research topics for phd in commerce

100 PhD Project Topics In Commerce [2024]

Are you considering pursuing a PhD in Commerce? One of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is choosing the right research topic. Your topic sets the stage for your entire doctoral journey, shaping your studies, and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field. In this blog, we’ll delve into various intriguing PhD project topics in commerce across different areas, exploring their significance and potential impact.

Identifying Key Areas in Commerce

Table of Contents

Commerce encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines, ranging from traditional areas like Accounting and Finance to emerging trends like E-commerce and Sustainable Commerce. Understanding these key areas can help you narrow down your focus.

Traditional Commerce

In traditional commerce, you have pillars like Accounting, Finance, Marketing, and Management. These areas have been the cornerstone of commerce studies for decades, offering a rich tapestry of research opportunities.

Emerging Trends

The world of commerce is constantly evolving, with new trends reshaping the landscape. E-commerce, Sustainable Commerce, and International Trade are some of the emerging areas that present exciting avenues for research.

How Do I Choose A PhD Project Topic In Commerce?

Choosing a PhD project topic in Commerce requires careful consideration and alignment with your interests, expertise, and the current trends in the field. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

• Identify Your Interests: Start by reflecting on your academic and professional interests within the broad field of Commerce. What topics fascinate you the most? What issues or challenges do you want to address through your research?
• Review Existing Literature: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature in your areas of interest. Identify gaps, controversies, or emerging trends that you could explore further in your research.
• Consult with Advisors and Experts: Seek guidance from your academic advisors, professors, or industry experts. They can offer helpful advice, propose research topics you might like, and assist you in improving your thoughts.
• Consider Feasibility and Resources: Assess the feasibility of potential research topics based on available resources, data availability, and your own capabilities. Consider factors such as access to data, research facilities, and funding opportunities.
• Define Research Objectives: Clearly define the objectives of your research project. What specific questions do you want to address? What hypotheses do you want to test? Ensure that your research objectives are well-defined and achievable within the scope of your PhD program.
• Stay Updated with Current Trends: Keep yourself updated with the latest developments and trends in the field of Commerce. Pay attention to emerging topics, technological advancements, and industry innovations that could inspire potential research ideas.
• Consider Practical Applications: Think about the practical implications of your research. How can your findings contribute to solving real-world problems or advancing knowledge in the field? Consider the potential impact of your research on academia, industry, policy, or society.
• Balance Originality and Significance: Strive to find a balance between originality and significance in your research topic. Aim to choose a topic that is both novel and relevant, offering new insights or perspectives that can contribute to the advancement of knowledge in Commerce.
• Be Flexible and Open-Minded: Remain open to exploring different research avenues and adapting your ideas based on feedback and new information. Be willing to pivot if necessary and consider alternative research topics that align better with your interests and objectives.
• Seek Feedback and Validation: Once you’ve identified potential research topics, seek feedback from peers, colleagues, or mentors. Present your ideas to others and solicit their input and perspectives. This can help you validate your ideas and refine your research proposal before moving forward.

100 PhD Project Topics In Commerce

Accounting and finance.

• The impact of financial reporting standards on corporate governance.
• Behavioral finance: Understanding investor decision-making processes.
• Corporate social responsibility and financial performance.
• Fraud detection and prevention in financial reporting.
• The role of accounting information systems in enhancing business performance.
• Corporate governance mechanisms and firm performance.
• Financial literacy and its impact on personal finance management.
• Financial risk management strategies in multinational corporations.
• Sustainable finance: Evaluating the role of green investments.
• Islamic finance and its implications for global financial markets.
• Financial inclusion initiatives and their impact on economic development.
• Corporate restructuring and its effect on shareholder value.
• Impact of taxation policies on business decisions and economic growth.
• Big data analytics in finance: Opportunities and challenges.
• Behavioral biases in investment decision-making.
• Consumer behavior in the digital age: A cross-cultural perspective.
• Brand equity measurement and management strategies.
• How Influencers Affect What People Buy: Studying how famous people online influence what we choose to buy.
• How Brain Science Helps Ads Work Better: Looking at how understanding how our brains work can make ads more effective.
• Making Friends Online to Sell Stuff: Exploring how businesses use social media to keep customers happy and buying.
• Sustainable marketing practices and consumer perceptions.
• Adoption and diffusion of innovations in marketing strategies.
• Online reviews and their influence on consumer decision-making.
• Pricing strategies in dynamic markets: A game-theoretic approach.
• Cross-cultural marketing strategies and their implementation challenges.
• Brand loyalty and its determinants in competitive markets.
• Marketing strategies for emerging markets: Case studies from developing countries.
• Relationship marketing in B2B markets: Building long-term partnerships.
• Green marketing: Consumer attitudes and purchase behavior.
• Digital marketing trends: Insights from social media analytics.
• Leadership styles and how they affect the way a company works.
• Managing changes when a company is going through digital upgrades.
• Knowledge management practices in multinational corporations.
• Strategic human resource management in dynamic environments.
• Organizational learning and its role in fostering innovation.
• Corporate social responsibility and employee engagement.
• Entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance.
• Talent management strategies for attracting and retaining top talent.
• Diversity management in global organizations: Best practices and challenges.
• Organizational resilience: Building adaptive capacities in turbulent times.
• Strategic alliances and their impact on firm competitiveness.
• Crisis management strategies: Lessons from successful and failed cases.
• Workplace well-being initiatives and their effects on employee productivity.
• Corporate governance mechanisms and their influence on managerial decision-making.
• Technological innovation and organizational change: Managing resistance to change.

E-commerce and Digital Marketing

• Personalization strategies in online retail: A data-driven approach.
• Cybersecurity challenges in e-commerce platforms: Mitigation strategies.
• Omnichannel marketing strategies for seamless customer experiences.
• Artificial intelligence applications in digital marketing: Opportunities and ethical considerations.
• Mobile commerce adoption and consumer behavior.
• Augmented reality and virtual reality in enhancing online shopping experiences.
• Blockchain technology and its potential applications in e-commerce.
• Digital advertising effectiveness: Measurement and optimization.
• Social commerce: Integrating social media platforms with e-commerce.
• E-commerce logistics and supply chain management: Optimization models.
• Online reputation management strategies for businesses.
• Digital transformation in traditional retail: Case studies and success factors.
• Voice commerce: Trends and implications for retailers.
• Cross-border e-commerce: Legal and regulatory challenges.
• Subscription-based business models: Customer retention strategies.

Sustainable Commerce

• Green supply chain management practices and their impact on environmental sustainability.
• Circular economy models and their adoption by businesses.
• Sustainable product design and development: Life Cycle assessment approaches.
• Carbon footprint measurement and reduction strategies in supply chains.
• Corporate sustainability reporting: Trends and implications for stakeholders.
• Environmental management systems implementation in organizations.
• Socially responsible investing: Performance and ethical considerations.
• Sustainable tourism practices: Balancing economic growth and environmental conservation.
• Corporate environmental responsibility and stakeholder perceptions.
• Green marketing strategies and consumer perceptions.
• Renewable energy adoption in businesses: Barriers and drivers.
• Sustainable packaging innovations and their adoption by industries.
• Fair trade certification and its impact on producers and consumers.
• Water stewardship strategies in agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
• Sustainable urban development: Smart city initiatives and sustainability goals.

International Trade and Globalization

• Trade liberalization and economic growth: Evidence from developing countries.
• Foreign direct investment inflows and their impact on host economies.
• Regional trade agreements: Implications for global trade patterns.
• Exchange rate volatility and its effects on international trade.
• International trade finance mechanisms: Risks and mitigation strategies.
• Global value chains: Dynamics and implications for trade policy.
• Trade facilitation measures and their impact on trade flows.
• Export competitiveness and firm-level strategies.
• Trade disputes and their resolution mechanisms: Case studies.
• Bilateral and multilateral trade agreements: Comparative analysis.
• Economic integration and regional development: Lessons from regional blocs.
• Trade and environment nexus: Assessing environmental implications of trade policies.
• Trade promotion strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Trade finance innovations: Blockchain and digital platforms.
• International labor mobility and its impact on global trade dynamics.

Cross-disciplinary Topics

• The role of digital currencies in reshaping global finance and trade.
• Artificial intelligence applications in supply chain management and marketing.
• Social entrepreneurship and sustainable business models.
• Data privacy regulations and their implications for e-commerce.
• Corporate governance practices in family-owned businesses.
• Impact investing and its role in addressing social and environmental challenges.
• Sustainable tourism development in emerging economies.
• Fintech innovations and their impact on traditional banking services.
• Digital transformation in healthcare services: Opportunities and challenges.
• Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and corporate sustainability strategies.

Selecting the PhD project topics in commerce is a pivotal moment in your academic journey. It’s an opportunity to explore your interests, contribute to the body of knowledge, and make a meaningful impact in the world of commerce.

Whether you’re passionate about traditional disciplines like Accounting and Finance or intrigued by emerging trends like Sustainable Commerce, there’s a wealth of opportunities awaiting your exploration.

So, dive in, explore, and embark on your journey to becoming a thought leader in the field of commerce.

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21+ Best And Interesting Research Topics For Commerce Students In 2023

Research is the systematic quest for knowledge, a crucial component in the academic journey. It holds immense significance for commerce students, as it provides insights into the complex world of business, economics, and finance. Understanding the importance of research in commerce studies can unlock countless opportunities for growth and innovation.

Choosing a research topic in commerce is a vital step. It’s the compass that guides your academic expedition. In this blog, research topics for commerce students, we delve into the intricacies of this process, offering 21+ captivating ideas for 2023.

Our topics span various subfields, from Accounting and Finance to Marketing and Sales Management. We will also share valuable tips for successfully completing your commerce research and tackling the challenges commerce students face during their research journey.

Stay tuned with us to explore the exciting research topics for commerce students.

What Is Research?

Table of Contents

Research is like being a detective, but instead of solving crimes, you’re solving puzzles about the world. It’s a careful and organized way to find out more about something. Imagine you have a big question, like “How do plants grow?” or “What makes people happy?” Research helps you gather information, like reading books, asking experts, or doing experiments to find answers to your questions. It’s like putting together pieces of a jigsaw puzzle until you see the full picture, and it’s how we learn new things about the world around us.

Importance Of Research In Commerce Studies

Here are some importance of research in commerce studies:

1. Informed Decision-Making

Research in commerce studies provides the information needed to make smart choices, ensuring decisions are based on facts rather than guesswork, which is essential for success.

2. Keeping Up with Trends

Commerce research keeps you updated on what’s new and popular, helping you adapt your products or services to stay appealing and competitive in the market.

3. Solving Problems and Being Creative

Research encourages creative problem-solving, offering fresh ideas and solutions to navigate challenges and improve how you do business.

4. Understanding Your Customers

Your customers’ likes and needs can help you make your products and services better, which will make them happy and keep them coming back.

5. Planning for the Future

Commerce research serves as a crystal ball, helping you prepare for future challenges and opportunities, ensuring you’re ready for what lies ahead.

How To Choose A Research Topic In Commerce?

Choosing a research topic in commerce is a crucial step in the research process. Your topic should be interesting to you and relevant and significant in the field of commerce. Here are seven key considerations to help you select the right research topic:

• Identify Your Interests: Start by exploring your own interests and passion within the field of commerce. Choosing a topic that genuinely excites you will make the research process more enjoyable and productive.
• Review Current Trends: Stay updated on the latest trends and developments in commerce. A relevant and timely topic is more likely to capture the attention of your audience and contribute to the existing knowledge.
• Narrow Down Your Focus: Commerce is a broad field; therefore, it’s essential to narrow down your research focus. Consider specific aspects of commerce, such as e-commerce, international trade, or marketing strategies.
• Research Feasibility: Assess the availability of resources, data, and information for your chosen topic. Ensure you can access the necessary research materials to support your investigation.
• Consider the Impact: Think about the potential impact of your research. Will it address a particular problem, provide practical solutions, or offer valuable insights to the commerce community?
• Consult with Advisors : Talk to your academic teachers or mentors for help. Based on their knowledge, they can give you useful advice and help you narrow down your study topic.
• Pilot Research: Before finalizing your topic, consider conducting preliminary research or a pilot study to gauge the depth and scope of the chosen subject. This can help you refine your focus further.

Tips For Successfully Completing The Commerce Research

Here are some tips for completing the commerce research:

Tip 1: Define Your Research Question Clearly

To complete your commerce research successfully, start by defining your research question clearly. This question will guide your entire study and help you stay focused on what you want to investigate. Ensure it’s specific and well-defined to avoid getting lost in irrelevant information.

Tip 2: Plan Your Research Timeline

Create a research timeline to manage your time effectively. Break down your project into smaller tasks with deadlines. This will help you stay on top of things and avoid rushing at the last minute, giving you more time to do thorough research and analysis.

Tip 3: Gather Reliable Sources

For a successful commerce research project, gather information from reliable sources. Use academic journals, books, reputable websites, and official reports. Citing credible sources will strengthen your research and demonstrate your knowledge.

Tip 4: Analyze and Interpret Data

After gathering information, don’t just show it; look it over and figure out what it means. Explain what the results mean and how they connect to your study question. If they help you get your point across, use charts, graphs, or lists.

Tip 5: Revise and Proofread Your Work

Before submitting your research, take the time to revise and proofread. Check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors. Ensure your paper flows logically and presents your research in a well-structured manner. A polished final product will leave a positive impression on your readers.

In this section, we will discuss 21+ best and interesting research topics for commerce students in 2023:

I.  Accounting and Finance

Accounting and Finance involve the management of money and resources within an organization. Here are three project topics in this category:

1. Financial Statement Analysis

Financial statement analysis projects focus on evaluating a company’s financial health by examining its balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. It helps in making informed investment decisions or assessing a company’s creditworthiness.

• Ratio analysis
• Trend analysis
• Comparative analysis
• Common-size analysis
• DuPont analysis

2. Budgeting and Forecasting

Budgeting and forecasting projects aim to create accurate financial plans for the future. This is crucial for organizations to allocate resources effectively and achieve financial goals.

