uk phd in management

UCL School of Management

University college london, phd in management.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully funded scholarships to all admitted students Application deadline: 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time). A late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time), although we encourage you to apply early as places are limited and applications are subject to close sooner if places are filled. Entry:  Minimum of a first class bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ' Level 1 ' (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

PhD students pursue their studies in one of the Operations & Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics, and Organisations & Innovation groups. All four groups offer a unique education and research experience to a small number of highly motivated students, with the intent of preparing them for scholarly careers at the highest level.

PhD studies in Operations and Technology

Across the different research themes , there is a shared interest in management science, operations management and business technologies. Topics of interest include R&D management, innovation and new product development, service systems, supply chain management and healthcare operations. For candidates in this area, a degree in engineering (e.g. industrial, electrical, computer, mechanical etc), economics, mathematics, statistics or operational research is preferred. 

PhD studies in Strategy and Entrepreneurship

S&E faculty research  focuses on understanding what makes firms successful, how they cope with a complex and dynamic environment, and what leads to new business formation and growth. Doctoral training involves close collaboration between the doctoral student and faculty members on shared research interests, coursework at UCL and other institutions, and independent research. Doctoral students also benefit from the S&E group’s collaborative research community, a lively program of research speakers from other institutions, and links with researchers worldwide. Topics of interest include digitization, big data analytics, machine learning, information environment, platform ecosystems, new organisational forms, learning, innovation, competition, interorganisational relationships, corporate strategy, entrepreneurial strategy, entrepreneurship for development, social innovation. 

PhD studies in Marketing and Analytics

Topics of interest in this group include branding, retailing, advertising, pricing, product development, marketing channels, business marketing, marketing strategy and e-commerce. The researchers in this group use diverse quantitative methodologies that include big data analytics, regression analysis, choice models, field experiments and Bayesian econometrics.

PhD studies in Organisations and Innovation

O&I faculty research focuses on understanding individual and team outcomes within organisations. Group members engage with a variety of perspectives and approaches including network research, experiments and ethnographies. There is a shared interest in the topics of creativity, innovation, social networks and diversity. For applicants to the PhD programme, prior training in social science (e.g. social psychology, sociology or economics) is highly relevant. 

PhD studies in Financial Economics

Our MRes and PhD Programme in Financial Economics with UCL's Department of Economics now has more information about how to apply and what you can expect from the programme on a brand new programme page, please see the specific entry requirements and programme structure here . 

PhD Structure

• The programme typically consists of five years of full-time study, starting with one year of modules registered as MRes. These modules are typically advanced postgraduate modules to provide rigorous methodological training to prepare students for their PhD research. Along with the School’s modules, students typically take some of these from other UCL departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), the London Business School, Bayes Business School, and Imperial College Business School.
• In addition to methods modules, students also undertake a first-year research project under the tutoring and supervision of a faculty member later in the MRes year (Term 3 + Summer period).
• Progression from MRes to PhD is not automatic . Superior performance in taught modules and independent, original research is required for progression from MRes to PhD.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or engineering department of a world-class university
• PhD applications are reviewed once a completed application form has been submitted online . 

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project:

• MSIN0135 - MRes Research Project: 8,000-10,000 words . 105 credits.

Students take 75 credits of taught modules, of which the following three are compulsory modules:

• MSIN0131 - Research Presentation and Critical Writing Skills . 15 credits
• MSIN0132 - Seminar in Organisation Theory . 15 credits
• MSIN0240 - Designing Management Research Projects.  15 credits

Finally, students choose elective modules (15 credits each) among those offered by the School of Management, other UCL Departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology), and partner universities in London.

Students can take additional (non-credit) modules at UCL and our partners schools in the remaining years to complement their learning, but there is no requirement to take modules after the MRes year.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion based on case studies and other activities. Student performance is assessed through simulations, presentations, coursework, group projects, class participation, and examinations. 

Students typically study 3 compulsory modules over Terms 1 and 2. Students will also typically study 2 optional modules which may take place in Terms 1, 2 or 3. Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually be undertaken over Terms 2 and 3. 

Each taught module is delivered over 10 weeks, with 3 contact hours per week comprising lecture content and interactive components. 

In addition, students typically spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What our students say:.

'The UCL School of Management PhD programme is designed to provide students with skills that lead to academic excellence. Candidates are part of a dynamic and vibrant group and benefit from the programme's flexibility, as they can choose from a wide range of disciplines. The frequent cooperation with world-leading faculty members enhances our knowledge and skills and ultimately leads to high-quality research output, laying the foundations for a subsequent successful academic career.' 

UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF. 

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Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

We seek to recruit highly motivated, ambitious students with strong educational backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a first-class Bachelor's degree from the UK or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard from a leading university. We encourage students from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g, engineering, economics, business, mathematics/statistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, among others) to apply to our programme. Also, notice that a Master’s or graduate level degree is not required for admission, you can apply with only an undergraduate (e.g. bachelors) degree. 

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand – you do not need to do so. In fact, applicants are discouraged from randomly contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

All MRes/PhD applicants are normally expected to take either a GMAT test or GRE test (UCL's institution code is 3344, but also make sure you include a scanned copy of your test result on your online application), although the School has no minimum score requirements.  

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 1” English qualification which corresponds to:

• IELTS: Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
• TOEFL: Score of 92, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 20/30 in the listening and speaking subtests.  

Application Deadline

The application window closes 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 01 February 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 2-3 page personal statement or research proposal* that clearly indicates: (i) which research group you are interested in (i.e., Organisations & Innovation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics or Operations & Technology, (ii) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (iii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iv) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE / GMAT  score report**
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

* While submission of a full research proposal is not required, you can send us one if you have already written it up.

** You can submit your application even if you don’t have a GRE/GMAT score —simply indicate when you plan to take the test.

Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year MRes/PhD scholarships in the UCL School of Management to all admitted students. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000, which is tax-free.

Additional costs 

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  

Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Apply today

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

Register for More Information

Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

Programme Information

Application process, admissions requirements, further information.

If you have any other questions regarding the programme that are not addressed on our web pages please email the programme team ( [email protected] )

School for Business and Society

PhD in Management

Unleash your curiosity and develop key skills to support a career in academia, industry, consultancy or research.

Our PhD programme offers high-quality training and a supportive collegial environment in which to pursue your passion for research.

Study for your doctorate in a professional and challenging school, where academic rigour and excellence is at the heart of everything we do. You will have the opportunity to work with leading academics and be part of a growing and vibrant community of doctoral scholars. 

We welcome applicants who share our vision and want to undertake innovative and exciting research as part of our academic community.

Join researchers from across the globe, who are building new understanding of business and management.

[email protected] +44 (0)1904 321228

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Your research

As a doctoral student, the focus of your work will be an independent research project. We provide training which will equip you with skills in a wide range of research methods to support your growing expertise. Your research will culminate in a thesis which, to successfully pass the programme, will represent an original contribution to knowledge and have the potential to influence practice, policy and understanding in your field of interest.

We welcome applications from students interested in undertaking management research in the following areas:

• Actuarial science
• Accounting 
• Finance 
• Employment relations
• Human resource management
• International business and strategy (including business history)
• Operations management
• Organisational behaviour

Meet our current students

Research excellence

Our management research is a UK top 30 research discipline, and 100% of our research environment - the support we give to researchers - is rated 3* or higher. (REF 2021).

Culture of inclusivity

At the School for Business and Society, we offer dedicated in-house student support for our students and we're proud of our two Bronze Athena Swan Awards, recognising our work to promote gender equality.

Great facilities

Church Lane offers a modern setting with bespoke areas for study, student exhibitions, collaboration, interaction and social engagement as well as a large cafe.

Explore Business and Society funding for MPhil/PhD researchers and wider postgraduate support. We also have ESRC White Rose Social Sciences scholarship funding available for research students.

Supervision

You will be supported by two academic supervisors. Supervisors will normally share or complement your research interests.

Training and support

You will have at least one meeting with your supervisory team every six to seven weeks. You will also interact with your supervisors and colleagues across the School at research seminars, conference events and informal gatherings.

In your first year you will have a Training Needs Assessment with your Supervisor and Advisory Team, they will recommend additional training areas for you and possible courses to audit.

You'll also take compulsory training modules covering  Methods for Critical Literature Reviewing and Dissemination , and  Philosophy and Process of Management Research . These modules include assignments which you must pass in order to progress.

Researcher development

Throughout the course you will have access to training from the University's Building Research and Innovation Capacity Team , who will help you develop your professional skills and career profile. You can also take advantage of the following opportunities for learning:

• White Rose Doctoral Programme  Advanced methodology training
• The Northern Advanced Research Training Initiative (NARTI) Doctoral Conference
• European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management & Business Administration (EDAMBA)  training and conference opportunities
• University of York Management School seminar series and various other engagement activities

Teaching opportunities

A PhD helps you to develop the skills you need to work in academia - including teaching. There are opportunities for paid teaching in the Management School and across the University.

Postgraduate tutors receive training and support. There are opportunities for you to gain accredited teaching qualifications.

• Teach while you study

Course location

This course is run by the School for Business and Society.

You will be based in the  Church Lane Building on Campus West . Most of your training and supervision meetings will take place here, though your research may take you further afield.

You should live in or near York during your PhD programme, whether part-time or full-time. We do not offer distance learning arrangements.

Entry requirements

For entry to the PhD programme, you should have (or expect to obtain) a minimum of a 60% average on a Masters-level programme, with a good mark on your dissertation.

If you haven't completed a Masters degree or appropriate research training, you may wish to consider our  MA Social Research .

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your ability.

Apply for the PhD in Management

Take a look at the  supporting documents  you may need for your application.

Find out more about how to apply .

Identify a supervisor

You should identify a potential supervisor in our faculty whose area of research overlaps with yours. We encourage you to contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply.

Find a supervisor

Submit your application

We require you to submit the following documents:

• 4,000-word research proposal
• Academic transcripts
• Details of two academic referees
• Your curriculum vitae (CV)
• Personal statement

You can apply and send all your documentation electronically through our online system. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start, save, and finish it later.

We will respond to your application in four to six weeks. You may track the status of your application and view any official correspondence online. If you have applied for an advertised scholarship or Graduate Teaching Assistant position, decisions on funded places may take a little longer.

If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an online interview. It is important that you demonstrate an understanding of your topic and its supporting theories.

Careers and skills

Your PhD will help to develop your qualifications alongside your research and critical thinking skills. You will further gain transferable skills around communication, project management as well as critical and creative analysis and problem solving, preparing you for the next stage in your career.

Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.

Career opportunities

• Government director
• Product manager
• Teaching fellow
• Assistant professor

Discover York

We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to deluxe.

Discover more about our researchers, facilities and why York is the perfect choice for your research degree.

Graduate Research School

Connect with researchers across all disciplines to get the most out of your research project.

Meet us online or on campus

Find out all you need to know about applying to York

Scholarships

Find scholarships to support your studies

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PhD/ MPhil/ MSc Management (Research)

• Visit an Open Day
• Request a prospectus
• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Teaching and assessment
• Employability

Our PhD in Management comprises a short taught component followed by a longer research phase. The programme will allow you to broaden and deepen your knowledge of research methods whilst undertaking your own research and developing a set of transferable professional skills.

The PhD programme in Management will facilitate the creation and interpretation of new knowledge by the research student, demonstrated through the thesis. The taught component is designed to ensure that doctoral researchers understand the breath of techniques used in modern social science research.

Doctoral researchers will be capable of analysing a range of data using a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques. They will be able to explain theories underlying different approaches to social science research. Doctoral researchers are expected to participate to the fullest possible extent in the life of the Business School. This means attending seminars organised by the Business School thereby helping expose doctoral researchers to new ideas emanating from outside their own area of specialisation. It also requires actively participating in PhD workshops and conferences organised by the Business School and Graduate School as well as institutions outside the University of Birmingham.

Ultimately all doctoral researchers will have the ability to characterise and solve business and management problems using advanced research tools. They should be able to derive policy implications from their research and communicate these to policy makers, practitioners and other academics in a manner which is comprehensible. They will also be able to peer review others’ research and offer constructive criticism; and to extend the frontiers of the discipline through their own innovative research.

Doctoral researchers may choose to become academics, work in Government, businesses, supranational organisations or in the research arms of major financial institutions. They are expected to achieve a substantial understanding of contemporaneous management and business issues enabling them to take a lead in ongoing debates within society. They will be aware of and understand the function of related institutions at both a national and international level.

Fees 2024 - 2025

• Code 8169 - £4,778 (UK) PhD Full time
• Code 8171 - £2,389 (UK) PhD Part time
• Code 8169 - £23,520 (International) PhD Full time
• Code 698B - £2,389 (UK) Distance Learning 8 Years Part time
• Code 8165 - £4,778 (UK) MPhil Full time
• Code 8168 - £2,389 (UK) MPhil Part time
• Code 8165 - £23,520 (International) MPhil Full time
• Code 8176 - £4,778 (UK) MSc (Research) Full time
• Code 8179 - £2,389 (UK) MSc (Research) Part time
• Code 8176 - £23,520 (International) MSc (Research) Full time

Learn more about fees and funding

Scholarships and studentships

Scholarships may be available. International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.

The Business School and the University provide some scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate research students.For details of these, please contact the Business School's Research Office at [email protected] . For further information contact the School directly or email [email protected] .

How To Apply

• How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the research programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page . Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Our Standard Requirements

The Business School's entry requirement is a good honours degree (first or upper second class honours) awarded by a recognised University in an appropriate subject, and a merit in a relevant Master’s degree. We usually ask students for an average of 65 in the taught component of their Masters. All international students also need to show that they have adequate knowledge of written and spoken English. Learn more about entry requirement

Writing your Research Proposal

Your research proposal should illustrate your ability to plan an independent research study and the relevance of your topic to the research interests and expertise of Birmingham Business School.You need to demonstrate that you understand the field that you plan to research, identify an interesting and original research question, and develop a tentative plan of study. It's critical that your research proposal is written to the guidelines specified below.

Guidelines for the Research Proposal

International Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 14/20 from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

Applicants who hold a Masters degree will be considered for admission to PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Diplomstudium/Magister or a Masters degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good post-2001 Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below. 

Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , Shanghai Ranking 2024 (full table) and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2024

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2024（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2024 。  

Business School (excluding MBA)   and School of Computer Science programmes 商学院 （ MBA除外） 及计算机学院硕士 课程入学要求

* Applicants from Group 4 institutions are only considered for the following 7 programmes

来自第四类院校的申请人仅限于申请以下7个课程：

• MSc Financial Management
• MSc Investments
• MSc Financial Technology
• MSc Economics
• MSc Financial Economics
• MSc Money, Banking and Finance
• MSc Computer Science

All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements.

