Research degrees at Nottingham Business School PhD
About this course
What you’ll study
We will support you from the time you make your initial enquiry, through the application process and the various stages of your degree, until your viva voce examination and subsequent graduation. Once you begin your studies, induction sessions will introduce you to the programme and its various stages, expectations, and milestones, and help introduce you to our thriving community of research students in NBS. You will find a very welcoming and supportive environment that places highest attention to student wellbeing and mental health.
You will be allocated a supervisory team consisting of your First Supervisor (also known as Director of Studies) and a co-supervisor. You would be expected to attend mandatory monthly supervision meetings. Your DoS will usually have expertise in your subject area, and at least one other supervisor selected for their complementary expertise, such as relevant research methods. Additionally, independent assessors will be appointed to give you, and your supervisory team, support, and guidance at certain key stages during your studies.
PhD Course learning outcomes*:
- The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research … of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication.
- A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge.
- The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge
- Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data
- Able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
*Adopted from QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education, section 4.18
NBS Research Training Programme
We place particular emphasis on helping students to develop the academic and practical elements of know-how that encourage initiative, innovation, and academic excellence. Our research degrees incorporate a programme of supporting studies designed to develop knowledge of and skills in all aspects of the research process, including the dissemination of research. This will ensure that you have the necessary expertise to both complete your doctoral programme and to lay solid foundations for your future career. We also encourage participation in academic conferences, seminars, and external networks to cultivate the contacts, skills, and knowledge essential for successful research practice. These abilities are transferable to a wide range of other careers.
We offer a robust and bespoke doctoral research training programme that has been carefully curated to covers a wide range of topics. This is covered over two terms as part of the ‘introductory modules’ which covers topics such as introduction to research philosophy, research paradigm and research design, critical thinking and academic writing, introduction to literature review and research methods (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods), research ethics, what is theory, and what makes research interesting. Term three focuses on ‘advanced modules’ which covers advanced methodological topics such as econometrics, behavioural economics, advanced qualitative methods, such as storytelling approaches and fsQCA etc. This is complimented by several workshops that runs throughout the academic year on helping candidates develop their research skills and professional development. An overview of activities includes:
- NBS PhD Training Programme (Introductory level workshops with modules over Term 1 and 2 and Advanced level workshops in term 3)
- Monthly NBS Doctoral Research Workshops
- Monthly NBS Brown Bag seminar series
- Termly ‘NBS Doctoral Away Day’
- Annual NBS Doctoral Symposium & Research Festival
- NBS Bi-annual doctoral writing retreats
- Annual international doctoral research symposium
- Monthly NBS Doctoral Clinic
- NBS PGR Socials and PGR Breakfast Club
For further information on the NBS Research Training Programme, please contact Dr. Ishan Jalan ([email protected])
NBS Research centres and research groups
You will be encouraged to join one of our NBS research centres/groups based on your subject area. The centres will also help support you with subject specific wider engagements through research seminars, workshops, and networking events. Our PhD programme is supported by 9 internationally leading research centres and 3 research groups comprising the expertise of world class academics across a breadth of subject expertise such as Management and Organisation Studies, Marketing, Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Economics, Sustainability, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Behavioural Sciences, and Health & Wellbeing. They are:
- Responsible and Sustainable Business Lab (RSB Lab) Research Centre
- Centre for Business and Industry Transformation
- Centre for Finance, Technology and Society
- Centre for People, Work and Organisational Practice
- Centre for Economics, Public Policy & Management
- Centre of International Business Strategy and Decisions
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences
- Centre for Work, Informalisation and Place
- Centre for Marketing & Consumer Studies
- Innovation, Digitisation, Entrepreneurship and Operations Research Group
- Accounting & Finance Research Group
- NBS Health and Wellbeing Research Group
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
An opportunity for both industry professionals and academics
Careers and employability
There are many opportunities for research students who may wish to prepare for an academic career by undertaking part-time teaching duties or work as research assistant for colleagues working on research projects in NBS. You may also take part in the Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education training programme. Furthermore, although formal placements are not a requirement of PhDs, the University has strong links with professionals in business and industry. Several of our recent PhD graduates have taken up academic positions at NTU and other top universities, alongside senior industry positions.
