phd management london

Please enter a keyword and click the arrow to search the site

Or explore one of the areas below

• Executive MBA
• Executive Education
• Masters degrees
• Faculty and Research

The first step to academic excellence. Fully funded, your rigorous research shapes future business. Apply now

Your first step to academic excellence  

At London Business School, developing and educating the next generation of scholars is central to our overall research activities and identity and we are committed to training individuals to become scholars and thought leaders. Research-oriented business schools offer an exciting and well-resourced environment in which to conduct interdisciplinary research. Our PhD programme leverages the School’s acclaimed research faculty, while providing generous funding and infrastructural support. PhD students work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research spanning a broad range of disciplines and topics. Through rigorous coursework as well as supervised, joint, and independent research, our students are equipped to work and thrive at the frontiers of knowledge in their chosen field.

Your time at London Business School will be filled with intellectual challenges in a collaborative environment. With faculty and fellow students, you will exchange and debate ideas and methods, sharpen your critical faculties, and learn the skills to be a successful scholar. Quality of thought is a public good here at London Business School, with improvements in your own thinking generating a positive spill-over to the entire community of students and faculty. Each year, our graduates move on to intellectually rewarding careers in major business schools, universities, and research institutions around the world. Their work has a profound impact on the thoughts and actions of academics, business leaders and policy makers.  

My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming you to the community of scholars at the London Business School.  

Niro Sivanathan, PhD Chair  

Our mission                  

To educate outstanding scholars who will be sought after at leading business schools, universities and other research institutions.

• Opportunity
• Our Commitment
• Your learning

Research-oriented business schools offer some of the most exciting and well-resourced environments in which to conduct interdisciplinary social science.

Our PhD programme leverages the School’s acclaimed research faculty, provides generous funding and infrastructural support.

Central to our overall research activity is a commitment to inspire and train the next generation of business scholars.

We fully support our PhD students’ endeavours. Working closely with faculty, students produce cutting edge research that spans a broad range of disciplines and topics. Through rigorous coursework and supervised and joint research, you will be equipped to work and thrive at the frontiers of knowledge in your chosen subject.

Your time at London Business School will be seriously busy, filled with intellectual challenge in a collaborative environment. With faculty and fellow students, you will sharpen your critical faculties, exchange ideas and methods, and learn to think like a scholar.

Quality of thought is a public good at London Business School. Improvements in your thinking process generate positive consequences for the entire community of students and faculty.

You will be expected to work hard but, rest assured, your efforts will bring the highest payoff.

Each year our graduates move on to intellectually rewarding careers in major business schools and research institutions around the world.

The new knowledge our PhD students create makes a profound impact on the thoughts and actions of business leaders and policy makers.

See our multidisciplinary PhD research supported by the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development

Research areas

Accounting phd programme  .

The PhD Programme in Accounting trains students to conduct original academic research dealing with the use of accounting information.

Economics PhD Programme 

The unique Economics programme is designed around two key features – a small number of focused courses provided in areas in which the subject area specialises, and a small cadre of students who form a close working relationship amongst themselves and with the Economics faculty. 

Finance PhD Programme 

Our global reputation and connections to world-leading financial institutions: just two reasons why exceptional scholars study at London Business School.

Management Science and Operations PhD Programme

The doctoral programme in Management Science and Operations (MSO) is designed to train scholars to undertake cutting-edge quantitative research (both fundamental and applied) to advance the understanding of processes and decision-making in organisations.

Marketing PhD Programme 

The Marketing PhD Programme trains scholars who will conduct research to advance the frontiers of the discipline of marketing, teach marketing at premier universities around the world, and prepare the next generation of marketing doctoral students. 

Organisational Behaviour PhD Programme 

The Organisational Behaviour (OB) department at the London Business School is considered one of the top research departments in the world. Its faculty members are known both for the breadth of topics they pursue and for their in-depth cutting edge research on these topics.

Strategy and Entrepreneurship PhD Programme 

The doctoral program in Strategy and Entrepreneurship aims to produce leading world-class scholars, who will pursue impactful academic careers following the completion of their PhD. 

Programme overview

Our full-time PhD students receive thorough and sophisticated training in the latest research methods, equipping them for productive academic careers.

