Economics and Policy of Innovation and Industry

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD (MPhil also available) PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October February and October	January to April January to April

Innovation has become firmly rooted in debates on economic theory and policy. As a process by which firms and industries evolve to deliver economic and social change, innovation is credited to raise productivity, improve living standards, increase competitiveness, and potentially mitigate climate change. Innovation, however, can be viewed as an activity with disruptive and potentially harmful effects, generating winners and losers, threatening to automate jobs, marginalising those on low incomes and contributing to inequality within and between countries. The balance of public policy to nurture innovation and sustain industry while minimising any negative consequences, provides fertile ground for PhD research. Studies in this area include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

We welcome applications from students in the topic areas identified above, or related interdisciplinary areas. Students studying for a PhD in this area will benefit from a substantial interdisciplinary academic network including the OU’s IKD collaboration and Innogen Institute. These research initiatives pool cross-faculty expertise in industrial development and innovation, with particular interests in digitalisation and automation, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, energy, health systems, and food production.

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £12,705 per year Full-time: £12,705 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £6,353 per year Part-time: £6,353 per year

Some of our research students are funded via The Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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