如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]  

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, or a GPA of 3 out of 4, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalár from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), or a good post-2002 Magistr (Masters), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters/ Magisterkonfereus/Magister Artium degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B, or a good one- or two-year Magistrikraad from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 4/5, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters/Maîtrise with a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, or a Magistère / Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies / Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Specialisées / Mastère Specialis, from a recognised French university or Grande École to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5, or a good two-year Lizentiat / Aufbaustudium / Zweites Staatsexamen or a Masters degree from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10, from a recognised Greek university (AEI), and will usually be required to have completed a good Metaptychiako Diploma Eidikefsis (Masters degree) from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés or Egyetemi Oklevel from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 3.5, or a good Mesterfokozat (Masters degree) or Egyetemi Doktor (university doctorate), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution, with 100 out of 110 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10, or a post-2000 Magistrs, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a score of 16/20 or 80% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, or a good post-2001 Magistras, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, or a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Spécialisées (comparable to a UK PGDip) or Masters degree from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from the University of Malta with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons), and/or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise and a Masters degree, with a score of 14/20 or 70% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10, and/or a good Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters, Mastergrad, Magister. Artium, Sivilingeniør, Candidatus realium or Candidatus philologiae degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with a CGPA of 3.0/4 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Bachiller, Licenciado, or Título Profesional with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good pre-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4 out of 5, dobry ‘good’, and/or a good Swiadectwo Ukonczenia Studiów Podyplomowych (Certificate of Postgraduate Study) or post-2001 Magister from a recognised Polish university with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus 'better than good', will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, and/or a good Mestrado / Mestre (Masters) from a recognised university, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10, and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree/Diploma de Master/Diploma de Studii Academice Postuniversitare (Postgraduate Diploma - Academic Studies) or Diploma de Studii Postuniversitare de Specializare (Postgraduate Diploma - Specialised Studies) to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Диплом Специалиста (Specialist Diploma) or Диплом Магистра (Magistr) degree from recognised universities in Russia (minimum GPA of 4.0) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/PhD study.

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’, and/or a good Inžinier or a post-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10, and/or a good Diploma specializacija (Postgraduate Diploma) or Magister (Masters) will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 7 out of 10 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and will usually be required to have completed a Masters degree, with 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or higher for 2:1 equivalency from a recognised institution to be considered for entry. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good "PostGraduate Certificate" or "PostGraduate Diploma" or a Masters degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) may be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0, 3.5/5 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for entry to our postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree or Mphil from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a good Bachelors degree / Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised Ukrainian higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence and will usually be required to have completed a good Masters degree to be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

International Students

English requirement - IELTS 7 with no less than 6.5 in any band or equivalent.

The diversity of our research strengths at Birmingham Business School means we cover a wide range of management specialisms and if your application is successful you would join one of the five departments that collectively contribute to the PhD programme in Management.

Business and Labour Economics  - Research interests include labour markets, employment regulation and incentives, international trade, piracy and production and global value chains.

Entrepreneurship & Local Economy  - Research interests include leadership, local and regional economic development and entrepreneurship.

Organisation, Work and Employment  - Research interests include work and employment in contemporary organisations in the public and private sectors, human resource management and employment relations.

Procurement and Operations Management  - Research interests include organisational buying behaviour, supplier relationship management, public sector contracting, project management, small firm operations and high value engineering management.

Strategy and International Business  - Research interests include corporate social responsibility and sustainability, internationalisation and China, knowledge and innovation and also resilience and extreme events.

>Doctoral researchers in Management are registered for a full time 3-year PhD or a part-time 6-year PhD. In the first year of the programme (first two years for those registered part-time) students are required to take 60 credits of core Research Methods modules from the MA Social Research programme. They are also recommended to take Advanced Training Modules from the MA Social Research Programme as appropriate to their research and training needs.

Depending on their needs and accredited prior learning and subject to supervisory approval doctoral researchers can substitute 20 credits of the introductory MA Social research modules for Advanced Training Modules. By the end of their first year doctoral students will have completed an 8,000 word research proposal that they will present at the first annual review.  This forms the basis for supervised research over the remaining two years of the programme and the production of an 80,000 word thesis.

If I gain a postgraduate research degree from Birmingham Business School, what are my career prospects?

Birmingham’s Business graduates are sought after by a wide range of financial, commercial and public sector employers. They can typically offer a wide range of skills including analytical & research, numeracy, communication, team working and political & commercial awareness.

For those entering employment after graduating, traditionally popular areas include banking, accountancy/professional services and financial services. Many of our programmes involve studying towards a professional qualification. Outside of these areas, options include teaching abroad and retail management. Many PhD graduates also go on to forge successful academic careers of their own in teaching and academic research.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in Birmingham Business School?

The University of Birmingham has invested heavily in careers and employability support.  The Careers Team have been praised for enhanced developments within their team and for adopting a model of integrated employability and internship support; something that has been rolled out and implemented across all Schools and Colleges at the University.

Doctoral researchers at Birmingham Business School will benefit from this additional investment; the school  now has its own well qualified dedicated Careers Team to support students with employment opportunities, work placements, internships and how to succeed at interview. In addition, a range of career management, personal development and employer events are run each year by the Careers in Business Team to help you make the most of the opportunities available. 

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.

• Online chat events

• The Best Universities for PhDs in Business & Management in the UK (2023)

Written by FAU Bot

This article was written with the assistance of generative AI. All AI content on our site is guided and vetted for accuracy by humans, and data referenced is collected from reliable, authoritative sources.

Why Study Business & Management in the UK

There are many reasons why someone might want to study Business & Management at a university in the UK . Here are just a few:

• UK universities are well-known internationally for their rigorous academic standards, ensuring high-quality education for PhD students in Business and Management.
• Universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Oxford, and Cambridge offer world-renowned programmes that have produced many influential leaders in business.
• Studying Business Management in the UK provides exposure to its rich & diverse business culture. London, being one of the world’s biggest financial centres can offer real-world case studies or direct industry exposure on top of classroom knowledge.
• Various scholarships are provided for international students by the British Government as well as individual universities; aiding students financially during their course study.

The Best Universities for Business & Management in the UK

The following tables give the 10 top universities in the UK for Business & Management , according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which Canadian universities are amongst the best in the world - and help you compare institutions on an international level.

This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education , QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) .

Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.

Our guide has more information on how to use international rankings to decide on the best research universities for PhD study .

What should I know about the Times Higher Education rankings?

The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.

What should I know about the QS rankings?

The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.

What should I know about the ARWU rankings?

The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.

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Choose start date: Start date: September 2025 Duration: Five to six years Deadline: 2 December 2024 Fee: Fully funded Location: London, UK Admissions Funding and scholarships

A fully-funded PhD for aspiring scholars seeking an academic career 

We believe that rigorous academic analysis can provide practical solutions to complex problems in society. Our fully-funded PhD programme provides students with the opportunity to conduct their own research in a world-leading university, finding solutions to key challenges in modern business. As a Business School, we rank first in the UK for research environment and second for management and business students, while Imperial College London ranks first in the UK overall for research (REF 2021). 

Starting with a one or two-year Master’s in Research (MRes), depending on your chosen research area, you will gain a strong theoretical grounding and thorough research training to prepare you for the PhD. As a doctoral student you will have the benefit of supervision from leading world scholars. You will develop the expertise and research skills necessary to pursue a career in academia with previous Imperial doctoral graduates finding success in other leading universities such as Copenhagen Business School, Tsinghua University, University of Amsterdam, University College London, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

97% world-leading or internationally excellent research (REF 2021) #1 in the UK for research (Imperial College London, REF 2021) 1% top one per cent of business schools worldwide to have achieved triple accreditation 6 research areas Explore the programme

Advance your academic success at a world class research institution

2nd in the world (Imperial College London, QS World University Rankings 2025)

3rd in Europe (Imperial College London, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)

#1 city for students (London, QS Best Student City Rankings 2024)

Build your career with our global reputation

With particular expertise in finance, entrepreneurship, health, and sustainable business, the Business School is recognised as leading the field. Benefit from strong industry partnerships and a diverse alumni network. 

A fully-funded programme

Every student on our Doctoral programme is offered full funding, including a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years. Funding for a 6th year can be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the potential to undertake a teaching or research assistant studentship with one of the Business Schools research centres.  

World-class faculty

Our internationally admired faculty are leaders in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of experience and academic distinction. They are deeply invested in developing the research interests of our PhD students, fostering an environment of intellectual growth and innovation. 

Impact on industry

Working closely with businesses and governments, we drive policy and practice through inspiring collaboration and research excellence, giving you the opportunity to observe the impact of research on business and society. 

Inspiring intellectual community

Engage with a diverse cohort of fellow PhD students and researchers, creating an inspiring and collaborative environment that encourages intellectual development and professional connections. 

Programme content

The Business School Master’s in Research (MRes) is an integral part of the PhD, introducing theory and research methods in Finance, Economics and Management, providing you with a solid foundation for your doctoral studies. Depending on the research area you choose to specialise in, you will embark on a one or two-year MRes programme as shown below. 

*Please note programme content is subject to change. The modules mentioned below are just a sample of what is available in the programme.

Systematic Reviews

When starting new research, the first step is usually a literature review: scanning what is already known about a given topic and figuring out where the gaps are. However, novice researchers tend to be anything but systematic in their literature review: they have no method for scanning the literature, and they usually have little idea of what is relevant and what is not. The Systematic Review method opens a way to create research syntheses that add real value and novel insight – in a way that is potentially publishable in its own right.

Data Analysis Tools

This module covers: Probability: Inequalities and Entropy, Laws of Large Numbers, Normal Distribution, MGFs and Characteristic Functions, CLT, linear regression and least squares; Linear Algebra: Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors, PCA; Optimal Control: Value Functions and the Bellman Equation, Cross- Equation Restrictions.

Elective modules

After your required introductory modules, you will choose elective modules. In addition to the electives offered within the Business School as part of the MRes programme, you may elect to take a module from another department within Imperial, or at one of our partner institutions, subject to availability.

Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour

Applied Microeconometrics 1

Applied Microeconometrics 2

Asset Pricing Theory

Corporate Finance

Corporate Sustainability

Consumer Behaviour

Decision Making Under Uncertainty

Digital Marketing Analytics

Econometrics 1

Econometrics 2

Empirical Asset Pricing

Empirical Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurship

Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability

Healthcare & Medical Analytics

Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management

Interdisciplinary Research

Logistics & Supply Chain Analytics

Machine Learning for Analytics

Machine Learning in Economic Analysis

Macroeconomics

Macro-Finance

Micro Development Economics

Microeconomics 2

Microeconomics 1

Optimisation

Optimisation & Decision Models

Organisational Behaviour

Organisational Theory

Qualitative Methods 1

Qualitative Methods 2

Quantitative Methods 1

Readings in Digital Business 

Readings in Social Networks: Social Capital

Retail & Marketing Analytics

Social Data Science

Social Network Analysis

Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy

Stochastic Processes

Sustainable Behaviour

Topics in Empirical Banking

*These modules are available subject to capacity and timetabling constraints in other faculties and are differently weighted to the MRes Business electives

Research Project

You will develop your own research project, which is assessed via submission of a written thesis and an oral examination.

Year one compulsory modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Applied Microeconometrics  - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Empirical Industrial Organisation - This module enables you to answer counterfactual economic questions based on structural modeling and estimation. 

Macroeconomics I -  The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Microeconomics II  -   This module covers competitive equilibrium, markets with imperfect, competition and asymmetric information, general equilibrium, Social choice and mechanism design

Research Experience  – This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Finance pathway

Applied Microeconometrics   - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Macroeconomics I - The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics   II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Corporate Finance  - This module is taught in two parts, starting with a historical background, and then considering the theory of investment decisions, capital structure, financial innovation, and corporate governance.

Asset Pricing Theory  - The first part of this module deals with representative investors, portfolio choice and dynamic securities markets in discrete time before covering portfolio choice in continuous time and option pricing. The second part starts from the asset pricing implications of a general equilibrium Lucas-tree economy. Then, it discusses the main asset pricing puzzles implied by these economies. Finally, we will explore optimal portfolio choice, multiple trees economies and some of the latest attempts in the asset pricing literature to solve some of these puzzles.

Research Experience  - This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Introduction to the Practice of Research  - This module will introduce you to the craft of research. You will develop the skills and knowledge you need to effectively produce research questions and hypotheses, ensuring consistency between theory, research design, methods and measures, and developing a clear and compelling argument.

Qualitative Methods I  - This module covers research methods required in qualitative research. You will develop skills in all aspects of the research process, including research design, data collection, data analysis, theory building, writing up as well as reviewing papers and responding to referees. The module is essential for those who wish to author qualitative research but will also be useful for quantitative researchers.

Quantitative Methods I  - This module provides an overview of the primary quantitative methods employed in management research. It will enable you to develop the ability to interpret the results of your own research as well as to critically assess the findings presented in other studies. The emphasis will be on the practical application of different estimation models using STATA rather than on the econometrics and mathematical specification.

Organisational Behaviour  - In this module you will be introduced to a selection of most seminal papers in organisational behaviour with a particular focus on classic and contemporary theories, ongoing controversies, and ground-breaking empirical studies. The emphasis is on providing a foundational overview of the field.

Organisational Theory  - This module will expose you to the major theoretical perspectives and issues studied in organisation theory research. You will also be exposed to a set of approaches to understanding how and why organisations form, survive and grow.

Strategy  - In this module you will develop the fundamentals of strategy including the theories of competitive advantage, industry analysis, understanding of resource based view/knowledge based view, and corporate strategy.

Innovation Management  - This module will offer a thorough theoretical understanding of the key themes of innovation research, combined with practical insights into the challenges of innovation management in organisations. You will address topics ranging from technological change, creativity, the role of networks in innovation, and appropriability/value capture from innovation.

Entrepreneurship  - This module introduces students to the major theoretical threads and debates in the field of entrepreneurship. Students will learn to make connections between theory and empirical research, practice critiquing and identifying insight in research, engage with fundamental debates in the field and formulate directions how the field may be further advanced.

