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Marketing PhD programme

Conduct research to advance the frontiers of the marketing discipline.

• Faculty profiles
• Publications
• Research lab
• PhD Student profiles
• Faculty recruitment

Achieve academic excellence

Working closely with our international faculty experts throughout your degree, you’ll begin active research at an early stage.

• A rigorous and extensive curriculum
• Create new knowledge
• Work closely with our outstanding marketing faculty
• Explore a wide range of subjects, including:

explaining consumer behaviour

predicting firm behaviour

making data-driven decisions

improving marketing practice.

• Apply a variety of approaches, including:

experimental tests of psychological theories

econometric models of firm behaviour.

• Examine and impact contemporary marketing research topics
• Access a wealth of marketing expertise from our world-leading faculty
• Challenge the status-quo and produce evidence-based research - complete an original thesis in your chosen specialism
• Contribute to our research output - the cornerstone of our ability to have a positive impact on the world.

Our faculty embody outstanding research and teaching expertise

Innovative business thinking. World-class research. And a global reputation. Representing many different nationalities, our faculty influence business leaders, managers and policy makers across the globe.

Behavioural Research Lab

The Research Lab at the London Business School is a full-staffed state of the art lab devoted to running behavioural research studies. The fully staffed lab is trained in running a wide variety of behavioural research studies ranging from simple survey to food tasting to social interaction studies. PhD students have full access to running studies in the lab and often work with the research assistants who will implement each study as intended.

PhD students

We prepare the next generation of scholars to undertake cutting-edge research. Find out how they’re pushing the frontiers of their individual subject area.

A unique life experience

Benefit from our central London location. Enjoy our vibrant campus environment. Welcome to a dynamic student and alumni community that provides lifelong engagement and opportunity.

Interested in applying? We recruit students through our annual PhD application process.

Ready to join the LBS PhD programme? We’d love to hear from you.

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Choose start date: Start date: September 2024 Duration: Five to six years Deadline: Applications are now closed Fee: Fully funded Location: London, UK Funding and scholarships Career impact

Applying for the Doctoral programme

Are you ready to ignite your extraordinary potential within a forward-thinking Business School? At Imperial we take a holistic approach to admissions, attracting a diverse range of individuals with varied backgrounds to foster an enriching learning experience. Looking beyond your professional qualifications, we also consider who you are, what motivates you and how you collaborate with others.

How to apply

Who are we looking for?

At Imperial, we are looking for well-rounded candidates with the aptitude and ambition to thrive in our PhD programmes and make a global impact as future leaders of business and society.

Entry requirements

Academic achievement.

A PhD at Imperial College London is a demanding academic qualification. We therefore look for evidence of strong and consistent academic performance and expect applicants to have high grades at undergraduate and Master’s level, including a strong dissertation.

From graduates of UK institutions, this would normally equate to a combination of at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree at undergraduate level and a Master’s degree awarded with Merit or Distinction. Please see the  College Country index  for the international equivalent of these qualifications, though please bear in mind that the Business School may ask for higher grades than the College minimum.

In exceptional circumstances, we will consider candidates holding a strong First Class Honours undergraduate degree, without a Master’s, if accompanied by very strong academic references and outstanding CV and personal statement.

For general enquiries, please contact us at  [email protected]

What to expect – pre-requisite knowledge and training

As a PhD graduate of Imperial College Business School, you will be expected to have a solid foundation in quantitative research methods, understand the breadth of your research area and have in depth knowledge of your specific field demonstrated through your own original research. Graduates who are working in primarily qualitative fields are still expected to undertake core quantitative methods training.

To be able to succeed in the formal courses, as a minimum, you should have knowledge of:

Topics include functions, limits and continuity, differentiation, applications of the derivative, curve sketching, and integration theory, methods of integration, applications of the integral, Taylor’s theorem, infinite sequences and series.

Matrix Theory/Linear Algebra

Topics include matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, determinants, vector algebra and geometry, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, vector spaces, subspaces, bases, and dimension, linear transformations, representation by matrices, nullity, rank, diagonalization, inner products, adjoints, unitary, and orthogonal transformations.

Topics include fundamentals of probability theory, confidence intervals, and tests of hypothesis for normal distributions, one- and two-sample tests and associated confidence intervals for means and proportions, analysis of variance, F-tests, correlation, regression, contingency tables, and statistical analysis using the computer.

Data analysis and programming

During your courses and research, you will use a variety of analysis tools and programming languages, including R, STATA, MATLAB, Python – applicants who are not confident with programming should learn before enrolling. There are many open online courses available that make it feasible to learn. This  Data School  web page gives a good round up of some available resources as a starting point.

• Statement of purpose

One of the most important parts of our application form is the Statement of Purpose section. Although you are not expected to have your whole thesis planned at this stage, it is important to articulate your knowledge and ideas. It should include the following:

• Your motivation for undertaking the MRes and PhD
• A discussion of possible research areas that you might pursue
• Business School faculty you have identified that align with your research interests
• What interests you most about your chosen field of study

Relevant past study or research projects – in particular those completed with faculty

GMAT or GRE requirement

A GMAT or GRE score is a compulsory requirement to be considered for entry into the Doctoral programme at Imperial College Business School. This GMAT/GRE score must be submitted before we will consider an application. Please note that we do not make offers on the condition that a candidate achieves a satisfactory GMAT/GRE score.

There are only a few test dates per year in some countries or testing centres. It is highly recommended that applicants arrange a GMAT or GRE test at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure that they can submit a timely application.

To locate your nearest GMAT test centre, visit  www.mba.com  or for your nearest GRE test centre visit  www.ets.org/gre/ . Our GRE code is 0121.

Preferred scores

No preference between GRE and GMAT:

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Strategy & Organisational Behaviour

GRE preferred:

• Economics & Public Policy

All applicants are free to take either test and we understand that there are some countries where only one of these tests is available.

We expect applicants to have obtained strong scores across all elements of the exam. We consider strong scores to be in the 90th percentile or higher in either test.

