PhD/MPhil opportunities at Loughborough Business School

To come at business from new angles, we need research into the newest models and methodologies. You can help provide the evidence base that’ll encourage organisations to start working in a more people and planet-focused way.

To get businesses working differently, we need the research to back that up. That’s why our work at Loughborough Business School is centred on the questions that need to be addressed most urgently, to help organisations balance their economic priorities with their social and environmental ones. From Brexit and what it means for our supply chains, to the future of work and the part organisations can play in building fairer and more balanced ecosystems.

As a doctoral researcher, you will have the chance to contribute to these debates, focusing on the area you feel inspired by most – to create your own research and help move policy and practice forward. You’ll attend conferences and symposia, work on joint publications with your supervisor, and become an integral part of our vibrant research community.

Why Loughborough Business School?

· Top 150 in the world for Business and Management Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)

· Triple-accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA) ensuring the highest quality of education

· 86% of our business and management research is rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2021)

Our research areas

Our research staff and students are all placed within one of the School’s academic groups which form our fundamental areas of teaching and research:

- Accounting and Finance

- Economics

- Information Management

- International Business, Strategy and Innovation

- Management Science and Operations

- Marketing

- Work and Organisation

Your development

As a doctoral researcher you will join a lively community of researchers and staff, becoming an integral part of the School’s research culture. You will enjoy close interaction and collaboration with academic staff – pre-eminent researchers who are well regarded within their respective fields and active in research, publishing and professional organisations.

Our doctoral research training programme will give you the opportunity to develop new and highly sought-after skills which can set you up for a range of careers. It is a chance to make a novel contribution to knowledge, to become a world expert in a particular field, and can open a range of doors with different employers. You will also enhance your interpersonal skills, such as networking and relationship building, which will be invaluable in your future career.

Entry requirements

A master's in a relevant subject with an average programme mark of 65% or above (or equivalent international qualification) and a 2:1 honours degree in a relevant discipline.

In exceptional cases, substantial professional work experience/qualifications may also be taken into consideration.

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.

For Loughborough Business School the minimum is IELTS 7, with 7 in each component.

How to apply

If you can't find an advertised project that fits your interests and experience, we encourage you to browse our academic groups and contact academics that you feel would be best placed to supervise your PhD project. This initial contact can help you develop your own research proposal and identify a supervisor. You will then need to formally apply with your research proposal to Loughborough Business School. If you are unsure who might supervise your project, we still encourage you to apply and we will aim to find supervisors who can work with you.

Your application should include a research proposal. This should include a statement justifying the choice of topic; the aims, objectives and methodology; and a short review of relevant references. The potential original contribution of the PhD should also be identified. No application can be considered without this research proposal.

Apply online

Find out more about our PhD opportunities

Contact us

Call: +44 (0)1509 228072

Email: sbe.research@lboro.ac.uk