Elective modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Corporate Sustainability 

Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations

Machine Learning in Economics Analysis

Qualitative Methods I

Qualitative Methods II

Stochastic Processes 

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics

Topics in Health Economics

Topics in Household Finance

Elective modules for Finance pathway

Advanced Financial Statistics

Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies

Big Data in Finance I

Big Data in Finance II

Empirical Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management 

Macroeconomics 

Microeconomics I

Microeconomics II

Quantitative Methods I

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics 

Elective modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Macroeconomics 1

Macroeconomics 2

Readings in Digital Business

Text Mining for Economics and Finance

During the second year, you will work on your MRes project which is formally assessed through project submission and an oral examination, and counts towards the overall MRes mark. You will submit your proposed Research Project title and a brief outline in early October of your second year followed by a progress report in early March, outlining your progress to date with the thesis. During the Summer term, students will submit their MRes dissertation. This will be followed by an oral exam.

Further specialist training

It is expected that you will undertake further training where you will delve deeper into your chosen field. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you will develop a training plan to identify which courses may be the most suitable for your training, whether at Imperial or externally. You will have the opportunity to give seminars on your research for constructive feedback and development.

Research plan 

When you begin the PhD you will choose a primary and secondary supervisor, based on your research interests. The supervisor-student relationship is the foundation for a successful doctoral thesis as your supervisor will help you develop your research question, identify research and teaching opportunities and support you through your studies and the academic job application process.

Early Stage Assessment 

The Early Stage Assessment (ESA) takes place in year one of the PhD and is assessed by a panel of faculty. The ESA outlines the research question, the work you have done to date and the future research activities to be carried out to complete the project. It comprises a written paper and a presentation to which all Doctoral students and research department faculty are invited. The purpose of the ESA is not only to assess your personal progress but it also gives you the opportunity to discuss your work at its early stages and get feedback and ideas from faculty to improve your research.

Armed with feedback from the Early Stage Assessment, you will work intensely on your thesis, focusing on the collection and analysis of empirical data and developing theoretical frameworks. Under the guidance of your supervisors, the thesis gives you the opportunity to conduct a substantial piece of original research. 

Seminars and conferences

Being part of the School’s inspirational research community is a crucial aspect of the doctoral experience – as is gaining familiarity with cutting-edge research from world-leading academics. Each department runs seminars where internal and external academics discuss their latest work. As well as providing insight into yet-to-be-published research, the seminars offer networking opportunities and visiting academics often lead special topic workshops for research students. The Doctoral programme also supports the participation of research students in international conferences where you can present your own research and participate in doctoral consortia.

Late stage review

The Late Stage Review takes place in year two of the PhD and follows the same principle as the Early Stage Assessment, in that its purpose is to assess your progress and provide you with feedback and advice on the direction and scope of your research.

Academic Job Market

You will also work on developing and polishing your Job Market Paper. You will have the opportunity to participate in workshops alongside support from your supervisors and faculty to help you be internationally competitive.

Our research areas

What our students say

“The programme structure is different from many other business schools because during the first year at Imperial we study the Master’s of Research (MRes), which is focused on developing strong foundations before continuing to the PhD programme. This also gives us additional time to discover opportunities and find the right paths for our research.”

Class profile 2023

75 students

48% female students

20 nationalities represented

Funding and scholarships

Request a brochure, career impact.

In recent years, our PhD students have joined leading universities, research centres and institutions such as Tsinghua University, University College London, Copenhagen Business School, the Bank of England, the University of Bath, King’s College London, National Chengchi University, the University of Sussex and Renmin University in China. Others have sought top positions in industry or founded successful start-ups.

The doctoral programme has been re-structured in recent years to focus more on academic development and it is anticipated that over the coming years placements will focus more on academia than industry.

Find out more about career outcomes

Meet your faculty

Our PhD programme provides close collaboration between leading Analytics & Operations faculty and doctoral students, developing your research interests and providing continuous support and guidance throughout the programme.  

Alexander Michaelides

Kalyan Talluri

Wolfram Wiesemann

Edward Anderson

Martin Haugh

Xiaocheng Li

Reza Skandari

Jiankun Sun

Carol Propper

Franco Sassi

Jonathan Haskel

Marisa Miraldo

Richard Green

Pedro Rosa Dias

Esther Bøler

Franklin Allen

Patrick Bolton

Ramana Nanda

Lara Cathcart

Enrico Biffis

Christopher Hansman

Clara Martinez-Toledano

Alan Hughes

Celia Moore

Markus Perkmann

Christopher Tucci

James Barlow

Ileana Stigliani

Mark Kennedy

James Eteen

Eduardo B. Andrade

Andreas Eisingerich

Rajesh Bhargave

Sven Mikolon

Michelle Rogan

Frequently asked questions, how long does it take to complete the doctoral programme.

The Doctoral programme is structured to take between four to six years full-time. In the first year, all students undertake a one or two year MRes programme depending on their chosen research area specialism. Subject to satisfactory academic progress, students then progress to the PhD which takes between 3-4 years.

When does the academic year start?

The Doctoral programme has one intake each year in September and is spread over four to six years.

Do you offer any distance learning or part-time research programmes?

It is not possible to enrol on the Doctoral programme on a part-time or distance learning basis. Students must be in attendance throughout the full period of study.

Can I transfer from my current Doctoral programme to Imperial College Business School's Doctoral programme?

It is not usually possible to transfer onto the Doctoral programme as it is unlikely that previous studies would perfectly overlap with the School’s expertise.

Can I come to Imperial College Business School as a visiting student?

Please visit Imperial College London's visiting students page .

Can I have a part-time job whilst enrolled in the programme?

The Doctoral programme is full time. Students are able to undertake part-time work if this does not break any relevant visa and/or scholarship conditions, however the programme offers a living stipend to support students during their studies.

How many students do you accept onto the Doctoral programme every year?

Admission onto the Doctoral programme is highly competitive as we accept around 15 students each year, from a total of approximately 200 applications.

Is there a workspace assigned to Doctoral students?

There is a designated workspace which includes a computer and relevant software assigned to all enrolled Doctoral students. You will share working space with other PhD students in your cohort.

How do I apply and what documents do I need to submit with my application?

All applications to the Doctoral programme are made via our online platform. You will either need to select 'Business (MRes 1YFT)' or 'Business (MRes 2YFT)' based on your research area of interest. Further information can be found on our  Doctoral programme page.

Please refer to the  How to apply page  to see application deadlines, what documents you are required to submit with your application and to view the selection process.

When is the application deadline?

To find out more about application deadlines for our Doctoral programme please  visit the How to apply page .

What do I need to include in my statement of purpose?

One of the most important parts of our application form is the ‘statement of purpose’ section. It should be no more than one or two A4 pages and should cover the following points:

Your motivation for undertaking the programme

A discussion of possible research areas that you might pursue and how these are a good fit for Imperial College Business School

What interests you most about your chosen field of study

Relevant past study, industry, or research projects

Long-term career goals

I haven't decided what area I want to specialise in for my PhD, what should I do?

You should browse the description of the different research groups in the Business School and the webpages of faculty members. This will give an overview of their research interests and current projects. The MRes gives you an opportunity to pursue potential interests through courses and a project prior to committing to the PhD

Do I need a willing supervisor prior to application?

No, although in your application you should list a member of  faculty  you have identified as a potential supervisor. You can demonstrate in your statement of purpose how your research interests are aligned to a potential supervisor and the Business School.

Checking the research profiles of faculty members and Business School projects will give you an indication of whether the Business School is a good fit for you. If no faculty are working in your area of interest it is unlikely that you would be shortlisted, as we may not be able to provide supervisory support during your PhD.

During the MRes year, you will become part of the research community at Imperial College Business School and interact with faculty and other PhD students during taught courses and at seminars, which we hope will influence and help shape your research ideas for the PhD.

Are all applicants interviewed?

Not all applications progress to the interview stage of the selection process, however we interview all shortlisted candidates before making an offer. In the case of overseas candidates we will arrange an interview by telephone or via Skype.

Is GMAT/GRE a compulsory requirement?

Yes. A GMAT/GRE score must be submitted before we will consider an application. Any applications submitted without a GMAT/GRE score will be considered incomplete until we receive a score. Please note that we do not make offers on the condition that a candidate achieves a satisfactory GMAT/GRE score. To see the GMAT/GRE scores we look for, please refer to the  Entry Requirements page .

Do you offer Doctoral funding and stipend?

We offer a fully funded Doctoral programme at Imperial College Business School – this includes a tuition fee waiver and a stipend for up to five years. The 2024-25 rate of the Graduate Teaching Assistant scholarship stipend is £25,000. Rates are reviewed annually and are expected to increase for 2025-26 in line with Research Council UK rates. Stipends are tax-free and the continuation of the stipend will depend on your satisfactory progress on the programme.

What living costs should I allow for in London?

Living costs vary considerably depending on the area of London you choose to live in and your choice of accommodation.

Read more about  estimated London living costs  and  accommodation for postgraduates .

Do you offer Doctoral scholarships?

Within Imperial, we also have funding opportunities from various external studentships, including EPSRC, ESRC, and the Imperial College President’s PhD Scholarships .

Students who are eligible for other PhD  funding opportunities  that may be available to them are expected to apply for them.

Explore more

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Keep up to date about news, events, and application deadlines for our PhD programme by joining our mailing list.

Attend an event

Wherever you are in the world, our Recruitment team holds events where you can meet staff and students, and get your questions answered. 

Start your journey

Study your doctoral programme at a global top 10 university offering world-class faculty, leadership coaching, global business experience, industry connections, specialist careers support and an exciting London location. 

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As a PhD candidate you will have the opportunity to pursue original research and make a significant contribution to your chosen field.

Why choose a PhD at the University of Edinburgh Business School?

Listen to staff and students at the Business School discuss the doctoral programme

Our doctoral programmes

As part of a world-renowned University, triple accredited ( AMBA , AACSB , and EQUIS ) and ranked 5 th in the UK for research power ( Times Higher Education , 2022) within Business and Management, our Business School provides a highly dynamic and supportive research environment for our large and diverse graduate community.

Our world-class research programmes offer:

• Supervision from acclaimed academic faculty within a wider range of subject areas
• Courses designed to expand your knowledge base and develop your research strategies
• Dedicated, modern facilities with state-of-the-art databases and specialist resources
• A peer network of students and inspiring alumni from across the globe
• A vibrant research environment with regular seminars, masterclasses, and events allowing you to connect and learn from experts across the business world

PhD with Integrated Study in Accounting

Research an accounting topic such as the applications of accounting in society, or historical methods and strategies used by those practising in the profession.

PhD in Business Economics

Research a business economics topic by using quantitative methodologies and modelling techniques to solve problems relating to economics or finance.

PhD with Integrated Study in Finance

Research a financial topic such as behavioural finance, corporate finance and governance, or aspects affecting financial markets and institutions.

PhD in Financial Technology

Undertake a fully funded research opportunity in collaboration with one of our leading industry partners.

PhD with Integrated Study in Management

Research full time, or maintain your current role while studying part-time with our Professional Pathway option.

PhD in Management Science & Analytics

Research a management science and analytics topic. This highly analytical programme, integrates management science, decision analysis, business modelling, and data analytics.

PhD entry requirements

Learn more about the entry requirements for our PhD programmes.

Scholarships and funding

Discover scholarships and funded projects available for new students beginning their PhD programme.

Find a supervisor and subject group

Review staff profiles as prospective supervisors for research and browse our academic subject groups.

Our researchers

More than 130 student researchers from around the world are currently enrolled in our research programmes.

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PhD Management and Business

This programme has a dual-focus on subject-specific knowledge and methods training, which will give you the intellectual foundation to ask cutting-edge questions and then conduct high-quality research to address those questions under close expert supervision.

Key course information

October 2024 - full-time, october 2024 - part-time, january 2025 - full-time, january 2025 - part-time, why choose this programme.

• As a PhD student you will receive rigorous instruction and training in research philosophy and methods, together with outstanding supervision. 
• You also benefit from choosing between either writing a traditional dissertation monograph or following the PhD by publication format route. This way, you decide your preferred pathway to present your research so that it suits your interests.  
• Here at Surrey, you’ll join a cosmopolitan, multicultural and diverse community of students and scholars. We consider doctoral students to be junior academics or researchers, and an integral part of the School. 
• Our researchers often work closely with industry and collaborate with staff across the School, leading to innovative new thinking.   
• Surrey Business School is internationally recognised for interdisciplinary, international and applied research. Surrey Business School is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).  
• In the UK government’s 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the School is in the top 10 for the outputs and top 20 for real-world impact of our business research. Overall, the University is ranked 33rd for overall research quality by REF. 

Programme details Open

What you will study.

Our PhD in Management and Business will train you in critical and analytical skills, research methods, and in discipline-specific knowledge that will give you the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for a career in academia, or as a researcher in a wide variety of settings. 

We offer a three-year, full-time (and, in exceptional cases, part-time) programme. 

You’ll receive an induction by the University of Surrey’s Doctoral College, as well as a bespoke induction programme from the Business School. This induction will introduce you to the School as well as the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in which the School is based. The induction will outline the relationship between you and your supervisor. 

Your supervisor will serve as a mentor as you progress through your PhD. 

In your first year, you will receive instruction in subject-specific knowledge and instruction and training in research philosophy and methods. As a full- time student you will complete four taught modules in your first year:

• Philosophy of Social Science Research
• Quantitative Methods 1
• Qualitative Methodology 1
• Either Quantitative Methods 2 or Qualitative Methodology 2.

At the same time, you will be working on your research (part-time students take the modules over two years). This will form the foundation of your doctoral research.

Once you’ve got the foundation for your doctoral research and passed your confirmation exam, your second year will be spent conducting doctoral research. Students conducting primary research tend to spend the year away doing field research.

Your third year will then be devoted entirely to data analysis, writing up and submitting your dissertation. You’ll have frequent interactions with your supervisor. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend professional development workshops in preparation for the academic job market. There is a four-year maximum period of study on the PhD programme for full-time students.

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Research areas Open

Research themes.

We have key research themes in:

• Business analytics and operations
• Digital economy
• Finance and accounting
• Marketing and retail management
• People and organisations
• Strategy and entrepreneurship.

Discover more about our management and business research .

Research centres

• Centre for Business Analytics in Practice
• ​​​​​​​Centre for Social Innovation Management
• ​​​​​​​Centre of Digital Economy
• Future of Work Research Centre
• ​​​​​​​Surrey Academy for Blockchain and Metaverse Applications
• Sustainable and Explainable Fintech Centre
• University of Surrey Business and Economics Experiments Laboratory

Academic staff Open

See a full list of all our  academic staff  within the Surrey Business School.

Support and facilities Open

Research support.