For the GMAT Exam , our preferred total score is 700 or above. From the different test elements, scores in the 90th percentile roughly equate to: 50/60 in quantitative reasoning, 39/60 in verbal reasoning, 6/6 in analytical writing and 8/8 in integrated reasoning.

We also accept the GMAT Focus Edition (available from 7 November 2023). If taking this test, our preferred total score is 655 or above. We would also be looking to see scores in the 90th percentile in the Data Insights, Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning components. Scores are valid for five years from your appointment date. 

From the different test elements, scores in the 90th percentile roughly equate to: 165/170 in quantitative reasoning, 163/170 in verbal reasoning and 5/6 in analytical writing.

English language requirement

All Doctoral students must meet our English language entry requirements. If you have a degree taught in English within the following countries, you meet the English requirement automatically: Australia, Canada, Guyana, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, West Indies. This applies only to degrees that were studied entirely and awarded in the relevant country.

For all other applicants, a full list of acceptable English language qualifications and our required scores can be found on our detailed  English language requirement page .

Most applicants meet the requirement in one of the following ways:

IELTS (academic): A minimum score of 7.0 with minimum scores of 6.5 in all elements.  The IELTS indicator test will be accepted for admissions to the 2023/24 academic year.

TOEFL iBT: A minimum score of 100 overall with minimum scores of 22 in all elements.  The ETS at Home test will be accepted for admission to the 2023/24 academic year.

• Duolingo English Test: 125 Overall with no less than 115 in any band score.
• IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo scores are only valid if they are less than two years old on the programme start date
• TOEFL: You must meet the entry requirement in one test from your scaled scores ( ‘My Best Scores’ reported by TOEFL will not be considered ). For more information regarding TOEFL please visit the  ETS website . Please note if you would like ETS to send your TOEFL scores directly to the College, our TOEFL Institution Code is 0891.

You may submit your online application prior to meeting the English language requirement.

Start your application

Applications are made through our online application system, which gives you the flexibility to complete your application in your own time and save your progress. The form includes questions about you and your educational history to date.

If you wish to be considered for the Doctoral programme, please follow the steps below:

• Start a new application and search for “Business”. Select either Business (MRes 1YFT) or (MRes 2YFT) depending on which pathway you wish to apply for.
• Applicants applying for the Marketing or Analytics and Operations pathways will need to select Business (MRes 1YFT). Applicants applying for the Economics and Public Policy, Finance, Strategy and Organisational Behaviour or Innovation and Entrepreneurship pathways will need to choose Business (MRes 2YFT). You must only select Business [LISS DTP 1+3] (MRes 1YFT) if you are also planning on completing a LISS Case for Support.
• Once you have chosen either the Business (MRes 1YFT) or Business (MRes 2YFT) programme, you will need to select which pathway you wish to be considered for based on your research area of interest.
• You will also need to provide a brief outline of your primary research interest and indicate a potential supervisor.

Submit your supporting documents

Once you have submitted your application form, you will need to upload the following supporting information to complete your application in time for the application deadline you want to be considered by.

• Current resume/CV
• Complete degree transcripts
• Contact details of two academic referees
• GMAT/GRE test scores: you should have sat and have a valid test score that meets our requirements at the point of entry
• Evidence of English language qualification

It’s essential we receive your supporting documents  and  reference information before midnight (UK time) on Monday 8 January 2024.  Until we have received all the necessary documents, your application will not be complete and will not be processed.

Once the following information is uploaded, the Doctoral Admissions Team will assess your application and you will be contacted if any additional documents are required. Complete applications will then be considered by the Academic Selection Committee. Applications submitted without a GMAT or GRE score or without references will be considered incomplete and will not be considered.

If you are shortlisted by the Academic Selection Committee, you will be invited to an interview with a panel of faculty before a final decision is made. In the case of overseas candidates, we will arrange an interview by telephone or via Skype. 

Shortlisted candidates will normally be invited to interview by Friday 1 March 2024 at the latest.

Admissions decision

You will be notified of your application result by email as soon as possible after your interview. Following this, you will receive official notification via your Imperial Gateway account from the College Registry team. If you have been granted a place on the programme the official offer notification will let you know of any conditions that you need to complete to take up your place.

If you have any further questions about the application process, please see our FAQs.

Start your Doctoral journey today

Key dates and deadlines.

 Applications for 2024 are now closed.   Sign up to our mailing list to receive updates.

Funding your PhD

We offer a funded Doctoral programme at the Business School. This includes a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years through the Business School Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. Funding for a sixth 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.

Some of our scholarship funding comes from EPSRC and ESRC for candidates who meet Research Councils UK’s academic and residential eligibility conditions. During the MRes you will have a discussion with our team to find out whether you are eligible to move onto any of these awards.

Funding and scholarships

The fees for both UK and international students are the same.   

Frequently asked questions

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' section of this 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' section of this 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
• 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.

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.

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?

Imperial College Business School does not accept visiting student applications. On rare occasions students are invited to visit by an academic and are dealt with individually.

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.

When will I receive my official offer?

When the Business School recommends an offer, the College Registry team will perform a final review of your application to make sure that all College entry requirements are met before making an official offer. This process can take up to three weeks from Business School recommendation.

Do I need to pay a deposit to secure my place?

No. This is not required as all places on the Doctoral Programme come with full funding.

How do I show that I’ve met the academic condition of my offer?

You will receive an email detailing what you are required to submit and where you need to submit relevant documents.

How do I show that I’ve met the English language condition of my offer?

IELTS and TOEFL certificates should be scanned and emailed to  [email protected] . If you have not yet received your certificates, you can email your IELTS Test Report Number or TOEFL 16 digit registration number to the Registry team.

If you have completed the Pearson Test of Academic English, please ensure you have sent your scores to Imperial via your  PearsonPTE account.

If you have completed another one of Imperial’s accepted English language qualifications, you will need to post the original, physical document to the Registry team to support this qualification. You will receive an email with more information and the address that the document will need to be posted to.

