online phd in supply chain management uk

Plymouth Business School

PhD International Logistics, Supply Chain and Shipping Management

Exploring the major challenges in today’s shipping, logistics, operations and knowledge management, MPhil/PhD International Logistics, Supply Chain and Shipping Management will provide you with inspiring opportunities to undertake top level research. Supervised by scholars renowned in their fields, you’ll explore current issues arising from the latest developments in research and industry practice, enriching the literature on your chosen topics.

Course details

Programme overview.

• This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies. You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts. Your PhD will be assessed via submission of a written thesis (up to 80,000 words) and a viva voce (an oral examination). For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our postgraduate research degrees page.

Entry requirements

Fees, costs and funding, how to apply, apply online.

Nasir tells us about his research as well as his experience as an international student

Research groups

Expertise in supply chain management (SCM) and logistics

Professor Shaofeng Liu

Dr Stephen Childe

Associate professor in business management & operations.

Dr Carl Evans

Lecturer in operations, logistics and strategic management.

Dr Huilan Chen

Lecturer in business strategy and operations.

Dr Charles Thornton

Lecturer in service operations management and business strategy (education).

Dr Chiwuokem Nwoko

Lecturer in strategy and operations.

Dr Minchul Sohn

Lecturer in operations and supply chain management.

Dr Jonas Aryee

Lecturer in management and maritime business.

Dr Jonathan Lean

Associate professor (senior lecturer) in strategic management.

Dr Jonathan Moizer

Associate professor (senior lecturer) in business operations & strategy.

Dr Atul Mishra

Lecturer in strategic management (education).

Dr David Owen

Associate professor in business management & operations (education), expertise in international shipping.

Dr Lijun Tang

Lecturer in international shipping and port management.

Dr Stavros Karamperidis

Lecturer in maritime economics.

Dr Saeyeon Roh

Lecturer in international logistics.

Dr Sarah Tuck

Lecturer in maritime business.

Dr Lise Hunter

Lecturer in operations & supply chain management.

Dr Shunmugham Pandian

Lecturer in international supply chain management (education).

Dr David Adkins

Deputy head of school.

Dr Mark Bennett

Lecturer in international procurement and supply chain management, funding for postgraduate research students.

Fitzroy Building

DPhil Management

Start date:

• 6 October 2025

Time commitment:

About the programme

Our doctoral training will immerse you in all aspects of academic life.

You will be both a student and a junior research colleague. We provide courses in a wide variety of research methods and you will work closely with your supervisors to define your research question and develop your thesis. In addition, you will have opportunities to gain teaching and research assistant experience and become involved with the intellectual community within both Saïd Business School and the wider University. You will attend academic conferences, make presentations, organise lectures and seminars and contribute to management and academic decisions.

Both of our doctoral programmes run in parallel, with only differences in taught courses and preparation for writing in relevant journals to your subject of choice.

We have deliberately kept the programmes small which means that in the vast majority of cases, students are fully funded to allow them to devote their energies to research. The DPhil corresponds to a PhD degree offered at most other universities.

Supervision

You will be assigned two supervisors to act as your academic advisers and mentors.

Your supervisors will be in your specialist area of interest. It is important you identify that there are faculty at the school who work in your area of interest who could potentially supervise your thesis. You can note within your application if you're interested in a particular research area and working with a specific faculty member. 

You will work closely with your supervisors to define your research question and develop your thesis. It is an important relationship and also a very personal one: it is shaped by you, your supervisors and the ways you interact. You will have a minimum of nine meetings, or equivalent per year.

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of Saïd Business School. It is not always possible to accommodate student preferences to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside Saïd Business School.

Potential supervisors

You do not need to contact any faculty in advance of making your application. In the application form you can indicate your preferred supervisor(s) and they, along with other related faculty will review your application.

Below is a list of faculty open to supervising DPhil students this coming year.

Research areas and supervisors

Entrepreneurship, strategy, and technology management.

Pinar Ozcan  - Pinar specialises in qualitative research in strategy and entrepreneurship, particularly in technology markets. Her current research includes AI and business models in tech start-ups (e.g, fintech), digital transformation and platform strategies.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

Ivona Hideg  - Ivona’s main programme of research includes workplace equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). In her work, she focuses on gender, but also examines issues surrounding race, ethnicity, language and accent including intersection of various identities that we all hold.

Grounded in psychological theories and using experimental methodology, Ivona’s work seeks insights on root causes of inequities in the workplace, such as persistent underrepresentation of women in top leadership positions and other male-dominated fields (ie entrepreneurship).

By doing so, Ivona seeks to develop and test solutions for greater equity, inclusion and career outcomes of traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Global strategy and comparative institutional analysis

Mari Sako - Mari's main areas of expertise include global strategy, comparative institutional analysis, outsourcing and offshoring, professional services firms and professions, artificial intelligence (AI) and business models.

Her current research examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal services, conducted as part of a UKRI-funded programme . Doctoral applications are most welcome from students in social sciences, who can work with Mari on exploring the impact of AI on:

• business models
• the future of work
• technology startup ecosystems in professional services (such as law and accounting).

She is open to doctoral research proposals in this and related fields of research.

