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Accessibility statement
An image to illustrate the Business and Management research area
The Business School is a leading provider of business and management education. Research in our School meets international standards of excellence and provides a strong evidence base to inform practice.
The School provides a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment for PhD students. You will be supervised by experts in your subject area who are active researchers themselves. You will be provided with resources and support to enable you to fulfil your intellectual potential and generate research impact in your chosen field.
Doctoral researchers are fully integrated into the academic and research community. Key to your development are the learning opportunities enabled by discipline-specific research training provided by FBL, as well as skills development, including a scheme whereby PhD students can gain experience of teaching. By creating a friendly environment for research and opportunities for social interaction with other students and academics, the School supports PhD students at every stage of their research journey.
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
After graduating, PhD students go on to build successful academic careers in the UK or internationally. Other students use the PhD as a platform for continuing professional development in a wide variety of occupations, from policing and international development work to management consultancy and international finance.
Explore specific areas of research, current and prospective projects, entry requirements, fees and funding, available supervisors, how to apply and contact details for advice.
Employment and equitable futures
Gendered organisational practice
History and political economy of business and finance
Intelligent operations and resilient supply chains
Policing and learning
Public understanding of finance
Rural economy and communities
Social and responsible marketing
Social and sustainable enterprise
Strategic management and leadership
Voluntary sector leadership
Consider linked topics from other research areas.
Governance and ethics
When I have spoken to peers about embarking on a PhD, they said that supervisors are ‘hit or miss’. I was worried about the support I needed to embark on somewhat of a marathon. However, at the OU my supervisory team has been incredible! I can guarantee that I can turn to my supervisor for anything, from PhD specific issues to more personal issues I have faced.