How do I find the Business School?

The Business School is located on the South Kensington Campus of Imperial College London. 

“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. ”

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Home > Postgraduate study > Postgraduate courses > Business PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Business PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

Why choose this course.

Whether you are planning a career in academia or as a professional researcher, our Business PhD will enable you to develop your skills and knowledge and enhance your professional credibility. The thesis provides an opportunity to make a distinct and original contribution to knowledge in your chosen field.

Kingston Business School has joined an elite group of global institutions to be awarded the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) . A hallmark of excellence in business education, the accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools.

Reasons to choose Kingston University

• At Kingston University you will have access to an expert academic supervisory team, as well as training and teaching opportunities to help you develop your ideas and achieve your goals.
• You will have the support of the academic and postgraduate community; the high calibre of Kingston University's students and alumni provide excellent networking opportunities.
• Your PhD supervision will be highly specialised to your needs and interests. In addition the course is delivered in a flexible format, so you can choose a full or part-time programme according to what suits you best.

International rankings, accreditations and membership

Kingston Business School has been awarded the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). This accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business education.

Many courses are also accredited and recognised by professional bodies, including the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) EPAS, the Chartered Institute for Professional Development (CIPD), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Entry requirements

Typical offer.

Candidates should normally possess:

• a first- or second-class honours undergraduate degree AND a masters degree in general management or a business-related subject
• two personal references from academic referees confirming candidates' suitability for the programme
• a short research proposal of approximately 2,000 words which should include the proposed subject area, the aim of the study, a summary of the research to be undertaken, an indication of any previous work completed relevant to the area under investigation, and a bibliograph

In addition, candidates should be able to provide evidence of:

• relevant educational, professional and personal experience
• their ability to meet the high intellectual and personal demands of the programme
• their potential to complete the programme within the designated time

Holders of non-UK degrees will be subject to the University's normal entry procedures for equivalence of qualifications.

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 7.0 overall with  special conditions  in all elements. Please make sure you read our full guidance about  English language requirements , which includes details of other qualifications we'll consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements may be eligible to join our  pre-sessional English language course .

Applicants from one of the recognised  Majority English Speaking Countries (MESCs)  do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

• Middle East

Teaching and assessment

Guided independent study (self-managed time).

A PhD, unlike a taught degree, consists entirely of independent study, guided by the supervisory team.

Support for postgraduate students

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's  support services . 

Your workload

As a guide, for a full-time PhD you should commit to a similar number of hours to a full-time job – approximately 35 hours of PhD work a week. For a part-time PhD, this would be halved. We would also expect you to take a similar number of holiday days to full-time or part-time employment.

How you will be assessed

Your PhD thesis should be around 80,000 words and will be the subject of an oral examination, the 'viva voce'. You will need to show how you have critically investigated your area of research and made an independent and original contribution to knowledge.

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

PhD students do not receive a timetable, but you will be asked to agree a schedule of supervisory meetings with your team.

Find a supervisor

As a student at  Kingston Business School  you will receive support from the School's extensive network of highly skilled academic staff. All the staff are highly accredited and experienced, and many have worked at high levels within law and business, and can demonstrate how to turn theory into practice using real life examples.

Dr Bahare Afrahi

Reader in entrepreneurship and innovation management - course director entrepreneurship and innovation management, programme director help to grow management.

Dr Martin Agyemang

Lecturer in sustainable logistics and operations management.

Dr Barry Avery

School director learning & teaching.

Mr Nishanth Bhimireddy

Lecturer in international business and strategy.

Mr Martin Blackwell

Senior lecturer - real estate.

Ms Rebecca Burke

Senior lecturer.

Dr Christina Butler

Associate professor.

Mr Johannes Castner

Professor Karen Cham

Professor of augmented intelligence, digital transformation & design.

Dr Rahul Chawdhary

Senior lecturer in marketing strategy.

Professor Youngseok Thomas Choi

Professor of marketing and data analytics.

Ms Louise Cooper

Senior lecturer in finance.

Dr Juliet Cottingham

Associate professor; course director bsc (hons) business and accounting.

Mr David Cuff

Adjunct faculty.

Professor Francesca Dall'Olmo Riley

Professor Giampiero Favato

Director of postgraduate research.

Dr Elena Fitkov-Norris

Associate professor in data science and ai.

Mr Stuart Fitz-Gerald

Dr Evangelia Fragouli

Dr Samar Gad

Mr Carlos Garcia Gimenez

Senior lecturer in real estate.

Dr George Giannopoulos

Senior lecturer in accounting and finance, dr niki giatras, senior lecturer in occupational psychology.

Dr Stephen Gourlay

Dr Winnifred Groves

Lecturer in people science.

Sanjeev Gupta

Senior lecturer (healthcare leadership and operations), dr helen hallpike.

Professor Chris Hand

Professor of marketing.

Dr Enda Hannon

Professor Alex Hill

Professor of operations management.

Dr Ki-Soon Hwang

Professor Salma Ibrahim

Professor and departmental research director.

Dr J. Miguel Imas

Senior lecturer.

Dr Anna Ivanova

Senior lecturer in marketing and strategy.

Dr Kate Jones

Senior lecturer in marketing.

Miss Ellie Kerimovaite

Dr Ehsan Khajeh

Dr Ehsan Khansalar

Ms Nataliya Kocheva

Lecturer in operations and project management.

Dr Rita Kottasz

Associate professor of marketing.

Dr Babangida Kure Yohanna

Lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Dr Smirti Kutaula

Associate professor in human resource management.

Dr Becky Lees

Head, department of accounting, finance and informatics.

Dr Suman Lodh

Associate professor in finance.

Dr Farooq Mahmood

Senior lecturer in accounting.

Professor Neeru Malhotra

Mr Peter Martins da Silva

Senior lecturer and course director, international business.

Dr Hamed Mehrabi

Senior lecturer & director of bsc marketing & advertising.

Dr Jia Miao

Mr andre mostert, lecturer innovation and entrepreneurship.

