Program Overview

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Business and Management Postgraduate Research Degrees

Overview

The University of Portsmouth offers postgraduate research degrees in Business and Management, ranked 2nd among modern universities by research power. Our research tracks and addresses the threats and opportunities arising from an increasingly competitive global business environment.

Research Areas

Our research focuses on four areas of expertise:

Innovation Management

We investigate how organisations in low-technology and process industries can optimise the management of their product and process development.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

We explore how entrepreneurial behaviours, capabilities, strategies, and public policies impact the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Sustainability and Business

We identify how businesses can embed sustainability practices to contribute to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Risk and Security Management

We help organisations and individuals think of alternative ways of identifying, understanding, and overcoming risk and security challenges.

Research Degrees

We offer the following research degrees:

PhD and MPhil

Explore our pre-approved funded and self-funded PhD projects in Business and Management, or submit your own research idea.

• Funded projects: Currently, there are no funded PhD projects available in this area. For more information on funding your own research project, visit our pages on funding your research degree.
• Self-funded projects:
  • Are financial professions missing out on ethnically diverse talent? A study of leadership progression in accountancy.
  • Exploring the Public Perception towards Artificial Intelligence: Generation Z’s ‘Narrative’
  • Responsible AI for Management Decision in Uncertainty
  • The role of women leaders in managing business for global good
• Submit your own idea: If you already have a research idea, find a supervisor whose research interests match yours by searching our Find a PhD Supervisor page. Once you've identified someone suitable, contact them to discuss your idea.

Professional Doctorate

If you're a working professional interested in pursuing work-based research in the field of business and management, find out more about our Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA).

PhD by Publication

A PhD by publication is a postgraduate research degree based on research you've already undertaken and had published (excluding self-publishing) before registering with us.

Duration, Fees, and Funding

What do my tuition fees cover?

Your tuition fees cover:

• The cost of your postgraduate research programme at the University
• Bespoke training, professional development courses, networking, and research support through The Doctoral College
• Research seminars and workshops (university-wide and faculty-specific)
• A contribution to funding to attend a conference or development activity in your research field
• Tailor-made weekly and monthly events, including weekly, themed experienced researcher-led talks and workshops
• Helping you become part of our thriving research community
• Your graduation ceremony
• Viva examination and administration costs
• The facilities and equipment you need to complete your studies
• Access to resources including electronic journals, alternative guide to funding, and thousands of hours of educational videos on LinkedIn Learning
• University support services including academic, financial, careers, and wellbeing support and personal tutors
• Membership of the Students' Union

How long will my research degree take?

• MPhil: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
• PhD: 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
• PhD by Publication: 1 year part-time

How much will my degree cost?

• PhD and MPhil:
  • UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
  • EU students: £4,786 per year (full-time), £2,393 per year (part-time)
  • International students: £17,900 per year (full-time), £8,950 per year (part-time)
• PhD by Publication:
  • External candidates: £4,786
  • Members of staff: £1,950

Bench Fees

Some PhD projects may include additional fees – known as bench fees – for equipment and other consumables, and these will be added to your standard tuition fee.

Funding Support

MPhil full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Postgraduate Loan (UK/EU students only).

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the Government Doctoral Loan (UK/EU students only).

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for a PhD, MPhil, or Professional Doctorate include an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a master's degree in an appropriate subject. Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications may be considered. All applicants are subject to interview.

If English is not your first language, you'll need English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

Support and Facilities

When you join us, you'll be supported by our Doctoral College, alongside your assigned supervisory team, who'll help you get the most from our facilities. The Doctoral College will help you become part of our thriving, collaborative research community, and help grow your skills as a researcher through the Graduate School Development Programme, which offers training, workshops, and events.

You'll also use our exceptional facilities, including our Bloomberg Suite – where you'll have access to data from Bloomberg, Datastream, and S&P Global, and use the latest statistical software, including Stata, Matlab, EViews, and SPSS Statistics.

Career Opportunities

Once you complete your postgraduate research degree, you'll be a highly-skilled researcher with the knowledge and skills to make an impact in many different industries.

Your postgraduate research qualification demonstrates to potential employers that you're an intelligent, capable, and motivated person, with provable abilities and experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, project management, communication, leadership, and creativity. You'll also develop research management skills, and an in-depth knowledge of the subject on which your PhD is focused.

After researching with us, our successful postgraduate research candidates have gone on to impressive positions in a variety of fields – from positions within academia, to careers in industry and the public sector.