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College , which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate careers and employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Hear from our students Open

Mohamed Mohamed

Student - Management and Business PhD

"The University of Surrey is renowned for its research-focused approach. I knew that studying there would allow me to work with esteemed professors and fellow students in a stimulating environment that fosters the development of critical thinking skills."

Hannah Gooding

"All these extra-curricular developments show that if you work hard, Surrey will support you into becoming the person you want to be."

Entry requirements Open

Uk qualifications.

Applicants are expected to hold a minimum of an upper second-class (2:1) UK degree and a masters degree (minimum merit) in a relevant subject from an internationally recognised university.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic:  6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

These are the English language qualifications and levels that we can accept. 

If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses , designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Selection process

Selection is based on applicants:

• Meeting the expected entry requirements
• Being shortlisted through the application screening process
• Completing a successful interview
• Providing suitable references.

Fees and funding Open

Fees per year.

Explore  UKCISA’s website for more information if you are unsure whether you are a UK or overseas student. View the  list of fees for all postgraduate research courses.

• Annual fees will increase by 4% for each year of study, rounded up to the nearest £100 (subject to legal requirements).
• Any start date other than September will attract a pro-rata fee for that year of entry (75 per cent for January, 50 per cent for April and 25 per cent for July).

Additional costs

There are additional costs that you can expect to incur when studying at Surrey.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

Application process

Applicants are advised to contact potential supervisors before they submit an application via the website. Please refer to section two of our  application guidance .

After registration

Students are initially registered for a PhD with probationary status and, subject to satisfactory progress, subsequently confirmed as having PhD status.

Apply online

To apply online first select the course you'd like to apply for then log in.

Select your course

Choose the course option you wish to apply for.

Create an account and sign into our application portal.

Management and Business PhD

Full-time, October 2024

Part-time, October 2024

Full-time, January 2025

Part-time, January 2025

About the University of Surrey

Accommodation

We have a range of housing to suit all requirements and budgets. There are more than 6,000 rooms available (en-suite, single-sex, studio flat, shared or single).

Student life

At Surrey we offer a friendly university campus set in beautiful countryside, with the convenience and social life of bustling Guildford on your doorstep.

Need more information?

Contact our Admissions team or talk to a current University of Surrey student online.

Code of practice for research degrees

Surrey’s postgraduate research code of practice sets out the University's policy and procedural framework relating to research degrees. The code defines a set of standard procedures and specific responsibilities covering the academic supervision, administration and assessment of research degrees for all faculties within the University.

Download the code of practice for research degrees (PDF) .

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to follow our policies and procedures , student regulations , and terms and conditions .

We provide these terms and conditions in two stages:

• First when we make an offer.
• Second when students accept their offer and register to study with us (registration terms and conditions will vary depending on your course and academic year).

View our generic registration terms and conditions (PDF) for the 2023/24 academic year, as a guide on what to expect.

This online prospectus has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies.

Whilst we have done everything possible to ensure this information is accurate, some changes may happen between publishing and the start of the course.

It is important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read our full disclaimer .

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about postgraduate research

PhD Business and Management / Programme details

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page

Programme description

This programme provides advanced training to develop innovative research in all areas of business and management.

Our PhD students undertake research study across a number of research themes often within the Division of Management Sciences and Marketing including:

• Marketing management and strategy
• Consumer behaviour
• Business informatics
• Decision sciences
• Operations and supply chain management
• Data science

We continue to attract outstanding researchers of the highest calibre and our PGR population is one of the largest in the UK, with around 45 researchers joining us each year. As a graduate of one of the world's most innovative and ambitious doctoral research schools, you'll be sought after by leading universities, top business schools, government institutes and private sector organisations.

We embed the PhD into the research life and culture of the School by assigning you to research centres and groups. You will be active in the research life of your centre, organising external seminars, presenting your work to peers in internal seminars, and designing and presenting posters on your PhD. Providing robust and systematic research training is a core strength of our PhD programme. To be able to take full advantage of the training opportunities that are offered, you should reside in or within commuting distance from Manchester. We strongly encourage any candidates who do not reside locally to enrol full-time.

Special features

The PhD programme at AMBS offers an annual entry point of September.  Complete applications must be received by 30 June. However, if you wish to be potentially considered for our funding opportunities, earlier deadlines will be in place.

Additional programme information

Humanities Doctoral Academy

Our Humanities Doctoral Academy combines the strengths of our four schools to bring expertise, knowledge, support and high-quality services for postgraduate researchers.

We are a community of academic leaders and postgraduate researchers across all levels in the Faculty of Humanities. The Doctoral Academy Hub houses our specialist professional service teams who support postgraduate researchers throughout the programme journey. This includes admissions, registration, student experience, progression, examination, and graduation. We collaborate closely with other University directorates including Manchester Doctoral College, Researcher Development team, and the corresponding Doctoral Academies in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. Together we provide the best experience and support for your studies and research.

We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

All appointments are made on merit.

The University of Manchester and our external partners are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Teaching and learning

Our Postgraduate Researchers follow a robust, systematic and flexible research training programme designed to:

• complement their own immediate requirements as they plan and write their thesis;
• introduce them to the variety of research undertaken within the Business School; and
• equip them with the broader skills to become leading edge business and management science researchers in the next generation.

The timetable runs from September to May each year.  Students are required to attend research training sessions and workshops at the School and submit various pieces of assessed work throughout this period.

Normally, full-time Postgraduate Researchers undertake this training and assessment in their first year of study.  Those studying on a part-time basis are permitted to complete the research training element in two years.   

Coursework and assessment

Postgraduate researchers are assessed in a number of courses as part of their research training programme. In addition, their progress is assessed at various stages of studies through the annual progress review process.

Programme content for year 1

A comprehensive Research Training programme is provided to PhD researchers, which requires class attendance on campus and completion of various pieces of assessed work.

Programme content for year 2

Postgraduate Researchers may choose additional elective workshops from the Research Training Programme during Year 2 appropriate to their stage of study and to supplement their existing knowledge.

Programme content for year 3

Postgraduate Researchers may choose additional elective workshops from the Research Training Programme during Year 3 appropriate to their stage of study and to supplement their existing knowledge.

Related research

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) we were ranked 3rd in the UK for research power 'Business and Management Studies' and top 10 in the UK in terms (by grade point average) among the 108 departments assessed under Unit of Assessment 22.

91% of our research was judged to be in the highest two categories (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.

Our research environment was also judged to be strong, with 100% judged to be (4*) 'world-leading' or (3*) 'internationally excellent'.

Read more about our research at Alliance Manchester Business School.

What our students say

Alliance Manchester Business School

AMBS is one of the largest business and management schools in the UK and part of the UK's biggest university - The University of Manchester. Facilities include:

• Study zones, quiet areas and break-out spaces to study and relax
• Inspiring teaching, events and meeting spaces
• New offices for our academic divisions and research centres
• Eddie Davies Library with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the bustling Oxford Road Corridor
• Three catering outlets: The Mill restaurant and event space, Café 65 and The Hive Café
• Data Visualisation Observatory
• Behavioural Research Laboratory
• Three outdoor courtyards where staff, students and visitors can take a well-earned break

The University of Manchester Library

Manchester is home to one of the UK's five National Research Libraries - one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK and widely recognised as one of the world's greatest research libraries.

Find out more about libraries and study spaces for postgraduate research students at Manchester.

Disability support

Study Postgraduate

Business and management (mres/phd) (2025 entry).

Course code

6 October 2025

2+3 years full-time

Qualification

Warwick Business School

University of Warwick

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Virtual tour

Find out more about our Business and Management MRes/PhD degree at Warwick

Warwick’s newly launched MRes/PhD Business and Management programme encompasses independent thinking in a world class interdisciplinary environment. You will have the opportunity to make new discoveries whilst undertaking research in a broad range of business areas whilst becoming immersed in an internationally recognised research community at Warwick Business School.

* Please note that, for Visa purposes, this is considered a Taught course which means that students requiring Student Visa sponsorship will not be able to bring dependants to the UK unless they are government sponsored.

Course overview.

WBS is for the people with a never-ending thirst for new knowledge and experience. You’ll have the passion to make new discoveries, the drive to test new theories and the willingness to go above and beyond. Our fully-funded MRes/PhD in Business and Management, launched in October 2022, will give you the opportunity to make your mark on the business landscape, by having the freedom to research a host of disciplines that shape the business world.

Our MRes/PhD Business and Management programme combines highly relevant and structured training with close mentorship from a team of supervisors to embed you in our culture of curiosity and help you in developing and deepening your chosen area of research. We value our doctoral researchers and aim to attract students from across the globe who are independent thinkers, restless to learn more and challenge themselves. We particularly welcome applicants whose ambition is a career in academia.

By studying our MRes/PhD Business and Management programme you will have the opportunity to make your mark on the business landscape, by having the freedom to research a host of disciplines that shape the business world.

Teaching and learning

As part of the MRes/PhD programme, you will study thirteen modules over your first two years. This comprises three core modules, four methods modules, and six elective modules. At the end of your second year of study, you will be awarded an MRes Business and Management and be permitted to proceed to PhD study. The overall course structure is 2+3 years (MRes/PhD).

Our excellent library and superb teaching and learning facilities provide the perfect place for you to commit to your studies, and enable you to expand and deepen your knowledge in your chosen area of research.

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform.

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

Competition to join our Doctoral programme is very strong; you will need to demonstrate you have the intellectual capabilities, stamina, drive and commitment to complete a ground-breaking piece of work through independent study.

Academic requirements for the MRes/PhD Business and Management programme include:

• Bachelors degree: First Class (recommended)
• Masters degree: Distinction (recommended) in social sciences, behavioural sciences or engineering. In exceptional circumstances, we will consider MBAs with a social or behavioural science or engineering background or candidates without a Masters who hold a strong First Class Honours undergraduate degree supported by a very strong CV and academic references. Decisions on these and other exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis
• GMAT or GRE score required. No predefined threshold established, score merely to support application.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

If English is not your first language, you must meet a minimum overall standard in a recognised test of English. You must show a good balance across all sections of the test and it must have been taken within two years of starting the course. We will require your certificates as evidence.

• IELTS - overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above
• PTE academic - 70 with 51+ in every section
• CPE – grade C (CEFR level C2) or above
• CAE - Grade C scoring 60+, no worse than 3 component results at borderline and 1 at weak.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

Our vision is to develop cutting-edge research that leads debate and deepens our understanding on the practice of business and management.

Research is undertaken in partnership with policy and practice, to ensure both relevance and practical application. Our desire to respond and contribute to varied societal issues, provides a vibrant and creative environment for research to flourish.

Our research strengths include:

• Behavioural Science
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Information Systems and Management
• Organisation and Human Resource Management
• Strategy and International Business.

Find a supervisor

Throughout the PhD element of your programme you will be advised by one or two supervisors with appropriate research expertise and interests. Your supervisors will be nominated when you reach the end of the MRes element of your programme. Please do not contact potential supervisors when completing your application, as we do not recruit PhD students in this way.

Research proposals

Initial applications to the Business School PhD programmes do not require submission of a research proposal.

Tuition fees

Our MRes/PhD Business and Management programme is fully funded. All students accepted onto the programme will have their full fees paid and will receive an annual stipend of approximately £21,000 per annum throughout their course, subject to satisfactory progress.

Students do not need to apply separately for this funding. It will be included as part of the offer onto the programme.

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad. Information about department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our  Module Catalogue  (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support.

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Department specific funding and support

If you’re interested in the bigger picture, comfortable challenging assumptions and want a degree that will open doors, then WBS is the place for you. We will give you the foundation for change and prepare you for your future career. Are you ready to make your mark in the world of business?

Find out more about us on our website.

The vision of WBS is to be Europe’s leading University-based Business School, developing transformational ideas and people that shape how we do business. We recognise that rankings are one way to profile our progress towards fulfilling this vision, and are proud to participate in the major global business education rankings.

MSc Finance

• 4 th in the UK and 16 th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience Ranking 2023
• 6 th in the UK and 19 th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Management

• 2 nd in the UK and 28 th in the world - Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2023
• 3 rd in the UK and 18 th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Marketing & Strategy

• 2 nd in the UK and 9 th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024

MSc Business Analytics

• 2 nd in the UK and 14 th in the world - QS Business Masters Rankings 2024
• 2 nd in the UK and 3 rd in the world - Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2024
• 3 rd in the UK and 20 th in the world - Financial Times Executive MBA Ranking 2023

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

Msc courses.

• Accounting and Finance (MSc)
• Business Analytics (MSc)
• Business & Finance (MSc)
• Business with Marketing (MSc)
• Business with Operations Management (MSc)
• Finance (MSc)
• Finance & Economics (MSc)
• Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation (MSc)
• International Business (MSc)
• Management (MSc)
• Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation (MSc)
• Marketing & Strategy (MSc)
• Mathematical Finance (MSc)
• MBA (Accelerator)
• MBA (Executive)
• MBA (Global Online)
• MBA (Full-time)

Executive Diplomas

• Advanced Management (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Behavioural Science (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Digital Leadership (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Marketing Leadership (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Strategic Leadership & Change (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)
• Strategy & Innovation (PGA/PGCert/PGDip)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Business and Management (MRes/PhD)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
• Finance and Economics (MRes/PhD)

How to apply

Applications for 2024 entry are now closed. Applications for 2025 entry will open in October 2024.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

• Warwick hosted events
• Postgraduate Fairs
• Talk and Tours
• Department events

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

9th in the UK

of the UK's best universities (The Guardian University Guide 2024, The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.)

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd.)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025.)

10th in the UK

for our 'Graduate Prospects' score. (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.)

Gold Standard Teaching

Gold, the highest possible rating across all three categories (student experience, student outcomes, and overall) (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history .

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2025 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our site so we can improve it for everyone. Also, we'd like to serve you some cookies set by other services to show you relevant content.

Management PhD

Key information.

• 1st  in the UK for annual research income in  2019-2022   (Chartered Association of Business Schools)
• 8th  in the UK for citations in Business and Economics   (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023)
• 16th  in the UK for Economics &   Business   (NTU Ranking 2022)

You’ll work with world-leading faculty whose findings go beyond academia – to practitioners and professionals in industry, associations, chartered institutes, decision-making bodies and public-policy organisations.

Accreditation

You’ll join the EQUIS and AMBA-accredited University of Sussex Business School. Learn more about all of our course accreditations here. Find out more

Areas of study

Our research focuses on questions such as:

• what factors influence new product/service development?
• how do institutional and geographical factors influence enterprise development?
• how do we tackle gender and race discrimination?
• how can we motivate individuals and nurture leaders?
• what could be done to promote environmental sustainability across supply-chain networks?

