| Qualifications |
Duration |
Start dates |
Application period |
PhD
(MPhil also available) |
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
February and October |
January to April |
Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available) |
Duration
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years |
Start dates
February and October |
Application period
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:
- industrial development and innovation
- international dimensions of technical change and the labour market
- science and technology policy
- evolutionary economics and economic growth.
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.
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.
Potential supervisors
Fees and funding
| UK fee |
International fee |
| Full-time: £4,786 per year |
Full-time: £12,146 per year |
| Part-time: £2,393 per year |
Part-time: £6,073 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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