• Key dates and times

Students are required to take a range of courses. These include Programme Core Courses, Specialised Courses and Elective Courses. Specialised Courses are compulsory for the for the admitted subject area. Elective courses are chosen from the Specialised Courses in other subject areas.

You will also have the option to take elective courses in London School of Economics (LSE) and University College of London (UCL).

After a successful defence of your research proposal you will progress your own thesis – an original contribution to your chosen specialisation. Then, having successfully defended your thesis, and following the completion of any required amendments, you are awarded a London Business School PhD degree.

• Students complete the PhD programme within five to six years
• Applications are due by 8 January
• Short-listed applicants are invited to an interview between January - March
• Orientation for new students takes place in mid-September

Scholarships and funding

All students offered a place on the PhD programme receive full funding, which includes a tax-free stipend of £25,000 guaranteed for five years and a tuition fee waiver.

Additional support

All students also receive financial support for attending specialist, international conferences, and other developmental opportunities. In addition, monetary prizes for academic excellence in specific fields are awarded by London Business School’s research centres and institutes. Students also have the opportunity to do paid research and teaching assistance work.

Living in London

There is no residential accommodation at the School, but students can apply for accommodation in some of the University of London Intercollegiate Halls of Residence. If you are accepted on the PhD programme, you will be provided with further information regarding accommodation options that students have chosen in the past and their cost.

Each year our graduates move on to intellectually rewarding careers in major business schools and research institutes around the world. 

Job market Candidates Learn more about our PhD job market candidates

• Madi Kapparov - Find out more about Madi Kapparov
• Tsvetelina Nenova
• Ashley Perry - Find out more about  Ashley Perry
• Ashish Sahay
• Gunjan Seth - Find out more about  Gunjan Seth
• Beril Unal - Find out more about  Beril Unal
• Evgenii Gorbatikov - Find out more about  Evgenii Gorbatikov
• Shikhar Singla - Find out more about Shikhar Singla
• Mimansa Bairathi - Find out more about Mimansa Bairathi
• Anurag Gupta - Find out more about Anurag Gupta
• Julia Langdon - Find out more about Julia Langdon
• Judy Qiu - Find out more about  Judy Qiu  
• Mustafa Gokse - Find out more about Mustafa Gokse
• Alp Sungu - Find out more about Alp Sungu
• Liinus Hietaniemi - Find out more about Liinus Hietaniemi
• Sukhun Kang - Find out more about  Sukhun Kang
• Yijia Ding - Find out more about  Yijia Ding

Trans-Atlantic Doctoral Conference

Discuss your current research with students from leading business schools in North America and Europe at this exclusive conference hosted annually by London Business School. 

How to apply

The deadline for applications is January 8 for entry into the programme in September of the following year.

You need an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, with a final grade in the top 10% of your graduating class. Most incoming students also hold a Masters degree.

You must submit a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score that is no more than five years old. You are unlikely to gain admission with a GMAT score below 690. GRE quantitative and analytical scores should be above the 90th percentile.

You need to give details of two referees. They should be faculty members who know your work well and can judge your research potential - for example, previous supervisors or academic tutors.

Essays form an important part of your application. Make sure you spend a significant amount of time on them. You can also attach a CV up to two pages long.

• A completed application form with Statement of Purpose (online)
• Two academic reference letters (online)
• Original GMAT or GRE score report (online)
• Official transcript or certified copy of university grades from all past degrees (online)
• Valid, original Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Cambridge score report (if required)

You must submit all application forms and accompanying documents by 8 January for entry into the programme in September.

UK applicants from low income households who are able to evidence that they were in receipt of full state support for maintenance as an undergraduate at a UK university within the last 4 years are eligible for an application fee waiver.

Applicants who are able to evidence they have a valid Asylum Registration Card or Biometric Residence Permit and Overseas Applicants from any of the countries included on the UN list of least developed countries are also eligible for an application fee waiver.

Individuals who feel that they need a fee waiver but do not meet these criteria may contact the Programme Office explaining their circumstances to request a waiver.

For all other applicants, there is an application fee of £75.

Short-listed applicants will be invited to an interview in February or March to meet faculty and to see the School’s facilities. It is sometimes possible for candidates who are unable to travel to London to be interviewed by telephone.

Regrettably, due to the large number of applications received each year, it is not possible to arrange meetings with members of faculty prior to an interview.