• Zero-based budgeting
• Rolling budgets
• Forecasting methods (e.g., time series analysis)
• Budget variance analysis
• Flexible budgeting

3. Risk Management and Insurance

These projects explore strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks within a business. It also involves examining the role of insurance in managing various types of risk.

• Risk assessment
• Hedging strategies
• Catastrophic risk management
• Types of insurance (e.g., property, liability, health)
• Claims management

II. Business Management

Business management involves overseeing and coordinating various aspects of an organization to achieve its goals. Here are three project topics in this category:

5. Strategic Management

Strategic management projects delve into creating and implementing long-term plans to achieve a company’s vision and objectives. It includes assessing the competitive environment, formulating strategies, and ensuring their execution.

• SWOT analysis
• Porter’s Five Forces
• Strategy formulation models (e.g., Ansoff Matrix)
• Strategy execution and control
• Corporate social responsibility in strategy

6. Leadership and Team Management

Projects in this area explore leadership styles, team dynamics, and how effective leadership can enhance team performance and organizational success.

• Transformational leadership
• Conflict resolution
• Motivation and empowerment
• Building high-performance teams
• Leadership ethics

7. Change Management

Change management projects focus on planning and implementing organizational changes. It involves understanding the psychology of change, communication strategies, and overcoming resistance.

• Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model
• Change communication plans
• Employee resistance and engagement
• Change metrics and evaluation
• Change leadership roles

III. Economics

Economics examines how societies allocate resources and make choices. Here are three project topics in this category:

8. Microeconomics of Consumer Behavior

Projects in this area explore how individuals make choices regarding consumption, budgeting, and the impact of factors like prices and income on these choices.

• Utility theory
• Consumer preferences
• Budget constraints
• Price elasticity of demand
• Consumer surplus

9. Macroeconomic Policy Analysis

For these projects, you have to look at how fiscal and monetary policies, among other things, affect the economies of different countries. It looks at how they affect progress and economic stability.

• Monetary policy tools (e.g., open market operations)
• Fiscal policy tools (e.g., taxation)
• Inflation targeting
• Exchange rate policies
• Economic growth models

10. Environmental Economics

Environmental economics projects explore the economic aspects of environmental issues, including resource allocation, externalities, and the design of policies to address environmental challenges.

• The Tragedy of the Commons
• Carbon pricing mechanisms
• Cost-benefit analysis of environmental projects
• Emission trading systems
• Sustainable Development Economics

IV. E-Commerce and Information Technology

E-Commerce and Information Technology focus on online business operations and the use of technology in modern commerce. Here are three project topics in this category:

11. E-Commerce Website Development

Projects in this area involve designing, developing, and optimizing e-commerce websites, considering user experience, security, and effective product listings.

• User interface design
• Shopping cart functionality
• Payment gateway integration
• Mobile-responsive design
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

12. Cybersecurity in E-Commerce

These projects address the critical need for cybersecurity in the e-commerce sector, including risk assessments, encryption, and fraud prevention strategies.

• Data encryption protocols
• Payment card security standards (PCI DSS)
• Phishing and identity theft prevention
• Penetration testing
• Regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR)

13. Big Data and Analytics in E-Commerce

Big data projects explore the collection and analysis of large datasets to gain insights into consumer behavior, optimize supply chains, and improve decision-making.

• Data mining
• Customer segmentation
• Predictive analytics
• Recommendation engines
• Market basket analysis

V. Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

Entrepreneurship and small business management focus on the creation and operation of small businesses. Here are three project topics in this category:

14. Business Plan Development

Projects in this area involve creating comprehensive business plans that cover market analysis, financial projections, and strategies for success.

• Market research and validation
• Financial forecasts
• Marketing strategies
• Operational plans
• Exit strategies

15. Startup Financing and Funding

These projects explore various sources of capital for startups, such as venture capital, angel investors, loans, and crowdfunding.

• Pitching to investors
• Equity financing
• Debt financing
• Crowdfunding platforms
• Bootstrapping strategies

15. Small Business Marketing Strategies

Marketing projects focus on cost-effective strategies for small businesses, including digital marketing, social media, content marketing, and customer relationship management.

• Social media advertising
• Email marketing
• Content marketing
• Customer retention strategies

VI. Global Business and International Trade

Global business and international trade explore the dynamics of commerce on a global scale. Here are three project topics in this category:

16. Market Entry Strategies for Foreign Markets

Projects in this area examine the different methods and considerations for entering and expanding into international markets, including exporting, franchising, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions.

• Market research and selection
• Entry mode analysis
• Legal and cultural considerations
• Global branding

17. Global Supply Chain Management

These projects delve into the complexities of managing global supply chains, optimizing logistics, and mitigating risks associated with international sourcing and distribution.

• Supply chain visibility
• Inventory management
• Logistics and transportation
• Vendor relationship management
• Risk mitigation strategies

18. International Trade Policy and Agreements

This area explores the role of government policies and international agreements in shaping trade relations between countries and regions.

• Trade barriers (e.g., tariffs, quotas)
• Regional trade agreements (e.g., NAFTA, EU)
• Dispute resolution mechanisms (e.g., WTO)
• Trade liberalization
• Trade compliance and documentation
• Export-import regulations
• Trade finance and letters of credit

VI. Law and Commerce

Law and commerce explore the legal framework businesses operate within. Here are three project topics in this category:

19. Business Contracts and Negotiation

Projects in this area examine the principles of contract law, negotiation strategies, and the drafting of effective business contracts to protect the interests of all parties involved.

• Elements of a contract
• Contract enforcement
• Contract negotiation tactics
• Boilerplate clauses
• Remedies for contract breaches

20. Intellectual Property Rights

These projects focus on understanding and protecting intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, to safeguard a company’s innovations and creative works.

• Trademark registration
• Patent application process
• Copyright infringement
• Trade secret protection
• IP licensing and litigation

21. Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Examining the ethical dimensions of commerce, these projects address corporate social responsibility, ethical decision-making, and the legal aspects of ethical business practices.

• Ethical theories (e.g., utilitarianism, deontology)
• CSR strategies
• Whistleblowing and ethical reporting
• Environmental regulations
• Ethical codes of conduct

VI.  Marketing and Sales Management

Marketing and sales management focus on promoting products and services and driving revenue growth. Here are three project topics in this category:

22. Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy

Projects in this area explore the use of digital channels and social media platforms for marketing, including content creation, advertising, and audience engagement.

• Social media marketing
• Content creation and curation
• Search engine marketing (SEM)
• Influencer marketing
• Analytics and ROI measurement

23. Consumer Behavior Analysis

These projects delve into understanding the psychology and behavior of consumers to develop effective marketing strategies and product positioning.

• Market segmentation
• Consumer decision-making process
• Brand loyalty and perception
• Pricing strategies
• Neuromarketing techniques

24. Sales Force Management and Sales Techniques

Examining the strategies and tactics for building and managing successful sales teams, these projects explore techniques for increasing sales revenue.

• Sales coaching training and development
• Sales performance metrics
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Sales prospecting and lead generation
• Sales closing techniques

Challenges Face By Commerce Students In Research And Overcome Techniques 

Here are some challenges that are faced by commerce students in research:

1.  Lack of Research Skills

Many commerce students face challenges in conducting research due to a lack of research skills, such as finding relevant sources and data, and structuring their work effectively.

Overcome Technique

• Take research skills workshops.
• Seek guidance from professors or librarians.
• Practice by starting with smaller research projects.

2. Time Management

Balancing research with coursework and other responsibilities can be difficult for commerce students, leading to time management challenges.

• Create a study schedule and stick to it.
• Break research tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
• Use time management tools and apps.

3. Data Collection and Analysis

Many commerce students struggle with gathering and analyzing data, as it can be overwhelming and complex.

• Learn statistical tools and software.
• Collaborate with experts in data analysis.
• Seek mentorship for guidance on data handling.

4. Writing and Presentation

Communicating research findings effectively through writing and presentations can be a challenge for commerce students.

• Take writing and presentation courses.
• Practice concise and clear communication.
• Use templates and guidelines for structuring papers and presentations.

5. Lack of Motivation

Staying motivated throughout the research process can be a hurdle, particularly when facing setbacks or obstacles.

• Set clear goals and rewards.
• Find a study group or research partner for mutual motivation.
• Remember the long-term benefits of your research for motivation.

Research topics for commerce students serves as a valuable compass for budding commerce scholars. We’ve unveiled the significance of research, emphasizing its role in enhancing understanding and driving innovation in this field. Selecting a research topic is a pivotal step, and we’ve provided a diverse array of 21+ engaging research topics for commerce students, ensuring ample choices for 2023.

Furthermore, we’ve shared practical tips for successful research completion and addressed common challenges faced by commerce students, offering effective techniques for overcoming them. With this guide, you’re well-equipped to embark on your research journey, unlocking the door to discovery and academic achievement in the realm of commerce.

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There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has five areas of study: Accounting and Management , Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

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Whilst there are plenty of resources available to help prospective PhD students find doctoral programmes, deciding on a research topic is a process students often find more difficult.

Some advertised PhD programmes have predefined titles, so the exact topic is decided already. Generally, these programmes exist mainly in STEM, though other fields also have them. Funded projects are more likely to have defined titles, and structured aims and objectives.

Self funded projects, and those in fields such as arts and humanities, are less likely to have defined titles. The flexibility of topic selection means more scope exists for applicants to propose research ideas and suit the topic of research to their interests.

A middle ground also exists where Universities advertise funded PhD programmes in subjects without a defined scope, for example: “PhD Studentship in Biomechanics”. The applicant can then liaise with the project supervisor to choose a particular title such as “A study of fatigue and impact resistance of biodegradable knee implants”.

If a predefined programme is not right for you, then you need to propose your own research topic. There are several factors to consider when choosing a good research topic, which will be outlined in this article.

How to Choose a Research Topic

Our first piece of advice is to PhD candidates is to stop thinking about ‘finding’ a research topic, as it is unlikely that you will. Instead, think about developing a research topic (from research and conversations with advisors).

Consider several ideas and critically appraise them:

• You must be able to explain to others why your chosen topic is worth studying.
• You must be genuinely interested in the subject area.
• You must be competent and equipped to answer the research question.
• You must set achievable and measurable aims and objectives.
• You need to be able to achieve your objectives within a given timeframe.
• Your research question must be original and contribute to the field of study.

We have outlined the key considerations you should use when developing possible topics. We explore these below:

Focus on your interests and career aspirations

It is important to choose a topic of research that you are genuinely interested in. The decision you make will shape the rest of your career. Remember, a full-time programme lasts 3-4 years, and there will be unforeseen challenges during this time. If you are not passionate about the study, you will struggle to find motivation during these difficult periods.

You should also look to your academic and professional background. If there are any modules you undertook as part of your Undergraduate/Master degree that you particularly enjoyed or excelled in? These could form part of your PhD research topic. Similarly, if you have professional work experience, this could lead to you asking questions which can only be answered through research.

When deciding on a PhD research topic you should always consider your long-term career aspirations. For example, as a physicist, if you wish to become an astrophysicist, a research project studying black holes would be more relevant to you than a research project studying nuclear fission.

Read dissertations and published journals

Reading dissertations and published journals is a great way to identify potential PhD topics. When reviewing existing research ask yourself:

• What has been done and what do existing results show?
• What did previous projects involve (e.g. lab-work or fieldwork)?
• How often are papers published in the field?
• Are your research ideas original?
• Is there value in your research question?
• Could I expand on or put my own spin on this research?

Reading dissertations will also give you an insight into the practical aspects of doctoral study, such as what methodology the author used, how much data analysis was required and how was information presented.

You can also think of this process as a miniature literature review . You are searching for gaps in knowledge and developing a PhD project to address them. Focus on recent publications (e.g. in the last five years). In particular, the literature review of recent publications will give an excellent summary of the state of existing knowledge, and what research questions remain unanswered.

If you have the opportunity to attend an academic conference, go for it! This is often an excellent way to find out current theories in the industry and the research direction. This knowledge could reveal a possible research idea or topic for further study.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

Discuss research topic ideas with a PhD supervisor

Discuss your research topic ideas with a supervisor. This could be your current undergraduate/masters supervisor, or potential supervisors of advertised PhD programmes at different institutions. Come to these meetings prepared with initial PhD topic ideas, and your findings from reading published journals. PhD supervisors will be more receptive to your ideas if you can demonstrate you have thought about them and are committed to your research.

You should discuss your research interests, what you have found through reading publications, and what you are proposing to research. Supervisors who have expertise in your chosen field will have insight into the gaps in knowledge that exist, what is being done to address them, and if there is any overlap between your proposed research ideas and ongoing research projects.

Talking to an expert in the field can shape your research topic to something more tangible, which has clear aims and objectives. It can also find potential shortfalls of your PhD ideas.

It is important to remember, however, that although it is good to develop your research topic based on feedback, you should not let the supervisor decide a topic for you. An interesting topic for a supervisor may not be interesting to you, and a supervisor is more likely to advise on a topic title which lends itself to a career in academia.

Another tip is to talk to a PhD student or researcher who is involved in a similar research project. Alternatively, you can usually find a relevant research group within your University to talk to. They can explain in more detail their experiences and suggest what your PhD programme could involve with respect to daily routines and challenges.

Look at advertised PhD Programmes

Use our Search tool , or look on University PhD listing pages to identify advertised PhD programmes for ideas.

• What kind of PhD research topics are available?
• Are these similar to your ideas?
• Are you interested in any of these topics?
• What do these programmes entail?

The popularity of similar PhD programmes to your proposed topic is a good indicator that universities see value in the research area. The final bullet point is perhaps the most valuable takeaway from looking at advertised listings. Review what similar programmes involve, and whether this is something you would like to do. If so, a similar research topic would allow you to do this.