Find out more about research at the University of Sussex Business School

We expect successful applicants to be admitted to the Integrated PhD. This provides the rigorous research training you need to become a skilled practitioner. If you’re unsure which route to apply for, please apply for the Integrated PhD .

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Masters and P h D events

Meet us on campus or online

Book your place

Entry requirements

• UK requirements
• International requirements

Please select your country from the list.

Philippines

Saudi Arabia

South Africa

South Korea

Switzerland

United Arab Emirates

My country is not listed

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

English language requirements

Ielts (academic).

High level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.  Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We do not accept IELTS Online.

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests, cambridge advanced certificate in english (cae).

169 overall, including at least 162 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

LanguageCert Academic SELT

High level (70 overall, including at least 65 in each component).

LanguageCert Academic SELT scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course.  Find out more about LanguageCert Academic SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres.

We do not accept the online version.  We also do not accept the non-SELT version.

LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

High level (International ESOL SELT B2 with a minimum of 39 in each component)

LanguageCert International ESOL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about LanguageCert SELT

We only accept LanguageCert when taken at SELT Test Centres. We do not accept the online version.

Pearson PTE Academic

High level (62 overall, including at least 59 in all four skills)

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test.

TOEFL (iBT)

High level 88 overall, including at least 20 Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, 23 in Writing.

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

We do not accept TOEFL (iBT) Home Edition.

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

As/a-level (gce).

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

 Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70% 

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

Select to see the list of exempt english-speaking countries.

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries: 

• Antigua and Barbuda
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• The British Overseas Territories
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

• Visas and immigration

Admissions information for applicants

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

• How to apply

If you’d like to join us as a research student, there are two main routes:

• browse funded projects in this subject area
• browse our potential supervisors and propose your own research project.

Find out how to apply for a PhD at Sussex

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to work on your research full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. For details about part-time study, contact us at [email protected]

PhD or MPhil?

You can choose to study for a PhD or an MPhil. PhD and MPhil degrees differ in duration and in the extent of your research work.

• For a PhD, your research work makes a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in your chosen field.
• For an MPhil, your work is an independent piece of research but in less depth than for a PhD. You’ll graduate with the degree title Master of Philosophy. You might be able to change to a PhD while you study for an MPhil.

Our supervisors

Prof Constantin Blome

Visiting Professor

[email protected]

View profile of Constantin Blome

Prof Odul Bozkurt

Professor of Work and Employment

[email protected]

View profile of Odul Bozkurt

Dr Petros Chamakiotis

Visiting Senior Lecturer

[email protected]

View profile of Petros Chamakiotis

Dr Benjamin Everly

Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour

[email protected]

View profile of Benjamin Everly

Dr Marv Khammash

Associate Faculty

[email protected]

View profile of Marv Khammash

Dr Michelle Luke

Reader in Organisational Behaviour

[email protected]

View profile of Michelle Luke

Dr Monica Masucci

Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Entrepreneurship

[email protected]

View profile of Monica Masucci

Prof Steven McGuire

Associate Professor

[email protected]

View profile of Steven McGuire

Dr Piera Morlacchi

[email protected]

View profile of Piera Morlacchi

Prof Dimitra Petrakaki

Professor of Technology and Organisation

[email protected]

View profile of Dimitra Petrakaki

Dr Maria Restuccia

Lecturer In Marketing

[email protected]

View profile of Maria Restuccia

Prof Martin Schleper

[email protected]

View profile of Martin Schleper

Dr Vikrant Shirodkar

Reader in International Business

[email protected]

View profile of Vikrant Shirodkar

Dr Natalia Slutskaya

Reader in Work and Organisation Studies

[email protected]

View profile of Natalia Slutskaya

Prof Chris Storey

Professor of Marketing

[email protected]

View profile of Chris Storey

Prof Roger Strange

Professor of International Business

[email protected]

View profile of Roger Strange

Dr Shova Thapa Karki

Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Sustainability

[email protected]

View profile of Shova Thapa Karki

Prof Dennis Tourish

Professor of Leadership and Organisation Studies

[email protected]

View profile of Dennis Tourish

Prof Mirela Xheneti

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business

[email protected]

View profile of Mirela Xheneti

Dr Biao Yang

Senior Lecturer in Operations Management

[email protected]

View profile of Biao Yang

Funding and fees

How can i fund my course, funded projects and scholarships.

Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals. Don’t miss out on scholarships – check the specific application deadlines for funding opportunities. Note that funded projects aren’t available for all our PhDs.

A maintenance allowance for a Black home PGR student for 4 years starting at £19,237 in 2024-5 and UK PhD fees for 4 years

Find out more

Applying for USA Federal Student Aid?

If any part of your funding, at any time, is through USA federal Direct Loan funds, you will be registered on a separate version of this degree which does not include the possibility of distance learning which is prohibited under USA federal regulations. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid .

Part-time work

We advertise around 2,500 part-time jobs a year so you can make money and gain work experience. We have a special scheme to employ students on campus, wherever possible.

Find out more about careers and employability

How much does it cost?

Fees for self-funding students.

Home students: Fees are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26. Fees will become available once set by United Kingdom Research and Innovation.

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students: Fees are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2025/26. Fees will become available once set by United Kingdom Research and Innovation.

International students: £22,575 per year for full-time students

Home PhD student fees are set at the level recommended by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) annually, rising in line with inflation. Overseas fees are subject to an annual increase - see details on our tuition fees page

Additional costs

Note about additional costs.

Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life .

Empirical research costs

On top of your PhD fees and living costs, you may also need to cover some research and training costs, relevant to your research project. These costs will depend on your research topic and training needs, but may include: - travel (to archives, collections or scientific facilities) - a laptop - overseas fieldwork costs (travel and accommodation, and language training) - conference costs (travel, registration fees and accommodation) - laboratory consumables and workshop materials - participant costs - transcription or translation costs - open-access publication costs. If you have a scholarship from one of the UK Research Councils, your scholarship should cover these types of costs. You'll receive details of how to claim this additional funding. If you're self funded, or if your scholarship doesn’t cover these costs, check with the Research and Enterprise Co-ordinator in your School for details of School or Doctoral School funding that may be available.

• Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

Explore our campus

Experience Sussex life in our virtual tour.

Start your virtual tour

PhD Information Sessions

Visit campus and chat to staff and students. Book your place

Online PhD Sessions

Join a live webchat. Book your place

International

Meet us in your country

Course enquiries

+44 (0)1273 876787

Send us a message

Admissions enquiries

If you haven’t applied yet:

+44 (0)1273 678169 business-researchstudents@​sussex.ac.uk

Find out about the University of Sussex Business School

After you’ve applied:

+44 (0)1273 877773 [email protected]

Find out how to apply

Quick links

• Guide to PhD study
• PhD support
• Academic facilities
• Open Days and events
• Accommodation
• International students
• Student life
• Order a printed prospectus

What do you want to do next?

• Courses Browse our courses by subject area
• Sussex Life Find out about life at Sussex
• Visit Come to a PhD Open Evening
• Apply Find out how to apply

• Postgraduate Research

Management PhD / MPhil

• Part time available: yes

Studying in:

• Management School
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Our Management PhD aims to develop world-class researchers, specialised in building theory and producing valuable insight into business and management practice.

Why study with us?

I am thankful for all the learning and experiences as it has equipped me in facing various challenges and opportunities presented within as well as outside of academia. Most importantly I have been, and continue to be, surrounded by inspirational individuals and a motivating community whose interests are to see me grow and develop. Mary Joy Baloyo - Management PhD student

of our School's research classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

international experts shape world-class academic thought and make a direct impact on a wide range of organisations.

of our research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)

The University of Liverpool Management School’s (ULMS) Management PhD programme covers a wide range of areas for investigation with relevance to business governance, strategic planning and operations, including:

• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship
• Work Organisation and Management

The training offered is tailored, with specific modules aimed at facilitating the development of your individual research project:

• Business and Management as a Social Science
• Quantitative Methods in Business and Management
• Qualitative Methods in Business and Management
• Advanced Research Methods

To ensure you receive the most relevant support during the thesis development stage, you will work with a primary supervisor, who is a leading expert in their field.

Additionally, you will be supported by a secondary supervisor, who is typically promising early career researcher, specialising in your specific area of study.

Research themes

The University of Liverpool Management School   is a UK triple accredited ( AACSB , AMBA , and EQUIS ) leading and internationally recognised research institution, with outstanding REF 2021 results against 108 ranked Business and Management Schools across the country:

• 12th for submissions judged as World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*)
• 16th for research outputs classified as World Leading (4*)
• 9th place for Research Power (17 places higher than in 2014)
• 100% of research supported by a World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) environment.

The School’s Marketing , OSCM , SIBE , WOM groups produce world-class theoretical and applied research, with a strong focus on the real-world impact of this work, and with members regularly publishing in a range of top scholarly journals.

The School also has five research centres and one cluster , specialised in contemporary issues in business and society, and aimed at bringing together expertise across the School and University.

As a PhD student you are welcome to join any of these centres, as they present excellent opportunities to access internal and external research networks around cutting-edge themes.

Research interests

We welcome research proposals including, but not limited to:

• B2B marketing
• Consumer behaviour and digital identity
• Consumer culture
• Marketing strategy and analytics
• Vulnerable consumers and responsible marketing

Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM)

• Transport and logistics
• Agri-food supply chains
• Sustainable operations and supply chain management
• Agile operations
• Supply chain technologies, analytics and risk

Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship (SIBE)

• Sustainable strategy and its governance
• International business and management of people, knowledge and technology across Borders
• Innovation, collaboration and emerging digital technologies
• Entrepreneurship and social Inclusion
• Strategic intellectual property management across global innovation contexts

Work Organisation and Management (WOM)

• Work, health and wellbeing
• Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
• Grand challenges in Work, Organisation and Management

Please, make sure your application adheres to the following structure (maximum 3,000 words):

• Title of the proposal
• Introduction and expected contribution and its significance
• Literature review
• Proposed research questions
• Proposed methodology (fit with research/experience/need for training)
• Gantt chart
• References.

As a PhD student at the Management School you will enjoy access to shared office space.

In addition to printing/photocopying/scanning facilities, the Management School has two dedicated computer suites located on the ground floor:

• The McKenzie Trading Room offers 40 PCs with Bloomberg access. Each PC has a dual monitor and a Bloomberg keyboard
• The Grove Wing Computer Room has 28 PCs running on the standard University of Liverpool Network, with DataStream available on several computers.

Research groups

Research by subject groups

We have six groups which form homes for both research and teaching, providing the management and infrastructure to ensure vitality and sustainability of our research environment.

• Accounting and Finance
• Work, Organisation and Management

Research centres and clusters

Research centres develop the School's contribution to established themes with a strong focus on applying ideas through funding and impact-related work.

Research clusters are grass-roots driven and interdisciplinary, focussing on the development of new theoretical and empirical work, typically at the early stages of the knowledge production/impact cycle.

• The Brett Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Centre for Supply Chain Research
• Centre for Sports Business
• Centre for Sustainable Business
• Centre for Organisational and Employee Wellbeing
• Liverpool Advanced Methods for Big Data Analytics (LAMBDA) Research Cluster

Study options and fees

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.

Entry requirements

Applications are welcomed and will be considered in our highly competitive programme from well qualified graduates who would typically hold a UK first degree or equivalent in the first or 2:1 class, in a relevant subject.

English language requirements

How to apply

Research degree applications can be made online.  You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.

Applications are  open all year round .

More about applying for research degrees

Apply online

Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal

Find a supervisor

• Find Marketing supervisors
• Find Operations and Supply Chain Management supervisors
• Find Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship supervisors
• Find Work Organisation and Management supervisors
• Dr Hammad Akbar
• Dr Ahmed Al-Abdin
• Professor Lisa Anderson
• Professor Elena Antonacopoulou
• Dr Rachel Ashman
• Dr Christian Bach
• Professor Julia Balogun
• Dr Vasiliki Bamiatzi
• Emeritus Professor Steve Baron
• Dr Claes Belfrage
• Dr Marta Bell
• Dr Gary Brown
• Dr Ruijun Bu
• Dr Babatunde Buraimo
• Emeritus Professor Tom Cannon
• Dr Michael Cole
• Professor Bruno Deffains
• Professor Rory Donnelly
• Dr Paul Drake
• Professor Helga Drummond
• Dr Ronald Dyer
• Dr Michael Ellington
• Dr Paul Ellwood
• Professor Chris Florackis
• Dr Supriya Garikipati
• Dr Benito Giordano
• Dr Olga Gorelkina
• Dr Abhinav Goyal
• Dr Yiquan Gu
• Professor Olan Henry
• Dr Paul Hepburn
• Dr Jorge Hernandez Hormazabal
• Dr David Higgins
• Ms Julia Hodgson
• Professor David Hojman
• Dr Philippa Hunter-Jones
• Dr Dilani Jayawarna
• Dr Jennifer Johns
• Mrs Jennifer Johnson
• Professor Ossie Jones
• Dr Treasa Kearney
• Dr Seon Tae Kim
• Dr Hugo Lam
• Dr Ming Lim
• Professor Andrew Lyons
• Dr Allan Macpherson
• Mrs Claire Mallanaphy
• Dr Alessandro Marchesiani
• Dr Garance Marechal
• Miss Victoria McCall
• Professor Terry McNulty
• Dr Joanne Meehan
• Miss Laura Menzies
• Dr Roula Michaelides
• Dr Zenon Michaelides
• Dr Rory Miller
• Mr Fotios Misopoulos
• Dr Sara Nadin
• Dr Adriana Nilsson
• Dr Steve Oakes
• Dr Nikolaos Papageorgiadis
• Professor Liz Parsons
• Professor Anthony Patterson
• Dr Krista Pettit
• Dr Stephan Pfaffenzeller
• Dr Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams
• Dr Giulia Piccillo
• Dr Jannine Poletti-Hughes
• Professor Andrew Popp
• Dr Denise Preece
• Dr Laura Radcliffe
• Dr Chris Raddats
• Dr Caroline Ramsey
• Dr Graeme Ridgeway
• Dr Clare Rigg
• Dr Mike Rowe
• Dr Colette Russell
• Dr Hossein Sharifi
• Dr Yevgeniya Shevtsova
• Dr Andrew Smith
• Mr Simon Snowden
• Professor Dongping Song
• Dr Alan Southern
• Ms Abigail Stewart
• Dr Lynn Sudbury-Riley
• Dr Rogan Taylor
• Dr Juan De Dios  Tena Horrillo
• Dr Matthew  Tickle 
• Dr Adriana  Vilella Nilsson
• Prof Jan  Wenzelburger
• Dr Shubin  Wu 
• Dr Huadong  Yang
• Prof Mike  Zundel

View staff list

Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us

• Professor Carola Wolf
• Email: Professor Carola Wolf

Related studentships: self-funded and funded PhD projects

Related doctoral training partnerships.

