Doctoral researchers in Marketing are registered for a full time 3-year PhD or a part-time 6-year PhD. In the first year of the programme (first two years for those registered part-time) students are required to take 60 credits of core Research Methods modules from the MA Social Research programme. They are also recommended to take Advanced Training Modules from the MA Social Research Programme as appropriate to their research and training needs. Depending on their needs and accredited prior learning and subject to supervisory approval doctoral researchers can substitute 20 credits of the introductory MA Social research modules for Advanced Training Modules. By the end of their first year doctoral students will have completed an 8,000 word research proposal that they will present at the first annual review. This forms the basis for supervised research over the remaining two years of the programme and the production of an 80,000 word thesis.
Applicants are urged to study the up-to-date profiles of individual staff members' research via their personal web pages. Each student will have two academic supervisors who will work with the students in their areas of expertise. It is essential that students applying to the department recognise the expertise of their potential supervisor. It is possible to contact a potential supervisor to discuss the possibility of working with them and this communication would involve identifying the proposed research area and methods and identifying the link with the proposed supervisor’s work. Current priority areas include:
Arts, Heritage and Cultural consumption
A number of colleagues within the department undertake research in the area of arts, heritage and cultural consumption. This work ranges from examining arts and heritage consumption across topics such as screen based tourism, music, visual art, film and literature as well as arts and visually based methodologies.
- Professor Christina Goulding
- Professor Isabelle Szmigin
- Dr Finola Kerrigan
- Dr Andrew Pressey
- Dr Cagri Yalkin
- Chelsea Bailey
- Rohit Talwar
- Mai Khan Tran (PhD student, supervisors Professor Christina Goulding and Dr Eric Shiu)
- Maja Pulic (PhD student, supervisors Professor Christina Goulding and Dr Andrew Pressey)
- Alexandra Frith (PhD student, supervisors Professor Christina Goulding and Dr Andrew Pressey)
- Katharina Stolley (PhD student, supervisors Dr Finola Kerrigand and Dr Cagri Yalkin)
Digital/ Social Media
- Dr David Houghton
- Professor Isabelle Szmigin
- Dr Doga Istanbulloglu
- Dr Diana Gregory-Smith
- Dr Finola Kerrigan
- Dr Cagri Yalkin
- Dr Rohit Talwar
- Dr Inci Toral Manson
- Mr Julian Barnes (PhD student, supervisors Dr Sheena Leek and Dr Doga Istanbulluoglu)
Innovation and Creativity
Another key research theme in the department focuses on innovation and creativity. The overall focus here lies in innovation management, technological policy, innovation and sustainability, creativity theory and new service/ product development.
- Dr Tao Zhang
- Dr Eric Shiu
- Dr Raphaël Akamavi
- Mr Anthony Khan (research student, supervised by Dr Eric Shiu and Dr Finola Kerrigan)
- Yingying Qian (PhD student, supervised by Dr Eric Shiu and Dr Tao Zhang)
Responsible Marketing
The research interests of colleagues in this research area are broad ranging. This range includes a focus on consumer and marketing ethics, CSR, sustainability, healthy eating and drinking and social marketing.
- Professor Isabelle Szmigin
- Professor Mike Saren
- Professor N. Craig Smith
- Joanne Bates
- Dr Weiyue Wang
- Dr Solon Magrizos
- Dr Sheena Leek
- Dr Sarah Forbes
- Dr Diana Gregory Smith
- Dr Finola Kerrigan
- Kaiying Li (PhD student, supervisors Professor Lloyd Harris and Dr Diana Gregory-Smith)
- Ms Misha Xu (research student supervised by Dr. Tao Zhang and Dr Diana Gregory Smith)
Business to Business and Relationships
Research of colleagues engaged in this research theme take a broad approach to understanding relationships from consumer and employee misbehavior, organizational culture to communication and branding in B2B contexts. Additionally, research on entrepreneurial marketing takes place in this group.
- Dr Sheena Leek
- Professor Lloyd Harris
- Dr Andrew Pressey
- Dr Rosalind Jones
- Dr Inci Toral Manson
- Professor Mike Saren
- Dr Weiye Wang
Most PhD students will be expected to take the core research methods training courses of the MA Social Research. You will then be able to take more advanced training as appropriate on the basis of a training needs analysis conducted with your supervisor at the beginning of each year.
For part-time students modules are flexible and can be studied in blocks, part time or at weekends to fit your commitments.
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. Click to find out more.
Writing your research proposal
Along with your academic record, your references and your curriculum vitae your research proposal plays a critical role in the evaluation of your application.
Your research proposal should illustrate your ability to plan an independent research study and the relevance of your topic to the research interests and expertise of Birmingham Business School.You need to demonstrate that you understand the field that you plan to research, identify an interesting and original research question, and develop a tentative plan of study. It is highly desirable that your research proposal is written to the guidelines specified below.
Guidelines for the Research Proposal
Title
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Title of your proposed research.
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Specialism
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Identify the Department you want to join.
You may also identify potential supervisors at this stage if you wish.
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Research question
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Provide an overview of your research question, explaining why it is of academic and/or practical importance.
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Objectives
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Describe the main objectives of your research, providing details of two or three key aspects.
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Literature review
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Discuss the importance of previous related research and how your own research question might make a useful contribution to the area.
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Research techniques
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State the main research techniques (interviews, case studies, modeling etc.) and data collection procedures you might use.
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Timeline
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Outline your proposed timetable of activities.
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References
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List the works you have cited in your proposal.
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Word Limit
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Your proposal should be no more than 1,500 words, excluding references.
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When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the how to apply pages.