Writing a Research Proposal

As part of the PhD application process , you may be asked to summarise your proposed research topic in a research proposal. This is a document which summarises your intended research and will include the title of your proposed project, an Abstract, Background and Rationale, Research Aims and Objectives, Research Methodology, Timetable, and a Bibliography. If you are required to submit this document then read our guidance on how to write a research proposal for your PhD application.

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[100+] COMMERCE Research Topics For College Students With Free [Thesis Pdf] 2022

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PhD in Commerce: Requirements, Salary, and More

• Updated on  
• Jan 20, 2024

Diving into the intricate technicalities of the fields of Commerce and Business, Management and Finance, Actuarial Science and Taxation, and everything in between, a PhD in Commerce is one of the highest academic qualifications. The duration of a PhD in Commerce is 3 years and the basic eligibility is a master’s degree in a closely related discipline and some university might also ask for scores of certain entrance exams like UGC-NET. The major universities and colleges for PhD in Commerce in India include the University of Delhi, IGNOU, Jamia Milia Islamia, etc. while you can explore top universities abroad as well. Read this blog to know all about a doctorate in Commerce, its eligibility, specialisations and topics, subjects, top universities, salary, jobs and more.

This Blog Includes:

About phd in commerce, phd in commerce specializations, phd in commerce colleges in india, phd in commerce abroad, phd in commerce career and salary.

Counted amongst the popular courses for commerce students , as a candidate for PhD in Commerce, you can choose a subfield including, but not limited to Accounting, Marketing, Taxation, Human Resources, Strategy, IT Management, Consulting, and Finance. Furthermore, since these commerce subjects are quite vast in themselves, you are required to pick a deep-lying and relevant topic of research that accentuates their strong points. While the duration of a PhD varies according to the country of an institution, most have an average length of 3-8 years . Important components in this respect include:

• Research Projects
• Relevant Coursework
• Teaching Practicum
• Examinations
• Surveys, which together contribute towards the preparation of a long and comprehensive dissertation.

Must Read: PhD After MCA

While the topics chosen by a PhD in Commerce student may differ as per his inclinations, here are a few broad topics/specialisation choices you can expect to explore during your course:

• International Financial Reporting
• Strategic Cost Management
• Business Forensics
• Accounting Information Systems
• Audit Technology
• Capital Markets-based Accounting Approach
• Revenue Management
• Business Intelligence
• Enterprise Risk Management
• Market Volatility

PhD in Commerce is a popular course in India and is offered by many top colleges and universities such as the University of Delhi, IGNOU, Rama University, and more. Let’s first take a look at the popular universities and colleges for PhD in Commerce in India:

• University of Delhi
• Indira Gandhi University of Open Learning (IGNOU)
• Delhi School of Economics
• Amity University, Jaipur
• SRM University, Delhi
• Gujarat University, Ahmedabad
• St.Xavier’s College, Kolkata
• Loyola College
• Christ University, Bangalore

Owing to widespread interest in commerce and its related subfields of accounting, management, business, marketing, etc the specializations or tracks, if offered, may vary drastically. Here we list down a few of the top universities offering a PhD in Commerce apart from the seven Ivy League institutions, the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford , which have been recurrently recognised for their quality of education, expert faculty, bright career prospects and more.

Top Universities for PhD in Commerce Abroad

Here are the top universities for PhD in Commerce abroad:

PhD in Commerce Abroad Requirements

Here are the major requirements for PhD in Commerce in India:

• The student must have completed a master’s degree in Commerce or an MPhil with a minimum of 55% marks from a recognised university.
• Many universities in India also require applicants to qualify for the UGC-NET exam for admission into a PhD in the specialisation of Commerce.
• Work experience of 2-4 years is also preferred thought not mandatory.

In order to study abroad in a PhD in Commerce program, one is required to follow a few steps.

• If the university requires, you may have to get in touch with the prospective supervisor or professor beforehand whom you intend to work with.
• In addition to that, preparing a strong research proposal that underlines your future research inclinations is also important.
• Official GRE or GMAT and IELTS or TOEFL scores along with copies of official transcripts, CV, SOP, and LOR may also be required.
• If you are planning to pursue a dual degree, then you can read our blog on Integrated Ph.D . to know more.

From Academia to Private companies, the employment opportunities after obtaining a PhD in Commerce largely depends on the specialisation you choose. Some of the popular work areas and profiles have been given a rundown below:

Areas of Employment

• Commercial Banks
• Insurance Companies
• Financial Institutions like SIDBI, EXIM Banks, etc.
• Brokerage Firms
• Stock Exchanges
• Regulatory Bodies
• Insurance Corporations
• International Organisations like World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, etc.
• Business Analyst
• Lecturer/Professor/Academician
• Operations and Research Analyst
• Chief Financial Officer
• Technical Writing
• Big Data Analyst
• Investment Banker
• Portfolio Management Specialist
• Financial Analyst
• Statistician
• Risk Analyst
• Equity Research Analyst

The average salary of a PhD in Commerce graduate is ₹979,592, i.e. around 9.8 Lakhs approx. per annum in India. While the average stipend for PhD abroad is INR 35-45 Lakh per annum.

Related Articles:

Yes, you can do a PhD in commerce which is a 3-8 years long course. It gives you a deeper knowledge of commerce and accounting.

You can select any specialization offered by the university/organization. Some of the popular ones are as follows: Project Management Business Administration Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing Management, Organization & Leadership Accounting Public Administration

Yes, you can do PhD in Commerce after MCom, provided your academic qualifications match the criteria set by the university you plan to join.

Yes, if you want to pursue a PhD course in India, then UGC NET is mandatory. However, no such requirement is there if you want to pursue this course from abroad.

If you intend to pursue a PhD in Commerce but feel hesitant as to how to go about the whole process, consult our team of experts. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad . 

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Want to know more about PhD after mcom

Hi, Pradyumn! Related content: PhD in Commerce PhD in Accounting MBA in Delhi University For more help reach us at 1800 57 2000!

Looking for Phd in commerce subhect from abroad

HI, Ronin! You can read: Study Abroad Scholarships For more information call us at 1800 57 2000!

Looking for phd in commerce from canada??

Hello Rohit, We are delighted to know that you are considering to pursue your PhD in one of the best studyabroad destinations for international students, Canada! We would first like to wish you all the best for your future success and plans. Coming onto the question that you have asked, we feel that it could be best handled and answered by our experts and student counsellors at Leverage Edu. You just have to call on 1800572000 and they will guide you hunt the best universities in Canada which is ideal for PhD in commerce, so that you can kickstart your study abroad journey in no time!

Want to know more about PhD

Hello Zainab, We see that you are wanting to know more about the PhD course. Sharing with you one of our tip searches and guide on PhD courses for aspirants: https://leverageedu.com/blog/phd/ . You can even get in touch with one of the experts at 1800572000 and can book a free e-meeting with them to kickstart your PhD journey in abroad.

Please sir guide me, I really need to do ph.d

If you wish to do a PhD in Commerce from abroad, you can connect to our experts at 1800-572-000 who will guide you.

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Navigating Your PhD Topic Choice

Embarking on an impactful research career, starting with your thesis.

We’ve compiled this guide to share the tools and frameworks we think will be most helpful to you if you’re searching for a meaningful thesis topic for your PhD.

About this guide

If you’re applying for a PhD, this guide can provide comprehensive assistance throughout your journey towards finding the best possible PhD for you. In the first part we focus on how you can decide whether to pursue a PhD, identify the values you want to guide your research and start generating research ideas. In the second half we will introduce a framework you can use to narrow your ideas down to a specific research question and ultimately create a PhD proposal. Finally, we will help you with finding the best possible supportive environment for your project and identifying the next steps of your PhD journey.

If you are not yet very familiar with core concepts like career capital and the ITN framework , we recommend reading the linked articles. We also recommend you read this article to understand why systematic approaches to career decisions are probably more useful than popular advice like “follow your passion”, and why helping others with your career will help you experience your job as more meaningful. 

How to use this guide

We recommend completing this guide over multiple sittings, e.g. working through one section per week. However, please adjust the pace to suit your circumstances. We think you will get the most out of this guide if you start from the beginning, but you might want to skip some sections if you’ve already thought deeply about the content.

After reading the articles linked in each step, take some time (5-10 minutes) to answer the prompts we list, or to complete the exercises we recommend. We find that writing your thoughts down on paper is a step that people often want to skip, but it can help tremendously in getting clarity for yourself. 

Is a PhD the right next step for you?

Lots of people “stumble” into PhDs. For example, they might see it as a default step in completing their education, or they might have been offered to continue with their previous supervisor. Before committing to a PhD programme, it is good to consider a broad range of alternatives in order to ensure that a PhD is the best path for you at this stage. Make sure you have done enough reflection and updated your plans based on your experiences thus far, instead of going down the “default” academic path.

We also recommend that you take some time to browse through these short descriptions of core concepts , particularly ‘Expected Value’, ‘Opportunity Cost’ and ‘Leverage’.  Perhaps note down a few takeaways that apply to your decision.

Reflection prompts

If you’re unsure whether a PhD is right for you, here are some prompts to consider.

• Where do you envision yourself a few years after completing a PhD? 
• How does a PhD align with your long-term goals and aspirations?
• Are you genuinely interested and intrinsically motivated by the subject area you intend to pursue with your PhD? 
• Have you carefully assessed whether obtaining a PhD is a necessary requirement for your desired career path? 
• Are there alternative routes or professional qualifications that may lead you to your desired destination more efficiently, e.g. in less time/ with a better salary?
• Have you talked to people who completed or are currently pursuing the kind of PhD you are considering?

Exercise: exploring career paths

One helpful activity to undertake could be to search for job opportunities that you find exciting. To start, do a job search (2-5 hours) and list the five most attractive options you can find. Now, check which job requirements you’re currently lacking. Do you need a PhD to get the role? Would you get there faster or be better prepared by taking a different route?

Here are some more articles if you are interested in the question ‘Who should do a PhD?’:

• Survival Guide to a PhD – Andrej Karpathy
• Why I’m doing a PhD – Jess Whittlestone
• Pro and Cons of Applying for a PhD – Robert Wiblin

Reflect on your values and moral beliefs

Understanding your values and moral beliefs is an ongoing endeavour and you don’t need to have it figured out before choosing your topic. However, we do encourage reflection on this, as doing so might significantly shift your motivation to work on some problems over others. If that happens, the earlier you make this shift the better. What do we mean when we say doing good ? Most people agree that they want to “do good” with their lives. However, it is worth reflecting on what this actually means to you. We recommend reading the article linked above to learn more about some concepts we think are particularly relevant when reflecting on this question, such as impartiality, the moral circle, and uncertainty. This will help you to get a better understanding of what sort of thesis topics would align with your values and what kind of problems you want to contribute to solving with your research.

• How much do you value animal lives vs human lives ?
• How important do you think is it to reduce existential risks for humanity?
• How much do you value future generations ? How do you feel about improving existing lives vs lives that exist in the future?

This flowchart from the Global Priorities Project can help you navigate through this cause prioritisation process.

Here are two further resources that could help you with this reflection:

How to compare global problems for yourself – 80,000 Hours

World’s Biggest Problems Quiz | ClearerThinking.org

Getting inspired

Now it’s time to get inspired! You can read more about how research can change the world , and how academic research can be highly impactful . Finally, have a look at our thesis topic profiles for inspiration or, if you have no time constraints, sign up to our Topic Discovery Digest to receive biweekly inspirational emails. These emails cover a range of particularly impactful research areas, along with example research questions that are recommended by our experts and relevant to many different disciplines of study. We recommend you read the 3-5 profiles that interest you the most in depth.

• Which of the topic profiles that sparked your interest are new to you? How could you quickly get a better understanding of what it is like to work on these topics?
• How would disregarding your current skill set change your top choices? Would you consider taking some time out to “upskill” to switch to a new area of research, if possible?
• What are the uncertainties that, if you could find an answer to them, would help you decide between your top choices?

See here if you want to learn more about how we go about writing our thesis topic profiles and why we prioritise these topics.

Side note: Because we try to feature problems that are particularly important, tractable, and neglected, you might see some problems listed on our site that it’s uncommon to see described as global problems, while others are not featured. As an example, in our “human health and wellbeing” category, we list anti-aging research but not cancer research. We think research on widely recognised problems such as cancer is highly important. However, because so many more researchers are already working on these problems, we think that – all else equal – you will probably have a bigger impact working on problems that are relatively neglected.

Generating ideas

After reading a few of our topic profiles , we recommend that you start a brainstorming document as an ongoing way of collecting research questions you’re interested in. This will help you keep track of and develop your ideas during your idea generation phase, and make it easier for others to give you feedback later on. 

In addition to exploring our topic profiles, you could also identify questions through a literature review and reach out to your supervisor or other researchers in the field(s) you’re interested in and ask what they think some of the most important and neglected open questions are. Moreover, you could contact some of the organisations listed on our topic profiles and ask if there are research projects you could undertake that would be decision-relevant for them. Reaching out to others at this stage can also help to discard unfeasible ideas early on, before you invest too much time in them.

Some tools that might be useful during the idea generation phase:

• Connected papers – explore connections between research papers in a visual graph.
• Elicit – an AI research assistant to help you automate research workflows, like parts of literature review.
• Find more resources and tools for research here .

We recommend collecting at least 20 research questions, grouped into overarching topics or research fields, and then adding some context, e.g. relevant papers and researchers, why you think this question is worth addressing, what relevant expertise you already have, and how qualified you are to work on this compared to other options. 

NB : We think that many people feel too limited by their past work, so we think you should probably lean towards considering questions and topics that are slightly outside your comfort zone.

Exercise: create a brainstorming document

Use this template to create a brainstorming document.