Dr Subhasree Mukherjee

Lecturer, course director of msc international business management.

Dr Kevin Axel N'Guessan

Lecturer in accounting and finance, dr mohamed nurullah.

Dr Sarah Otner

Senior lecturer in organisational behaviour.

Dr Anna Paolillo

Senior lecturer in organisational psychology.

Dr Pauline Parker

Associate professor - director of mba and executive education portfolio.

Dr Ceyda Paydas Turan

Senior lecturer in marketing & deputy director of kingston university behavioural science lab.

Dr Ana Maria Pedraz Marcos

Head of department of strategy, marketing and innovation.

Ana Pedro (Chadburn)

Dr John Sebastian Pereira

Associate professor, course director for bba, university liaison officer for nmims-cis (india).

Dr Yannis Pierrakis

Associate professor in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Mrs Deborah Pinder-Young

School head of department.

Dr Martyn Quarterman

Dr s ramlall.

Dr Jason (Jongseok) Rim

Lecturer in real estate and course director of bsc real estate management, ms melanie roberts.

Dr Daniel Russell

Dr Evy Sakellariou

Associate professor of creativity and innovation, pg course director.

Dr N Joy Saleh, CFA

Associate professor of finance & fintech.

Professor Phillip Samouel

Emeritus professor.

Mr Stephen Sanders

Visiting professor.

Mr Vittorio Edoardo Scuderi

Lecturer in organisation & business psychology.

Ms Raida Shakiry

Research fellow in ux & part-time lecturer.

Ms Josu Shephard

Soumya Singh

Dr Juan Lee Soon

Lecturer in entrepreneurship.

Mrs Jane Southall

Ms Fanni Szigetvari

Research assistant, dr prerna tambay, senior lecturer hr analytics.

Professor Gaëlle Vallée-Tourangeau

Professor of behavioural science and school director of research and enterprise.

Dr Richard van den Berg

Professor Riccardo Vecchiato

Professor of strategic management.

Mr Vivek Venugopal

Lecturer in strategy & international business.

Mr Graham Walker

Senior lecturer, course director msc leadership and management in health.

Mrs Victoria Walsh

Course leader bsc (hons) business management & senior lecturer.

Dr Michael Wang

Senior lecturer in sustainable operations and supply chain management, dr jean qi wei, senior lecturer in hrm.

Ms Summer Wilson

Dr Hans-Joachim Wolfram

Associate professor in work psychology.

Ms Stella Xu

Senior lecturer in strategy & international business.

Mr Ara Yeghiazarian

Dr Jinsha Zhao

Research centres and groups.

In the UK  Research Excellence Framework 2014 , two-thirds of our research activity was classified as 'internationally excellent' or 'world-leading'. This places Kingston Business School among a set of esteemed universities and in the top 50 in the country.

The quality profile for Kingston Business School shows high levels of ‘world-leading' and ‘internationally excellent' research, with our research impact being particularly strong: on average, almost 90% of the Business School's impact was found to be 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'.

You will receive one-to-one tuition for your research project from international experts: we have a vibrant research community that includes staff, research students and associates from government, industry and commerce. Their work varies from pioneering academic research to highly focused consultancy for clients; they publish their work in a wide range of books and journals and receive substantial external funding from both private and public sector bodies including HSBC, Nokia, and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Kingston Business School has a number of  research centres  with a track record in high-quality research. Our research centres include:

• Small Business Research Centre
• Institute of Leadership and Management in Health (ILMH)

Research seminars and events

Kingston Business School has a number of  seminar and workshop series  reflecting the high level of engagement with our staff, students and external stakeholders, ensuring that we are at the forefront of our field.

Kingston Business School runs regular research seminars and events that enable students and Business School staff to exchange ideas, research findings and test research papers with a view to obtaining helpful feedback.  View our calendar  for the all our upcoming research seminars and events. These are normally open to all but please check the pages for further details.

Acknowledged centre of excellence

Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the international reputations of staff, both academically and with their respective industry organisations. External sponsors such as HSBC Bank, Nokia, the Soros Foundation and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) provide substantial and ongoing funding. Kingston Business School benefits from:

• the international reputation of our staff
• supported secondments to industry and government
• ongoing external funding from private and public sector sponsors
• membership of EUDOKMA and EDAMBA (European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration), an international consortium for the training of postgraduate research students

Research repository

You can view the full range of research papers published by Kingston Business School academics via the  Kingston University Research Repository .

Links with business and industry

How we work with our partners in business.

One of Kingston Business School's key strengths is its close collaboration with professional organisations. We aim to ensure that our programmes bridge the gap between academic theory and professional practice by working closely with the business world's principal professional bodies and harmonise our courses with the needs of today's business practitioners.

We enjoy recognition or accreditation from:

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
• Association of MBAs (AMBA)
• Chartered Institute of Marketing
• Market Research Society
• Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators
• The Law Society

Doctoral programme partnerships

Kingston Business School is a founding member of:

• The  European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA) , which aims to increase quality and promote excellence in doctoral learning through the pursuit of educational diversity and the exchange of knowledge among participating schools.
• The European Doctoral School on Knowledge and Management (EUDOKMA), which aims to create an environment in which postgraduate researchers can develop and transfer knowledge across both academic society and professional management practice.

Our links with EDAMBA and EUDOKMA also enable us to engage in collaborative ventures with partner institutions across Europe, which provide opportunities for research associates to access events such as summer schools, seminars and workshops and networking sessions. We also have links with:

• Henley Management College in the UK
• ESADE in Spain
• Copenhagen Business School in Denmark
• Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden

Kingston Business School is also recognised by the European Commission as a registered Marie Curie training site, a scheme that accepted EU-funded Marie Curie Fellows from across Europe.

Fees for this course

Please view our research degree fees page for further details.

Scholarships and bursaries

Kingston University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships, including:

• Inspire the Future scholarship
• Postgraduate scholarships for international students

If you are an international student, find out more about  scholarships and bursaries .