Unless you are an English speaker or have a degree from a university in an English-speaking country, (where the language of instruction was English) according to UK Visa and Immigration policy guidance you must submit evidence of proficiency in English. Please click here to verify if you meet the requirements. You should have scored at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL to be considered for the PhD programme.

Other recognised English language tests (IELTS, Cambridge) are also accepted. A valid test report (less than two years old) must be submitted to the Programme Office.

London Business School institution code for TOEFL is 0898

Some subject areas state which test they would prefer applicants to take:

• GRE – Economics, Management Science and Operations
• GMAT – Accounting, Marketing

GMAT and GRE are administered by independent agencies. The tests measure verbal, quantitative and analytical skills and provide an indication of the ability for clear and systematic thought. One of these tests is required from each applicant and the requirement cannot be waived.

For more information on GMAT, visit: https://www.gmac.com/gmat-other-assessments and GRE at www.gre.org .

London Business School GMAT code is Z11-J7-75

London Business School GRE code is 3491

Some students are expected to attend a four week maths refresher or pre-programme course in September (depending on the subject area). All students will be required to attend a 3-day orientation in the first month of the programme, giving you the chance to meet faculty, your first year supervisor and other PhD students. You'll also receive training and induction in London Business School's facilities and services.

All students offered a place on the PhD programme receive full funding, which includes a tuition fee waiver and a stipend guaranteed for five years.

No, you do not need to contact faculty members before you make an application. Decisions on supervisors are only made after the first year in the programme, so you will have plenty of time to get to know faculty. We do encourage you to read the faculty profiles on our website to see if faculty at LBS have research interests relevant to what you wish to do.

Most students complete the Programme within five/six years.

The academic year starts in October. The year is divided into three terms (AUT, SPR and SUM), lasting 10 weeks each. Some new students may also need to attend a pre-sessional course in September.

All students must work as teaching or research assistants for 20 days (160 hours) a year in years 2, 3 and 4 of the programme. At least 10 days (80 hours) should be of teaching assistance (and the other 10 days could be research assistance, depending on each subject area’s preference). This is seen as a valuable part of your training.

The Programme is run on a full-time basis only and students are expected to live in London.

A tuition fee waiver is included in the scholarship, and no additional fees are charged.

Your application needs to reach us by 8th January. Make sure you have allowed enough time for your GMAT and/or other scores to be processed. We suggest you take any tests (and request for the results to be sent to us) before 15th November.

We do not offer transfers. You may be admitted to the programme from year one and apply for exemption from courses already taken. In such cases students will be required to pass a waiver examination. No more than three course waivers are permitted.

Yes, you must. We expect all applicants to submit a GRE or GMAT score before their application can be considered. Your score is valid for up to five years.

Please contact us to learn more about the Institute

+44 20 7000 8975

[email protected]

Sign up to receive our latest news and business thinking direct to your inbox

London Business School takes your privacy seriously. We may process your personal information for carefully considered, specific purposes which enable us to enhance our services and benefit our customers. Please note that by subscribing now you may from time to time receive other emails from LBS about events or other activities that we think might interest you. View our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Thank you. You're almost ready to start enjoying Think. To verify your email and confirm your subscription please click on the link that we've sent to your email address.

We hope you enjoy our thought leadership.

Explore the Think at London Business School Hub .

Thank you for subscribing to the Think email.

We have added your email address to our mailing list and we hope you enjoy our thought leadership.

Explore the Think at London Business School Hub.

Opps.. Something goes wrong. Please try again later.

Doctoral programme

• Why Imperial?
• The programme
• Research areas
• Fees and funding
• Career impact
• Meet our students
• Life at the School
• Connect with us

Key information

Lead research in your field.

Our funded Doctoral programme provides an inspirational learning experience.

A top-ranking global university

Imperial College Business School is at the centre of Imperial College London, one of the world’s leading universities in science, technology, business and healthcare. Our world-renowned faculty work collaboratively with colleagues from other departments across the college and, through the Doctoral programme, you will become a part of this world-leading research community.

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Imperial College ranks top in the UK overall for research, according to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, while the Business School has been named the best school in the UK for research environment and second-best for management and business students.

World-class faculty and business expertise

Our internationally-admired faculty are leaders in their fields of business expertise. You will work with some of the foremost academics in their fields, and have the opportunity to network further at research seminars and conferences.

