Integrated Study (Business and Management) PhD

Start date
September
Duration
4 years full-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Combined research and taught, Doctoral research, Taught

A 4 year PhD programme which allows students to gain added value from taught subject-based modules as well as undertaking original research.  The taught modules allow students to broaden, as well as deepen, their subject knowledge at the same time as undertaking their own research and developing a set of transferable professional skills. The programme will facilitate the creation and interpretation of new knowledge by the research student, demonstrated through the thesis.

Your coursework in year 1 will be taken within the MA in Social Research programme, within the University’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised Doctoral Training Centre. This programme aims to provide students with a thorough and advanced education in social research design and the most up-to-date training in methods of data collection and analysis. The combination of core modules and short courses on more advanced topics and Business School modules provides flexibility to relate training to the thesis topic.

If you pass the coursework component, you will progress to normal PhD study in years 2–4. You will work closely with your supervisors in designing and undertaking your own research project, leading to an 80,000 word thesis. You will also undertake additional training in advanced methods and transferable skills, guided by the regular training needs analysis that forms an essential basis for your Career Development Plan.

Programme content

The core elements of the year 1 taught programme are delivered by staff across the entire College of Social Sciences, many of whom are engaged in cutting-edge research in their own fields. Students will benefit by undertaking the modules with others from the College’s constituent schools of Business, Education, Government and Society, and Social Policy.

Support and training

Birmingham Business School provides dedicated facilities, resources and support to postgraduate students and early career researchers which includes The Midlands Graduate School and Doctoral Training Centres and Programmes. Find out more.

Modules

Four core modules (these may be substituted for discipline specific modules depending on the pathway being followed):

Four elective modules (10 credits each) from the short course programme below, which are run as 2-day intensive workshops or from the full list of Business Masters Modules, which can be obtained from the Business School Research Office (see contact details)

Fees

Standard fees apply
Learn more about fees and funding

Learn more about International fees and funding

For further information contact the School directly or www.studenthelp.bham.ac.uk.

How To Apply

Please note that this programme will not be accepting any new applicants with effect from the 2018/19 academic year.

Our Standard Requirements

Learn more about entry requirements

International students
Learn more about international entry requirements 

Standard English language requirements apply

International Requirements


The coursework involves a mix of group-work, lectures, laboratory exercises, and project work. The independent research stage in years 2 – 4 involves self-directed research with supervisory support.

If I gain an Integrated Study PhD in Social Sciences, what are my career prospects?

The training available on this Integrated Study PhD programme enables graduates to develop advanced skills in designing and conducting research in the Social Sciences. Such skills are highly applicable to a variety of careers in academia, business, government and non-profit organisations.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in the College of Social Sciences?

The College of Social Sciences at Birmingham has specially designated careers advisors and careers consultants who can provide guidance for doctoral researchers on career paths, CVs, training opportunities, application and interviews. The University’s central Careers’ Service also runs workshops and offers personally tailored advice and guidance including 1-1 careers advice, 1-1 CV advice. The Career’s Service also runs CV writing workshops especially for postgraduates in the College of Social Sciences, giving advice on how to compile CVs for both employment and for academic roles.

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.

Career opportunities

The training enables graduates to develop advanced skills in designing and conducting research, in ways that are applicable to a variety of careers in academia, business, government and non-profit organizations.

Culture and collections

Schools, institutes and departments

Services and facilities