We also offer the following discounts for Kingston University alumni:

• Alumni discount
• Progression Scholarship

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan . You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residence. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course.  Course changes explained .

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course  can be found on our website.

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• Student support
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Kingston University , Holmwood House, Grove Crescent, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE . Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 9000

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. 

VIDEO LIBRARY

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] .

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] )

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PhD and Research

Our unique approach to research allows scholarship of international quality to flourish. Students are attracted to the School due to our distinctive focus on social justice, sustainability and good governance.

Explore our Research Centres and Groups

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Meet our Researchers

• Studying with the School of Business and Management
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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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Business PhD

Course detail, entry requirements.

• Fees & funding
• Study & career progression

Elevate your impact and become a changemaker with a PhD at the Claude Littner Business School.

The Claude Littner Business School (CLBS) at the University of West London has a strong reputation for its teaching and engagement with industry through knowledge exchange and research.

The school is ranked 21st in the UK for business and management by the  Guardian University Guide 2023 . The school also has a strong track record of student satisfaction, with 91% of students stated on the  National Student Survey 2022 result page .

CLBS covers a wide spectrum of subject areas within business. Some research specialities to highlight are:

• transforming finance and accounting
• empowering organisations and leaders
• navigating the data landscape
• engaging with markets and consumers
• fostering innovation and sustainability.

Academics, who are specialists in their field will offer supervision and guidance throughout your research. See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise in the 'Supervisors' section below.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Business with us?

What our students say…

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other Doctoral research candidates.

World-leading Research

The University of West London has been recognised by the Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) for its exceptional research work.

Claude Littner Business School PhD opportunities

You’ll have the enthusiasm to ask questions, the passion to uncover new ideas and the determination to stay focused, to go on and make the world a better place.

We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from: 

• peer feedback and discussion
• support by a supervisor and a second supervisor suited to your project.

About PhD study

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce make an original and important contribution to the subject area. 

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement. You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Our research record

View our academic journal 'New Vistas'  to see the work of students and academics who are making an impact both locally and globally through their research findings.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the capital or further afield - ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

Got a question?

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, you can contact  D r Colin Fu .

To enable you to successfully to complete your PhD, we support you throughout your research degree by:

• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

We provide structured research training, expert supervision, and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

The Paul Hamlyn Library

The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces. Find out more about what the  Paul Hamlyn Library has to offer .

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Postgraduate and International Student Centre is a new focal point for the university’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.

You should be researching in an area that falls within the Claude Littner Business School's current research activities, to enable us to appoint a suitable supervisor.

In addition to the documents mentioned in the “How to apply” section below, it will help our assessment of your application if you also submit a copy of your Master's dissertation at the same time.

For applicants successfully progressing from the initial stage of assessment based on the documents submitted, you will be invited to attend an interview.

We look for students with:

• a passion for their chosen subject.

You will also have a well thought through and persuasive proposal.

• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).

Fees & funding

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher Education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).

Find out more about funding opportunities. Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website , (with the exception of funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

Bursaries and scholarships

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships , scholarships and bursaries .

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (eg The Ministry / Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the Sources of funding for international students guide.

Supervisors

Dr amelia au-yeung.

Dr Simone Cortese

Dr Yianni Doumenis

Dr Lucie Ingram

Associate Professor Javad Izadi

Dr Elham Javaherizadeh

Dr Sukhmani Kaur

Dr Washington Machokoto

Dr Randall McFadden

Dr Gidraph Michuki

Dr Gemma Pybus

Dr Hannah Sam

Dr Chiamaka Francisca Umeh

Dr Dinusha Weerawardane

Study & career progression

Studying for a PhD enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge whether you are planning to work in industry or to develop expertise to teach in academia.

During your PhD, you will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

• written and oral communication
• research and information management
• public speaking   
• project management
• critical thinking
• collaboration
• analysis and problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• negotiation.

By the end of your research degree, you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

How to apply

• How to apply: UK
• How to apply: International

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form. You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline (5000 words maximum)
• transcript of your highest qualification.

The research proposal outline, or statement of research interests, enables us to assess your suitability for higher degree work including:

• viability of the topic as a research study
• the most appropriate supervisor(s) to be appointed.

Click here  for more information on applying for a PhD.

Apply for this course

Next steps after making your application.

We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.

In the meantime, come and visit us and find out more about what studying at UWL is like. Sign up for an  open day  or join a campus tour .

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Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.

We're here to help

Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on [email protected].

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form.  You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline

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* Modern universities  - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

** The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 -   Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

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Doctoral Research Studentships

King’s Business School invites applications for funded, full-time PhD studentships to start in the 2024-2025 academic year. We welcome applicants interested in undertaking research in any of our areas of expertise.

Home/EU and International studentships are available to students with outstanding research potential. Studentships cover tuition fees for three years, the pending submission status fee and, a tax-free stipend of approximately £20k/annum (2023-2024 rate is £20,622), with small, annual inflationary increases.

In order to prepare students for academic careers, individuals receiving a studentship will be expected to undertake some teaching and/or marking activities in the School.

Any teaching undertaken will attract payment in addition to the stipend. Students also have access to a generous training and conference fund.

Eligibility

All applicants for the full-time PhD programme are eligible to apply, including Home, EU and International students.

You will be required to live in the UK throughout your full-time studies, although it is understood that you may need to spend short periods overseas while conducting fieldwork.

Application process

To apply for a studentship, you must complete the below before the studentship deadline, which is 15 December 2023 at 17.00. Please read the guidance on  how to apply to the doctoral programme carefully before making your application.

• Identify a potential supervisor who is willing to supervise you. Supervisors will ask to have an interview with you. State in the interview that you would like to be considered for the King’s Business School Doctoral Studentship.
• An application to the PhD programme, via King’s Apply .

Please note that applicants ashould have identified a potential supervisor and should have had an interview before submitting the application.