Fully funded studentships for all students

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.

Master’s in Research (MRes)

Combining highly relevant and structured training, you will complete a Master’s in Research (MRes), providing a focus on specialist courses and core research skills. Depending on your chosen research area, you will complete a one-year MRes or a two-year MRes that will provide you with a solid foundation for your academic career.

Impact on industry

We believe that rigorous academic analysis can provide practical solutions to complex problems in society. Working closely with businesses and governments, we drive policy and practice through inspiring collaboration and research excellence.

Research areas and faculty

PhD statistics

• Staff intranet
• Student intranet

What do you want to do?

Find out about the research we do in the business school.

• Management PhD

Find a supervisor

Mode of study

3 years full-time

6 years part-time

International   £20,450

UK   £4,596

Entry requirements

Research profile.

Research activities within the Business School at Brunel cover a wide-ranging and diverse field of topics from accounting, through HR, to strategy. Academic staff involved within these programmes investigate corporate governance and social responsibility, employment relations, information systems, corporate brands, marketplace cultures, international business and entrepreneurship and much more. Our research drives forward global business and societal transformation and is applied to many areas, such as NASA’s mission to Mars, humanitarian relief in Iran, biobank network across Europe, British Monarchy brand in the UK, to innovating the public sector in Saudi Arabia. 

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.  

Learn more about research in this area.

PhD Community in the Business School

Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. A research degree provides the opportunity to investigate a topic in-depth and contribute new knowledge to your discipline. Here at BBS, we have five key subject areas:

• Marketing and Corporate Brand Management
• Organisation and Human Resource Management
• International Business and Entrepreneurship
• Operations and Information Systems Management
• Accounting and Auditing  

We are one of the largest PhD student cohorts in the UK. We have approximately 160 students based in the UK and around 25 based in Bahrain. Our student cohort is culturally diverse, with students from 34 different countries.  The male to female ratio is at 47% to 53%. We have 4 self-elected student reps and they discuss PhD students’ comments and issues with the PGR director regularly. There are dedicated, high spec PhD areas in the Business School with all the equipment you need for your studies. 

Message from the PGR Director

“The Business School community of doctoral students is going from strength to strength. We work closely with our PhD candidates and supervisors to ensure that our PhD students get exceptional experience and achieve excellence in their research. We particularly welcome students who have a solid academic background in relevant subject fields, evidenced by their past grade performance.” 

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour .

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team .

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

• Measuring and reporting on the biodiversity impact of businesses, supervised by Nibedita Mukherjee
• Natural Language Processing for Business Intelligence, supervised by Yongmin Li

Research journey

This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.

Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here:  Research degree progress structure.

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme . The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

BBS PhD Developmental Programme

This opportunity focuses on training students to become future HE teachers/lectures. The students are paired with their academic mentor and join them as a supporting tutor for a number of seminars over one term. Students undertake workshops about facilitating learning and teaching in higher education before and after acting as a support tutor. Students submit a 500-word reflective report and receive verbal feedback from their mentors. On completion, students are awarded a certificate and the hours count towards their Brunel Volunteer contribution.       

Business Life Programme 

Business Life, a programme of professional training and development events, is available to all students in the Business School and has been developed and delivered in association with professional institutes, leading employers from industry, alumni and the public sector. 

Careers and your future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

UK entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). 

An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.

Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement  and a research statement. Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement  here .  

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by  UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list . This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 7 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 64 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT : 68% (58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 98 overall (min 20) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our  English Language Requirements  page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our  Brunel Language Centre .

Please check our Admissions  pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2022/23 entry, international.

£20,450 full-time

£10,225 part-time

£4,596 full-time

£2,295 part-time

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.

Fees for EU applicants – For entry in 2023/24 academic year, eligible EU applicants will have the same tuition fees as UK students to continue our support during this transition period. These fees will be applied for the duration of the course.  

Some courses incur  additional course related costs . You can also check our  on-campus accommodation costs  for more information on living expenses.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. Recently the UK Government made available the Doctoral Student Loans of up to £25,000 for UK and EU students and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Related courses

Business and Management Integrated PhD

Business Administration MBA

• Staff & students

MPhil/PhD Management

Course information.