Comparing options

Once you feel you have collected enough research questions in your brainstorming document, you can start comparing how these research questions score on the factors that are most important to you. We recommend you take 15-20 minutes to think about which factors are key to your decision of pursuing a PhD and write them down. Here are some factors (adapted from this post ) that you could consider:

• Importance – How large in scale and/or severity is the problem your question would address? 
• Tractability – How realistic is it that you would make progress? Is your research question concrete and manageable, and do you have a clear strategy to tackle it?
• Neglectedness – Will others work on this question if you don’t?
• Actionability – Would your research have a clear audience and could it inform positive actions? Will this project generate genuinely new and useful findings/data? Will it help to translate/ communicate important ideas that need more attention/ awareness?
• Learning value – Will you learn useful things from working on the project? Will it help you build valuable research skills, build your model of how something important works, and/ or help you refine a vaguely defined concept into a crisp, important question?
• Exploration value – Will this project help you decide what to do next? 
• Personal fit & situational fit – Does your personal background make you a good fit for working on this question? Do you currently have or can you find support for working on it, e.g. excellent mentorship? 
• Credentials and career capital – Will the output demonstrate your research competence? For example, if you could get a reference from a particularly prestigious researcher by working on one of the projects you’re interested in, this might be an important consideration. Will the project reflect well on you, and is it shareable with others (or could it be developed into something shareable/ a publication)? Will the project allow you to build relationships with people whom it will be helpful to know going forward? 
• Intrinsic motivation   – Are you excited about working on this project?
• Method efficacy – How well can a particular approach help solve the problem that you are trying to address?

Exercise: sketch theories of change for your research questions

Once you’ve considered which of these factors matter to you, take a few minutes to sketch a theory of change for each research question you’re considering. 

A theory of change is a step by step plan of how you hope to achieve a positive impact with your research, starting with the context you’d be working in, the research outputs you would plan to produce, and the short- and long-term impacts you would hope to achieve with your research. Sketching some theories of change will help you outline how your research ideas could have a positive impact, giving you something to get feedback on in the next step below.

Consider whether your research could have negative outcomes too

When you’re considering the value of working on a particular research problem, it may also be important to remember that research isn’t a monolithic force for good. Research has done a lot of good, but there are many examples of it doing a lot of harm as well. There is a long history of research being biased by the discriminatory beliefs and blindspots of its time, as well as being used to justify cruelty and oppression . Research has made warfare more deadly and has facilitated the development of intensive factory farming . Dual-use biotechnology research is intended to help humanity, but could, for example, cause a catastrophic pandemic in the event of a lab accident or if the technology was misused. While some researchers are trying to increase the chance that future artificial intelligence is safe for humanity , many more researchers are focused on making AI more powerful. 

While it isn’t realistic for researchers to foresee every way their research could be (mis)used, many researchers are trying to create frameworks for thinking about how research can do harm and how to avoid this. For example, if you’re interested in working on biosecurity or AI safety, you could explore concepts such as differential progress and information hazards . If you’re working on global health questions, it may be important to educate yourself about the concept of parachute science .

Reach out to others for feedback

At this point, we think it could be helpful to identify some experts who might be interested in talking about your collection of potential research questions, and reach out to them for feedback. Getting feedback might then help you to prioritise between questions, develop your methodology further or discard projects before investing too much effort in them. You could seek feedback via two strategies – firstly, by sending your brainstorming document to people asking for general comments, and secondly, by seeking out people who have specialist knowledge on specific questions you’re considering and asking for their feedback on those ideas.

Here are some ways of connecting with other researchers:

• Reach out to your existing connections
• Attend research conferences related to your field of interest and speak to relevant people there, e.g. 1-1s at EAGs could be a great place to reach out to people for feedback on research ideas on directions that we recommend
• Are there any local student and/ or reading groups in your area that focus on a research area that you are planning to work on? 
• Public Slack channels on your research area, e.g. List of EA Slack workspaces

When preparing to reach out to experts, keep these key points in mind:

• Give the expert relevant information about yourself (e.g. What is your background? What is the scope of the project you’re planning to work on?).
• Prepare a short agenda if they’ve agreed to call you and share it with them beforehand (although they might not have time to read it, many people appreciate having the option to consider topics of discussion in advance).
• Think about what your key uncertainties actually are and what kind of feedback you want from the expert. Would you like their overall reaction? Detailed comments? Feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your research ideas? Specific suggestions to improve your ideas? Feedback on how you plan to use the outputs of your research project? 
• Consider having a brainstorming document ready to share with them.
• You might want to have a look at this and this for more information about how to prepare.

Exercise: creating a weighted-factor model

Choosing which factors you want to base your thesis decision on will help you to reflect on what is important to you. Once you’ve done the exercise above and gathered some feedback from other people about your ideas, think about how much weight you want to give each factor. Lastly, try to evaluate how the research questions you’re considering score on each factor. The outcome of this ranking can serve as guidance for deciding on a question and can help clarify your intuitions about which questions would be the best fit for your dissertation. Here is an example of a ranking of potential thesis questions using a weighted-factor model (WFM).

Refining your research question

Once you have settled on a research question, it is time to develop a well-scoped and viable research proposal. The purpose of the proposal is to identify a relevant research topic, explain the context of the research, define concrete goals, and propose a realistic work plan to achieve them. If you’ve already built a Theory of Change for your research question, we recommend adding detail at this stage to help you create a proposal. We also think it’s important to reach out to your supervisor or other relevant people in the field of your research interests to ask for feedback, as this will help you develop an appropriate methodology. 

Here are a few more tips that could help you with narrowing the scope of your research project or refining your research question:

• First, make sure you have a detailed model of the problem you are planning to address in your research. Who are the different actors involved? How can research help fill gaps in our current knowledge? What are the particularly neglected approaches and interventions for this problem?
• You will only be able to make a valuable research contribution if your project is focused. Break down goals into discrete tasks and summarise what you are actually going to do. We suggest you create a detailed plan for the first few months of your project, a less detailed but fully coherent plan for the first year, describe a direction you might take in the second year, and generate some ideas for the following years. This will help you understand how much work is involved in every step and evaluate what is feasible in the available time frame.
• Consider practical questions. What kind of facilities do you have? Do you meet the university requirements?
• Try to develop the smallest possible question that can be answered and that data can be collected on, then have conditional upgrades/sub-questions based on that. This can be ambitious, but each stage should be developed enough to not be overwhelming or too vague.
• Start with a research question that’s as simple as possible and that you’re confident will be successful. From there, you can slowly and incrementally work towards pursuing more complex research questions. 

Find the best possible supportive environment

There are many different types of PhD programmes available – from 3-year PhDs to which you apply with a very specific project idea, to 6-year PhD programmes in which the first years are dedicated to coursework. It is important to find the best environment for your studies, with crucial considerations including the university and its community, the supportiveness of the supervisor/lab and the availability of funding. This section has advice on these three points and aims to facilitate you reflecting on them.

How much does the reputation of the university where you study your PhD matter for an academic career?

This is a commonly asked question among students, and we have compiled a set of key insights based on conversations with 30 of our experts. 

• The general advice is that you should pick the most prestigious university or research hub that you can get into.
• The importance of your university’s reputation varies across regions, with the US and the UK placing more significance on it compared to Europe or Australia. For the US especially, you will likely get a much better education and teaching quality, as well as access to resources, from a more prestigious university.
• It is worth noting that high-quality research labs (and supervisors) can be found outside of big-name universities, as specific research hubs may exist elsewhere. 
• It is important to note that even researchers in the most prestigious universities can be poor supervisors. 
• Ideally, you’ll find a great supervisor at a highly reputable institution. However, if you have to decide, finding an excellent supervisor seems to be the superior consideration – see below. 
• The significance of the university’s reputation increases if your career aspirations involve influencing government, e.g. in policy roles.
• Outstanding research, impactful contributions to the field, and a strong professional network could potentially outweigh the importance of a university’s reputation. 

Find a standout advisor

We think it is very important to find someone who genuinely cares about your research question and who will make a lot of time to supervise you well. Further, your supervisor will influence how effective you are in your work and how much you enjoy the research, as they will be the primary person guiding you throughout your whole research process. Especially at the PhD level, your advisor’s network matters tremendously for how well- connected you are and what sorts of opportunities will be open to you. So, here are some green flags to look out for in a supervisor:

• They care about your research question (pitch your ideas to the supervisor and see how enthusiastic they are about the potential project).
• They have the skills to supervise your project (check if they have experience in the methodologies you want to use).
• They truly care about mentoring you well (ask questions about their mentoring style, get a feel for how you match as a person).
• Their previous and current students are satisfied with them as a supervisor (ideally the person has a good track record of supervising other students – arrange a meeting with at least one current or past student). 
• They are successful (e.g. based on their citation count and general prestige).

Sign up for access to our database of potential supervisors who work on the research directions we recommend. Here are more tips on finding the right person to supervise you. 

Financing your studies

Even if you get accepted to a programme, it does not automatically mean that you get funding as well. Here are some tips if you need to apply for funding independently:

Consider a wide range of funding sources, e.g. national scholarships, university scholarships, grants and foundations dedicated to specific causes, and excellence scholarships (e.g. Gates or Rhodes Scholarships). Here is our funding database which includes funding opportunities relevant to the research directions we recommend.

• Consider the university environment – Would you be happy to live in the city of the programme you are applying to for 3-6 years? Do some university environments offer a more stimulating environment than others? Are there other researchers with similar values or motivations to you in this research hub?
• Do you have any hard criteria for choosing the location for your PhD? For example, would you consider moving abroad for an exciting opportunity? 
• What do you already know about the application process? What uncertainties do you have and how can you go about resolving them?

We recommend that you make a list of the programmes that best fit your research interests and other factors that are important to you. Then, check the requirements and deadlines for each of them and write down the next steps you need to take to apply. We also recommend reaching out to people who have gone through the PhD programme(s) you are applying to to hear about their experiences.

Set out your next steps

Take a few minutes now to write down your next steps for applying to the programs you’re interested in.

It could be helpful to sign up for some accountability buddy schemes, ask friends to check on your progress, or to set yourself a hard deadline on some important next steps that you want to take. You could schedule some time in your calendar right now, or make a note in your to-do list about a task that you want to complete soon.

Reflection prompts:

• What information do you need to get right now?
• What are you uncertain about? 
• What is keeping you from advancing with your project and how could you concretely resolve this?

Examples for concrete next steps could be:

• Reach out to people for feedback on your brainstorming document
• Reach out to potential supervisors
• Apply to an EAG or other academic conference and make a list of people you want to speak to 
• Reach out to people who have gone through the program you are applying to
• Reach out to current PhD students about proposal examples

Here are some further resources that could be helpful for you:

• Tips on impactful research
• Resources and tools for research
• Looking after your mental health
• Our Effective Thesis Community
• Research internships and other opportunities

For more general career advice, there are some other organisations that could help you with 1:1 advising. We recommend the following:

• 80,000 hours offers one-time 1:1 advising calls about using your career to help solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. They can help you choose your focus, make connections, and find a fulfilling job to tackle important problems.
• Magnify Mentoring pairs mentees who are interested in pursuing high-impact careers with more experienced mentors for a series of one-on-one meetings.
• Probably Good is running 1:1 advising calls to brainstorm career paths, evaluate options, plan next steps, and to connect you with relevant people and opportunities. 
• Lastly, please leave us some feedback . Thank you! 

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The Ultimate Guide to a PhD In Commerce 

• November 26, 2022
• No Comments

For aspirants who have a strong passion for studying, the PhD in Commerce is a good option. There are many universities offering this course, and our team of experts has compiled all the details to help you get started on your journey to becoming an expert in your field. 

What is Commerce?  

The subject of Commerce is the study of the exchange and distribution of goods, services, and ideas. It includes both the wholesale and retail trade of goods, as well as service industries such as banking, insurance and hotels. 

The main purpose of commerce is to help people meet their wants and needs by providing them with products or services that can be used for their purposes. In this way, commerce helps people to better understand their wants and needs. Commerce also plays an important role in helping to establish economic growth. 

The subject is made up of three components: 

• Income Generation – the process by which individuals produce goods or services for sale to others 
• Income Distribution – the distribution of income between individuals within an economy 
• Productivity Growth – improvements in productivity over time 

PhD in Commerce – Overview  

A PhD in Commerce is a higher education qualification that can be earned through research. It is usually awarded after completion of a postgraduate coursework program of at least three years, followed by thesis or dissertation research. 

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is different from other types of doctorate degrees because it requires more rigorous requirements than those associated with MSc or DBA programs. The process takes longer and involves more work than those offered by universities; however, it also offers greater opportunities for career advancement and leadership positions within organizations such as banks or consulting firms where you will be working directly with clients on projects related to your field of study 

Eligibility Criteria  

• You must have a bachelor’s degree in commerce . If you have your Bachelor’s degree but have not yet completed all the requirements for your PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) , then you can apply to take up full-time research at this time. 
• You must have minimum 55% aggregate marks (60% for SC/ST/PWD) out of 100 marks (or equivalent) in each subject with at least 3 years work experience as an assistant professor or lecturer at any Indian university or college. Where he/she taught at least two subjects during that period and had passed with at least 60%. 
• If he/she has some other qualification or training program during his career, it may be considered as qualifying steps towards his PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) eligibility criteria but does not qualify him as such 

PhD in Commerce: Admission Process  

• PhD in Commerce is a research-based degree. 
• It is also a postgraduate program, which means that it can be pursued at the University or College level. 
• A PhD in Commerce can be pursued at either an Australian or New Zealand university, depending on your country of origin. 
• The duration of study for this degree is 3 -5 years (6-9 semesters). 

Top Universities in India for a PhD in Commerce  

• IIM Ahmedabad 
• IIM Bangalore 
• IIM Calcutta 
• IIM Lucknow 
• IIM Kozhikode 
• International Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (IIME), Kozhikode. The college offers four-year programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce with specialization in Marketing or Finance and Banking. MBA (Master of Business Administration) with specialization in International Trade & Purchasing Management, Master’s Programs related to any one of the following disciplines: 
• Economics/Business Studies; 
• Statistics/Mathematics; 
• Computer Science & Information Technology; 

Specializations under a PhD in Commerce  

A PhD in Commerce is a postgraduate course that provides students with training in business administration, economics, and management. Aspirants can choose from a wide range of specializations under PhD in Commerce such as: 

• Business Administration (CEMS) 
• Economics 
• Management 
• Marketing 
• Finance 

The most popular specialization among students is CEMS, which focuses on the study of finance & accounting and banking subjects like insurance, e-commerce & hospitality management etc.. Some other popular specializations include Operations Research (OR), Human Resource Management (HRM) or Information Technology (IT) . 