Assessment Criteria

Studentship applications are assessed according to the following criteria:

• Evidence of the candidate’s individual research potential. E.g. how strong are the references, academic transcripts, and other credentials such as prizes, academic awards or publications, and, where appropriate, professional qualifications and/or relevant experience?
• The quality and fit of the proposed research. E.g. are the research topic and questions well formulated? is there a feasible plan of action? does the work offer genuine scope for doctoral research? how well does the research fit with themes within the research group, the School and the wider College or, alternatively, does it make a contribution to developing an emerging programme of research in the School? Does the work offer opportunities that will lead to societal or economic impact?

The closing date for applications is: The closing date for applications is: 15 December 2023 at 17.00.

Decisions will be announced in March 2024. Enquiries should be directed to: [email protected]

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PhD programmes

Lse is one of the world's leading social science research and teaching centres. student life at lse is cosmopolitan and challenging. we're set at the heart of a major city and surrounded by some of the best facilities for studying to be found anywhere in the world..

World class research in economic, urban & development geography, environmental social science & climate change

We produce world-class research in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science, and climate change. 

As a PhD student, you'll operate at the highest academic level, and benefit from being at the forefront of research in your chosen field.

What can I study?

We offer five PhD programmes:

• MPhil/PhD Economic Geography
• MPhil/PhD Environmental Economics
• MPhil/PhD Environmental Policy and Development
• MPhil/PhD Human Geography and Urban Studies
• MPhil/PhD Regional and Urban Planning Studies 

We also offer the following Visiting Research Student programmes: 

• Visiting Research Student in Environmental Policy and Development
• Visiting Research Student in Economic Geography
• Visiting Research Student in Environmental Economics
• Visiting Research Student in Human Geography and Urban Studies
• Visiting Research Student in Regional and Urban Planning

What funding is available?

Funding is available from a variety of LSE-administered sources. For further information, visit our MPhil/PhD admissions frequently asked questions page . 

PhD Job Market 

See our PhD candidates currently on the job market .

PhD destinations

Click here  to see where our PhD students work after graduating.

See our  MPhil / PhD admissions frequently asked questions .

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7955 7587

Email:  [email protected]

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Regent's Park London NW1 4SA United Kingdom

[email protected]

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http://www.london.edu

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Graduate Business Partner London 2024

St. James's Place (SJP) works in partnership to plan, grow and protect our clients’ financial futures. We deliver personalised, face-to-face financial advice to our clients, who trust us to manage their money to reach their goals. We provide this service via the Partnership, a network of qualified, expert advisors.

We put financial wellbeing and responsible business choices at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the value of difference and know that diverse teams can help us problem and innovate for clients. We look for people to join SJP to make an impact and to contribute to our culture which is based around long term relationships, doing the right thing, and being the best version of ourselves.

Our comprehensive range of training programmes are tailored to developing early careers at a number of stages. Whether you are looking to gain work experience whilst studying at sixth form or college, or graduating from university, our dedicated Early Careers team are here to support you in driving your career along your chosen path.

**Please note that the application deadline for this vacancy is the 10th June but we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so may close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Early applications are therefore advised. 

** To help us effectively manage your application, please only apply for one Graduate vacancy. If you are unsure which role is best for you, please contact us to discuss the options.

NB: Assessment centres for this vacancy will be run on the 19th June so please ensure you are provisionally available to attend

About the role

You will join St. James’s Place (SJP) on a permanent full-time role and complete a 2 year Graduate Programme. During this time you will rotate within our Large and Medium Business Unit (LMBU) providing the exposure and understanding as to how the division interacts with the SJP Partnership and the wider SJP community.

You will work in a team that aims to grow SJPs fastest growing and most ambitious financial advice businesses. Being part of a team finding ground-breaking ways of working to match the constantly evolving financial landscape.

Our Leadership Team have a track record of empowering their teams and developing talent to meet the needs of our most exciting businesses. The division has grown in a short space of time with approximately 70 people within and 53 of SJP’s largest businesses based across the country. The Leadership Team encourages applications from all experiences, skills, and backgrounds.

You will be supported to build consultancy skills through a professional qualification. We will support your personal development goals throughout the programme to provide you the required skills to meet both short- and long-term objectives.

This role will be working in the Business Partnering, Planning and Prioritisation Team on tactical consultancy support and development within the London firms. The Team’s purpose is to develop trusted and valuable relationships with Business Leaders and Leadership Teams. These relationships support and enable the delivery of shared growth objectives.

Business Partners act as the conductor, engaging and supporting the deployment of LMBU and SJP specialists in the right business, at the right time. As a result, you will align into a different divisional team each quarter including Adviser Development and Growth, Operations & People, Finance, Risk and Marketing. You will also engage with wider SJP teams including Investment, Recruitment, Property etc. To develop your understanding and awareness of the wider group’s infrastructure.

What you will do

As part of the role, you will be required to spend time with the graduate cohort, focussing on personal development and group projects. Your role as a Graduate will vary largely on a day-to-day basis:

• Support the creation, review and delivery of practice engagement plans working closely with Business Partners to collect output into actionable plans.
• Work with Business Partners to support the delivery of key practice-facing activities in line with agreed engagement plan activity.
• Co-ordinate key initiatives owned by the Business Partnering team and wider division.
• Support the communication of key Business Partnering updates both internally through Leadership Team inputs and externally into LMBU businesses where appropriate.
• Work with the wider team members to gain understanding and insight into the different functions and how this interacts with a Partner Business.

Your role will require nationwide travel so we would like to hear from everyone wherever you are in the UK.

You will need to be studying towards or have achieved a 2:2 in your degree. You will need to demonstrate a range of qualities including:

• Able to build trusting, long lasting relationships that are collaborative and deliver phenomenal outcomes
• Strong collaborator with a ‘can do’ and ‘hands on’ approach
• Capable communicator who is able to influence peers and team members
• Strong organisational skills, able to handle time and priorities efficiently
• Proficient across all Microsoft Systems
• Create high-quality PowerPoint documents that concisely communicate key messages, plans or outcomes
• Excel ability to interpret data and create insight that can be communicated (eg pivot tables, basic formulas, graphs).

