Program Overview

Introduction to the MPhil/PhD Management Program

The MPhil/PhD Management is an advanced postgraduate research degree that requires original research and the submission of a substantial dissertation of up to 100,000 words. At Birkbeck, students are initially registered on an MPhil and upgrade to a PhD after satisfactory progress in the first year or two.

Course Overview

This program is ideal for those who wish to pursue academic careers involving teaching and research in management, or to further careers in consultancy or policy work. Students will be required to be highly motivated, well-organised, prepared to learn their subject in depth, and able to engage constructively and critically with a range of academic research related to their topic to complete an independent research project.

Research Areas

Birkbeck has particular strengths in the study of:

• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Labour economics and industrial relations
• International business
• Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility
• Strategy as practice, organisation theory, information systems strategy, social networks, and trust within organisations
• Corporate finance and financial reporting
• The management and regulation of sport

Program Structure

During the first year, students are required to take four modules for credit:

• Research Philosophy
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Organization Theory
• Quantitative Methods for Finance and Business After these modules, students complete a Research Prospectus, which includes a preliminary literature review and a plan for the rest of their thesis research.

Key Information

Management MPhil/PhD: 7 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Duration: Seven years
• Full-time or part-time: Part-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: Regular meetings with supervisor(s)

Management MPhil/PhD: 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Duration: Four years
• Full-time or part-time: Full-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: Regular meetings with supervisor(s)

Highlights

• Significant collaborative research and excellent contacts with many public and private sector organisations, professional bodies, and researchers at other academic institutions.
• Birkbeck's research excellence was confirmed in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework with 83% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
• Academic staff have considerable strengths in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Access to superb library resources, including Birkbeck Library, the British Library, Senate House (University of London) Library, and libraries in the Bloomsbury area.

Entry Requirements

• Usually, a high 2:1 or above for the undergraduate degree and a merit for the master's.
• At least one of the previous degrees should be in an area relevant to the proposed research.
• Degree transcripts and certificates are required.
• English language requirements: IELTS Academic Test score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Fees

• To be confirmed for the academic year 2026–27, starting October 2026.
• Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course.
• Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.

Our Research Culture

• The Birkbeck Business School provides high-quality research that is theoretically informed and socially and practically relevant in the fields of business and management.
• Collaborative research with other academic institutions and excellent contacts with many public and private sector organisations and professional bodies.

How to Apply

1. Check that you meet the entry requirements.
2. Draft a research proposal (approximately 2,000-3,000 words plus references).
3. Contact a potential supervisor for your MPhil/PhD research.
4. Get an agreement in principle with a supervisor before submitting an online application.
5. Apply directly to Birkbeck using the online application link.
6. Provide the names and contact details of two referees who can speak to your academic/research abilities.

Finding a Supervisor

Explore the research expertise of academic staff and identify those who may be available to supervise your PhD project in areas such as:

• Corporate governance/Corporate social responsibility/Social capital
• Employment relations/Human resources/Labour markets/Education
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• International business
• Marketing
• Organisation theory, organisational behaviour and strategy
• Sport management

Supervisors by Research Area

Corporate Governance/Corporate Social Responsibility/Social Capital

• Luca Andriani
• Ioanna Boulouta
• Professor Sue Konzelmann
• Arron Phillips
• Richard Tacon

Employment Relations/Human Resources/Labour Markets/Education

• Sara Chaudry
• Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
• Ashok Kumar
• Giambattista Rossi
• Horen Voskeritsian
• Ellen Pei-yi Yu
• Arron Phillips

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

• Professor Daniele Archibugi
• Professor Muthu De Silva
• Marion Frenz
• Odile Janne
• Chunjia Han
• Professor Helen Lawton Smith
• Grace (Bo) Peng
• Mu Yang

International Business

• Professor Daniele Archibugi
• Sara Chaudry
• Marion Frenz
• Professor Kevin Ibeh
• Odile Janne
• Ashok Kumar
• Professor Xiaming Liu

Marketing

• Benedetta Crisafulli
• Rungpaka Amy Hackley
• Wendy Hein
• Ammar Sammour
• Peter Trim
• Mu Yang

Organisation Theory, Organisational Behaviour and Strategy

• Abdulrahman Al-Surmi
• Konstantinos Chalkias
• Sorin Piperca
• Pamela Yeow

Sport Management

• Sean Hamil
• Giambattista Rossi
• Richard Tacon