Career Options after a PhD in Commerce  

After a PhD in Commerce , you can work as a professor in a reputed college or university. You can also choose to work in a research institute. If you want to start your own business, then it is better that you don’t get a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) because there are not many opportunities for entrepreneurs after this degree. However, if that’s what you really want then go ahead and do it! 

If all these options sound exciting but still scary at the same time, then don’t worry because there are many other careers available too! For example: 

• Students with degrees from different universities often end up working together on projects or even start their own businesses together (e-commerce). This is called “cooperation.” 
• Some students become entrepreneurs themselves after finishing their studies (e-commerce). They make their own products which they sell online through social media platforms like Facebook etc.

PhD in Commerce is an advanced level degree program for commerce students with a passion for in-depth research on a topic related to commerce, economics, or business studies.  

When you graduate with a PhD in Commerce , you will be able to work as an academic at a university. You can also work in research and development for companies such as large corporations or small businesses. 

A PhD in Commerce with a specialization can be a great career opportunity for you. It is an advanced-level degree program for commerce students with a passion for in-depth research on a topic related to commerce, economics or business studies. You may choose from several different specializations such as: International Trade, Financial Accounting, and Reporting, Taxation or Business Economics.

These specializations will help you gain a strong foundation in your field of study so that you can go on to achieve success in any field of work within this discipline (whether it is corporate work at consulting firms such as KPMG India or McKinsey). So if your want to pursue your degree in PhD in commerce then Aimlay will support you to complete your degree at UGC recognized University.

Frequently Asked Questions

A PhD in Commerce in India offers lots of recruitment and employment opportunities, the scope is very high with subjects of commerce.

Commerce is a vast subject, it has numerous kinds of topics to research and for developing new conclusions. Some main topics associated with Commerce are: Strategic Cost Management; Business Forensics; Accounting Information Systems; Audit Technology; Revenue Management and Business Intelligence and many more.

Aspirants pursuing a PhD in Commerce & Management will assist you in gaining a broad understanding of the field’s fundamentals. These courses are extremely beneficial because you will be able to study various aspects of business and commerce through research and assessment.

No, you are not eligible to pursue a PhD right after your graduation. You require a master’s degree (post graduation) in the similar field, you are choosing a PhD.

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• Ph.D. in Commerce

The Doctoral Research (Ph.D.) programme offered by the School of Economics and Commerce at MIT-WPU is designed to nurture scholars for advanced careers in commerce research, teaching, practice, consulting, training, and development. Through a comprehensive curriculum encompassing rigorous coursework, research seminars, and workshops, the programme aims to cultivate independent researchers, teachers, and professionals capable of making substantial contributions in industry, academia, government, and society.

This programme equips students with the necessary skills and expertise to engage in creative and innovative research, publish scholarly works, and validate the findings of their research in various areas of commerce. Candidates gain advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues in fields such as accounting, costing, banking and finance, marketing, and more. The programme emphasizes the integration of sound theoretical concepts with practical applications and emerging trends.

Upon completion of the programme, graduates will possess the capabilities to serve as esteemed academicians, policy-oriented researchers, and professionals equipped with practical knowledge, cutting-edge research insights, and industry-relevant skills across diverse domains within the field of commerce.

Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET) Syllabus

Guidelines for Research Scholars

Ph.D Programme Fees

The following candidates are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme

Candidates who have completed:

i) A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institutions accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institutions.

A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the commission from time to time.

Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

ii) Candidates who have completed the M. Phil programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

Reservation is applicable only to Maharashtra domicile candidates provided they submit the necessary documents for reservation before interview. Outside Maharashtra candidates will be considered in open category.

1. Candidates satisfying eligibility criterion shall be called to appear for the Ph.D. entrance test conducted by MITWPU. The exemption will be given from Ph.D. entrance test for those students who qualify UGC-NET /UGC-CSIR NET /GATE (valid score)/CEED/GPAT (valid score)and similar national tests.

2. PhD entrance test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50% provided that relaxation from 50% to 45% shall be allowed for the candidates belongs to SC/ST/OBC (Non creamy layer)/Differently abled category, Economically Weaker section (EWS) and other category of candidates. The syllabus of entrance test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.

3. The interview/viva-voce will be conducted by the university for test qualifying candidates. For selection of candidates a weightage of 70% to the entrance test and 30% to the performance in the interview/Viva-voce shall be given. For GATE/NET/JRF /SET/GPAT/CEED qualified students, the selection will be based on Interview/Viva Voce

4. The recommended candidates will be intimated through email about their selection and the candidates will be offered Ph.D. provisional admission.

5. The eligibility of a candidate is provisional as per information provided by the candidate in his/her application form and is subject to verification of minimum eligibility conditions for admission to the program, educational documents and reservation documents (if any).

6. University keep rights to cancel admission of the Ph.D. scholars in the case of misconduct by the scholar, unsatisfactory progress/absent for consecutive two progress seminars, failure in any examination related to Ph.D., fabrication found in educational and reservation documents, candidate is found ineligible, involved in plagiarism in paper publications and thesis.

7. Provisional eligibility to appear in the selection process is no guarantee for admission to the program.

8. Candidates who will join PhD program full time, they will be provided with the stipend as per MITWPU norms.

9. PhD admission will be confirmed after successful completion of the course work with 55% or more as per UGC norms. Ph.D. programme should be minimum of three years including course work and maximum of six years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.

10. A maximum of an additional two years (2) years can be given through the process of re-registration provided, however, that the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme should not exceed eight (8) years from the date of admission in the Ph.D. programme.

11. Provided further that, female Ph.D. scholars and persons with Disabilities (having more than 40% disability) may be allowed an additional relaxation of two years(2) ; however the total period for completion of a Ph.D. program in such cases should not exceed ten (10) years from the date of admission of the programme.

12. Female candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave for up to 240 days in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme.

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E-commerce Dissertation Topics

Published by Carmen Troy at January 10th, 2023 , Revised On August 18, 2023

Introduction

Studying e-commerce helps in understanding how online businesses work. As a student of e-commerce, you will be required to learn about the various electronic mediums that online businesses rely upon and how online operations and transactions are carried out.

Essentially, e-commerce is studying the different technologies involved in setting up an online business. These include automated data collection systems, artificial intelligence, user design, inventory management systems, electronic data interchange systems (EDI), online transactions processing, industry-specific user tools, internet marketing, supply chain management, news breaking, and electronic funds transfer, and mobile commerce.

To help you get started with brainstorming for e-commerce topic ideas, we have developed a list of the latest topics that can be used for writing your e-commerce dissertation.

PhD qualified writers of our team have developed these topics, so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the topic,  research question ,  aim and objectives ,  literature review  along with the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted. Let us know if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  dissertation examples  to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of  dissertation topics for 2022 here.

2022 E-commerce Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: an assessment of the geographical constraints impacting the business flow of e-commerce- a case study of amazon..

Research Aim: This study aims to find the impact of geographical constraints on the flow of e-commerce business focusing on Amazon. In this research, we will analyse how these geographical restrictions affect the flow of business. In many areas, e-commerce may drive the decline of small stores and may also affect the local producers and the global economy.

Topic 2: An investigation of the security controls and issues of e-commerce websites in the UK online environment.

Research Aim: With the development of the global economy and an increasing number of customers running their business largely through the internet or mobile has made e-commerce grow. Creating an effective strategy is the most integral part of a modern organization; however, a company must take care of the new security concerns and problems while maintaining their quality and high standard. This study will primarily focus on the security control and issues of e-commerce websites in the UK and how they cope with them to keep the data secured.

Topic 3: Google ads vs. Search ads in e-commerce- A comparative study

Research Aim: An organization may find it challenging to decide what kind of advertisement they should use for their online campaigns. This study will provide a comparative analysis of google ads and search ads and give us an understanding of both ads, focusing on which is better according to the budget of the organisation, which will help them gain a significant audience and grow the business.

Topic 4: An examination of consumer decision-making processes- A comparative study between e-commerce and m-commerce in the United Kingdom.

Research Aim: The growth of eCommerce is increasing day by day. This research aims to find the factors affecting the online purchase decision. This study will provide a comparative analysis of eCommerce and m-commerce in the UK, focusing on different factors and characteristics of both. This study will differentiate the features of eCommerce and m-commerce and identify the main factors which influence the long run of online marketing to provide better services for consumers and make them know about new business opportunities.

Topic 5: Gender Inequality in the Ecommerce Industry.

Research Aim: Women in industries are still facing substantial issues in their daily lives as well as in their professional lives; for example, salary gaps, discrimination, maternity leave are just simple examples that influence the everyday lives of thousands of individuals around the world. This study will focus on the gender inequality and biased behaviours individuals, especially women, face in the eCommerce industry.

Covid-19 E-commerce Research Topics

Topic 1: impacts of coronavirus on e-commerce.

Research Aim: The study will focus on identifying the effects of coronavirus on E-commerce.

Topic 2: Frequent E-commerce shopping during Coronavirus pandemic

Research Aim: Coronavirus has affected almost every business, including E-commerce. This study will investigate the reasons behind increasing online shopping, challenges faced by E-commerce industries, and measures taken to improve the business.

Topic 3: Contribution of E-commerce during COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will identify E-commerce industries’ contribution during the coronavirus pandemic. What safety measures have they taken to provide safe deliveries of the products? What kind of challenges they faced?

Topic 4: Offline and online shopping after COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will focus on reviewing the current positive and negative impacts on online shopping and shopping in stores and predict the future of shopping after COVID-19, listing the differences, challenges, benefits, and risks of both online and offline shopping.

E-commerce Dissertation Topics for 2021

Topic 1: impact of digital business on the economic growth of the country: a case study of xyz country.

Research Aim: This research will focus on the significance of digital business during the pandemic and its impacts, not the country’s economic growth. It is a detailed view of the future that needs to be digitalised.

Topic 2: Brand marketing through social media

Research Aim: This research aims to focus on the importance of Brand Marketing through social media by addressing various current strategies used in brand marketing.

Topic 3: Impacts of social media on customer behaviour

Research Aim: This research aims to measure social media’s impacts on customer behaviour and address various effective strategies to attract customers through social media.

Topic 4: What factors influence the consumer's buying decisions?

Research Aim: This research aims to identify factors that influence the consumer’s buying decisions

Topic 5: Black Friday sale strategy to drive sales

Research Aim: This research aims to identify how the Black Friday sale strategy is effective in driving sales. How can huge discounts benefit sellers?

Topic 6: The role of influencer marketing in increasing sale

Research Aim: Influencer Marketers impact the customer’s perception. This research aims to the role of influencer marketing in increasing sales.

Topic 7: Impact of E-marketing on consumer purchase decision: the case of the luxury industry in the UK

Research Aim: This research aims to measure E-marketing’s impact on consumer purchase decisions in the U.K luxury industry.

Topic 8: Analysis of the customer-centric marketing strategies in attaining competitive advantage for the firm and sustaining business success

Research Aim: This research focuses on attaining customer-centric marketing strategies in a competitive advantage for the firm and sustaining business success.

Topic 9: Traditional vs. digital marketing: a comparative study of the last ten years

Research Aim: This research aims to conduct a comparative study of traditional vs. digital marketing in the last ten years.

Topic 10: The impact of relationship marketing on customer loyalty: an analysis of the Honda motor

Research Aim: This research aims to assess the impact of relationship marketing on customer loyalty. An analysis of the Honda motor will be conducted as the basis of the research.

Topic 11: The importance of search engines in e-commerce

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of search engines in e-commerce.

Topic 12: E-commerce company's advertising strategy-critical analysis

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of an E-commerce company’s advertising strategy.

Topic 13: Importance of customer retention in E-commerce

Research Aim: This research aims to measure the importance of customer retention in E-commerce.

Topic 14: Importance of brand loyalty in internet marketing

Research Aim: This research aims to identify the importance of brand loyalty in internet marketing.

E-commerce Dissertation Topics for 2020

Topic 1: analysing the impact of e-commerce strategies on building better relationships with customers: a case study of the uk fashion industry.

Research Aim: the UK fashion industry is a fragmented zone where a large number of famous brands have been competing to gain a competitive edge through better customer relationships. For the same purpose, effective e-commerce strategies can help in building better customer relationships. Thus, the main purpose of this research will be to analyse the impact of e-commerce strategies on building better relationships with customers of the UK Fashion industry.

Topic 2: Assessing the impact of unique website attributes on consumer buying pattern: A case study of Amazon and eBay

Research Aim: The rise of information technology has led famous brands to develop unique attributes for their websites to encourage their audience to buy. One of the most notable issues of the e-commerce industry is the ever-increasing competition amongst online retailers that offer user-friendly and unique website design and UX features to achieve favourable results. The purpose of this study will be to assess the impact of website attributes on consumer buying patterns with a focus on Amazon and e-bay.

Topic 3: How does e-commerce facilitate adding value to a business: A case study of service industry in China.

Research Aim: In today’s world with tech-savvy consumers, online purchases are much higher as compared to traditional, in-store purchases. This persuades the pioneers of the service industry to add value to their business by providing e-commerce facilities to consumers. Therefore, the main purpose of this research will be to analyse how e-commerce facilitates and adds value to a business with a focus on China service industry.

Topic 4: Critical analysis of security policies and vulnerabilities of an online banking website: Identifying the challenges and remedies to improvise risk management

Research Aim: The number of internet users around the world is increasing with each passing year, however, this has also posited various security problems for online banking websites. The main purpose of this study will be to critically analyse security policies and the vulnerabilities of online banking websites, along with the identification of challenges and remedies for improvising risk management.

