Plymouth Business School

PhD Business with Management

Duration Full time: 3-4 years 
Part time: 4-6 years
Course type Full-time, Part-time route available
Location Plymouth

Exploring the major challenges in today’s business and management worlds, PhD Business with Management will provide you with inspiring opportunities to undertake top level research into business, management, entrepreneurial, HR, leadership and/or industrial relations matters. Supervised by scholars renowned in their fields, you’ll explore current issues arising from the latest developments in research and industry practice, enriching the literature on your chosen topics.

Meanwhile, you’ll grasp research methodology and gain analytical and evaluative skills for understanding complex issues. You will have the opportunity to employ one or more traditional and innovative research methods to do this, be they quantitative or qualitative. The fulfilment of PhD Business with Management will enhance your capabilities to pursue a progressive career in industry or academia.

Business with Management

Course details

  • Programme overview

  • This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.
    You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. 
    You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.
    Your PhD will be assessed via submission of a written thesis (up to 80,000 words) and a viva voce(an oral examination).
    For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our postgraduate research degrees pages.
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Entry requirements
Applicants are expected to have completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g., at 'merit' or 'distinction' level) as well as either a 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an area of study appropriate to your project proposal. We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications (for instance, you may have studied different subjects at undergraduate and masters level but have accumulated rich work experience in the proposed area since then).
If you do not have a masters level qualification, we recommend you consider applying for one of our programmes.  
You will also need to provide evidence that you are ready to pursue the project you propose in your application. This will take the form of a research proposal. 
If English is not your first language, you must have proficiency in written and spoken English (normally a minimum test score of 6.5 for IELTS, or equivalent). Given the nature of the programme, you’ll be expected to read and engage with complex theoretical texts and debates for which fluency in English is essential.
For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the apply for a postgraduate research programme page. 

Fees, costs and funding
Please visit fees and funding for information about fees. PhD Business with Management is in Band 1 for fees purposes.
If you are a full time student, you will pay full time fees for three years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional one year writing up period.
If you are a part time student, you will pay part time fees for four years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional 'writing up' period of up to two years.
You are responsible for meeting all of the costs related to your own research project, beyond the resources available in the department.
Please visit our postgraduate research: money matters to find out more about issues related to fees, funding, loans and paying for your programme of study.

How to apply
In addition to completing the online application form (which includes space for a personal statement), you must also upload a research project proposal. Your research proposal should outline your research topic, your key aims and the research question/problem you are addressing, a brief literature review, your proposed methodology, and an explanation of why this topic is significant or important.
Your personal statement should briefly explain why you have chosen to apply to our programme and what you feel you can offer our research community.
Submitting your application
Complete your application and upload supporting documents to the Doctoral College by completing our online application form.
Questions on the application process?
We're here to help. Please contact the Doctoral College and we'll be happy to assist you.
More information and advice for applicants can be referenced in our admissions policy which can be found on the student regulations, policies and procedures page. Prospective students are advised to read the policy before making an application to the University.
If you have a disability and would like further information on the support available, please visit Disability Services.
International Student Advice (ISA) provides support for our international students.
Find more information about Apply for a postgraduate research programme.
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