Institute of Management Studies

3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time

Course overview

The Institute of Management Studies (IMS) will equip you with a sound understanding of the methods and skills necessary to conduct high-level research, using a wide range of approaches and techniques.

• Our research programme includes a broad training in behavioural and social science research methodologies, including the fundamentals of qualitative research and advanced level quantitative research.
• Supervision can be offered in any of the areas of departmental activity, as reflected in the research areas of our staff .
• You will attend and contribute to research seminars and, through the Institute of Management Studies , the Centre for Creative and Social Technologies, Department of Psychology , the  Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship and Goldsmiths-wide courses. You will also be encouraged to develop practical skills such as public speaking, poster preparation, scientific writing, and strategies for interacting with the media.
• You will meet regularly with your supervisor at every stage, and develop a structured approach to designing, executing, analysing and writing up your research.
• During your first year, you may take a range of taught modules including research design and analysis, advanced statistics, theoretical issues, project management, global leadership, organisational behaviour and health, workplace coaching and counselling, and training and development.
• Find out more about research degrees at Goldsmiths

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Ragupathy Venkatachalam .

Entry requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in a relevant subject area. 

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification ) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees.

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2023/2024 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £TBC
• Home - part-time: £TBC
• International - full-time: £TBC

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

AHRC studentships .

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you'll need to have: 

• Details of  your education history , including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The  email address of your referee  who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• Contact details of a second referee
• A  personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online

           Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
• Details of your  research proposal

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Before you apply for a research programme, we advise you to get in touch with the programme contact, listed above. It may also be possible to arrange an advisory meeting.

Before you start at Goldsmiths, the actual topic of your research has to be agreed with your proposed supervisor, who will be a member of staff active in your general field of research. The choice of topic may be influenced by the current research in the department or the requirements of an external funding body. 

If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Research proposals

Along with your application and academic reference, you should also upload a research proposal at the point of application. 

This should be in the form of a statement of the proposed area of research and should include: 

• delineation of the research topic
• why it has been chosen
• an initial hypothesis (if applicable)
• a brief list of major secondary sources

When to apply  

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.  

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified. 

Selection process 

If your degree is in an unrelated field, you may be considered subject to a qualifying interview and/or submission of sample essays.

Find out more about applying .

As a PhD student, you will receive training in and develop wide-ranging research skills, including:

• database searching and bibliographic skills
• managing and analysing data
• communication skills
• quantitative and qualitative research methods
• handling legal and ethical issues in research
• research design and project management

Academic staff within the Institute of Management Studies

• Professor Frank Bond,  Institute Director 
• Dr Chris Brauer ,  Programme Director
• Dr Nigel Guenole ,  Programme Director

Similar programmes

MPhil/PhD Psychology (IMS)

MSc Business Management (with Pathways)

The MSc Business Management (with pathways) gives you the skills and knowledge you need to be an effective manager in increasingly uncertain and technology-dominated environments. You'll also have the option of completing a placement year to put your knowledge and skills gained in the programme into action.

MSc Management of Innovation

This programme will equip you with the fundamental business and social enterprise knowledge and skills needed to manage innovative product and brand or policy development, service delivery, and integration of emerging technologies in fast-paced industries.

MSc Marketing & Consumer Behaviour

The MSc Marketing & Consumer Behaviour equips you with a comprehensive grounding in approaches to understanding consumer preferences, judgements, decision-making and behaviour.

Related content links

International

Accommodation.

Everything you need to know about student housing, private accommodation, how to apply and more

Open days, tours and country visits

Global main menu

• School of Business and Management

PhD and Research

Our   PhD   programme draw s   on the research strengths of our international staff and   is committed to educating scholars who will lead in their fields of research and activity,  within the broad areas of   business and management .   We attract some of the world’s brightest minds, who work and study together in an exceptional, inspirational environment. It is our aim to create excellent learning experiences and to empower our researchers to make positive contributions to the world of business, and beyond.

Research Centres

Research training.

The School has a comprehensive training programme available for PhD Researchers. The formal PhD Taught Programme provided by SBM is a compulsory component of your work as a postgraduate researcher in your first year. After the first year, PhD researchers are encouraged to attend selected components of the training programme.