Topic 5: Can e-commerce help organisations build a competitive advantage over their competitors?

Research Aim: This research will talk about the role of e-commerce in helping organisations build a competitive advantage against their competitors. This research will understand how e-commerce, through advanced technology, helps businesses attain their business objective and how it helps them facilitate their customers.

Topic 6: Exploring the regulations and guidelines set out for e-commerce companies

Research Aim: This research will understand the rules and regulations set out by the government and regulating authorities to implement safe and secure e-commerce. When offering online payment services to their customers, businesses have to make sure that they comply with the laws set out by the government so that customers’ payments are safe and secure.

Topic 7: Analyzing the best security mechanisms that should be implemented by e-commerce businesses

Research Aim: When implementing e-commerce models, it is necessary for businesses to make sure that the best security mechanisms are put in place. Customers trust companies which is why they make online payments. Thus the development of secure payment gateways is vitally important to keep the trust of customers. This research will analyse the various security mechanisms available for companies and how businesses should implement them.

Topic 8: Exploring the data privacy issues in e-commerce

Research Aim: This research will be focused on trust issues surrounding e-commerce. Customers make credit card payments trusting the company and the technology in use. However, there have been instances where companies failed to protect customer data, and their privacy is compromised. Such incidents can cause the company to lose its reputation and find itself having to deal with legal issues. This study explores the various privacy issues that customers come across when buying online.

Topic 9: E-Commerce and customer retention – What role does e-commerce play?

Research Aim: This research will explore an important aspect of businesses i.e. customer retention. The study will analyse whether or not e-commerce helps businesses in retaining customers. What are the various causes and reasons people trust e-commerce and stay loyal to a brand if it does? This research will investigate all the possibilities to conclude whether e-commerce plays a role in retaining customers or not.

Topic 10: Security limitations and challenges of implementing e-commerce.

Research Aim: This research will explore the challenges and security limitations businesses have to deal with when building an e-commerce business. The study will include the various security elements that companies have to consider when implementing e-commerce models, the challenges they encounter, and the steps that they take in order to ensure the security of customers’ data as well as their own systems.

E-commerce Marketing Dissertation Topics

Their marketing and advertising strategies largely influence e-businesses. Without having a well-rounded and educated marketing strategy, an e-business in today’s cut-throat online environment will surely struggle to succeed.

Web admins and online marketing experts employ various marketing strategies to engage potential customers on social networks, banner advertisements, and paid advertisements.

The internet has played a vital role in making data available to everyone, making it possible to target customers based on their demographics and social media profiles. Thus, from these intriguing and up-to-date e-commerce marketing topics, you can choose the most suitable one for your own dissertation project.

Topic 1: E-commerce and the importance of search engine rankings for businesses

Research Aim: This research will identify the importance of search engine ranking for e-commerce businesses.

Topic 2: Investigating internet marketing strategies employed by traditional retailers

Research Aim: This research will explore and evaluate the internet marketing strategies undertaken by businesses.

Topic 3: Retaining customers by employing e-commerce: A case study of the UK fashion industry

Research Aim: This research will explore the ways through which e-commerce businesses can retain their customers. A specific focus of this study will be the UK Fashion industry.

Topic 4: Wholly online or one foot in both worlds – The advantages and disadvantages of the two commonly employed marketing strategies - online and conventional models

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the pros and cons of two main marketing strategies employed by companies. Also, this research will study businesses that run both online and traditional businesses.

Topic 5: To investigate internet marketing strategies employed by e-commerce retailers

Research Aim: This research will understand the internet marketing strategies undertaken by e-commerce retailers.

Topic 6: Understanding the effect of customer behaviour on internet marketing strategies

Research Aim: This research will understand how internet marketing strategies change consumer behaviour.

Topic 7: Measuring the success of marketing strategy employed by new e-businesses – A case study of the UK retail industry

Research Aim: This research will aim to measure the success of marketing strategies adopted and employed by companies in the UK retail sector.

Topic 8: Measuring the success of internet marketing strategy employed by traditional businesses – A case study of the airline industry

Research Aim: This research will explore the success of internet marketing strategies employed by traditional businesses in the airline industry of the UK.

Topic 9: The role of original and plagiarism free content in today’s e-marketing strategies

Research Aim: This research will explore an important concept of internet marketing i.e. content marketing. The importance of content quality and authenticity will be evaluated in this study.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

E-commerce Strategy Dissertation Topics

The importance and the role of an effective e-commerce strategy should never be overlooked especially when promoting a product or service. In today’s highly “technology-oriented” world, having an internet presence is considered a requirement.

A well-rounded design can help e-businesses become leaders in their respective industries. Some related topics are listed below:

Topic 1: Evaluating internet marketing strategies employed by existing e-businesses

Research Aim: This research will aim to explore the various internet marketing strategies employed by various existing businesses. The dissertation will identify the most successful online marketing strategies for the last five years in the UK e-commerce industry.

Topic 2: The challenges and opportunities for organisations migrating to the internet

Research Aim: This research will explore the challenges and opportunities that companies come across when transitioning from a traditional to an e-commerce model.

Topic 3: Accident or Design – Do we really have an internet marketing mix model/strategy that is sure to work?

Research Aim: This research will aim to explore whether we really have an internet marketing mix model/strategy that is sure to work or do online marketing strategies become successful by accident.

Topic 4: Investigating the use of customer service in e-commerce to gain a competitive advantage

Research Aim: This research will investigate the role of friendly and efficient customer services in the success of e-commerce strategy

Topic 5: Exploring the most effective aspects of e-commerce strategy in today’s world

Research Aim: This research will outline the most important qualities of an e-commerce strategy to be successful in today’s fast-moving world.

Topic 6: Exploring the various internet business value creation strategies employed by e-businesses

Research Aim: This research will explore and investigate the different internet value creation strategies adopted by e-commerce businesses.

Topic 7: Measuring performance of an e-business marketing strategy

Research Aim: This research will aim to measure the success of an e-commerce strategy implemented by an e-commerce business. This topic can be customised to focus on a specific company or a specific strategy.

Topic 8: Investigating e-business strategies employed by educational institutes in the UK

Research Aim: The educational sector has adopted e-commerce to attract students from around the world. This study will aim to investigate the e-commerce strategies implemented by educational institutes to evaluate their success.

Topic 9: Reviewing the e-business strategies employed by the UK SME’s

Research Aim: This research will compare and analyse the best e-commerce strategy implemented by SMEs in the UK.

Topic 10: How effective e-commerce strategies can help companies in building their brand reputation

Research Aim: This research will understand the various strategies implemented by companies and will conclude whether implementing them helps companies build their brand reputation.

E-commerce Security and Trust Dissertation Topics

The importance of trust and security in e-commerce has greatly increased in recent times, thanks to the growing number of threats that exist on the internet. When companies decide to implement e-commerce models, they entrust their customers that their data and privacy will be protected.

On the other hand, customers also make e-commerce payments trusting the company with their information. Thus, exploring these two essentials of e-commerce will help understand how successful companies have been in assuring customers about their security systems. Here are some commerce trust and security topics for you to choose from.

1. E-Commerce Trust Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: trust in e-commerce – reality or myth.

Research Aim: This research will explore the trust aspect of e-commerce as to whether it really exists or is just a myth.

Topic 2: Investigating data privacy issues in e-commerce and how they affect businesses

Research Aim: This research will explore the data privacy issues in the e-commerce industry and how they affect businesses.

Topic 3: Data Protection Act: Does it help in building trust in e-commerce

Research Aim: This research will understand the data protection act. It will also analyze whether or not it helps businesses to build trust. The research will explore whether changes to this act are required or not.

Topic 4: How has anti-virus technology helped the e-commerce industry?

Research Aim: This research will explore the effectiveness of anti-virus software and whether it has helped protect the e-commerce industry.

Topic 5: Investigating strategies used by retailers to build up trust among potential and existing customers

Research Aim: This research will analyse the strategies utilised by retailers in the UK to build trust among customers.

2. E-commerce Security Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: to identifying the security limitations that led to third party attacks in the past.

Research Aim: This research will analyse the past third-party attacks and will explore the reasons as to why those happened.

Topic 2: An empirical study of e-commerce security, challenges, and solutions

Research Aim: This research will discuss the basics of e-commerce security, the challenges faced by the industry and its solutions.

Topic 3: Investigating strategies employed by e-commerce businesses to enhance the security of e-commerce transactions

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the various strategies that are employed by e-commerce businesses to enhance the security of e-commerce transactions.

Topic 4: Exploring the effectiveness of encryption in the e-commerce industry

Research Aim: This research will investigate the effectiveness of encryption and the reason why the e-commerce industry adopted it.

Topic 5: Online reputation management: Exploring how e-commerce companies in the UK fashion industry practice it

Research Aim: This research will discuss a relatively new concept, online reputation, and will explore how the UK fashion industry practices it.

E-commerce Usability Dissertation Topics

Not many e-businesses pay enough attention to the usability of their e-commerce website. It should be noted that the complex ordering and navigation system leads to higher bounce rates, leaving companies with very little or no revenue.

Companies should build a user-friendly user interface, or else visitors will prematurely give up and abandon their shopping cart. To explore this aspect of e-commerce, here are some latest research topics:

Topic 1: A comparative analysis of the usability of the world’s leading travel websites

Research Aim: This research will compare the website user interface of leading airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, etc.

Topic 2: Evaluating the website design and structure of the leading UK retail stores

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the website design and structure of the leading retail stores in the UK.

Topic 3: Assessing the website usability and design interface of government websites in the U.A.E.

Research Aim: This research will analyse the websites user interface of government-run websites in the United Arab Emirates.

Topic 4: Reviewing user-friendly design options for an e-commerce website for an online clothing store

Research Aim: This research will explore the website UX design options that must be taken into consideration by companies to ensure user-friendliness and smooth flow.

Topic 5: An analysis of the usability of m-commerce applications

Research Aim: This research will discuss and analyse the m-commerce application of the web systems as to how they should be built, keeping user-friendliness in mind.

Topic 6: Customer preferences and behaviour: Should these be considered when building a website?

Research Aim: This research will consider two important aspects of website development – customer preferences and behaviour. The study will discuss the importance of being mindful of consumer behaviour and consumer preferences when building a brand new website.

Topic 7: The impact of poorly designed websites on a company’s revenues

Research Aim: This research will assess the effects of poorly designed websites on a company’s revenues.

Topic 8: Customer satisfaction and usability: Are they both related to the e-commerce?

Research Aim: This research will explore the most important factor related to business, i.e. customer satisfaction and how it relates to website UX designing.

Topic 9: Critically analysing the UX design technologies employed by e-commerce businesses.

Research Aim: This research will critically analyse the current technologies employed by e-commerce businesses.

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E-commerce Law Dissertation Topics

Governments across the globe have reacted slowly to technological advancements being made over the last fifty years. The lobby groups behind large profit-making organisations play a huge part in the e-commerce laws being made.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Copy Right Act are two classic examples of such laws created to protect the interests of those in power. Consequently, the benefits of the legislation are not being experienced by the general public. Thus, it is worth exploring this aspect of e-commerce. Some suggestions are provided below if you wish to base your e-commerce dissertation on law:

Topic 1: To compare the e-commerce regulations in the United States of America and the European Union for new and existing e-commerce businesses

Research Aim: This research will compare and analyse the e-commerce laws and regulations for new and existing businesses in the United States of America and the European Union,

Topic 2: The role of consumer protection laws in the development of e-commerce – The case of the UAE

Research Aim: This research will explore customer protection laws and their role in the development of e-commerce in the UAE.

Topic 3: Computer Misuse Act 1990: Is it relevant today in the e-commerce industry?

Research Aim: This research will explore the computer misuse act 1990 and whether or not it is relevant today in the e-commerce industry.

Topic 4: Exploring how Brexit will impact the e-commerce laws for companies in the UK

Research Aim: This research will explore the impact of Brexit on the e-commerce industry in the UK and whether or not there will be new laws.

Topic 5: The impact of the American Copyright Act extension on e-commerce

Research Aim: This research will explore the impact of the American Copyright Act extension on e-commerce.

Topic 6: Analysing the impact of international legislation on the e-commerce industry

Research Aim: This research will analyse the impact of international legislation on the e-commerce industry.

Topic 7: Investigating UK’s legislation concerning e-businesses and how it affects businesses

Research Aim: This research will understand how UK legislation has set out e-commerce rules and how it impacts businesses.

Topic 8: Exploring the effectiveness of e-commerce laws and legislation as a deterrent to cyber attacks.

Research Aim: This research will understand whether or not e-commerce laws and legislation act as a deterrent to computer attacks and how effective they have been.

Topic 9: The implications of the Data Protection Act 1988 for e-businesses

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the implications of the Data Protection Act 1988 for e-commerce businesses of today.

Topic 10: An analysis of the lawfulness of the e-commerce industry

Research Aim: This research will explore in-depth the laws and legislation related to e-commerce and how well they are adopted and implemented by e-commerce businesses.

Mobile E-commerce Dissertation Topics

Studies performed on e-commerce by various researchers reveal that mobile e-commerce will be the next “big thing” in the e-commerce industry.

With smartphones being the emerging and driving force in technology, the use of the internet in today’s world is not limited only to desktops and laptops. All smartphones using android and IOS applications allow users to browse the internet.

Consequently, more and more retailers are upgrading their websites to make them responsive and friendlier to mobile visitors. In this regard, some savvy e-commerce retailers are developing delivery mechanisms that satisfy the new platform’s needs.

Thus, it will be interesting to explore this aspect of e-commerce as it will give an insight into the current e-commerce industry. Here are some interesting mobile e-commerce dissertation topics that you can choose from.:

Topic 1: Wireless security and its effectiveness in the e-commerce Industry

Research Aim: This research will explore the concept of wireless security and how it helps the e-commerce industry.