Doctoral Training Partnerships support future researchers with funding and a rewarding learning environment where you can collaborate with leading researchers.

• ESRC - NW Social Science DTP
• ERDF Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory (LCEI)

Find a scholarship

We offer a range of scholarships to help you meet the costs of studying a research degree.

See scholarships

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• Studentship vacancies

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PhD Programme

Become a research expert at king’s.

A PhD from King’s Business School aims to be more than just a qualification. It provides you with the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen field of research. By the end of the programme, you will have developed the skills necessary to analyse complex organisational problems in order to make a difference in business and society.

If that’s you, then King’s Business School provides an ideal home for you to pursue PhD research. It is one of the leading research-intensive business schools in the UK and features world-class research academics in all of our departments:

• Accounting & Financial Management
• Banking & Finance
• Human Resource Management & Employment Relations
• Public Services Management & Organisation
• Strategy, International Management & Entrepreneurship

Many of our graduates continue onto academic careers after completing their PhD. Some take on research, analysis or leadership roles in major corporations and public bodies. Others use their expertise to start up their own research consultancy. It’s entirely up to you to decide what King’s means for your future. However, we know that PhD research will be right for you if you are motivated to interrogate academic puzzles; committed to developing high-level analytical skills; and dedicated to advancing knowledge in your research area.

Upcoming deadlines October 2025 entry

Round 1 - 1 December 2024

Round 2 - Application deadline for all applicants: 1 June 2025

Please note, any application received after 1 December 2024 will automatically be considered for the second round entry.

Application and admissions guide

Our application guide outlines everything you need to know about applying to the programme and for our King’s Business School studentships.

Find out how to apply for our PhD programme

Our full-time PhD programme usually takes three to four years, while the part-time programme will last six to sevent years. As a full-time student, you will spend most of your time in the iconic Bush House where we have dedicated spaces for our PhD researchers. And with central London on your doorstep, you’ll be surrounded by major business, government and cultural institutions. While completing a PhD is probably the toughest academic challenge you’ll ever take on, we’re here to support you throughout your time at King’s (and beyond).

Find out more about life at King's Business School

Skills & Training

The King’s Business School PhD programme is designed to support you in preparing the strongest thesis that you can, which will place you in the best position to move on to the job that you want. We will support you in developing advanced academic skills, but also skills relevant for wider impact in business and on society – for instance, skills in critical and analytical thinking, communication and networking.

Find out more about how we train our PhD students

Read more about the PhD journey

Roadmap of the full-time PhD programme

Doctoral Research Studentships

King's Business School invites applications for funded, full-time PhD studentships to start in the…

PhD Studentships

Please see other available King's Business School PhD Studentships

Student Experiences

Current and former students share their experiences of being a PhD student at King's Business School

8 January 2021

Chiamaka Nwosu

Chiamaka Nwosu is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

7 January 2021

Felix Kempf

Felix Kempf is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

• Durham University
• Student Gateway
• Staff Gateway

Programme Structure

PhD Management and Marketing  

The PhD in Management/Marketing (with Integrated Studies) is a programme for exceptional postgraduate researcher s with a passion for scientific discovery who aspire to become critical and independent thinkers and deliver academic work of the highest calibre to shape the future of Management and Marketing scholarship.  

Setting the foundations of your research  

Full-time students will complete the modules during their first year of studies. Part-time students have the opportunity to complete the modules over the first two years. All students are required to be in Durham for all elements of the modules that take place in the classroom.  

Learning and Teaching  

At the beginning of your studies you will attend a PhD programme induction to start building a network with your peers in the programme, connect with our academic faculty in the Department, and meet the wider community in the Business School.  

The first year in the PhD programme includes five compulsory modules which will be delivered and assessed with innovative and collaborative methods. In addition, students will select three elective modules in line with their specific academic interests and research projects.  

The modules take place in a blended format, including lecture-type delivery, but with a stronger focus on guided work in small groups, and on individual and group work that helps you develop a deeper understanding of academic research.  

The majority of these modules will run in a block format of full-day workshops in the classroom, complemented by tutor-supported small group learning, which often takes places online. These arrangements facilitate that both full-time and part-time students are fully integrated into our diverse and vibrant learning community.  

Two of the compulsory modules, the Team Research Project and the Individual Research Project, are specifically tailored to your professional development as a researcher. In these projects, we will challenge you to push the boundaries of current scholarship, make key decisions in the process of a research project independently, and communicate research findings in ways that enable you to be part of current academic debates.  The development of teamwork, project management and time management skills is are an essential part of your learning in these projects.  

Following the successful completion of the compulsory and elective modules in their first year in the PhD programme, students will embark on the research project for their Doctoral Thesis and work under the close supervision of normally two members of the academic faculty in the Department.  

Academic Support  

PhD Programme Lead and Team  

The PhD Programme Lead and PhD Team in the Department Office of Management and Marketing are your first point of contact for academic support, in particular in the form of advice on your course of study and progression through the programme.  

Academic Faculty  

Academic faculty who teach on the programme will advise you on the expected standards of research and theory development for each module (e.g., through formative and summative feedback) as well as on other academic developments relevant to your PhD studies. They will be available to support you during the modules and in their consultation hours on a one-to-one basis.  

Supervisory Team  

You will be supported by a supervisory team, normally consisting of one primary supervisor and one second supervisor from the academic faculty of the Department. The academic advisory function of PhD supervisors is critical and spans research-specific guidance, guidance and support in the knowledge dissemination process, and academic career mentoring.  

I believe that this Integrated PhD programme will offer both an opportunity to reshape my career into a more innovative and creative professional environment as well as to explore a new career path into academia.

Find a programme

Accounting and finance.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Accounting and Finance, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Advanced Quantitative Methods

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Advanced Quantitative Methods, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Aerosol Science

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Aerosol Science, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Aerospace Engineering

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Aerospace Engineering, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Anthropology and Archaeology

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Anthropology and Archaeology, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Biochemistry

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Biochemistry, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Biological Sciences

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Biological Sciences, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Chemistry, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Civil Engineering

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Civil Engineering, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Classics and Ancient History

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Classics and Ancient History, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Clinical Conscious Sedation and Anxiety Management

Comparative literatures and cultures.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD and MPhil in Comparative Literatures and Cultures, including structure and supervisors.

Computer Science

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Computer Science, including entry requirements, career prospects and research groups.

Creative Writing

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Creative Writing, including entry requirements, supervisiors and research groups.

Cyber Security (Cyber Secure Everywhere)

Dds orthodontics.

Find out about the University of Bristol's Orthodontics Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) research degree, including career prospects and supervisors.

DEdPsy Educational Psychology

Find out about the University of Bristol's Doctor of Educational Psychology (DEdPsy) research degree, including career prospects and supervisors.

Disability Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Disability Studies, including entry requirements, career prospects and research groups.

Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology (Wellcome Trust)

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology, fully funded by the Wellcome Trust for UK students.

Earth Sciences

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Earth Sciences, including entry requirements, supervisiors and research groups.

East Asian Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in East Asian Studies, including entry requirements and key themes.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Economics, including entry requirements, supervisiors and research groups.

EdD Education: Learning, Leadership and Policy

Find out about the University of Bristol's EdD in Education: Learning, Leadership and Policy, including entry requirements, career prospects and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Education, including entry requirements, career prospects and research groups.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, including entry requirements and research groups.

Engineering Biology

Engineering mathematics.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Engineering Mathematics, including entry requirements, career prospects and research groups.

English Literature

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in English Literature, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Exercise, Nutrition and Health

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Exercise, Nutrition and Health, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Film and Television

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Film and Television, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in French, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Geographical Sciences (Human Geography)

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Geographical Sciences (Human Geography), including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Geographical Sciences (Physical Geography)

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Geographical Sciences (Physical Geography), including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in German, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Global Challenges and Transformations

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Global Challenges and Transformations, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (NERC)

Find out about the Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership, a multidisciplinary training environment for postgraduate students in NERC sciences.

Health and Wellbeing

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Health and Wellbeing, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, including supervisors and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in History, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

History of Art

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in History of Art, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Integrative Cardiovascular Science (BHF)

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Integrative Cardiovascular Science (BHF), including entry requirements, funding and structure.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Italian, including entry requirements, structure and research groups.

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Law, including entry requirements, structure and research groups.

Linguistics

Llm law - banking and finance law.

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Banking and Finance Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - Commercial Law

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Commercial Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - Company Law and Corporate Governance

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Company Law and Corporate Governance, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - Employment, Work and Equality

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Employment, Work and Equality Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - General Legal Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in General Legal Studies, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - Health, Law and Society

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Health, Law and Society, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - Human Rights Law

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Human Rights Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - International Commercial Law

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in International Commercial Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - International Law

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in International Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law - International Law and International Relations

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in International Law and International Relations, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law, Environment, Sustainability & Business

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Law, Environment, Sustainability and Business, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

LLM Law, Innovation & Technology

Find out about the University of Bristol's LLM in Law, Innovation and Technology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Anthropology

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Anthropology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Black Humanities

Ma chinese-english audiovisual translation.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Chinese-English Audiovisual Translation, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Chinese-English Translation

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Chinese-English Translation, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Comparative Literatures and Cultures

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Comparative Literatures and Cultures, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Composition of Music for Film and Television

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Composition of Music for Film and Television, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Creative Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Creative Innovation and Entrepreneurship, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Creative Writing

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Creative Writing, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA English Literature

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in English Literature, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Environmental Humanities

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Environmental Humanities, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Film and Television

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Film and Television, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in History, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA History of Art

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in History of Art, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Immersive Arts (Virtual and Augmented Reality)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc, PGCert and PGDip in Immersive Arts (Virtual and Augmented Reality) including structure and career prospects.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Law, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Medieval Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Medieval Studies, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MA in Music, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MA Philosophy

Ma translation (online).

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Management, including entry requirements, structure and research groups.

Mathematics

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Mathematics, including entry requirements, structure and research groups.

Mechanical Engineering

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Mechanical Engineering, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Medieval Studies

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Medieval Studies, including entry requirements, supervisors and research groups.

Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology (Wellcome)

Find out about the University of Bristol's PhD in Molecular, Genetic and Lifecourse Epidemiology, fully funded by the Wellcome Trust for UK students.

MRes Advanced Quantitative Methods

Find out about the University of Bristol's MRes in Advanced Quantitative Methods, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MRes Economics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MRes in Economics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MRes Education

Find out about the University of Bristol's MRes in Education, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MRes Health Sciences Research

Find out about the University of Bristol's MRes in Health Sciences Research, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MRes Sustainable Futures

Find out about the University of Bristol's MRes in Sustainable Futures, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Accounting and Finance

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Accounting and Finance, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Accounting, Finance and Management

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Accounting, Finance and Management, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Advanced Composites

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Advanced Composites, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Advanced Microelectronic Systems Engineering, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Aerial Robotics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Aerial Robotics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Applied Neuropsychology

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Applied Neuropsychology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Applied Neuropsychology (Online)

Msc banking, regulation and financial stability.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Banking, Regulation and Financial Stability, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Bioinformatics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Bioinformatics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Biomedical Sciences Research

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Biomedical Sciences Research, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Biorobotics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Biorobotics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Business Analytics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Business Analytics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc by research Global Environmental Challenges

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc by research Global Environmental Challenges, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Cardiovascular Perfusion (Online)

Msc climate change science and policy.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Climate Change Science and Policy, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Clinical Neuropsychology

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Clinical Perfusion Science

Msc clinical research methods and evidence-based medicine, msc communication networks and signal processing.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Communication Networks and Signal Processing, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Computer Science (Conversion)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc conversion programme in Computer Science, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Contemporary Identities

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Contemporary Identities, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Cyber Security (Infrastructures Security)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Cyber Security (Infrastructures Security), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Data Science

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Data Science, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Data Science (Online)

Msc dental implantology.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Dental Implantology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Development and Security

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Development and Security, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Digital Health

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Digital Health, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Earthquake Engineering and Infrastructure Resilience

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Earthquake Engineering and Infrastructure Resilience, including structure and career prospects.

MSc East Asian Development and the Global Economy

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in East Asian Development and the Global Economy, including structure and career prospects.

MSc Economics

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Economics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Economics and Finance

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Economics and Finance, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Economics with Data Science

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Economics with Data Science, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Economics, Finance and Management

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Economics, Finance and Management including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Education and Climate Change)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Education and Climate Change), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Inclusive Education)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Inclusive Education), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Leadership and Policy)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Leadership and Policy), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Learning, Technology and Society)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Learning, Technology and Society), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Mathematics Education)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Mathematics Education), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Neuroscience and Education)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Neuroscience and Education), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Open Pathway)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Open Pathway), including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Policy and International Development)

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Education (Policy and International Development) including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Education (Teaching and Learning)

Msc engineering mathematics.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Engineering Mathematics, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Engineering with Management

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Engineering with Management, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Msc environmental modelling and data analysis.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Environmental Modelling and Data Analysis, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Environmental Policy and Management

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Environmental Policy and Management, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Epidemiology

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Epidemiology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Finance and Investment

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Finance and Investment, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Financial Technology

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Financial Technology, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Financial Technology with Data Science

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Financial Technology with Data Science, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Gender and International Relations

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Gender and International Relations, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Geographic Data Science and Spatial Analytics

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MSc Global Development and Environment

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Global Development and Environment, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Global Operations and Supply Chain Management

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Global Wildlife Health and Conservation

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Health Economics and Health Policy Analysis

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy Analysis, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Health Professions Education

Msc health professions education (online), msc healthcare management (online), msc human geography: society and space.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Human Geography: Society and Space, including structure, entry requirements and career prospects.

MSc Human Resource Management and the Future of Work

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Human Resource Management and the Future of Work, including structure and career prospects.

MSc Human-Computer Interaction (Online)

Msc image and video communications and signal processing.

Find out about the University of Bristol's MSc in Image and Video Communications and Signal Processing, including structure and career prospects.

MSc Immersive Technologies (Virtual and Augmented Reality)

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MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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Management (Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour) PhD Opportunities

In this PhD programme, you will undertake original research that is timely and business relevant in the area of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour .

At a glance

• Benefit from a dynamic research environment and dedicated support
• Join postgraduate research students from all over the world
• Engage with executive leaders and the practitioner community
• Programme features personal development modules and workshops
• Research driven by a number of leading centres within the department

As a postgraduate research student at Henley, you will develop your critical thinking, intellectual capacity and creativity. In this PhD programme, you will join students from all over the world. You will also benefit from a dynamic research environment and outstanding facilities.

Our faculty continuously publishes in internationally well-known and highly rated journals. This includes the Academy of Management Learning and Education , the Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal , the British Journal of Management , the British Journal of Sociology , the Cambridge Journal of Economics , Group and Organization Management , the International Journal of Management Reviews , the Journal of Organizational Behaviour , the Leadership Quarterly , Organization Science , Organization Studies and the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal.

Faculty have also published books with the following imprints: Routledge, Sage, JAI Press, Edward Elgar and Harvard Business Review Press.

Please note that the Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour PhD programme does not offer a start date outside of September. You are expected to join us full-time. It is only in exceptional circumstances that we offer part-time or distance learning PhDs. If necessary, for your training, you may be required to come to the University earlier to attend some preparatory courses.

Course structure Open

The module descriptions set out on this page are correct for modules being taught in the current academic year. Optional module listings are indicative and may be subject to change.

Year One : You will have to attend modules examined according to Henley Business School rules. These modules include research methods and other areas required for your area of concentration

Confirmation of Registration : In the middle of your second year, you will present and defend your fully developed research proposal, consisting of a substantive document of around 10,000 words

Years Two and Three : The remaining part of your PhD studies will be devoted to complete your thesis before your viva examination. The maximum amount of time you are allowed before the viva examination is four years of full-time study.

During your first year of studies, you will be required to:

• Attend and obtain at least 60 credits from PhD/Masters level modules in research methods and other relevant areas (see below)
• Attend some short courses (2-3 hours each) required for the Reading Researcher Development Programme at the Doctoral and Researcher College (overseeing PhD studies within the University of Reading)
• Attend the Preparing to Teach training programme (which is necessary to be able to complete any teaching-related activities within Henley Business School)
• Participate in weekly research seminars organised by your department and others relevant to your area of interest
• Hold regular meetings with your supervisor(s).

Required taught component

All LOB first year students are expected to take the following modules:

A 20 credit module focusing on literature review – generally we recommend Introduction to Thesis Literature Review (MMD001), but Understanding Management and Financial Research (ICM116) is an acceptable alternative for students looking to focus on quantitative stream A 20 credit module in Advanced Qualitative Methods (MMD002), blended with the Advancing Academic Practice Programme A 20 credit module Pedagogy Seminar (MMD012)

If you are interested in the module description form containing the overall learning outcomes and description of the modules, please visit this link (click on the most recent academic year and then on Henley Business School; modules are listed by code in alphabetical order).

After 15 to 18 months from the start of your PhD you will submit a substantive research proposal of approximately 10,000 words that will be defended in front of faculty members and/or assessed by independent examiners. This process will coincide with your confirmation of registration and, if successful, it will grant you the status of PhD candidate.

The research proposal will be a significant development of the initial proposal you submitted for your application. It will include material you may have produced during the first year modules in research methods (e.g. literature review, methodologies, data description). If you plan to do a PhD thesis combining three papers, you are expected to include a draft of the first paper in your research proposal. Alternatively, if you intend to use a book-like structure for your thesis, the document should include the draft of at least one of the three/four key chapters.

Years Two and Three

During your second and third years, PhD students are expected to:

• Continue to work on your PhD dissertation drafting the other two papers/key chapters;
• Hold regular meetings with your supervisor(s)
• Attend some short courses (2-3 hours each) required for the Reading Researcher Development Programme at the Doctoral and Researcher College
• Contribute to departmental teaching/research activities and events
• Present posters/papers at national/international conferences.

Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.

Fees & funding Open

For fees, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website .

Overseas applicants should refer to the non-laboratory based fees listed in the tables (International Band 1 for non UK/Home students).

PhD funding

Up to two postgraduate studentships, each covering full course fees and a stipend, are available for outstanding applicants wanting to conduct full-time postgraduate research in the research areas listed below.

These awards are offered on an annual basis and are renewable at the end of each year, subject to satisfactory performance, for up to three years. In particular, we are looking for PhD candidates with excellent potential in the areas of entrepreneurship, social and organisation studies, moral agency and business ethics and leadership and non-market related strategies. Students with an interest in these thematic areas within our research centres are invited to apply.

There are six additional studentships, which all Henley Business School PhD applicants studying full-time are eligible for, available through the Henley Business School streams initiatives. Stream A covers three studentships in the areas of Africa , the World of Work and ethics and sustainability , whilst stream B covers all other research projects. The application process is handled by the department of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour's Postgraduate Research Director, who will nominate the best applicants for review by the Henley Business School Postgraduate Research Director.

Further PhD funding options:

• Wilkie Calvert Scheme: This funding is available for PhD applicants that are undertaking research on a part-time basis, with their research being of strategic importance to their employer. For further information, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website
• International PhD studentships: This funding is available for PhD applicants from outside the UK. For further information, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website
• Regional PhD bursaries: This funding is available for PhD applicants that are residents of Reading and the surrounding area. The scheme is not open to students who have already started their study at the University of Reading. For further information, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website
• Graduate: If you have already studied at the University of Reading or Henley Business School you will be eligible for the alumni fee discount
• South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc): This funding is available for PhD applicants with a focus on research in the areas of living sustainably healthy, thriving communities, inclusive economic growth, secure, effective and trusted institutions and transformative technologies for society and is offered by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). For further information, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website
• China Scholarship Council: This funding is available for Chinese applicants that are permanent residents in China at the time of applying. For further information, please visit the Doctoral and Researcher College website
• Other: For information on further opportunities, please see the find funding section on the University website and the additional options outlined on the Doctoral and Researcher College website .

Important information for applicants for studentships

We offer PhD scholarships covering fees and stipend for up to three years, awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit to the applicants with the highest quality research proposals.

Applicants for studentships are expected to have obtained or be expecting to obtain a Distinction in their Masters degree and in their Masters thesis. MBAs are not considered. Applications for studentships are very competitive and students are further assessed on their ability to speak and communicate in English, as part of the duties of studentship holders are to engage in teaching assistant duties (up to six hours per week) from their second year in the programme.

Applicants that are considered for the studentship will need to go through an interview with the Postgraduate Research Director for the department of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour.

Studentship applications for the 2024/5 academic year have now closed. Studentship applications for the 2025/26 academic year are open and will close on 13 March 2025. Applicants who apply before this date will have their applications considered and those with the strongest research proposals will be invited to interview.

For further information on studentship requirements please contact the postgraduate research administrator for Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour.

Current scholarships

Leadership, organisations & behaviour scholarship, entry requirements open.

Applications for the 2024/25 academic year are closed. Applications for the 2025/26 academic year are open and due to close on 30 June 2025.

The key requirements for a successful application are:

• Top grades in your Masters degree (minimum requirement is Merit or equivalent, but we prefer Distinction)
• Top grade in your Masters Dissertation (or equivalent research-based piece of work) because this may show your research attitude and skills
• A well-developed research proposal of at least 6-7 pages where you identify the motivation of your study, place it within relevant literature highlighting the current gap and potential research questions, state your intended methodology and show understanding of the data (if any) necessary to accomplish your study and relevant sources (which will also reveal the feasibility of your study)
• A reasonable intended timeline, reflecting issues you may encounter in the study as presented above (for example, if you have to collect primary data, the time spent on data collection will be much longer than the one you would spend if you intend to use secondary data sources)
• English requirements for applicants whose first language is not English, with the expectation of obtaining either an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 (with no element below 6.0), a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) online test score of 100 (and no less than 20 in Listening, Writing and Reading and no less than 21 in Speaking), or a Test of English for Educational Purposes (TEEP) at the University of Reading with a score of 7.0 (with no element less than 6.0). For all other equivalent score requirements in our accepted English Language tests, please visit the University website .

Applying for a PhD

The process for applying does not follow a linear path that is identical for every student, but the basic steps are as follows:

• Write a research proposal outlining the topic you wish to research. We strongly recommend that you read our guide on writing a research proposal.
• Choose an academic member of staff, listed under Teaching Staff, that has a similar area of research to your research proposal's focus. You can then send your research proposal to them for comment.
• If the academic in question is interested, they will get back in touch with you. It is likely that they will have some questions or suggestions for improving your research proposal. Please note that if you do not receive a response you must not send your research proposal to all other academics.
• If the academic is satisfied with the proposal you will be invited to apply. Please note that you can apply before this, but until you have the support of an academic supervisor you will not be able to complete the process.
• Apply by clicking the 'Apply Now' button at the top of this page. Please note that we only accept PhD students starting their studies in September at the start of semester one.
• A shortlisting decision will be made, based on the documents you uploaded in your application.
• If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to a formal interview to assess your suitability to pursue a PhD at Henley Business School.

Careers, accreditation & progression Open

How can henley careers work with you.

We have an award-winning careers team here to support you through your time at Henley and four years after graduating.

Henley Careers and Professional Development run numerous events throughout semester one and semester two in order to help you gain industry experience. These events are aimed to enhance your professional development and network with employers. We also offer one-to-one career coaching appointments where you can talk to a Careers Consultant about your professional development. This may include planning your ideal career journey or building confidence in a particular area. It could also involve practicing for interviews or having your CV checked.

Continuing your career

A PhD in the area of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour can open doors to a successful career in academia and other organisations. This includes large multinationals, leading consulting firms, governmental advisory roles and non-governmental organisations worldwide.

What our students have gone on to do

Our PhD graduates have gone on to take up academic positions at institutions such as Henley Business School, the University of Nottingham and the University of Central London in the UK and Kuwait University, the Australian National University and Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University worldwide.

Research areas Open

Henley Business School’s research in the School of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour is driven through the following leading centres: Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Centre for Business Ethics and Sustainability, the Centre for Euro-Asian Studies, Henley Centre for Leadership, the Centre for China Management and Global Business and Henley Centre for Coaching. Many of our research centres have active membership from a wide range of international leading companies providing plenty of opportunity to engage with executive leaders and the practitioner community.

We welcome applicants seeking to conduct full-time postgraduate research in the following fields:

Henley Centre for Entrepreneurship

• Female entrepreneurship trends and behaviours; barriers to growth and emerging markets
• Family business succession within medium to large firms in different countries
• Innovation, knowledge spillovers and creativity
• Regional entrepreneurship, ecosystems and institutions
• Regional economic development and entrepreneurship
• Global mobility of entrepreneurs
• Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship in Chinese overseas subsidiaries
• Historical approaches to entrepreneurship, with specific reference to the historic evolution of entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical, retailing and food sectors
• Entrepreneurship in the creative industries
• Networks and clusters
• Patents and innovation
• Big data and data analytics for entrepreneurial decision-making
• Digital business models and digital entrepreneurship
• Artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship and management
• Industry 4.0 in manufacturing and services
• Corporate social responsibility and sustainability in entrepreneurial and/or family firms

Centre for Business Ethics and Sustainability

• Virtue and integrity theories applied to problems of governance and agency in business, society and critical approaches to management
• Cultural change (in particular industries, or in relation to the business and society relationship at large e.g. globalisation) and the nature of ethical issues arising for individuals and groups, both within organisations and in the organisation and society relationship
• Challenges of ethical pluralism and relativism in relation to context and stakeholder problems
• Morals and the limits of markets; challenges for the common good
• The role of ethics of dialogue in organisations and society; the nature of dialogic ethics and agency
• The role of businesses and international organisations in the development of universal humanistic and eco-centric ethics
• Philosophical topics in organisation studies (especially questions about the ontology of organisations)
• Proposals that use convention theory (sometimes called pragmatic sociology) and apply it to organisations
• Proposals on alternative ways of valuing and prioritisation in general, or with a specific focus on healthcare
• Any topics related to the philosophical foundations of economic thought
• Gender, race and class in the workplace
• Intersectional perspectives on employment and organisations
• Elites and professions
• Professional status and inequality regimes
• Critical perspectives on stress and well-being at work
• Critical perspectives on power in organisations
• Lacanian studies of organisational issues
• Management in cultural and creative organisations, particularly legitimisation strategies and relations within creative clusters

Henley Centre for Leadership

• Distributed leadership in complex professionalised settings and strategies to facilitate its emergence
• Project leadership change management
• Leadership development processes to enable women to access senior positions and break the glass ceiling
• Leadership dysfunction and its effect on organisational culture/wellbeing
• Team leadership, team dynamics and team effectiveness
• Leadership and the facilitation of innovation and creativity within teams
• Exploring organisational leadership capability
• Energising senior management teams
• Developing leadership capacity on the job
• Digital strategic leadership
• Transforming organisations and culture

Centre for Euro-Asian Studies

• Energy economics, with particular reference to oil and gas industries
• Local content policy in resource-rich countries
• Business and economic challenges in Eurasia
• Sustainable development in the Euro-Asian region

Centre for China Management and Global Business

• International entrepreneurship, regional development and institutional development
• Global talent mobility and expatriates
• Urbanisation and climate change
• Financial and banking systems
• Digital servitisation and ecosystems
• Delivery system design and servitization

Henley Centre for Coaching

• Conditions which need to be in place to make coaching effective with individuals and teams, including how best to train coaches
• Understanding what a coaching culture is and how to effectively manage a coaching culture within organisations, including ensuring the skill of coaches, the quality of coaching and the governance of coaching
• Outcomes can we expect from coaching and how can we evidence them
• How coaching can be used to further social justice and deliver equity, diversity and inclusion
• Use of technology to help us deliver effective coaching now and in the future

Teaching staff Open

Phd supervisors.

Below are a list of potential PhD supervisors that you will be able to contact.

Dr Adeyinka Adewale

Professor Kleio Akrivou

Dr Holly Andrews

Professor Maksim Belitski

Dr Matteo Borghi

Dr Sinem Bulkan

Professor Dorota Bourne

Dr Anlan Chen

Dr Can Ererdi

Dr Ana Graça

Dr Irina Heim

Dr Elizabeth Houldsworth

Professor Yelena Kalyuzhnova

Dr Rebecca Jones

Dr Marrisa Joseph

Dr Rifat Kamasak

Dr Olena Khlystova

Dr Selin Kudret

Professor Benjamin Laker

Dr Linghe Lei

Professor Marcello Mariani

Professor Jane McKenzie

Dr Fabio Goncalves de Oliveira

Dr Caroline Rook

Dr Tatiana Rowson

Dr Stephen Simister

Professor Bernd Vogel

For more information please contact Alex Baker.