Matthew Amengual - Matthew focuses on the comparative political economy of sustainable and inclusive development.  His research has investigated on how institutions and contestation shape outcomes for firms, workers, and communities. 

His current work investigates labour standards in global supply chains, seeking to understand how interactions between multinational firms, suppliers, civil society organisations, and states can create conditions for improved working conditions.  He utilises a wide range of empirical approaches, including qualitative case studies and a range of quantitative methods. 

Matthew is interested in supporting doctoral students seeking to work in: 

• Governing standards in global supply chains
• Sustainability challenges in global markets 
• Institutional change and weakness in regulatory governance  

Akshay Mangla - Akshay's interests lie in questions of when, why and how states build institutional capacity to perform their core functions in developing countries. Within this broad agenda, his ongoing research investigates the causes and consequences of institutional reform initiatives within frontline agencies of the Indian state (eg primary education and the police).

He is also examining how non-state actors, including private firms and civil society organisations, engage with the frontline state during policy implementation, thereby influencing bureaucratic effectiveness and the quality of public services. He is interested in advising DPhil students working on these and related topics in the political economy of development.

Artificial intelligence and media management

Alex Connock - Alex is an Oxford academic in the media business and author of the 2022 book Media Management and Artificial Intelligence: Understanding Media Business Models in the Digital Age , plus the 2024 follow-up title Media Management and Live Experience: Sports, Culture, Entertainment and Events .

Alex is Senior Fellow at Saïd Business School, teaching Marketing and Media Business courses at BA, MBA and EMBA level.  He co-launched and ran Oxford postgraduate diploma in Artificial Intelligence for Business from 2021-3. and is Lecturer at St Hugh’s College, Oxford in Management.  

Alex’s research interests are in the fast-growing and commercially significant space where AI meets media creativity and discovery.  

Operations management and business analytics

Agni Orfanoudaki  - Agni conducts research at the intersection of machine learning and optimisation with applications in the industries of healthcare and insurance. Her research agenda primarily focuses on developing new methods and models for healthcare practitioners using data-driven techniques. She is also studying the implications of these models on automated decision making, addressing the implementation challenges of machine learning algorithms in practice.

 Areas of interest:

• Business analytics
• Healthcare operations
• Algorithmic insurance
• Personalised medicine

Organisation studies and strategy

Eero Vaara - Eero’s research focuses on organisational and strategic change. His work deals with:

• strategy process and practice research
• studies of radical change, such as mergers and acquisitions
• work on institutional change and legitimation
• research on multinational corporations, nationalism and globalisation.

He is a world-leading expert especially in communicative and discursive perspectives. Eero combines practically relevant topics such as strategy work and management of post-merger integration with deep theoretical and methodological reflection on organisational and strategic processes and practices.

Eric Zhao -  Eric's research is cross-disciplinary in nature and sits at the intersection of strategic management, organisation theory and entrepreneurship. He is actively involved in four major research areas:

• optimal distinctiveness
• institutions and entrepreneurship
• resource and resourcefulness
• resilience and crisis.

His 2017 SMJ article 'Optimal Distinctiveness: Broadening the Interface between Institutional Theory and Strategic Management' and his solo-authored book 'Optimal Distinctiveness: A New Agenda for the Study of Competitive Positioning of Organizations and Markets' are widely regarded as foundational contributions to the burgeoning literature on optimal distinctiveness.

Violetta Splitter - Violetta’s research focuses on organisational and strategic change. In particular, her work deals with:

• open strategy
• open organising
• power in strategy making

Violetta is a leading expert in practice-theoretical perspectives on strategising and organising. Violetta combines practically relevant topics such as (open) strategy work with deep theoretical and methodological reflection on organisational and strategic processes and practices.

Scenario planning

Rafael Ramirez - Rafael researches scenario planning and ground breaking research on interactive value and networked strategy, which has led to widely cited papers in the Harvard Business Review, the Strategic Management Journal and to the development of the Ox ford Collaborative Strategy Lab.

Social entrepreneurship

Alex Nicholls  -  Alex's main areas of expertise include:

• impact investing
• impact measurement
• social entrepreneurship
• public policy and social innovation
• systems change
• social movements

His current research explores the materiality of impact risk - in terms of both financial and impact outcome risk, the use of AI in impact measurement and reporting, and historical patterns of ethical consumption. He is open to doctoral research proposals in these areas as well as others.

Supply chain management

Steve New :  Steve has interests across the field of supply chain management, including how firms' practices relate to questions of ethics, human rights and sustainability. He has particular interest in the impact of commercial practices and inter-organisational power.

His recent work has focussed on questions of supply chain transparency, wages within supply chains and the challenge of incorporating ESG criteria in procurement from smaller companies.

Sustainability and commons governance

Juliane Reinecke  -  Juliane’s research explores how organisations can address various sustainability challenges including climate change, human and labour rights, and sustain the global commons. As no business can address these systemic challenges alone, a particular focus of her research lies in how multiple stakeholders collaborate to create novel governance solutions. Current projects include collective action for labour rights in the Bangladesh garment supply chain and the role of institutional investors, particularly pension funds, in the transition to a net zero economy.