Topic 2: Analysing the use of m-commerce by customers today – Understanding their adoption pattern

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the e-commerce adoption rate and what compels customers to move towards m-commerce.

Topic 3: Investigating m-commerce strategies employed airline sector in the UAE

Research Aim: This research will investigate the m-commerce strategies that are employed by the airline sector in the UAE.

Topic 4: Analysing m-commerce innovation in the travel sector of the UK

Research Aim: This research will analyse the quick adoption rate of m-commerce rate in the travel sector in the UK.

Topic 5: Combining the benefits of m-commerce with the benefits of traditional commerce and e-commerce – A study of any multi-national retailer

Research Aim: This research will present a comparative analysis of traditional commerce and e-commerce and how multinationals benefit from it. This topic can be customised to a country or company of your choosing.

Topic 6: The effects of m-commerce on economic development in Europe

Research Aim: There is no doubt that e-commerce and m-commerce have played a huge role in developing economies. This research will investigate the impact of m-commerce on Europe’s economic development.

Topic 7: Trust and security issues in m-commerce: How companies can overcome them

Research Aim: This research will present some major trust and security issues associated with m-commerce and explore how companies can overcome these challenges.

Topic 8: The impact of m-commerce user interface on companies’ revenues

Research Aim: This research will first understand the importance of user interface in m-commerce and will then assess its impact on the company’s profitability.

Topic 9: Understanding the role and importance of data security in m-commerce – How it can be ensured

Research Aim: Just like e-commerce, m-commerce also has its own data security issues. This research will understand the role of the importance of data security and discuss how it can be ensured.

Topic 10: Generating revenue through m-commerce – Challenges and opportunities

Research Aim: This research will understand the challenges and opportunities associated with revenue generation through m-commerce.

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Important Notes:

As a student of e-commerce looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing e-commerce theories – i.e., to add value and interest in your research topic.

The field of e-commerce is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like business , marketing , management , and even project management . That is why it is imperative to create an e-commerce dissertation topic that is particular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best e-commerce dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and can also be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample e-commerce dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your E-commerce Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analyzing published and unpublished literature on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths while identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic and key terms that can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analyzed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is establishing the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References : Make sure to complete this following your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to find dissertation topics about e-commerce.

For E-commerce dissertation topics:

• Examine emerging trends in online business.
• Investigate consumer behavior and preferences.
• Analyze impacts of technology on E-commerce.
• Explore security and privacy concerns.
• Study E-commerce strategies and marketing.
• Choose a specific area aligning with your expertise and curiosity.

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PhD Research Topics

Of course, the PhD topics of your doctorate are very important on which you do your project and write a research paper. When you select your PhD topics you must have a clear idea of what your doctoral dissertation will look like. In PhD topics, there are a few false impressions and indefinite throughout everyplace 'topics', and numerous PhDs assume that all they need is the overall theme, to begin with, their research from starting your PhD topics ... If you have ideas to choose your PhD topics, if you "work" on it and invest a lot of time, you will create one for yourself and you will be successful! you have a reasonable thought regarding what your PhD journey will be about. In any case, you despite everything need to pound out solid examination addresses that will assist you with organizing your exploration. By and by, settling on a theme and working out your exploration questions goes connected at the hip. Read more

How to choose a PhD topic

Basically, scholars need to know.

PhD topic selection is an important process and the one in which scholars get confused

Good PhD research Topics

Current research topics.

Select a topic in the area which you are interested in, and have more knowledge about.

Be confident with what you choose.

Choose topics that create impact or change by the research.

Be particular about what you are going to choose.

Steps to follow for choosing a PhD Topic

• 1 Basic research is done in a particular area
• 2 Following this do a search about products and techniques
• 3 Explain the gaps in research and the solutions obtained to overcome
• 4 Chapter Writing
• 5 This explains to the reader why the topic was chosen and the need for the topic, improvements made in the topic.

Chapter Models

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Model and Implementation

Chapter 3 - Methodology

Chapter 4 - Analysis of data obtained

Chapter 5 - Body of the research

Select a unique area of research

Topic should make the reader to read the article

Choose flexible topics

Topic should be ease to implement

The main topic should cover overall ideas and concepts of the paper

A topic tells the main idea of a paragraph.

The first part of the topic should explain the idea and the rest explains the technique

Describe the working of the research

State the seriousness of the problem

Propose a solution for the problem

Describe the benefits of the research

Summarize the problem and solution

Research topics in Engineering

Mechanical engineering.

• Machine design
• Engineering materials
• Designing, manufacturing, and robotics
• Mechatronics
• Fluid mechanics
• Nanotechnology

Architecture engineering

• Heritage and conservation
• Landscape design
• Technology and sustainability in architecture

Aeronautical and Aerospace engineering

• Space flight mechanism
• Aerodynamics
• Computational aerodynamics it's designing
• Experimental aerodynamics

Chemical engineering

• Polymers and complex fluids
• Sustainable energy
• Catalysis and reactions

Instrumental engineering

• Soft computing techniques
• Automated analysis & understanding of biological cells
• Combustion stability monitoring
• Research on wind turbines

Civil engineering

• Design construction and integration
• Engineering informatics and simulation
• Sensing, monitoring, and controlling intelligent systems
• Innovative materials

Electronics and communication engineering

• Fiber optic communication
• Embedded systems
• Nano-electronics
• Human area network
• Marine engineering

Computer science and engineering

• Software engineering and programming
• Computational intelligence
• Computer graphics
• Human-centered computing
• Internet and web computing
• Mobile and cloud computing
• High-performance computing
• Complier optimization
• Data mining

Industrial Engineering

• Optimization
• Production planning and logistics
• Modeling and simulation
• Analytics and statistics
• Education, case studies
• Information system for production and management

Automobile engineering

• Biomechanics
• Designing and manufacturing

Biomedical engineering

• Regenerative engineering
• Cell & Molecular Imaging and bio-photonics
• Neural engineering

Topics for research

Start to study thoroughly on selected research topics.

If you are doing more detailed research when looking for a Phd. Articles, books, and other sources for research want to change or refine your research topic based on your results. The topic development process will help you improve your writing and research skills and you will need to prepare the suggested answers for your research questions. Then you are ready to use the resources found and use the various sources effectively depending on your dissertation and answer your research problems

PhD Topic in Commerce

We are a group of companies and economies that include all the activities that lead to the transformation of goods and services from products to clients in PhD topics. For many years PhD topics in e-commerce have been the fastest-growing commercial industry

Many universities offer specialized PhD degrees in Commerce. At the graduate level. PhD topics in Commerce include international marketing, accounting, finance, marketing, or project management.

The work degree is designed to provide the multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills required in the modern work world.

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Commercial and International Economic Law
• Management and Commerce
• Doctor of Business Administration - Marketing

Base paper Implementation

A base paper is an example project report or a paper that has been distributed by an earlier researcher, that researchers use as reference material for finishing their PhD postulation. The thoughts introduced in the base papers are additionally investigated for a new understanding.

Write a Base paper for Implementation

For good result.

The research and result of the study must be consistent.

Plan and Process

The use of basic text should be similar to the function used as a guide. This is especially true for experimental surveys.

Research on the main work must be on the same topics. For example, research information can be used for analysis to solve a problem. This will ensure that the source code is updated.

The details in the main document should be clear and easy to understand in terms of modules, graphics, and diagrams.

The language used in the paper should be well researched and appropriate to a particular area of knowledge. This will help the scientist understand the range of technical terms that can be used. In addition, the base and shape of the paper should be in line with the appropriate style.

Thesis Writing

Every section of a proposal is imperative and similarly important. While all topics request equivalent consideration, the degree of trouble that they present for each researcher may vary. A few up comers discover the writing audit part is almost overwhelming; for others, information examination ends up being the fault list.

Research topics in technology

• Artificial intelligence
• Gold mining
• Assistive technology
• Information technology
• Space exploration
• Technological innovation

Research topic in medicine

• Health care
• Food and nutrition
• Women health
• Addiction and substance abuse
• Disease and disorders
• Mental health

Research topic in Management

• Corporate planning
• Financial management and accounting
• Human resource management
• Innovation and technology

PhD research topics in education

• Transformative learning
• Developing learner autonomy
• Development education
• Critical pedagogies

Research topics in Science

• Neurobiology
• Rapid-acting anti-depressants
• Molecular Pharmacology
• The evaluation of Health Impacts in Low and Middle-income Countries
• Dementia Care through Community-Based Activity
• Health and Green Space
• Public Health based on the quality of drinking water

Research topics in mathematic

• Algebra, Combinatory, and Geometry
• Analysis and Partial Differential Equations
• Applied Analysis
• Mathematical Biology
• Mathematical Finance
• Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing
• Topology and Differential Geometry

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• What is a PhD?

Written by Mark Bennett

A PhD is a doctoral research degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. The degree normally takes between three and four years of full-time work towards a thesis offering an original contribution to your subject.

This page explains what a PhD is, what it involves and what you need to know if you’re considering applying for a PhD research project , or enrolling on a doctoral programme .

The meaning of a PhD

The PhD can take on something of a mythic status. Are they only for geniuses? Do you have to discover something incredible? Does the qualification make you an academic? And are higher research degrees just for people who want to be academics?

Even the full title, ‘Doctor of Philosophy’, has a somewhat mysterious ring to it. Do you become a doctor? Yes, but not that kind of doctor. Do you have to study Philosophy? No (not unless you want to) .

So, before going any further, let's explain what the term 'PhD' actually means and what defines a doctorate.

What does PhD stand for?

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy. This is one of the highest level academic degrees that can be awarded. PhD is an abbreviation of the Latin term (Ph)ilosophiae (D)octor. Traditionally the term ‘philosophy’ does not refer to the subject but its original Greek meaning which roughly translates to ‘lover of wisdom’.

What is a doctorate?

A doctorate is any qualification that awards a doctoral degree. In order to qualify for one you need to produce advanced work that makes a significant new contribution to knowledge in your field. Doing so earns you the title 'Doctor' – hence the name.

So, is a PhD different to a doctorate? No. A PhD is a type of doctorate .

The PhD is the most common type of doctorate and is awarded in almost all subjects at universities around the world. Other doctorates tend to be more specialised or for more practical and professional projects.

Essentially, all PhDs are doctorates, but not all doctorates are PhDs.

Do you need a Masters to get a PhD?

Not necessarily. It's common for students in Arts and the Humanities to complete an MA (Master of Arts) before starting a PhD in order to acquire research experience and techniques. Students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) don't always need an MS/MSc (Master of Science) to do a PhD as you'll gain training in lab techniques and other skills during your undergraduate degree.

Whether a Masters is a requirement for a PhD also varies by country. Australian PhDs may require a Masters as the equivalent of their own 'honours year' (where students work on research). US PhD programmes often include a Masters.

We have a whole guide dedicated to helping you decide whether a PhD without a Masters is the right route for you.

The origin of the PhD

Despite its name, the PhD isn't actually an Ancient Greek degree. Instead it's a much more recent development. The PhD as we know it was developed in nineteenth-century Germany, alongside the modern research university.

Higher education had traditionally focussed on mastery of an existing body of scholarship and the highest academic rank available was, appropriately enough, a Masters degree.

As the focus shifted more onto the production of new knowledge and ideas, the PhD degree was brought in to recognise those who demonstrated the necessary skills and expertise.

The PhD process – what's required to get a PhD?

The typical length of a PhD is three to four years full-time, or five to six years part-time.

Unlike most Masters courses (or all undergraduate programmes), a PhD is a pure research degree. But that doesn’t mean you’ll just spend years locked away in a library or laboratory. In fact, the modern PhD is a diverse and varied qualification with many different components.

Whereas the second or third year of a taught degree look quite a lot like the first (with more modules and coursework at a higher level) a PhD moves through a series of stages.

A typical PhD normally involves:

• Carrying out a literature review (a survey of current scholarship in your field).
• Conducting original research and collecting your results .
• Producing a thesis that presents your conclusions.
• Writing up your thesis and submitting it as a dissertation .
• Defending your thesis in an oral viva voce exam.

These stages vary a little between subjects and universities, but they tend to fall into the same sequence over the three years of a typical full-time PhD.

The first year of a PhD

The beginning of a PhD is all about finding your feet as a researcher and getting a solid grounding in the current scholarship that relates to your topic.

You’ll have initial meetings with your supervisor and discuss a plan of action based on your research proposal.

The first step in this will almost certainly be carrying out your literature review . With the guidance of your supervisor you’ll begin surveying and evaluating existing scholarship. This will help situate your research and ensure your work is original.

Your literature review will provide a logical jumping off point for the beginning of your own research and the gathering of results . This could involve designing and implementing experiments, or getting stuck into a pile of primary sources.

The year may end with an MPhil upgrade . This occurs when PhD students are initially registered for an MPhil degree and then ‘upgraded’ to PhD candidates upon making sufficient progress. You’ll submit material from your literature review, or a draft of your research findings and discuss these with members of your department in an upgrade exam . All being well, you’ll then continue with your research as a PhD student.

PhDs in other countries

The information on the page is based on the UK. Most countries follow a similar format, but there are some differences. In the USA , for example, PhD students complete reading assignments and examinations before beginning their research. You can find out more in our guides to PhD study around the world .

The second year of a PhD

Your second year will probably be when you do most of your core research. The process for this will vary depending on your field, but your main focus will be on gathering results from experiments, archival research, surveys or other means.

As your research develops, so will the thesis (or argument) you base upon it. You may even begin writing up chapters or other pieces that will eventually form part of your dissertation .

You’ll still be having regular meetings with your supervisor. They’ll check your progress, provide feedback on your ideas and probably read any drafts your produce.

The second year is also an important stage for your development as a scholar. You’ll be well versed in current research and have begun to collect some important data or develop insights of your own. But you won’t yet be faced with the demanding and time-intensive task of finalising your dissertation.

So, this part of your PhD is a perfect time to think about presenting your work at academic conferences , gaining teaching experience or perhaps even selecting some material for publication in an academic journal. You can read more about these kinds of activities below.