Flexible Working

We understand that employees work best in different ways, at different times and in different environments. We value all of our employees and appreciate that everyone is unique, and at one of many stages within their career.. Our people are encouraged to work in a flexible way that suits their lifestyle where it can be accommodated, so please ask the question and start a conversation!

Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.

Why work for us?

Our rewards.

In addition to an attractive salary and eligibility to participate in the discretionary annual bonus opportunities, you will also receive an excellent benefits package including:

• Non-Contributory Pension – 10% (increasing with length of service) with further pension matching
• Meaningful protection benefits with real value, such as 10X life cover, PHI, and critical illness.
• Best in class terms and conditions including 6 months paid parental leave.
• Private Medical and Dental Insurance
• 28 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays (based on full-time equivalent) with the option to buy up to an additional 5 days holiday
• Discretionary bonus scheme dependent on company and personal performance, varied by level
• Not applicable to fixed term contracts (standard uplift applies in lieu of the protection benefits)

Our Culture

Our culture is the glue that binds us together - It’s one of our biggest assets and one of the biggest reasons for our success. It’s underpinned by core values of doing the right thing, being the best version of ourselves and investing in long term relationships.

We want to embrace a diverse group of backgrounds and experiences to connect with clients, solve problems and innovate. We raise our voice on the things that matter to us and drive change from the front. Contributing to our inclusive culture is vital, ensuring a space for everyone to be their authentic self, no compromises.

In all we do, we consider how our work affects the communities in which we belong. Over 96% of our group employees are involved in supporting our communities through financial education, charitable giving and volunteering. Over 80% of all our employees and Partners donate each month to our Charitable Foundation, which is now the 3rd largest corporate charity in the UK.

SJP is delighted to have signed The Armed Forces Covenant, and we are active members of LGBT Great, 30% club, The Diversity Project, Disability Confident and more! Find out more: https://www.sjp.co.uk/careers/life-at-sjp

What Happens Next?

Our process is the same for each of our Graduate opportunities, so once you have completed the application form, we will invite you to complete a Job Focussed Assessment (JFA). If successful after the JFA, you will be invited to complete an online video interview and if successful at this stage we will invite you to the final stage of the process, that consists of a face to face assessment centre.

Our team will be in touch. As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.

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Online fashion giant Shein approaches Sajid Javid ahead of blockbuster IPO

The former chancellor is among those being sounded out by Shein as it progresses plans for a £50bn-plus London listing, Sky News learns.

City editor @MarkKleinmanSky

Monday 20 May 2024 11:22, UK

Sajid Javid, the former chancellor of the exchequer, has been approached about taking a role at Shein, the online fashion giant which is progressing plans for London's biggest stock market float for years.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Javid is among a number of senior City figures who have held talks with Donald Tang, Shein's executive chairman, in recent weeks.

City sources said that if the appointment of Mr Javid proceeded, it could see him either join Shein's board or become an adviser to the Chinese-founded company.

They added that Baroness Fairhead, the former BBC Trust chair, was also on a list of candidates drawn up by headhunters advising Shein.

One person close to the company said the identities of those being approached reflected both the seriousness with which Shein was taking the issue of corporate governance and the extent of its focus on a London listing.

Since leaving the government, Mr Javid has taken a role with Centricus, an investment firm which tried unsuccessfully to structure an offer for Chelsea Football Club in 2022.

A spokesman for him, who had insisted that Mr Javid would stand for re-election in his Bromsgrove seat a week before publicly announcing the opposite, did not respond to a request for comment from Sky News.

More on Sajid Javid

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In recent weeks, several reports have repeated Sky News' revelation that Shein has turned its attention to a London flotation amid difficulties in securing approval from US regulators.

An initial public offering would be likely to value Shein at around £50bn or more.

Paris is also understood to have been considered by the company as a possible listing venue.

Earlier this year, Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, held talks with Donald Tang, Shein's executive chairman, to persuade the company to commit to what would be one of London's biggest-ever corporate flotations. The meeting between Mr Hunt and Mr Tang underlined the importance that British officials are attaching to the idea of trumping the US in an effort to land the Shein IPO. If it proceeded, Shein could become the London Stock Exchange's second-largest IPO in history, behind the 2011 stock market debut of Glencore International, the commodities trading and mining group. Mr Tang has also met executives from the LSE as well as more junior ministers as part of its IPO preparations. Shein filed documents for a New York listing last year, but has grown concerned that its application may be rejected by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley are advising on the deal. Based in Singapore, Shein has become one of the world's largest online fashion retailers, although its growth has not been untroubled amid mounting concerns about labour standards. Last year, Sky News revealed that Shein was in talks to buy the British fashion brand Missguided from Mike Ashley's Frasers Group. While the transaction itself was worth only a modest sum, retail analysts said that it could pave the way for Shein to build a more meaningful profile in the UK, potentially through a broader collaboration with Frasers. Founded in China in 2012, Shein was valued at over $100bn last year, at which point it was worth more than H&M and Zara's parent company, Inditex, combined. The company's valuation was slashed to $66bn as part of a share sale last year. Shein operates in more than 150 countries. It has also struck an agreement with SPARC Group, a joint venture between the Ted Baker-owner ABG and Simon Property Group, a US shopping mall operator. Under that deal, SPARC's Forever 21 fashion brand gained distribution on the Shein platform, which boasts 150m users globally. Shein acquired a one-third stake in SPARC Group, while SPARC Group also took an undisclosed minority interest in Shein. The LSE's efforts to court Shein come during a challenging period for the City as a listing venue for large multinationals, with ARM Holdings, the UK-based chip designer, opting to float in New York rather than London. Other companies, such as the gambling operator Flutter Entertainment and drug company Indivior, are planning to shift their primary listings to the US, citing higher valuations and more liquid markets.

In recent weeks, however, London has landed the prospective IPOs of Raspberry Pi, the personal computer maker, and AOTI, a medical technology provider.