Juliane welcomes candidates pursuing interdisciplinary approaches and/or using qualitative methodologies, such as ethnography.

Systems complexities

Harvey Maylor -  Harvey is open to a range of lenses being brought to bear on systems complexities and the ‘lived experience’ of systems leaders. Particular areas of interest include:

• What is the impact on performance of the relationship between the NEO profile of an individual and the complexities of the system that they are charged with leading?
• Is there a moral limit to the complexity we should ask organisational leaders to face? And is there an impact on the delivery of public value of high levels of complexity?
• What is the impact of systemic voids on the delivery of grand challenge objectives?
• Systems of routines: linking the areas of routine dynamics and systemic design as a tool for organisational analysis.

System design, forecasting, human algorithm interaction

Kejia Hu - Kejia's work orbits around a central tenet: unlocking business value from data, but doing so together. This emphasis on harmonious human-AI interaction underlines her research, reflecting the conviction that data's true potential is tapped not just through technology but with collective human insight and collaboration.

Her expansive collaborations with Fortune 500 entities and industrial pioneers are a testament to her profound expertise, yielding research that resonates in top-tier academic journals and bears multiple research and best paper awards.

Technology, innovation and transformation

Richard Cuthbertson - Richard's research interests focus on the operations of innovation, turnaround, and transformation involving the firm, their supply chains, and third parties, such as government and trade associations. Recent research includes an examination of  the dynamic capabilities of grocery retailers, the organisation and operations of leading technology companies, and the green transition in traditional industry sectors, such as steelmaking.

Review some current research taking place around the school including from our DPhil students and alumni

Review articles and podcasts written by our researchers at  Oxford Answers .

Learn more about becoming a researcher from Andromachi Athanasopoulou, who graduated in 2007 and is now an Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour at Queen Mary University London and an Associate Fellow at Oxford Saïd.

Manuel Hepfer, recent graduate of the DPhil in Cybersecurity and Management Studies, has written an article on  steps businesses can take to boost their resilience to cyberattack .

Ali Aslan Gümüsay, Michael Smets and Tim Morris published an article on religious diversity at work in the Harvard Business Review . An excerpt of their article 'God at work': engaging central and incompatible institutional logics through elastic hybridity , published in the Academy of Management Journal.

In his first year, current DPhil student, Alex Rustler co-authored a paper alongside faculty member, Matthew Amengual  on public perceptions of business involvement in human rights violations.  

Assessment and programme milestones

Our DPhil offers students the opportunity to engage with internationally renowned faculty who are here to help you become an academic scholar.

You will be initially admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS). You are required to take three core courses in quantitative and qualitative research methodology during your first year.

• Introduction to management research methods
• Statistical research methods
• Management and organisation theory

During second and third terms, you will undertake advanced research methods training and, in consultation with your supervisor, select specialist courses, available from a choice of topics relevant to area of interest. Examples of specialist elective courses previously available:

• Political economy
• Organisational theory
• Foundations of strategy
• Social network analysis

Advanced methodology courses:

• Advanced qualitative research methods
• Advanced quantitative research methods

Following successful completion of all necessary courses and within a maximum of six terms as a PRS student (and normally by the fourth term) you will be expected to apply for transfer of status from Probationer Research Student to DPhil status. A successful transfer of status from PRS to DPhil status is required to be able to show that your proposed thesis gives a clear indication of whether it would be reasonable to consider submission within the course of a further three terms, if work on the thesis continues to develop satisfactorily. Students who are successful at transfer will also be expected to apply for and gain confirmation of DPhil status within nine terms of admission, to show that your work continues to be on track. Both milestones normally involve an interview with two assessors (other than your supervisor) and provide important experience for the final oral examination. You will be expected to submit a thesis, which provides a significant and substantial contribution to the field of learning in management, which should not exceed 100,000 words after four years from the date of admission. It should be good enough to be published in book form or as a series of academic articles. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Management you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

The faculty has made me feel like a junior colleague from the very start and they offer the chance to work together on their research projects. Magdalena Plesa Current DPhil in Management student

Benefits and opportunities

• Engage with internationally renowned faculty
• Conference and research funding
• Training in principal research methods at both at Saïd Business School and wider University

Opportunities

• Paid teaching and research assistant opportunities
• Contribute to management and academic programme decisions through student representation on committees
• Postgraduate careers resources

You will become a member of an Oxford college. Your college is both an academic and social community that will enrich your time at Oxford. It offers everything from formal dinners and balls to sports and lecture series.

The Oxford college system enables you to interact with students and faculty from other disciplines. Some colleges provide also accommodation for students. 

Who can apply

Our candidates are passionately intellectual people with a superlative academic record and are committed to a career in academia.

DPhil in Management

You will require:

• a good undergraduate degree: 2.1 (GPA 3.5 or its equivalent)
• GMAT or GRE test results
• TOEFL or IELTS test results (If you are not from an English speaking majority country)
• three pieces of written work, including a well-developed research proposal
• three academic references
• £20 application fee

Successful applicants typically have a distinction in a Master’s level degree in addition to their undergraduate studies, but exceptional applicants from undergraduate programmes in relevant subjects will be considered.

Application process

Applications for October 2025 entry are open.

The application deadline is 13 December 2024 at 23:59 UK time.

Complete applications received by the deadline will be considered. You will be informed by late January if you have been shortlisted for interview.

Final decisions will be communicated by the end of February.

There are nine shared places available for the DPhil Finance and DPhil Management. The average number of applications for entry between 2021 and 2023 was 94. 

Application advice

These videos will help you understand the qualities we are looking for.

Introduction

Getting to know you

Explaining your project

Enhancing your position

Fees and funding

The course fee in 2025-26 is £25,160 for both home and overseas students.

The programme is four years in duration. Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). Please be aware that fees usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Additional cost information

There are no compulsory elements of this course that entail additional costs beyond fees (or, after fee liability ends, continuation charges) and living costs. However, depending on your choice of research topic and the research required to complete it, you may incur additional expenses, such as travel expenses, research expenses, and field trips. You will need to meet these additional costs, although you may be able to apply for small grants from your department and/or college to help you cover some of these expenses.

Scholarships and funding

Doctoral students admitted to our programme receive full funding over four years. This includes course fees and an annual living expenses stipend. To maximise the overall availability of funding for candidates, we will identify suitable alternative scholarships and may ask you to submit funding applications. We also ask that you identify and pursue any other funding opportunities, including external funding.   

For some scholarships you are required to submit a scholarship essay and/or tick the relevant box in the Funding section of the application form.

Cost of living

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course. Please read the University's  living expenses page for information about likely living costs for 2025-26.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

• Please contact us if you have any queries.
• [email protected]

Choose start date: Start date: September 2025 Duration: Five to six years Deadline: 2 December 2024 Fee: Fully funded Location: London, UK Admissions Funding and scholarships

A fully-funded PhD for aspiring scholars seeking an academic career 

We believe that rigorous academic analysis can provide practical solutions to complex problems in society. Our fully-funded PhD programme provides students with the opportunity to conduct their own research in a world-leading university, finding solutions to key challenges in modern business. As a Business School, we rank first in the UK for research environment and second for management and business students, while Imperial College London ranks first in the UK overall for research (REF 2021). 

Starting with a one or two-year Master’s in Research (MRes), depending on your chosen research area, you will gain a strong theoretical grounding and thorough research training to prepare you for the PhD. As a doctoral student you will have the benefit of supervision from leading world scholars. You will develop the expertise and research skills necessary to pursue a career in academia with previous Imperial doctoral graduates finding success in other leading universities such as Copenhagen Business School, Tsinghua University, University of Amsterdam, University College London, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

97% world-leading or internationally excellent research (REF 2021) #1 in the UK for research (Imperial College London, REF 2021) 1% top one per cent of business schools worldwide to have achieved triple accreditation 6 research areas Explore the programme

Advance your academic success at a world class research institution

2nd in the world (Imperial College London, QS World University Rankings 2025)

3rd in Europe (Imperial College London, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024)

#1 city for students (London, QS Best Student City Rankings 2024)

Build your career with our global reputation

With particular expertise in finance, entrepreneurship, health, and sustainable business, the Business School is recognised as leading the field. Benefit from strong industry partnerships and a diverse alumni network. 

A fully-funded programme

Every student on our Doctoral programme is offered full funding, including a full tuition fee waiver (Home/EU or Overseas fees) plus a living stipend for up to five years. Funding for a 6th year can be considered on a case-by-case basis, with the potential to undertake a teaching or research assistant studentship with one of the Business Schools research centres.  

World-class faculty

Our internationally admired faculty are leaders in their respective fields, bringing a wealth of experience and academic distinction. They are deeply invested in developing the research interests of our PhD students, fostering an environment of intellectual growth and innovation. 

Impact on industry

Working closely with businesses and governments, we drive policy and practice through inspiring collaboration and research excellence, giving you the opportunity to observe the impact of research on business and society. 

Inspiring intellectual community

Engage with a diverse cohort of fellow PhD students and researchers, creating an inspiring and collaborative environment that encourages intellectual development and professional connections. 

Programme content

The Business School Master’s in Research (MRes) is an integral part of the PhD, introducing theory and research methods in Finance, Economics and Management, providing you with a solid foundation for your doctoral studies. Depending on the research area you choose to specialise in, you will embark on a one or two-year MRes programme as shown below. 

*Please note programme content is subject to change. The modules mentioned below are just a sample of what is available in the programme.

Systematic Reviews

When starting new research, the first step is usually a literature review: scanning what is already known about a given topic and figuring out where the gaps are. However, novice researchers tend to be anything but systematic in their literature review: they have no method for scanning the literature, and they usually have little idea of what is relevant and what is not. The Systematic Review method opens a way to create research syntheses that add real value and novel insight – in a way that is potentially publishable in its own right.

Data Analysis Tools

This module covers: Probability: Inequalities and Entropy, Laws of Large Numbers, Normal Distribution, MGFs and Characteristic Functions, CLT, linear regression and least squares; Linear Algebra: Eigenvalues/Eigenvectors, PCA; Optimal Control: Value Functions and the Bellman Equation, Cross- Equation Restrictions.

Elective modules

After your required introductory modules, you will choose elective modules. In addition to the electives offered within the Business School as part of the MRes programme, you may elect to take a module from another department within Imperial, or at one of our partner institutions, subject to availability.

Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour

Applied Microeconometrics 1

Applied Microeconometrics 2

Asset Pricing Theory

Corporate Finance

Corporate Sustainability

Consumer Behaviour

Decision Making Under Uncertainty

Digital Marketing Analytics

Econometrics 1

Econometrics 2

Empirical Asset Pricing

Empirical Corporate Finance

Entrepreneurship

Financial Economics of Climate and Sustainability

Healthcare & Medical Analytics

Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management

Interdisciplinary Research

Logistics & Supply Chain Analytics

Machine Learning for Analytics

Machine Learning in Economic Analysis

Macroeconomics

Macro-Finance

Micro Development Economics

Microeconomics 2

Microeconomics 1

Optimisation

Optimisation & Decision Models

Organisational Behaviour

Organisational Theory

Qualitative Methods 1

Qualitative Methods 2

Quantitative Methods 1

Readings in Digital Business 

Readings in Social Networks: Social Capital

Retail & Marketing Analytics

Social Data Science

Social Network Analysis

Special Topics in Organisational Theory and Strategy

Stochastic Processes

Sustainable Behaviour

Topics in Empirical Banking

*These modules are available subject to capacity and timetabling constraints in other faculties and are differently weighted to the MRes Business electives

Research Project

You will develop your own research project, which is assessed via submission of a written thesis and an oral examination.

Year one compulsory modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Applied Microeconometrics  - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Empirical Industrial Organisation - This module enables you to answer counterfactual economic questions based on structural modeling and estimation. 

Macroeconomics I -  The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Microeconomics II  -   This module covers competitive equilibrium, markets with imperfect, competition and asymmetric information, general equilibrium, Social choice and mechanism design

Research Experience  – This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Finance pathway

Applied Microeconometrics   - This module will provide an introduction to the practice of applied microeconometrics. Students will learn the standard empirical methods in current use by applied researchers and be exposed to a handful of frontier approaches. The focus will be on implementation beyond simply estimating a parameter of interest: getting the standard errors right, validation and conducting appropriate robustness exercises, and adapting methods to fit new contexts.

Econometrics I  - The module has the objective to provide the students with econometric tools necessary to conduct their empirical research and discuss fundamentals of econometric theory behind them. Students will learn how to conduct - and how to critique - empirical studies in finance, economics and related fields.

Macroeconomics I - The course will focus on building a strong foundation in macroeconomic theory, particularly in analysing dynamic optimization problems. These techniques will be applied to a wide range of models to deepen students' understanding of topics like business cycles, long run growth, unemployment, and inequality. 

Macroeconomics   II  - This course covers research issues that arise in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance. Topics include portfolio choice, general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents and dynamic asset pricing models.

Microeconomics I  - The module covers the main tools of microeconomic theory and focuses on preferences, consumer theory, choice under uncertainty, producer theory, and game theory. Time permitting, it introduces general equilibrium in competitive markets. The emphasis is on economic intuition as well as techniques. The fundamental concepts of microeconomic theory are discussed.

Corporate Finance  - This module is taught in two parts, starting with a historical background, and then considering the theory of investment decisions, capital structure, financial innovation, and corporate governance.

Asset Pricing Theory  - The first part of this module deals with representative investors, portfolio choice and dynamic securities markets in discrete time before covering portfolio choice in continuous time and option pricing. The second part starts from the asset pricing implications of a general equilibrium Lucas-tree economy. Then, it discusses the main asset pricing puzzles implied by these economies. Finally, we will explore optimal portfolio choice, multiple trees economies and some of the latest attempts in the asset pricing literature to solve some of these puzzles.

Research Experience  - This module is intended to give students practical experience of research preparation for their dissertation the following year.  They will undertake research tasks under the supervision of a faculty member on a topic chosen by the faculty member.  Students can select those projects that fit their research interests.

Year one compulsory modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Introduction to the Practice of Research  - This module will introduce you to the craft of research. You will develop the skills and knowledge you need to effectively produce research questions and hypotheses, ensuring consistency between theory, research design, methods and measures, and developing a clear and compelling argument.

Qualitative Methods I  - This module covers research methods required in qualitative research. You will develop skills in all aspects of the research process, including research design, data collection, data analysis, theory building, writing up as well as reviewing papers and responding to referees. The module is essential for those who wish to author qualitative research but will also be useful for quantitative researchers.

Quantitative Methods I  - This module provides an overview of the primary quantitative methods employed in management research. It will enable you to develop the ability to interpret the results of your own research as well as to critically assess the findings presented in other studies. The emphasis will be on the practical application of different estimation models using STATA rather than on the econometrics and mathematical specification.

Organisational Behaviour  - In this module you will be introduced to a selection of most seminal papers in organisational behaviour with a particular focus on classic and contemporary theories, ongoing controversies, and ground-breaking empirical studies. The emphasis is on providing a foundational overview of the field.

Organisational Theory  - This module will expose you to the major theoretical perspectives and issues studied in organisation theory research. You will also be exposed to a set of approaches to understanding how and why organisations form, survive and grow.

Strategy  - In this module you will develop the fundamentals of strategy including the theories of competitive advantage, industry analysis, understanding of resource based view/knowledge based view, and corporate strategy.

Innovation Management  - This module will offer a thorough theoretical understanding of the key themes of innovation research, combined with practical insights into the challenges of innovation management in organisations. You will address topics ranging from technological change, creativity, the role of networks in innovation, and appropriability/value capture from innovation.

Entrepreneurship  - This module introduces students to the major theoretical threads and debates in the field of entrepreneurship. Students will learn to make connections between theory and empirical research, practice critiquing and identifying insight in research, engage with fundamental debates in the field and formulate directions how the field may be further advanced.

Elective modules for Economics and Public Policy pathway

Corporate Sustainability 

Machine Learning for Analytics, Marketing and Operations

Machine Learning in Economics Analysis

Qualitative Methods I

Qualitative Methods II

Stochastic Processes 

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics

Topics in Health Economics

Topics in Household Finance

Elective modules for Finance pathway

Advanced Financial Statistics

Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies

Big Data in Finance I

Big Data in Finance II

Empirical Industrial Organisation

Innovation Management 

Macroeconomics 

Microeconomics I

Microeconomics II

Quantitative Methods I

Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics 

Elective modules for Management and Entrepreneurship pathway

Macroeconomics 1

Macroeconomics 2

Readings in Digital Business

Text Mining for Economics and Finance

During the second year, you will work on your MRes project which is formally assessed through project submission and an oral examination, and counts towards the overall MRes mark. You will submit your proposed Research Project title and a brief outline in early October of your second year followed by a progress report in early March, outlining your progress to date with the thesis. During the Summer term, students will submit their MRes dissertation. This will be followed by an oral exam.

Further specialist training

It is expected that you will undertake further training where you will delve deeper into your chosen field. Under the guidance of your supervisor, you will develop a training plan to identify which courses may be the most suitable for your training, whether at Imperial or externally. You will have the opportunity to give seminars on your research for constructive feedback and development.

Research plan 

When you begin the PhD you will choose a primary and secondary supervisor, based on your research interests. The supervisor-student relationship is the foundation for a successful doctoral thesis as your supervisor will help you develop your research question, identify research and teaching opportunities and support you through your studies and the academic job application process.

Early Stage Assessment 

The Early Stage Assessment (ESA) takes place in year one of the PhD and is assessed by a panel of faculty. The ESA outlines the research question, the work you have done to date and the future research activities to be carried out to complete the project. It comprises a written paper and a presentation to which all Doctoral students and research department faculty are invited. The purpose of the ESA is not only to assess your personal progress but it also gives you the opportunity to discuss your work at its early stages and get feedback and ideas from faculty to improve your research.

Armed with feedback from the Early Stage Assessment, you will work intensely on your thesis, focusing on the collection and analysis of empirical data and developing theoretical frameworks. Under the guidance of your supervisors, the thesis gives you the opportunity to conduct a substantial piece of original research. 

Seminars and conferences

Being part of the School’s inspirational research community is a crucial aspect of the doctoral experience – as is gaining familiarity with cutting-edge research from world-leading academics. Each department runs seminars where internal and external academics discuss their latest work. As well as providing insight into yet-to-be-published research, the seminars offer networking opportunities and visiting academics often lead special topic workshops for research students. The Doctoral programme also supports the participation of research students in international conferences where you can present your own research and participate in doctoral consortia.

Late stage review

The Late Stage Review takes place in year two of the PhD and follows the same principle as the Early Stage Assessment, in that its purpose is to assess your progress and provide you with feedback and advice on the direction and scope of your research.

Academic Job Market

You will also work on developing and polishing your Job Market Paper. You will have the opportunity to participate in workshops alongside support from your supervisors and faculty to help you be internationally competitive.

Our research areas

What our students say

“The programme structure is different from many other business schools because during the first year at Imperial we study the Master’s of Research (MRes), which is focused on developing strong foundations before continuing to the PhD programme. This also gives us additional time to discover opportunities and find the right paths for our research.”

Class profile 2023

75 students

48% female students

20 nationalities represented

Funding and scholarships

Request a brochure, career impact.

In recent years, our PhD students have joined leading universities, research centres and institutions such as Tsinghua University, University College London, Copenhagen Business School, the Bank of England, the University of Bath, King’s College London, National Chengchi University, the University of Sussex and Renmin University in China. Others have sought top positions in industry or founded successful start-ups.

The doctoral programme has been re-structured in recent years to focus more on academic development and it is anticipated that over the coming years placements will focus more on academia than industry.

Find out more about career outcomes

Meet your faculty

Our PhD programme provides close collaboration between leading Analytics & Operations faculty and doctoral students, developing your research interests and providing continuous support and guidance throughout the programme.  

Alexander Michaelides

Kalyan Talluri

Wolfram Wiesemann

Edward Anderson

Martin Haugh

Xiaocheng Li

Reza Skandari

Jiankun Sun

Carol Propper

Franco Sassi

Jonathan Haskel

Marisa Miraldo

Richard Green

Pedro Rosa Dias

Esther Bøler

Franklin Allen

Patrick Bolton

Ramana Nanda

Lara Cathcart

Enrico Biffis

Christopher Hansman

Clara Martinez-Toledano

Alan Hughes

Celia Moore

Markus Perkmann

Christopher Tucci

James Barlow

Ileana Stigliani

Mark Kennedy

James Eteen

Eduardo B. Andrade

Andreas Eisingerich

Rajesh Bhargave

Sven Mikolon

Michelle Rogan

Frequently asked questions, how long does it take to complete the doctoral programme.

The Doctoral programme is structured to take between four to six years full-time. In the first year, all students undertake a one or two year MRes programme depending on their chosen research area specialism. Subject to satisfactory academic progress, students then progress to the PhD which takes between 3-4 years.

When does the academic year start?

The Doctoral programme has one intake each year in September and is spread over four to six years.

Do you offer any distance learning or part-time research programmes?

It is not possible to enrol on the Doctoral programme on a part-time or distance learning basis. Students must be in attendance throughout the full period of study.

Can I transfer from my current Doctoral programme to Imperial College Business School's Doctoral programme?

It is not usually possible to transfer onto the Doctoral programme as it is unlikely that previous studies would perfectly overlap with the School’s expertise.

Can I come to Imperial College Business School as a visiting student?

Please visit Imperial College London's visiting students page .

Can I have a part-time job whilst enrolled in the programme?

The Doctoral programme is full time. Students are able to undertake part-time work if this does not break any relevant visa and/or scholarship conditions, however the programme offers a living stipend to support students during their studies.

How many students do you accept onto the Doctoral programme every year?

Admission onto the Doctoral programme is highly competitive as we accept around 15 students each year, from a total of approximately 200 applications.

Is there a workspace assigned to Doctoral students?

There is a designated workspace which includes a computer and relevant software assigned to all enrolled Doctoral students. You will share working space with other PhD students in your cohort.

How do I apply and what documents do I need to submit with my application?

All applications to the Doctoral programme are made via our online platform. You will either need to select 'Business (MRes 1YFT)' or 'Business (MRes 2YFT)' based on your research area of interest. Further information can be found on our  Doctoral programme page.

Please refer to the  How to apply page  to see application deadlines, what documents you are required to submit with your application and to view the selection process.

When is the application deadline?

To find out more about application deadlines for our Doctoral programme please  visit the How to apply page .

What do I need to include in my statement of purpose?

One of the most important parts of our application form is the ‘statement of purpose’ section. It should be no more than one or two A4 pages and should cover the following points:

Your motivation for undertaking the programme

A discussion of possible research areas that you might pursue and how these are a good fit for Imperial College Business School

What interests you most about your chosen field of study

Relevant past study, industry, or research projects

Long-term career goals

I haven't decided what area I want to specialise in for my PhD, what should I do?

You should browse the description of the different research groups in the Business School and the webpages of faculty members. This will give an overview of their research interests and current projects. The MRes gives you an opportunity to pursue potential interests through courses and a project prior to committing to the PhD

Do I need a willing supervisor prior to application?

No, although in your application you should list a member of  faculty  you have identified as a potential supervisor. You can demonstrate in your statement of purpose how your research interests are aligned to a potential supervisor and the Business School.

Checking the research profiles of faculty members and Business School projects will give you an indication of whether the Business School is a good fit for you. If no faculty are working in your area of interest it is unlikely that you would be shortlisted, as we may not be able to provide supervisory support during your PhD.

During the MRes year, you will become part of the research community at Imperial College Business School and interact with faculty and other PhD students during taught courses and at seminars, which we hope will influence and help shape your research ideas for the PhD.

Are all applicants interviewed?

Not all applications progress to the interview stage of the selection process, however we interview all shortlisted candidates before making an offer. In the case of overseas candidates we will arrange an interview by telephone or via Skype.

Is GMAT/GRE a compulsory requirement?

Yes. A GMAT/GRE score must be submitted before we will consider an application. Any applications submitted without a GMAT/GRE score will be considered incomplete until we receive a score. Please note that we do not make offers on the condition that a candidate achieves a satisfactory GMAT/GRE score. To see the GMAT/GRE scores we look for, please refer to the  Entry Requirements page .

Do you offer Doctoral funding and stipend?

We offer a fully funded Doctoral programme at Imperial College Business School – this includes a tuition fee waiver and a stipend for up to five years. The 2024-25 rate of the Graduate Teaching Assistant scholarship stipend is £25,000. Rates are reviewed annually and are expected to increase for 2025-26 in line with Research Council UK rates. Stipends are tax-free and the continuation of the stipend will depend on your satisfactory progress on the programme.

What living costs should I allow for in London?

Living costs vary considerably depending on the area of London you choose to live in and your choice of accommodation.

Read more about  estimated London living costs  and  accommodation for postgraduates .

Do you offer Doctoral scholarships?

Within Imperial, we also have funding opportunities from various external studentships, including EPSRC, ESRC, and the Imperial College President’s PhD Scholarships .

