Program Overview

Business PhD

Overview

The University of Nottingham offers a Business PhD program that combines academic theory with good practice. The program is designed to develop research skills and provides a launch-pad to a successful career in academia, commerce, industry, the public sector, or as an entrepreneur.

Duration and Fees

• Full-time: 3 years
• Part-time: 6 years
• Start date: October 2026 and February 2027
• UK fees: TBC
• International fees: TBC

Research Overview

The PhD program in Business offers a superb opportunity to develop research skills through PhD study. The program combines academic theory with good practice, and students will be assigned two supervisors appropriate to their field.

Research Areas

The program offers PhD pathways in:

• Business and Management
• Business and Society
• Finance and Risk
• Industrial Economics

Research areas include:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Business and Management
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability
• Finance, Banking, and Risk
• Healthcare Management and Leadership
• Human Resource Management/Organizational Behavior
• Industrial Economics
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• International Business
• Marketing
• Operations Management/Information Systems
• Strategy

Course Content

To help students in the transition to independent research, they will normally be expected to complete several assessed taught modules during their first and second year of study. These modules are designed to provide generic, as well as subject-specific training for relevant pathways.

PhD in Business and Management

• Year one:
  • Designing Doctoral Research: Philosophy and Practice
  • Academic Practice: Topics in Business and Management
  • Introduction to Research Design and Data Analysis
• Year two:
  • Advanced Research Methods

PhD in Business and Society

• Year one:
  • Designing Doctoral Research: Philosophy and Practice
  • Topics in Business and Society
  • Introduction to Research Design and Data Analysis
• Year two:
  • Advanced Research Methods

PhD in Finance and Risk

• Year one:
  • Designing Doctoral Research: Philosophy and Practice
  • Topics in Advanced Econometrics I
  • Contemporary Topics in Finance
• Year two:
  • Topics in Advanced Econometrics II

PhD in Industrial Economics

• Year one:
  • Designing Doctoral Research: Philosophy and Practice
  • Topics in Advanced Econometrics I
• Year two:
  • Topics in Advanced Econometrics II

Entry Requirements

• Home/UK students:
  • Masters (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with a taught module average of 60% or above
  • 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline at undergraduate level
• EU/International students:
  • Masters (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with a taught module average of 60% or above
  • 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a relevant discipline at undergraduate level
  • IELTS: 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

Applying

• It is important that students nominate at least one supervisor and their department on their application who shares an interest in their proposed area of research before applying.
• Applications submitted without a nominated supervisor and department will not advance in the application process.

Fees

• Home/UK: £5,006
• International: £23,000

Additional Costs

• Students should factor some additional costs into their budget, alongside their tuition fees and living expenses.
• These costs may include:
  • Books and other study materials
  • Travel and accommodation for conferences and research events

Funding

• There are many ways to fund a research degree, from scholarships to government loans.
• Check the university's guide to find out more about funding a postgraduate degree.

Support

• Seminars and workshops
• Researcher training and development
• Graduate centres
• Student support services
• Students' Union

Careers

• Careers advice and support
• Graduate destinations and career progression
• Career destinations for research postgraduates include:
  • Higher education teaching professionals
  • University researchers
  • Accountants
  • Finance and investment analysts
  • Investment bankers
  • IT business analysts
  • Management consultants
  • Marketing and public relations professionals

Research Excellence Framework

• The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power.
• 83% of the Business School's research is considered world-leading or internationally excellent.
• 90% of the Business School's research is classed as 'world-leading' (4) or 'internationally excellent' (3).
• 100% of the Business School's research is recognised internationally.
• 51% of the Business School's research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact.