The EFA is pleased to announce a new event for Doctoral Students. The program will run alongside the long-standing EFA Doctoral Tutorial and is part of a pilot effort to expand PhD training at the EFA.

The Pre-EFA PhD Program will be held in Ghent at Vlerick Business School, beginning on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and running through Thursday, August 20, 2026. The program is aimed at 50 PhD students in the research phase of their doctorate (typically years 2–4) who are not yet on the job market. Accepted Students will receive a €500 stipend. Students are expected to attend the whole program and register and attend the EFA Annual Meeting.

Program Overview

• Four half-day advanced PhD lectures by leading scholars (from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday)
• Ample networking opportunities with faculty and fellow PhD students
• A joint job-market panel and networking lunch with Doctoral Tutorial participants and faculty
• An optional poster session, allowing selected students to present their work

Faculty Lecturers

• Hanno Lustig (Stanford University) – International Finance / Macro-Finance
• Ralph Koijen (University of Chicago) – AI in Finance
• Mike Ewens (Columbia University) – Entrepreneurial Finance
• Toni Whited (University of Michigan) – Corporate Finance

Guidelines for application and eligibility

Each student is limited to one application. Dual submission to the Annual Meeting and EFA PhD Program is allowed; note the separate deadlines and submission systems. Dual submission to the Doctoral Tutorial and EFA PhD Program is not allowed, student can apply only to one event.

To apply, please fill out the required questions on ConfTool and upload the following documents:

• An official letter on institutional letterhead, signed by the supervisor. The letter should confirm that (i) the submitting student is enrolled in a PhD Program and in good standing, (ii) the student has not yet been on the job market, and (iii) how the program would be beneficial for the Student.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Priority will be given to students who are expected to benefit most from the program, with particular attention to candidates from European PhD programs. In case of excess demand, priority may be given to more advanced students (4th year over 3rd year, 3rd year over 2nd year). Selection will also consider applicant quality based on submitted materials.

Essentials

• Date: Wednesday, August 18-20, 2026, starting on Tuesday afternoon.
• Venue: Vlerick Business School, Ghent, Belgium.
• Submission opens: February 15, 2026
• Submission closes: March 15, 2026, at midnight Pacific time
• Notification: April 2026
• Please note that this is a closed event. Only invited students attend the event.

PhD Program Co-Chairs

• Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Columbia University
• Koen Inghelbrecht, Ghent University

Program Committee Members

• Laurent Fresard, Università della Svizzera italiana (USI)
• Victoria Vanasco, CREI
• Steffen Meyer, Aarhus University
• Mathieu Simoens, Ghent University

Contacts

If you have any inquiries or encounter difficulties with the application, contact the organizers via e-mail (organisation@efa2026.com).