Students who are eligible for other PhD  funding opportunities  that may be available to them are expected to apply for them.

Explore more

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Procurement and Supply Management

Supervisor: dr farooq habib.

The management of procurement and supply processes in today’s fierce competition environment is a complex task and has become progressively critical for firms in both manufacturing and service sectors. Major changes in business processes, product configurations, technologies, market trends and customer behaviour, bring along remarkable challenges for procurement professionals and supply managers. Exploring, explanation and analysis of the complex problems arising in procurement and supply systems is of paramount importance in surviving and achieving competitive gains in today’s global value chains.

We are currently researching the future of procurement and supply management, as an internal function within organisation, as an external process which spans organisation boundaries, and as a value adding profession which contribute to the organisations’ competitive advantages (Zheng et al., 2007). In particular, we study approaches to segmenting suppliers and procurement strategies to enable more efficient and responsive supply chains.  This builds on existing approaches (Hadeler and Evans, 1994; Olsen and Ellram, 1997; van Weele, 2005) which are predominantly based on Kraljic’s (1983) purchase portfolio matrix.  In the public sector we are conducting studies on the outsourcing of procurement and logistics in the National Health Service to understand how the outsource to the private sector is managed and the impact on procurement and logistics performance (Skipworth and DelBufalo).  We anticipate further research on public procurement as the government’s Structural Reform Plan (Cabinet Office, 2010) recognises the scope for improving the management of public services while allowing them to be more market driven.

Within this context, PhD proposals are expected to address issues related to the design, planning, control, and continuous improvement of procurement and supply management systems. The research proposals can focus on, but need not be limited to, the following, subjects:

• Outsourcing
• Public procurement
• Global Procurement
• Supplier and procurement segmentation
• Procurement Risk Management
• Supply Chain in Emerging Economies and Markets
• Supplier Relationship
• Supplier Evaluation, Selection, and Development
• Green Procurement and Sustainable Supply Management   

The successful scholarship candidate is expected to outline a research proposal that draws on existing and future challenges in procurement and supply management. It is expected that the research proposal will reflect the applicant’s clear understanding of the relevant literature, research methodology, data collection and data analysis methods.

Proposals should be formulated in consultation with Dr Farooq Habib ([email protected]).

Cabinet Office, (2010) Draft Structural Reform Plan,

Hadeler, B.J. and Evans, J.R. (1994), "Supply strategy: capturing the value", Industrial Management , vol. 36, no.34, pp. 3-4

Kraljic, P. (1983), "Purchasing must become supply management", Harvard Business Review ,  61:5, September-October, pp. 109–117.

Olsen, R.F. and Ellram, L.M. (1997), "A portfolio approach to supplier relationships", Industrial Marketing Management , vol. 26, no.2, pp. 101-113.

Skipworth, H.D and DelBufalo, E, Logistics and procurement outsourcing in the National Health Service, Supply Chain Management: an International Journal , under review and not yet published

Van Weele, A.J. (2005), " Purchasing and Supply Management: Analysis, strategy, planning and practice ", 4th edition, Thomson Learning.

Zheng, J., Knight, L., Harland, C., Humby, S., James, K. (2007), "An analysis of research into the future of purchasing and supply management", Purchasing and Supply Management , 13, 69-83.

Logistics and Operations Management

Logistics and Operations Management is a research area within which you can focus your studies as part of our Business Studies PhD programme.

• Career prospects
• Fees and funding

We aim to be the world's leading interdisciplinary teams of academics in advancing knowledge, theory and practice in logistics and operations management.

The section comprises four distinct research groupings undertaking both specific and common research projects. The four groups are

• the Lean Enterprise Research Centre
• the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group
• the Centre for Automotive Industry Research
• the Transport and Shipping Research Group.

Distinctive features

• The section performs world class supply chain research, and has an established reputation for excellence in logistics and operations modelling and simulation, together with a long tradition of original research in shipping, transport and ports, and sustainability.
• Students may access travel funding from the section to attend conferences or workshops during the third year of the four-year programme.
• The section runs a lively visiting speaker programme with both academics and practitioners of international standing.

Administrative contact(s)

Phd programme office, cardiff business school.

Administrative contact

• Email [email protected]

Particular research areas include:

• Supply chain research: dynamics, management and marketing
• Logistics modelling and simulation
• Shipping, transport and logistics
• Automotive industry economics and sustainability.

The Section also has four cross-cutting strategic research themes:

• Fit supply chain (coordinated by Dr. Jon Gosling )
• Factories of the Future (coordinated by Daniel Eyers )
• Smart logistics (coordinated by Dr. Yingli Wang )
• Service operations paradigms (coordinated by Dr. Sharon Williams ).

Supervisors

A list of academic staff that can provide supervision can be found on the Cardiff Business School website.

The PhD programme will prepare you either for a career as a leading academic scholar or to excel in business practitioning or senior public policy decision making.

You can search our studentships or find out more about funding.

Tuition fees

Students from the uk.

Get the latest information on postgraduate fees.

Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

Students from the rest of the world (international), programme information.

For programme structure, entry requirements and how to apply, visit the Business Studies programme.

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