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Mr Hunt last week hosted a summit at Dorneywood attended by technology companies looking at listing in the UK. Shein declined to comment.

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Entrepreneur profile: Nikhit Anilbhai and Sonakshi Senthil, co-founders of Your Cue

UCL alumni Nikhit Anilbhai and Sonakshi Senthil reflect on the support they’ve received through UCL Innovation & Enterprise that’s helping them grow an award-winning med-tech business.

17 May 2024

Dr Nikhit Anilbhai and Sonakshi Senthil both had a deep passion for improving healthcare when they came to study as postgraduates at UCL in 2019. Nikhit embarked on an MSc in Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, and Sonakshi an MSc in Personalised Medicine and Novel Therapies.

By the end of both their master’s, the pair had pooled their ideas and talents to launch Your Cue: an award-winning business that builds finger-based wearables for patients in hospitals. Their technology allows patients’ vital readings, such as heart rate and blood pressure, to be monitored continuously so that any problems can be quickly dealt with.

Nikhit and Sonakshi have been supported to grow their business as part of the Hatchery incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL's dedicated entrepreneurship hub in King's Cross, managed by UCL Innovation & Enterprise.

A business founded during the pandemic

Nikhit: Our journey with Your Cue really came into being when Sonakshi and I took time off from our master’s during the Covid pandemic to go back to India where we’re both from. I started working as a medical officer during the pandemic and saw first hand the frustration that came from not being able to do enough to save my patients.

I later lost my own father to Covid, and I remember saying to Sonakshi at the time: "if only I could have kept a check on his vitals, I could have done something to help save his life."

Saving lives and improving patient care

Sonakshi: Our company is based on the principle that the vital signs of every patient need to be monitored continuously. Many, many lives are lost every year simply as a result of a lack of monitoring, and we have developed a piece of technology that can help solve that problem.

With our wearable, hospitals could continuously check everything a nurse might need to monitor on a patient, including heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature and blood pressure. We’re introducing new features so we can monitor things like cardiac anomalies, too.

All that information is then uploaded to the cloud and any clinician can access it in real time. Our device also features notifications and alarms to alert healthcare professionals if a patient needs urgent attention.

Nikhit: At the moment, continuous monitoring generally only happens when someone is in intensive care. But we believe all patients should receive this kind of monitoring.

As well as preventing lives being lost, we’ve calculated huge efficiency gains. If every NHS trust introduced our wearable, it could save nurses in the UK around 13 million hours annually by relieving them of their responsibility to run periodic checks. This is time they could then spend on improving patient care.

Support from UCL Innovation & Enterprise

Nikhit: When we came back to UCL to finish our master’s in 2021, we knew we needed help with this. Our starting point was to enrol ourselves on the Launch programme – now called ‘Build your business or social enterprise’ (run by UCL Innovation & Enterprise). As well as finding out about everything from marketing to legal, we won a cash prize of £500. That small victory pushed us to pursue our goals and we applied for the Hatchery incubator. I remember thinking "wow, someone else believes in our idea, we need to keep going with it now."

Sonakshi: Being part of UCL’s Hatchery incubator programme has been a game-changer. In addition to getting help with the necessary visas we needed as international students, we’ve had free desk space for three years, and been exposed to experts in areas like sales, deck designing, marketing and finance.

The other big benefit is the peer support, and being surrounded by other people building these amazing businesses, too. That’s driven us to achieve a lot more and push ourselves to put ourselves forward for things like competitions to build our exposure with investors.

Winning the 'Hatchery Start-up of the Year'

Nikhit: Winning Hatchery Start-up of the Year 2022 was a crucial early win, as we were struggling for funds then. The £13,000 prize money allowed us to devote the next six months to developing our first proof of concept (POC). We then secured £10,000 from the CapTableTV pitch competition as an equity investment to take things to the second POC stage.

Other highlights have included representing UCL in the Venture Cup in Denmark and China, and winning both those competitions, and myself and Sonakshi have both recently won Top 100 Asians in UK tech awards from Diversity UK.

Where things are up to

Sonakshi: Most recently, we secured a £50,000 Innovate UK grant with support from the Innovate UK Business Growth team, part of UCL Innovation & Enterprise. We’re now using this grant to add additional features into our device.

Once we’ve received the necessary certifications, which we hope to get by the end of 2024, we’ll be running soft pilots with several NHS trusts next. Our intention is to launch in the UK, and in India soon after that.

Advice for budding entrepreneurs

Sonakshi: If I could offer any advice, it would be to say that entrepreneurship can seem like this huge mountain to climb at the beginning. You think to yourself "am I really going to get through all this?" You go into your idea with a lot of excitement, but you have to be resilient. You have to face a lot of rejections and still have the emotional capacity to keep going.

Nikhit: I would add that it’s important to be realistic. One of our biggest wake-up calls was to do with funding. When we started, it looked like it would be easy to raise capital. It actually took us six to eight months to understand the fundraising process as first-time founders, and where to look for investment.

But if you’re passionate about your idea, I truly believe you have every chance of making it a reality at UCL. It’s up to you to harness all the resources on offer. Keep going and keep reaching out. There are many, many people here who’ll want to cheer you on, and help. We’ve had so many people advise us and give their valuable time for free because they believe in what we’re doing. We’re so lucky, and grateful, for that.

Find out more about:

• UCL’s Hatchery startup incubator programme
• entrepreneurship support for students and recent graduates
• The UCL Santander Summer Showcase

Entrepreneur profiles

Vishal kumar, mres student and alice camera founder.

“The facilities at the Hatchery are great and the free office space has been a boost to us. Access to brand and design consultancy and free legal advice have been unbelievably important.”

James Della Valle, MSc Architecture graduate and co-founder of BoxxDocks

“One of the best things about being part of the Hatchery is being surrounded by other UCL entrepreneurs. We ask each other questions, we signpost each other to different bits of support. Having that community is game-changing.”

Read more entrepreneur profiles .