Collaboration

Queen Mary is part of the London Interdisciplinary Social Science (LISS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) with King’s College and Imperial College. LISS DTP is an  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Partnership, offering a range of social science research workshops and training sessions, which are open to all PhD researchers at SBM.

Personal Research Allowance

The School provides an annual budgetary allowance to full-time and part-time PhD researchers, to contribute towards the costs of their research and to enable their participation in external developmental events. Research-related expenses may include expenditure on books, conferences, training courses, travel and subsistence for research activities and, in certain cases, specialist software.

Applicant Advice

Get advice on how to find a supervisor, write your proposal, and what you need to make a successful application. 

— Professor Tessa Wright , Professor of Employment Relations (2011 PhD Candidate, School of Business and Management)

School Research Seminar Series

Students have access to the annual PhD Symposium and the PhD Poster Forum, as well as courses offered by different sources (Academic Development, QM Thinking Writing, Queen Mary Careers Service, and other externally available components), as well as the School Research Seminar Series. The seminars aim to foster a dynamic and interdisciplinary research culture, emanating across the social sciences and humanities in support of individual scholarship and collaborative research.

View all   upcoming and previous research events   organised by the School of Business and Management.

Career Development

Find out more about the Queen Mary Academy and Researcher Development.

Career Destinations

Our expert careers consultants are on hand to assist you in selecting and applying for the roles or pathways which are right for you and your career. They organise employability talks, workshops, and networking opportunities. Students also have access to training and development opportunities through the Queen Mary Academy.

There are opportunities for our students to undertake paid teaching work to help them to develop teaching skills and gain invaluable insights into a key part of the academic profession.  Our PhD researchers go on to work in education, research and business institutions across the world.

Research Office

Make an Application

Meet our Researchers

62% PhD researchers in 2020/21 are female

Over 20 nationalities represented across our research students.

We are a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities

You may also be interested in

Term dates & enrolling.

Facilities & Resources

Support Network

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

UCL School of Management

University college london, phd in management.

Start date:  September 2023 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully funded scholarships to all admitted students Application deadline: 01 February 2023, 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 organizational 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 four or 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, Cass 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 MPhil/PhD is not automatic . Superior performance in taught modules and independent, original research is required for progression from MRes to MPhil/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) and 75 credits of taught modules. 

• Core module: MSIN0131 - Research Presentation and Critical Writing Skills . 15 credits 
• Core module: MSIN0132 - Seminar in Organisation Theory . 15 credits 
• Core module: MSIN0240 - Designing Management Research Projects. 15 credits 
• Optional module: MSIN0046 Qualitative Research Methods for Management. 15 credits 
• Optional module: MSIN0238 Strategic Management and Industry Evolution: Sociological and Social-Psychological Perspectives. 15 credits  
• MSIN0135: MRes Research Project : 105 credits. 8,000 - 10,000 words. 

Students will also have the option to take modules offered by other UCL Departments, such as Economics or Psychology, and intercollegiate modules. 

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:.

'I was drawn to the UCL School of Management PhD programme at UCL by the prestigious academic staff and their broad range of disciplines. Their academic training at top institutions from around the globe convinced me that the environment at the UCL of School Management would provide me with an intense multilateral research experience. Furthermore, having been interviewed by members of the academic staff, I immediately felt stimulated by their energetic drive. They have a passion for exploring the vast landscape of the management science discipline and are determined to produce top-notch researchers to contribute to this ever-growing academic field.' 

'My main reason for choosing UCL was my desire to work with professors of the highest calibre. After one year here I have to say I am more than happy about my decision. My first year was really exciting and challenging and the conditions for conducting research are ideal. The programme has met my high expectations and proved that the UCL School of Management is one of the top Management Schools in the UK.'

'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. 

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. Please check  TOEFL details here .  

Application Deadline

The application window closes 01 February 2023 and a late submission window closes on 31 March 2022. We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 01 February 2023, 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 four/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 £23,500 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. 

Further Information and Contact Details

The full-time MRes/PhD programme runs from September each academic year. Entrance is therefore every September. While we may accept applications until 31 March we encourage candidates to apply before 01 February. Our programme is very selective and we only admit a limited number of students, so applying early may increase your chances.

How to Apply

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact the MRes/PhD Administrator, Amy Evison ( [email protected] )

Video Library

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 administrator Amy Evison ( [email protected] )