Finance subject group hosts their first PhD Finance Research Festival
The festival brought together our PhD community, faculty members and MSc students
24 June 2025
Newcastle University Business School hosted the inaugural PhD Finance Research Festival (PFRF2025). This event was the first of its kind since the subject group established as a distinct academic unit in September 2024.
The annual festival was dedicated to celebrating academic excellence, fostering professional development, and building meaningful connections within the finance research community.
PFRF2025 brings together PhD candidates, finance faculty, and MSc students for a vibrant programme of research presentations, career-focused sessions, and networking opportunities. As the first event of its kind for the newly independent Finance group, this festival sets the stage for a tradition of collaboration, innovation, and future-readiness in finance research at the Business School.
The festival included a diverse range of activities. There was an opportunity for PhD students to present research papers and receive constructive feedback. The attendees also discussed topics such as key challenges for international and domestic finance graduates face when entering the UK job market. This was a great opportunity to provide practical guidance and preparation strategies for securing academic and industry roles in the UK.
The opportunity to network proved invaluable to MSc students who gained first-hand insights into the PhD application process and the realities of the doctoral journey. This allows mentorship and peer connections to be fostered between current PhD students and prospective applicants.
Aiman Hairudin, a year one PhD student, said: “The PhD Finance Research Festival was an excellent event for our cohort. As a newcomer, it was great to meet the staff members and other PhD students from the Finance Subject Group who shared their memorable experiences in the Newcastle University Business School.
"My favourite aspect was the Postgrad Connect session, where I presented my application journey alongside senior students who presented their current journey. This session provided a deep insight of the phases that a PhD Finance student will typically go through, which is beneficial for MSc students who are interested in pursuing doctoral research.”
Dr Vu Trinh, Senior Lecturer in Finance, said: “We have just concluded a very successful PhD Finance Research Festival (PFRF2025) — a vibrant mini-conference organised by the Finance Subject Group at Newcastle University Business School. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring together our PhD community, faculty members, and MSc students for a day of research presentations and related activities, including job market paper sessions, a networking lunch, career discussions, and PhD experience sharing.
“We believe this festival was more than just a research showcase — it served as a dynamic, collaborative platform where ideas were exchanged, networks built, and future academic and professional pathways envisioned. We hope this inaugural edition marks the beginning of a proud and enduring tradition.
“By creating a shared space for dialogue, learning, and interdisciplinary engagement, we aim to foster a culture of openness and collaboration that supports both individual research journeys and the strength of our academic community.
“We’re already looking forward to PFRF2026 — with broader reach, a larger audience, more diverse activities, and even greater impact!”
The event has demonstrated the benefits of research collaboration by bringing together different study levels and research colleagues. Next year’s festival is now in the planning stages and the organisers are considering extending it to an external audience.
