PhD Postgraduate research in Business

The University of Wolverhampton (UoW) is home to approximate 23,000 students. The UoW’s research and innovation activities have won the 2013 UK Knowledge Transfer Award, and the 2014 UK Collaborative IMPACT award. It is also the holder of the Athena Swan Bronze Award and the HR Excellence in Research Award.

The MRC has established a reputation for applied management research. Research at the MRC is grouped in four thematic research clusters, namely HRM and Industrial Relations, Corporate Governance and Ethics, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, and International Business. Our PhD students are aligned with research in these clusters and benefit from working with leading scholars in these fields. We are therefore particularly interested in inviting enquiries and applications in the following areas:

HRM and Industrial Relations

• Employment issues in the public sector-- including NHS, local government, civil service, fire and police
• Pay, pay determination, and bonus schemes
• Strikes and other forms of industrial action
• Changes in workplace labour process around work intensification, skill mix, and labour management practices
• A range of current HRM issues such as mentoring, the law and human rights at work, training and knowledge transfer, and performance management
• State policy and the labour market

Corporate Governance and Ethics

• Behavioural perspectives on boards of directors
• Gender in management
• Business elites
• Business in society
• Sustainability and supply chains

Entrepreneurship and Small Business

• Small business management
• Family Business
• Rural entrepreneurship
• 3D printing

International Business

• Context, determinants and consequences of Foreign Direct Investment
• Globalisation and inequality
• African entrepreneurship and leadership

As a student on this course you will have the opportunity to develop your research capacity, guided by supervisors, in analysing complex business management problems, making a choice of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative research methods, and implementing research in a well-planned and timely manner. In addition to the regular supervision provided by supervisors, our PhD students will also be provided with training opportunities by the MRC, the Faculty and the University’s Doctoral College.

Student Training Days - We have scheduled a specifically designed training session for research students studying within the Faculty of Social Science. Sessions typically focus on a specific aspect of research, for example qualitative and quantitative methods, or on developing academic skills such as reviewing, writing for publications and disseminating research. Training is normally scheduled in January, May, and September every year.

MRC/ Cluster Seminars - Our research clusters within the MRC organise research seminars on topics within their field on a regular basis. These seminars offer a forum to disseminate knowledge and research experiences and are useful events for students to attend. In addition, the MRC centrally arranges seminars and public lectures to which staff and students will be invited to attend.

University Research Conference – The University Research Conference is held in June for research active staff and PhD students to showcase their areas of research and exchange research initiatives. Research students are welcome to make presentations during their period of study. Research students are also encouraged to disseminate final results of their research prior to submission.

University Research Training - Students are encouraged to participate in training provided by the Doctoral College not only because of its intrinsic value but also because these sessions may facilitate meetings with post-graduates outside the school. Business is necessarily interdisciplinary and we would encourage students to treat the possibility of meeting other people doing PhD research in the University positively.

External Conference Attendance - The MRC is keen to support applications to attend external conferences, however, as you will appreciate there is only a limited budget available for this purpose. Applicants are advised to firstly identify whether external funding can be accessed before making application through their Research Cluster. Further advice can be provided to students by their supervisory team or from the MRC administrator.

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

 Applicants for a research degree shall normally hold either:

 • a first or upper second class honours degree, or

 • a master’s degree, or

 • evidence of prior practice or learning that is accepted by the Dean of Research.

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English at least to the level of an IELTS score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no individual element less than 6.0. The only exemption to this is for students who are not required to do so as per UKVI regulations: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english. 

 

Dr Daniel May, Research Lecturer in Quantitative Economics, Harper Adams University.

"I gained my PhD at the Wolverhampton University Business School in 2012. My experience in this university was intellectually exiting and in all respects fantastic. I was able to freely develop my ideas with supervision at the highest standard. The School provided me all the support I needed in terms of workshops designed for PhD students, internal seminars where I had the opportunity to present my work, and the feedback from several approachable staff.

After finishing my doctoral studies I got a full-time position as a university lecturer. I have also been invited to be the Editor in Chief of the Scientific Journal of Agricultural Economics and the Chair of the Agricultural Economic Forum in the Third Annual Conference of Economic Forum of Entrepreneurship & International Business which took place at University of Oxford."

Dr Aliakbar Jafari, Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Deputy Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes - Department of Marketing of the University of Strathclyde Business School.

"I started my PhD at the Management Research Centre (MRC) of the University of Wolverhampton Business School in 2005 and graduated in 2008. As a PhD student I had a wonderful time at MRC. The support of the staff was incredible, both intellectually and emotionally. Professor Les Worrall, Head of MRC at the time, and Professor Mike Haynes, then the Director of PhD programme had an immense influence on the progress of my PhD. Similarly, the administrative staff were extremely friendly and supportive. I owe my success to the massive support of the wonderful people at MRC and across UWBS."

Professor Kevin Mole, Assistant Dean (PhD) Associate Professor Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Warwick Business School

"The Management Research Centre at Wolverhampton Business School was a very supportive and engaging environment for me to begin my academic career. The involvement of Wolverhampton academics in the seminars and training was an important part of my subsequent publication strategy to which I am very grateful."

Professor Catherine L. Wang, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, School of Management, Royal Holloway University of London

"I studied on the doctoral programme at the Wolverhampton Business School between 2000 and 2003. It was one of the most rewarding experiences. I particularly enjoyed working with, and learning from, supervisors with both disciplinary and methodological expertise. I also benefited from a friendly and supportive PhD cohort that made the journey enjoyable."

Financial support for research study:

Before applying, you should consider carefully how you will finance your studies for the duration of your programme, including tuition fees, research support fees and living costs.

Government loans (Home Fee Status):

Government loans are available for postgraduate research students of up to £28,673, to cover fees and living expenses. More information can be found at Doctoral-loans website.

Studying in the UK:Guidance for EU students

For 2021/22 new entrants, EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for home fee status and financial support from Student Finance England.

Self-funded:

We are able to take payments in instalments, to spread out the cost of your studies, and it is possible to switch between full-time and part-time modes of study. For more information go to How to pay.

Postgraduate Research Loyalty Discount:

To students progressing from an undergraduate programme and/or a taught postgraduate programme to a postgraduate research programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree and/or Masters level qualification, as long as the new award is at a higher level.

For full terms and conditions please see: Loyalty Discount for Postgraduate Research Students

Research councils:

The UK Research and Innovation funds postgraduate study in all subject areas on a discretionary basis.

University Research Studentships:

The University offers a very limited number of research stipends, formerly known as bursaries, to research students. Stipends are designed to support specific projects as determined by the Research Institute rather than individual student-led projects. Funds are accessible from the relevant Research Institute or Centre - please contact them directly.

Other sources:

Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

Order a prospectus