“History, location and triple-accreditation led me to choose Henley to pursue my PhD. Grounded in the Thames Valley, I had the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge being in contact with a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem of both academics & practitioners”

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Business and Management PhD

Our programme aims to develop rigorous scholars who can advance both academic knowledge and business practice.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2025
• January 2026

Our Business and Management PhD gives you the knowledge and skills you need to become a researcher and scholar in Business and Management.

These transferable skills are in high demand in knowledge-intensive organisations and environments. They will help you maximise opportunities in careers that include complex cognitive tasks.

To find out more about our key research areas, you can visit the relevant subject group research pages. These are:

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Information Systems and Operations
• Leadership, Work and Organisation , comprising:
• Work, Employment and Human Resource Management (WEHRM)
• Management and Organisation (M&O)
• Strategy, International Business and Society (SIBS)

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

How you'll learn.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Research supervisors

Profiles of our highly qualified academic staff who are potential supervisors of postgraduate research can be found within their respective research community:

• Work, Employment and Human Resource Management
• Strategy, International Business and Society
• Management and Organisation

Marketing operations and systems, including:

• Innovation, Enterprise and Digital Business
• Marketing: Consumers, Communications and Services
• Supply Chain and Operations Research (SCORCH)

Your development

Faculty of humanities and social sciences (hass) researcher development programme .

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

Newcastle University Business School is one of the largest Schools in the University. We have over 3,500 students representing over 80 nationalities. This valuable network extends beyond our current students to include:

• regional, national and international leaders
• over 34,000 alumni in our network, spanning over 150 countries
• leading professionals and practitioners from industry

The Business School is the gateway to Newcastle Helix - an innovation hub and community that brings together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers.

Our facilities include:

• flexible conference room with panoramic views across the city
• Wi-Fi enabled connectivity throughout the building, including three computer clusters housing over 120 PCs
• four large lecture theatres and over 25 seminar and teaching spaces, providing comfortable teaching and group study space
• dedicated Student Hub and Quiet Space, providing a balanced mix of study space for group work or quiet, individual study
• contemporary café
• employability hub to support your career aspirations
• Bloomberg Room to give you a real feel for the trading room floor
• Experimental and Behavioural Economics Lab, a state-of-the-art research facility for conducting studies in experimental economics and economic psychology

The  Frederick Douglass Centre  at Newcastle Helix also offers further study and learning spaces. This includes a 750 seat auditorium – the largest in the University.

Find out more about Newcastle University Business School

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year), home fees for research degree students.

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

For 2025-26 entry, we will be aligning our standard  Home research fees  with those set by  UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2025 by UKRI.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

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We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

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• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Dr Martí Lopez Andreu  - Degree Programme Director Newcastle University Business School Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 1709 Contact Newcastle University Business School

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

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Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

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MPhil in Strategy, Marketing, Operations and Organisational Behaviour

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Primary tabs

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The MPhil in Strategy, Marketing, Operations and Organisational Behaviour (SMOOB) is an intensive nine-month programme that prepares you for continuation to the Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) PhD in the fields of strategic management, marketing, operations and technology management, or organisational behaviour.

The educational aims of the programme are to prepare students for doctoral work in the fields of strategic management, marketing, operations and technology management, or organisational behaviour at CJBS. The programme is an integral part of the CJBS PhD programme for these fields, by:

• providing teaching in research methodology, in particular in econometrics and mathematical modelling; providing teaching in foundational subjects, such as economics; and
• providing research seminars in which students will learn about the current debates in their field of specialisation, and about the canonical literature that underpins these debates;
• providing guidance on the structuring, writing and critiquing of academic research papers;
• giving students the opportunity to experience research first-hand, either through an individual research project or a dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have:

• critiqued research papers on the basis of content and methodology;
• developed and defended a research proposal for their subsequent PhD year, including a clearly articulated research question, its positioning in the literature, and appropriate research methodology:
• acquired or consolidated foundational knowledge and methodological skills necessary for research in their chosen field of specialisation;
• demonstrated an ability to critique research papers; and
• presented their own ideas in a public forum and learned to contribute constructively within an international environment.

Students may apply to continue to the PhD, but success is subject to satisfactory performance at the admissions interview in the Lent Term 2025, and achieving a minimum average grade of at least 70 per cent on the MPhil in Strategy, Marketing, Operations, and Organisational Behaviour. Students are required to also achieve at least 70 per cent in their dissertation (if not replaced by additional modules).

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Cambridge Judge Business School also hosts Experience Days throughout the year. Please see Cambridge Judge Business School wide-events page for further information.

Key Information

9 months full-time, study mode : taught, master of philosophy, judge business school, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2025.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.

Similar Courses

• Management Studies PhD
• Industrial Systems, Manufacture, and Management MPhil
• MSt in Entrepreneurship MSt

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Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

by Alumni Team | Aug 2, 2022

COMMONWEALTH PHD SCHOLARSHIPS

How to apply, supporting documentation, advice for applicants, choosing a university/course, applicant eligibility.

• Eligible countries

Completing the application form

• Selection process and criteria

Tenure and placement

Financial assistance, general conditions, faqs and enquiries.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for applicants from least developed countries and vulnerable states, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Purpose: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) , Commonwealth PhD scholarships contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact. They also enhance individual teaching and research capacity leading to increase institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries, and will contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international applicants and encouraging links and collaboration, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Intended beneficiaries: Commonwealth PhD scholarships are for high-quality graduates who have the potential to undertake world-class research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries.

These scholarships are offered under the six  CSC Development themes .

Applications for Commonwealth PhD scholarships for the 202 5 /2 6 academic year are now open . The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 hours BST (15:00 GMT) on 1 5 October 202 4 . The s cholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2 02 5 .  

Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system .

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system .

Applicants are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominator.

There are three types of nominator invited to participate in the PhD scholarship programme:  

• National nominating agencies  – this is the main route of application.
• Selected universities/university bodies  – which can nominate their own academic staff.
• Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies .

Participating n ominators put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC for consideration . The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

Each nominator oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Applicants must check with the nominator for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their own eligibility criteria.

Nominators may set their own closing dates for applications. They will nominate candidates to the CSC in December 2024.  

Selections are made from the pool of nominations. Candidates are asked to note that a nomination is no guarantee of selection.

Applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their applications by July 2025. We will contact all applicants by email and they should ensure all folders of their email accounts are monitored, including junk mail and spam folders. A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if a candidate is emailed but does not respond within a specified time.  

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.

Please note that applicants are required to collect references and supporting statements, either on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and proposed supervisors in the UK, and then upload them in PDF format to the application system with their other supporting documentation.

The references and supporting statements must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline for applications and we are unable to accept references and supporting statements any other way or after this date.

Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:

• Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
• Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
• References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
• A supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form.

Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.

When completing the references, referees should be asked to comment as fully as possible on the applicant, keeping in mind the following points for inclusion, as appropriate:

• How long, and in what capacity, the referee has known the applicant.
• The referee’s views on the applicant’s suitability for the proposed Scholarship and the need for the particular subject of study in the UK.
• capability to grasp concepts and reason analytically;
• capacity for original thought;
• and motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives.
• Assessment of the applicant’s particular strengths and weaknesses.
• The applicant’s potential to impact development in their home country.
• Any other general qualities which the referee considers would make the applicant a good recipient of a Scholarship.

Please note that the CSC does not charge apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.

When completing supporting statements, proposed supervisors should be asked to confirm that they are, in principle, prepared to have the applicant working with them and that they have the facilities to undertake the research. They should also be asked how the applicant’s plan of study fits with the expertise of their department and to indicate how much of the applicant’s plan of study, if any, they wrote. Any additional comments they make will be appreciated by the Commission.

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page .

Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

• Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
• Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
• Postgrad.com  – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
• Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
• Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
• UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
• Discover Uni – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study

The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Applicants can also discover how Commonwealth Alumni are making an impact and leading change across critical development issues by visiting our development impact stories page .

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2025.
• By September 2025, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)*.
• Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2025.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

*The CSC recognises that disabled people have often faced and overcome challenges or barriers in their education journey which have prevented them achieving the academic requirement for a Commonwealth Scholarship. Disabled applicants who can demonstrate their potential to contribute to international development but who do not hold a 2:1 Undergraduate degree may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) nominator. For more information, please contact CDPF directly using the details on our NGOs and charitable body nominators page .

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the  CSC disability support statement .

There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

Eligible Countries

Please note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships .

Bangladesh Cameroon The Gambia Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Nigeria Pakistan Rwanda Sierra Leone Solomon Islands Sri Lanka Tanzania Togo Tuvalu Uganda Zambia

In the application form, applicants are asked to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained.
• List up to 10 publications and prizes.
• Provide details of employment history and explain how the experience gained supports and is relevant to the programme to be undertaken in the UK.
• List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both their capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of the referees must be a current employer (if applicable) and at least two references must be included with the application.
• Provide a Development Impact statement in four parts.

In the first part applicants should explain how the proposed scholarship relates to:

• Development issues at the global, national, and local level
• Development issues connected to the chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector

The second part should explain how they intend to apply their new skills once the Scholarship ends.

The third part should outline what they expect will change in development terms following the Scholarship, including:

• The outcomes that they aim to achieve
• The timeframe for their implementation
• Who the beneficiaries will be

In the fourth part applicants should write about how the impact of their work could be best measured and evidenced.

Applicants are also asked to:

• Confirm what their award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programme.
• Confirm what their career plans are for the 5 years following the Scholarship.
• Confirm their long-term career plans.
• Provide a detailed plan of study.
• Provide a personal statement to summarise the ways in which their personal background has encouraged them to want to make an impact in their home country. Applicants may wish to highlight any areas where they have already made significant contributions, including overcoming personal or community barriers in accessing higher education or within their field.
• Summarise the ways in which they have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities they have had to demonstrate leadership.

Selection Process and criteria

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s come country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria .

Applicants should note the criteria carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.

Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement for a specific programme of research for 36 months of full-time study only. For the full list, see here: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/uk-universities

Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made.

Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time.

The CS C does not support four-year PhDs.  

The CSC does not provide new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas, defined as the extraction, production, transportation, refining and marketing of crude oil, natural gas or thermal coal, as well as any fossil-fuel fired power plants.

Applicants must make clear in the application which qualification they are applying for. This will enable the CSC to consider the application in the correct category. Applications which do not make this clear may be considered ineligible.

Applicants are advised to list three universities and supervisors that they think are the most appropriate for their study, in order of preference, and to explain their reasons. This is important because the CSC will not change the university or supervisor (or the order of preference) of a provisionally selected candidate after the point of selection, unless exceptional information becomes available that could not have been foreseen at the time of application.

The CSC will make the final decision on institution of study, and reserves the right to overrule any preferences indicated by the candidate. The CSC will consider the suitability of the course and its value for money when deciding on any overrule.

Applicants must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to their preferred universities in advance of their scholarship application. Many courses have strict admission deadlines and candidates should check admission requirements carefully when applying. If an applicant is selected for a scholarship and has not applied and been accepted for a course, it may not be possible to proceed with the scholarship.

Applicants must provide a supporting statement for a named supervisor from at least one of the UK universities to which they are applying. Details of what the supporting statement should include are outlined in the supporting documentation section. Applicants are strongly advised to provide a supporting statement from a supervisor at the first choice university. If not, the CSC reserves the right to select for placement at another university for which a statement is provided.

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,378 per month, or £1,690 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
• Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
• Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (the cost of one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location), where approved.
• Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork.
• If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £297 per month for a maximum period of nine months, if they and their spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless the spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
• If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse and children: spouse allowance of £297 per month and child allowance of £297 per month for the first child, and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their spouse and children are living with them at the same address in the UK (unless their spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
• If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £590 per month for the first child, and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.

If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows .  

Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

For the CSC to administer the application effectively and efficiently after submission, it will be necessary to create a record in the applicant’s name. If they apply for an award to the CSC, their details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about applicants and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice .

Applicant’s personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks to CSC’s satisfaction, before CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, however further information may be requested, so we ask for full co-operation to speed up the process.

If an applicant does not agree to personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, unfortunately CSC will not be able to proceed further with the application process.

If an application is successful, the CSC will notify the applicant that they have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing terms of admission to the university) at which point they will be a provisional scholarship candidate.

The CSC does not require any applicants to take an IELTS (English language) test.

The CSC will not be able to offer a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship previously held.

When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the CSC will provide a Notification of Award (formal offer of a scholarship).

When all conditions of the Notification of Award have been met, the CSC will provide a formal Confirmation of Award.

Candidates will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form  before the Confirmation of Award can be issued.

Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking to return to their home country as soon as possible after the end of the award.

Candidates are expected to start the award on the date stated in the Notification of Award.

If a candidate requires a Student visa to come to the UK to study, they must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration. They should check the GOV.UK website for updated information.

All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are subject to change. The CSC has no control over these regulations.

Candidates will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on the application form, which is not expected to change significantly during the award. Any such changes must be agreed by the CSC.

Throughout their award, Scholars are expected to reside in the UK, and must seek approval from the CSC in advance of any overseas travel.

Scholars must not undertake paid employment during the award without approval from the CSC in advance.

Collaboration is a feature of doctoral research. The CSC expects that participants in collaborative projects will develop a collaborative agreement to clarify the contributions and rights of each partner. The CSC will not get involved in negotiating an exploitation agreement but will need to be assured that an arrangement acceptable to all parties exists. Arrangements should be made to identify, protect, and value any arising intellectual property and to secure a suitable return to the institution and the investigators through exploitation. The CSC considers the intellectual property ownership to lie initially with the student; however, many universities have their own locally applicable policy. In many cases, it is in the best interest of a student for ownership to be vested with the university, which will have greater negotiating powers and will be likely to be able to seek the best returns in any exploitation agreement. Award holders are expected to notify the CSC when CSC-funded intellectual property is exploited.

The CSC will consider a request to extend a Scholar’s leave to remain in the UK after their award only if they wish to move from Master’s to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.

The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for Scholars to remain in or return to the UK after the award to enable them to work or undertake postdoctoral study.

The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner. Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.

In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.

Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders and the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure .

An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if registration is suspended or terminated by the university for any reason.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud .

The CSC is committed proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to protect its staff, Commissioners, beneficiaries and all those with whom the CSC comes into contact. The CSC requires staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding. Applicants should note the  CSC Safeguarding Policy which sets out the obligation for staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding.  Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Commission at:   [email protected]

All conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars . Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

For general information about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships, please see our FAQs page.

For queries not covered on the website, please use the contact us form .

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