If you've completed a master's in finance or accounting and have developed an interest in theoretical approaches to economics research, then you could be suited to a finance or accounting PhD. These courses are more in-depth and theoretically oriented than master's programs, and they offer the chance to perform your own original research. If you're considering doing such a PhD but are unsure which university or business school would be a good fit for you, then today we're sharing a list of recommendations for the top programs in the field.

In recent months we have published a series of articles about the best economics departments in Europe, Asia and Latin America. After covering the methodologies of ranking for universities in Latin America, we wrote about the best economics institutions in Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

Following the entry on this blog last month about countries with the most top 100 economics departments according to REPEC data, I thought it a worthwhile pursuit to look a little more into these rankings, and to seek out some alternatives to that offered by REPEC.

Finance plays a key role in the health of an overall economy. It helps companies to make investment and financing decisions as well as plan the growth of the business. All business functions are related to financial decisions, rather a big or a small company, they all face decisions about how to fund their projects and to manage their budgets.

One year ago, we published information about the Top 10 economics departments in Europe  to support the educational choices of new professionals. Now we want to direct the attention of our readers to an overview of European institutions from a research approach. The purpose of the following list is to guide people who are interested in developing their careers as economics researchers in Europe in collaboration with top economics authors.

The application deadline for the winter semester in many Latin American universities is approaching. To help those considering further education or work in this region we are sharing a list of top Economics Departments in Latin America. If you are interested in universities in other regions, check out our previous posts on the Top 10 Economics Departments in Europe and Top 10 Economics Institutions in Asia. The following list is based on the QS Latin American University Rankings for Economics and Econometrics.

The study of financial processes and markets open possibility to an excellent career in a variety of industries and positions. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career, finance is without doubts the perfect decision for you. Finance managers enjoy one of the highest salaries in the job market apart from having the privilege of counting on scholarship opportunities and further career opportunities upon graduation.

Data Source: RePEc, Top 12.5% Asia, as of January 2013

The study of financial processes and markets open possibility to an excellent career in a variety of industries and positions. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career, finance is without doubts the perfect decision for you. Finance managers enjoy one of the highest salaries in the job market apart from having the privilege of counting on scholarship opportunities and further career opportunities upon graduation.

Data Source: RePEc

With the application deadlines for PhD and Master’s courses in Europe approaching, we decided to post a list of Top 10 European Economics Departments to support your decision when choosing the right institution. As all university rankings have their flaws and there is an obvious shortage of rankings for specific disciplines, we combined two ranking systems in one table: RePEc, Top 25% Economics Departments (February 2013) and QS World University Rankings by Subject (2012).

The decision to study finance opens doors to a wide range of professional opportunities not only in the United States but worldwide. Every organization needs financial assistance regardless their industry. Graduate students from finance programs have the skills valuable to manage the investments and financing from different types of organizations. In the United States, the structure of finance departments vary from institution to institution, some study programs belong to business schools and faculties, while other programs are hosted by finance related institutions which demand high entrance standards.

As the year slowly draws to a close it can be easy to focus on the work in front of us and forget about the many academic conferences still taking place around the world. Such events are a great place to build your network, boost your CV and gain new insight into your field. This list offers you a brief overview of the many conferences in banking, economics, finance and related fields that will be taking place across the globe during the last months of 2014.

When you're looking for the best institutions for your subject, it's important to consider the standing of not only the institution as a whole, but also the specific department in which you wish to study or research. Although it's a matter of debate what makes the very best academic departments, there are some universally-recognised leaders in each discipline.

As admissions season for Master’s programs in Europe gets underway, we thought we would help you narrow your search by posting a list of 15 Top Master’s Programs in Economics, grouped by country. Back in January we posted the Top Research Institutions in Europe, based on RePEc rankings. The list below moves beyond rankings to include personally selected institutions from across Europe that offer highly acclaimed Master’s programs in a range of disciplines and specializations.

With ice on the ground and a chill in the air (at least for those living in northern climes), it is nice to think about the summer and all of the welcome things it brings: warmth, flowers, and, of course, new career and training opportunities.