Programmes
- MA and BSc
- Exchanges
- Taught Postgraduate Programmes
- Research Degrees
Research Programme
Prospective Students: Introduction
The PhD Programme is a substantial and growing component of the School. It combines the attractions of small groups working around key areas of specialism with the advantages of being part of a larger body of integrated students from across all of the specialist areas of business and management. Students are typically working in small clusters around the broad specialism of staff and research centres.
The Doctoral programme is normally of three or four year's full time duration although this may vary depending upon the candidate's prior experience. The programme is an exciting blend of formal research training, high levels of interaction between faculty and students and a rigorously developed and closely supervised thesis based on original and relevant research.
An appropriate programme of study is devised for each student in consultation with the Director of the programme and the candidate's potential supervisor. The programme opens with the Diploma or Masters in Research (DipRes or MRes). This is a period of up to one year's research training; attendance at courses on research methods and other specialist courses relevant to the area of research; and a course of supervised reading developed with the candidate's supervisor. At the end of this period the candidate presents a fully developed thesis proposal and/or a minor thesis. On the basis of successful performance in this work the student is then able to proceed, working closely with their supervisor, to the exciting process of undertaking a well-focused and important programme of original research. Throughout the process, the Doctoral Committee continues to over-see and monitor the process. A range of seminars, meetings and presentations provide support and encouragement for the candidate throughout the whole period of the candidature. In addition, students are given every opportunity to meet with colleagues from other universities and to share experiences and present at seminars, workshops and conferences.
At the end of the three or four-year period if full time (6-7 years if part-time), a well-developed thesis is submitted for examination by experts in the appropriate field of research. The examination, by viva voce, represents the culmination of the candidate's scholarship and effort. It is not uncommon that candidates, by the time of their examination, will have already presented papers from their research to learned conferences or be in the process of submitting papers for publication in learned journals.