Program Overview

Strategy and International Business PhD

Key Facts

• Level: PostgraduatePG PhD
• Duration: PhD: Full Time 2 years - 4 years or Part Time 3 years - 6 years
• Starting: October, March
• UK Fees: See Fees and Funding
• International Fees: See Fees and Funding
• Location: Waterside

Overview

The Strategy and International Business PhD programme offers an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and research skills. This PhD programme will offer you the opportunity to undertake original research in Strategy and International Business. Our postgraduate research students are drawn from all over the world, and you will benefit from a dynamic research environment including supervision from internationally renowned Faculty of Business and Law, dedicated support, and outstanding facilities. In this programme, you will develop your critical thinking, intellectual capacity, and creativity. Successful oral defence (viva voce) of the final thesis will provide you with the highest qualification that any UK university can award. It will also offer you an excellent opportunity to develop your career in academia or move into higher management positions in the industry.

Highlights

• Learn from leading research institutes and centres
• Join an internationally renowned faculty
• Preparing Next-Generation Researchers
• We emphasise real world relevance as a core value
• Helping to define the Strategy and International Business research agenda
• Regular research seminars, conferences and research activities led by our Research Centres and the Graduate School

Entry Requirements

• A first or upper second-class (2:1) honours degree, or master’s degree from a UK university or international equivalent in a relevant subject area
• A well-developed research proposal

Other Entry Requirements:

• Students with lower-level qualifications, or qualifications in a different subject area but relevant experience, will also be considered on an individual basis.
• As part of the selection process, all suitable candidates will be required to attend a formal interview to assess their suitability to pursue a PhD at the University of Northampton.
• All offers of a place on the programme are subject to:
  • successful interview by the University
  • suitable Research Supervision Support

English Language Requirements

• Applicants whose first language is not English are expected to have obtained an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS, with no element below 6.5 especially in writing (or equivalent).
• Applications with IELTS lower than 5.5 in all components will not be considered.

Course Content

• The Strategy and International Business PhD programme is a way for you to hone your specialism in the area, and to improve your skills in research, academic writing, presentation, and practice.
• While developing and setting up your research projects, you will initially receive general and project-specific training to enable you to conduct your research effectively and independently.
• As a PhD student, you will be assigned a supervisory team consisting of a Director of Study (DOS), and first and second supervisors.
• Our students are required to work independently on their research, under the advice and guidance of their supervisory team.
• Due to the nature of PhD study, our students spend a large amount of time studying and engaging in independent research.
• Students are required to have supervision meetings regularly to discuss their progress, devise an action plan for the next steps of their research or project, and to receive suggestions from their supervisory team on how to improve their project.

Research Topics

• The Strategy and International Business Subject Group is home to academics with extensive subject and research experience in most aspects of Strategy and Business.
• We can supervise topics including:
  • Business Strategy
  • Social Responsibility
  • Business Ethics
  • Business Sustainability
  • Expectation gap
  • Education pedagogy and Strategy
  • International business (emerging market firms)
  • International Business (Cross-Cultural Management)
  • Cross-cultural Management
  • Strategic Management of MNEs and International Business
  • Creative Research Methods
  • Environmental psychology & Consumer behaviour

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Tuition Fees:
  • UK – Full Time: £5,700
  • UK – Part Time: £2,845
  • International – Full Time: £16,350
  • International – Part Time: £7,640
• Scholarships and Bursaries:
  • Please visit the funding pages and our scholarship pages for more details on how to fund your study.

Staff

• Our PhD students have access to exceptional research facilities such as:
  • Dedicated PhD study area with computer and printer in the Learning Hub
  • Skills support for PhD students
  • Teaching and Research Assistant opportunities should you meet the requirements
  • Excellent social groups for student meetings and engagement
  • Spacious individual and group working space and discussion areas
  • Well-equipped library with access to academic e-books, journal articles and learning resources for on-site and off-site study
  • Library and Learning support for PhD students
  • Opportunities for research collaboration with staff and students
  • Opportunities to become members of the Research Centre/s aligned to their PhD

Careers and Employability

• A PhD in International Business and Strategy from UON can open doors to a successful career.
• This includes academia, or moving into higher management positions in large multinationals, leading consulting firms, or governmental and non-governmental organisations worldwide.
• The University of Northampton has an excellent Careers and Employability Service who are dedicated to equipping students with the skills to thrive, adapt and innovate in our ever-changing world.

Facilities

• Our PhD students have access to exceptional research facilities such as:
  • Dedicated PhD study area with computer and printer in the Learning Hub
  • Skills support for PhD students
  • Teaching and Research Assistant opportunities should you meet the requirements
  • Excellent social groups for student meetings and engagement
  • Spacious individual and group working space and discussion areas
  • Well-equipped library with access to academic e-books, journal articles and learning resources for on-site and off-site study
  • Library and Learning support for PhD students
  • Opportunities for research collaboration with staff and students
  • Opportunities to become members of the Research Centre/s aligned to their PhD

Related Courses

• Executive Master of Business Administration (Top-Up) MBA
• Executive Master of Business Administration MBA
• Business Analytics MSc
• International Marketing Strategy MSc
• Project Management MSc
• Doctor of Business Administration DBA
• Digital Marketing MSc

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