Campus and facilities
We are continually investing in our facilities, and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere.
The School is based in the impressive Newton Building on NTU's City Campus.
Postgraduate Centre
A short walk from the Newton building and Boots library, the Postgraduate Centre facilitates on-campus teaching for Nottingham Business School’s postgraduate and executive education courses.
Dryden Centre
Benefit from the newly built NTU Dryden Enterprise Centre that provides dedicated support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Fantastic facilities
- You can take advantage of the Link Lounge, a space dedicated to Business School students, located on floor zero of the Newton building.
- Explore your career prospects with the help of the University's Employability Team.
- You will benefit from spacious teaching rooms and lecture theatres.
- We provide students with a variety of social spaces.
- Your studies will benefit from the £13 million Boots Library.
- You can take advantage of our 24-hour IT facilities.
- Our Student Services Centre will also be on-hand should you need support.
- sports facilities
- shops
- student accommodation
- music venues
- cafés.
Entry requirements
Successful applicants for the PhD in Nottingham Business School normally hold a first or upper second-class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification. Candidates with a lower second-class degree may apply if they hold a Master’s degree at Merit level or higher.
Further guidance on entry requirements is available in NTU’s Quality Handbook Section 11 - Research Degrees.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Successful applicants for the PhD in Nottingham Business School normally hold a first or upper second-class honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent qualification. Candidates with a lower second-class degree may apply if they hold a Master’s degree at Merit level or higher.
International students will also need to meet the English language requirements - IELTS 6.5 (with minimum sub-scores of 6.0). Applicants who have taken a higher degree at a UK university are normally exempt from the English language requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English language proficiency requirement will normally be asked to complete an English Language course.
Further guidance on entry requirements is available in NTU’s Quality Handbook Section 11 - Research Degrees.
Fees and funding
How to apply
To apply for a PhD please submit a research proposal (maximum of 1500 words) which addresses the following points:
- Provisional title and summary
- Introduction:
- Overview of the topic or the subject that you are going to investigate.
- What is the proposal about? Why is it important?
- Main Body:
- The research questions, including clear research objectives.
- An indication of the contribution to knowledge that the thesis is anticipated to make (what you hope to find out)
- The relationship of the proposed research to the published literature and to current research in the field (how your project relates to other work)
- What is your theoretical framework?
- Methods:
- The methods and techniques to be used in the research (how you propose to go about the research)
- What is your unit of analysis?
- Do you have access to your data already?
- Bibliography of sources already consulted or identified as of relevance to your proposal
- Plagiarised research proposals will not be accepted for review.
- Please attach the proposal as a separate word document with your application.
How to apply
Visit the Doctoral School's step by step guide to make an application.
To apply for a PhD please submit a research proposal (maximum of 1500 words) which addresses the following points:
- Provisional title and summary
- Introduction:
- Overview of the topic or the subject that you are going to investigate.
- What is the proposal about? Why is it important?
- Main Body:
- The research questions, including clear research objectives.
- An indication of the contribution to knowledge that the thesis is anticipated to make (what you hope to find out)
- The relationship of the proposed research to the published literature and to current research in the field (how your project relates to other work)
- What is your theoretical framework?
- Methods:
- The methods and techniques to be used in the research (how you propose to go about the research)
- What is your unit of analysis?
- Do you have access to your data already?
- Bibliography of sources already consulted or identified as of relevance to your proposal
- Plagiarised research proposals will not be accepted for review.
- Please attach the proposal as a separate word document with your application.
How to apply
Visit the Doctoral School's step by step guide to make an application.
