PhD Business

• The successful applicant should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a First or Upper Second Class award in their Undergraduate Degree, and/or a Merit or Distinction in their master’s degree, in relevant subjects. Equivalent to a British level 7 degree. We welcome applicants with a master’s degree in any area of business or management, including (but not limited to) marketing, finance, business, project management, or the social sciences.
• If you do not possess a master’s degree; candidates with an equivalent of a First or Upper Second Class award in their Undergraduate Degree with 3+ years of practitioner experience will be considered.
• Professional qualifications other than a Bachelors Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to a PhD programme. Professional qualifications are examined on their merits and may strengthen the case for entry.
• A draft research proposal must be submitted and all prospective students will be interviewed, either in person or remotely.

If your first language is not English, you will require one of the following:

• IELTS 6.5 Overall (with 6.0 or above in each component).
• TOEFL: 100 internet-based or 623 paper-based (with a minimum of 22 in each component – internet based).
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE): 66 (with a minimum of 58 in each component).

Selection process

All applicants are interviewed by prospective supervisors or appropriate academic members of staff. This also provides an opportunity for the applicant to discuss their project proposal. For applicants in the UK, they are invited to attend the interview in person and for international applicant, it may not be possible for you to visit in person, so the admissions tutor may arrange for the interview be conducted by Microsoft Teams, email or phone.

Research Proposals

Applications should be accompanied by a 3000-word research proposal outlining a brief introduction of the specific area of study, referring to the current state of knowledge (i.e. what research has been done to date) and any recent debates on the subject, research philosophy and desirable methodology to be applied along with the completion plan.

The PhD in Business is structured to foster rigorous scholarly inquiry while maintaining a strong connection to real-world challenges in contemporary business practice. The programme combines advanced theoretical foundations with applied research, encouraging critical analysis and original contribution to knowledge in the field. Doctoral candidates engage in a range of intellectually stimulating seminars, research workshops, and supervisory sessions designed to support independent research and collaborative learning. Teaching and learning are delivered through research-led discussions, peer review sessions, and advanced methodological training. Candidates will participate in simulations, scenario analyses, and strategic decision-making exercises that reflect complex business environments. The use of case studies, doctoral colloquia, and scholarly presentations enables candidates to refine their academic voice while developing deep expertise in their chosen area of study.

The programme fosters a strong scholarly community, promoting peer learning, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Guest lectures by leading academics and industry professionals, alongside targeted networking opportunities, support professional development and academic progression. Access to comprehensive academic resources, specialist databases, and current literature is supplemented by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which serves as a critical platform for scholarly engagement, collaborative research, and ongoing academic support.

Quality supervision

The aim of the Research Programme is to help students develop the following: a) a systematic and in-depth understanding in the subject area of choice of research by the student; b) the critical skills necessary to analyse and evaluate complex legal problems and related issues; c) To give students the opportunity to undertake a substantial independent research project at Level 7 of writing; d) research skills necessary to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of the subject, its principal sources and authorities; e) To develop research skills necessary to display critical discrimination and a sense of proportion in evaluating evidence and the opinions of other authors in the subject.

High calibre staff

Most of our academic staff teach for three terms out of four, with the remaining term used for research. Because of this, we have no difficulty in attracting high calibre, highly respected lecturers, many of whom also have a background in business or industry and can offer networking opportunities for students.

Supervisory methods

Candidates spend a considerable part of their studies undertaking supervised research, at the end of which they submit a thesis embodying the results of that research. This thesis must demonstrate familiarity with, and an understanding of the subject, its principal sources and authorities. It should display critical discrimination and a sense of proportion in evaluating evidence and the judgements of others. The subject should be dealt with in a competent and scholarly manner. In addition to this:

1. All postgraduate research students are required to take the Research Methods Course.
2. All postgraduate research students must attend supervisory meetings
3. All postgraduate research students must attend any other training required to assist with the completion of the PhD.

Graduate employment

Our graduates have gone on to further study at most of the world’s leading universities, including Harvard, London, Oxford and Cambridge and secured jobs in senior positions around the world. Among our alumni we have a graduate who became the head of his country’s civil service and one who became a leading Formula One motor-racing driver. Another secured a position as the Minister of Sabah and one female law graduate became the first British lawyer to become a French Advocate.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Postgraduate loan scheme

A system of postgraduate loans for Masters’ degrees in the UK is supported by the UK Government. The loans can be used for tuition fees, living expenses or both.

You may also find it useful to visit our External Funding page.