Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Contemporary Accounting Research, Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, Accounting, Organizations and Society, and Journal of the American Taxation Association.