The third year of a PhD

The third year of a PhD is sometimes referred to as the writing up phase.

Traditionally, this is the final part of your doctorate, during which your main task will be pulling together your results and honing your thesis into a dissertation .

In reality, it’s not always as simple as that.

It’s not uncommon for final year PhD students to still be fine-tuning experiments, collecting results or chasing up a few extra sources. This is particularly likely if you spend part of your second year focussing on professional development.

In fact, some students actually take all or part of a fourth year to finalise their dissertation. Whether you are able to do this will depend on the terms of your enrolment – and perhaps your PhD funding .

Eventually though, you are going to be faced with writing up your thesis and submitting your dissertation.

Your supervisor will be very involved in this process. They’ll read through your final draft and let you know when they think your PhD is ready for submission.

All that’s left then is your final viva voce oral exam. This is a formal discussion and defence of your thesis involving at least one internal and external examiner. It’s normally the only assessment procedure for a PhD. Once you’ve passed, you’ve done it!

Looking for more information about the stages of a PhD?

How do you go about completing a literature review? What's it like to do PhD research? And what actually happens at an MPhil upgrade? You can find out more in our detailed guide to the PhD journey .

Doing a PhD – what's it actually like?

You can think of the ‘stages’ outlined above as the basic ‘roadmap’ for a PhD, but the actual ‘journey’ you’ll take as a research student involves a lot of other sights, a few optional destinations and at least one very important fellow passenger.

Carrying out research

Unsurprisingly, you’ll spend most of your time as a PhD researcher… researching your PhD. But this can involve a surprisingly wide range of activities.

The classic image of a student working away in the lab, or sitting with a pile of books in the library is true some of the time – particularly when you’re monitoring experiments or conducting your literature review.

Your PhD can take you much further afield though. You may find yourself visiting archives or facilities to examine their data or look at rare source materials. You could even have the opportunity to spend an extended period ‘in residence’ at a research centre or other institution beyond your university.

Research is also far from being a solitary activity. You’ll have regular discussions with your supervisor (see below) but you may also work with other students from time to time.

This is particularly likely if you’re part of a larger laboratory or workshop group studying the same broad area. But it’s also common to collaborate with students whose projects are more individual. You might work on shorter projects of joint interest, or be part of teams organising events and presentations.

Many universities also run regular internal presentation and discussion groups – a perfect way to get to know other PhD students in your department and offer feedback on each other’s work in progress.

Working with your supervisor

All PhD projects are completed with the guidance of at least one academic supervisor . They will be your main point of contact and support throughout the PhD.

Your supervisor will be an expert in your general area of research, but they won’t have researched on your exact topic before (if they had, your project wouldn’t be original enough for a PhD).

As such, it’s better to think of your supervisor as a mentor, rather than a teacher.

As a PhD student you’re now an independent and original scholar, pushing the boundaries of your field beyond what is currently known (and taught) about it. You’re doing all of this for the first time, of course. But your supervisor isn’t.

They’ll know what’s involved in managing an advanced research project over three years (or more). They’ll know how best to succeed, but they’ll also know what can go wrong and how to spot the warning signs before it does.

Perhaps most importantly, they’ll be someone with the time and expertise to listen to your ideas and help provide feedback and encouragement as you develop your thesis.

Exact supervision arrangements vary between universities and between projects:

• In Science and Technology projects it’s common for a supervisor to be the lead investigator on a wider research project, with responsibility for a laboratory or workshop that includes several PhD students and other researchers.
• In Arts and Humanities subjects, a supervisor’s research is more separate from their students’. They may supervise more than one PhD at a time, but each project is essentially separate.

It’s also becoming increasingly common for PhD students to have two (or more) supervisors. The first is usually responsible for guiding your academic research whilst the second is more concerned with the administration of your PhD – ensuring you complete any necessary training and stay on track with your project’s timetable.

However you’re supervised, you’ll have regular meetings to discuss work and check your progress. Your supervisor will also provide feedback on work during your PhD and will play an important role as you near completion: reading your final dissertation draft, helping you select an external examiner and (hopefully) taking you out for a celebratory drink afterwards!

Professional development, networking and communication

Traditionally, the PhD has been viewed as a training process, preparing students for careers in academic research.

As such, it often includes opportunities to pick up additional skills and experiences that are an important part of a scholarly CV. Academics don’t just do research after all. They also teach students, administrate departments – and supervise PhDs.

The modern PhD is also viewed as a more flexible qualification. Not all doctoral graduates end up working in higher education. Many follow alternative careers that are either related to their subject of specialism or draw upon the advanced research skills their PhD has developed.

PhD programmes have begun to reflect this. Many now emphasise transferrable skills or include specific training units designed to help students communicate and apply their research beyond the university.

What all of this means is that very few PhD experiences are just about researching and writing up a thesis.

The likelihood is that you’ll also do some (or all) of the following during your PhD:

The work is usually paid and is increasingly accompanied by formal training and evaluation.

Conference presentation

As a PhD student you’ll be at the cutting edge of your field, doing original research and producing new results. This means that your work will be interest to other scholars and that your results could be worth presenting at academic conferences .

Doing this is very worthwhile, whatever your career plans. You’ll develop transferrable skills in public speaking and presenting, gain feedback on your results and begin to be recognised as an expert in your area.

Conferences are also great places to network with other students and academics.

Publication

As well as presenting your research, you may also have the opportunity to publish work in academic journals, books, or other media. This can be a challenging process.

Your work will be judged according to the same high standards as any other scholar’s and will normally go through extensive peer review processes. But it’s also highly rewarding. Seeing your work ‘in print’ is an incredible validation of your PhD research and a definite boost to your academic CV.

Public engagement and communication

Academic work may be associated with the myth of the ‘ivory tower’ – an insular community of experts focussing on obscure topics of little interest outside the university. But this is far from the case. More and more emphasis is being placed on the ‘impact’ of research and its wider benefits to the public – with funding decisions being made accordingly.

Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to try your hand at public engagement as a PhD student. Universities are often involved in local events and initiatives to communicate the benefits of their research, ranging from workshops in local schools to public lectures and presentations.

Some PhD programmes include structured training in order to help students with activities such as the above. Your supervisor may also be able to help by identifying suitable conferences and public engagement opportunities, or by involving you in appropriate university events and public engagement initiatives.

These experiences will be an important part of your development as a researchers - and will enhance the value of your PhD regardless of your career plans.

What is a PhD for – and who should study one?

So, you know what a PhD actually is, what’s involved in completing one and what you might get up to whilst you do. That just leaves one final question: should you do a PhD?

Unfortunately, it’s not a question we can answer for you.

A PhD is difficult and uniquely challenging. It requires at least three years of hard work and dedication after you’ve already completed an undergraduate degree (and probably a Masters degree too).

You’ll need to support yourself during those years and, whilst you will be building up an impressive set of skills, you won’t be directly progressing in a career.

But a PhD is also immensely rewarding. It’s your chance to make a genuine contribution to the sum of human knowledge and produce work that other researchers can (and will) build on in future. However obscure your topic feels, there’s really no such thing as a useless PhD.

A PhD is also something to be incredibly proud of. A proportionately tiny number of people go on to do academic work at this level. Whatever you end up doing after your doctorate you’ll have an impressive qualification – and a title to match. What’s more, non-academic careers and professions are increasingly recognising the unique skills and experience a PhD brings.

Other PhDs - do degree titles matter?

The PhD is the oldest and most common form of higher research degree, but a few alternatives are available. Some, such as the DPhil are essentially identical to a PhD. Others, such as the Professional Doctorate or DBA are slightly different. You can find out more in our guide to types of PhD .

Is a PhD for me?

There’s more advice on the value of a PhD – and good reasons for studying one – elsewhere in this section. But the following are some quick tips if you’re just beginning to consider a PhD.

Speak to your lecturers / tutors

The best people to ask about PhD study are people who’ve earned one. Ask staff at your current or previous university about their experience of doctoral research – what they enjoyed, what they didn’t and what their tips might be.

If you’re considering a PhD for an academic career, ask about that too. Are job prospects good in your field? And what’s it really like to work at a university?

Speak to current PhD students

Want to know what it’s like studying a PhD right now? Or what it’s like doing research at a particular university? Ask someone who knows.

Current PhD students were just like you a year or two ago and most will be happy to answer questions.

If you can’t get in touch with any students ‘face to face’, pop over to the Postgraduate Forum – you’ll find plenty of students there who are happy to chat about postgraduate research.

Take a look at advertised projects and programmes

This may seem like a strange suggestion. After all, you’re only going to study one PhD, so what’s the point of reading about lots of others?

Well, looking at the details of different PhD projects is a great way to get a general sense of what PhD research is like. You’ll see what different PhDs tend to have in common and what kinds of unique opportunity might be available to you.

And, with thousands of PhDs in our database , you’re already in a great place to start.

Read our other advice articles

Finally, you can also check out some of the other advice on the FindAPhD website. We’ve looked at some good (and bad) reasons for studying a PhD as well as the value of a doctorate to different career paths.

More generally, you can read our in-depth look at a typical PhD journey , or find out more about specific aspects of doctoral study such as working with a supervisor or writing your dissertation .

We add new articles all the time – the best way to stay up to date is by signing up for our free PhD opportunity newsletter .

Ready to find your PhD?

Head on over to our PhD search listings to learn what opportunities are on offer within your discipline.

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

You may also like....

What happens during a typical PhD, and when? We've summarised the main milestones of a doctoral research journey.

The PhD thesis is the most important part of a doctoral degree. This page will introduce you to what you need to know about the PhD dissertation.

This page will give you an idea of what to expect from your routine as a PhD student, explaining how your daily life will look at you progress through a doctoral degree.

Our guide tells you everything about the application process for studying a PhD in the USA.

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AI Index: State of AI in 13 Charts

In the new report, foundation models dominate, benchmarks fall, prices skyrocket, and on the global stage, the U.S. overshadows.

This year’s AI Index — a 500-page report tracking 2023’s worldwide trends in AI — is out.

The index is an independent initiative at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), led by the AI Index Steering Committee, an interdisciplinary group of experts from across academia and industry. This year’s report covers the rise of multimodal foundation models, major cash investments into generative AI, new performance benchmarks, shifting global opinions, and new major regulations.

Don’t have an afternoon to pore through the findings? Check out the high level here.

A Move Toward Open-Sourced

This past year, organizations released 149 foundation models, more than double the number released in 2022. Of these newly released models, 65.7% were open-source (meaning they can be freely used and modified by anyone), compared with only 44.4% in 2022 and 33.3% in 2021.

But At a Cost of Performance?

Closed-source models still outperform their open-sourced counterparts. On 10 selected benchmarks, closed models achieved a median performance advantage of 24.2%, with differences ranging from as little as 4.0% on mathematical tasks like GSM8K to as much as 317.7% on agentic tasks like AgentBench.

Biggest Players

Industry dominates AI, especially in building and releasing foundation models. This past year Google edged out other industry players in releasing the most models, including Gemini and RT-2. In fact, since 2019, Google has led in releasing the most foundation models, with a total of 40, followed by OpenAI with 20. Academia trails industry: This past year, UC Berkeley released three models and Stanford two.

Industry Dwarfs All

If you needed more striking evidence that corporate AI is the only player in the room right now, this should do it. In 2023, industry accounted for 72% of all new foundation models.

Prices Skyrocket

One of the reasons academia and government have been edged out of the AI race: the exponential increase in cost of training these giant models. Google’s Gemini Ultra cost an estimated $191 million worth of compute to train, while OpenAI’s GPT-4 cost an estimated $78 million. In comparison, in 2017, the original Transformer model, which introduced the architecture that underpins virtually every modern LLM, cost around $900.

What AI Race?

At least in terms of notable machine learning models, the United States vastly outpaced other countries in 2023, developing a total of 61 models in 2023. Since 2019, the U.S. has consistently led in originating the majority of notable models, followed by China and the UK.

Move Over, Human

As of 2023, AI has hit human-level performance on many significant AI benchmarks, from those testing reading comprehension to visual reasoning. Still, it falls just short on some benchmarks like competition-level math. Because AI has been blasting past so many standard benchmarks, AI scholars have had to create new and more difficult challenges. This year’s index also tracked several of these new benchmarks, including those for tasks in coding, advanced reasoning, and agentic behavior.

Private Investment Drops (But We See You, GenAI)

While AI private investment has steadily dropped since 2021, generative AI is gaining steam. In 2023, the sector attracted $25.2 billion, nearly ninefold the investment of 2022 and about 30 times the amount from 2019 (call it the ChatGPT effect). Generative AI accounted for over a quarter of all AI-related private investments in 2023.

U.S. Wins $$ Race

And again, in 2023 the United States dominates in AI private investment. In 2023, the $67.2 billion invested in the U.S. was roughly 8.7 times greater than the amount invested in the next highest country, China, and 17.8 times the amount invested in the United Kingdom. That lineup looks the same when zooming out: Cumulatively since 2013, the United States leads investments at $335.2 billion, followed by China with $103.7 billion, and the United Kingdom at $22.3 billion.

Where is Corporate Adoption?

More companies are implementing AI in some part of their business: In surveys, 55% of organizations said they were using AI in 2023, up from 50% in 2022 and 20% in 2017. Businesses report using AI to automate contact centers, personalize content, and acquire new customers. 

Younger and Wealthier People Worry About Jobs

Globally, most people expect AI to change their jobs, and more than a third expect AI to replace them. Younger generations — Gen Z and millennials — anticipate more substantial effects from AI compared with older generations like Gen X and baby boomers. Specifically, 66% of Gen Z compared with 46% of boomer respondents believe AI will significantly affect their current jobs. Meanwhile, individuals with higher incomes, more education, and decision-making roles foresee AI having a great impact on their employment.

While the Commonwealth Worries About AI Products

When asked in a survey about whether AI products and services make you nervous, 69% of Aussies and 65% of Brits said yes. Japan is the least worried about their AI products at 23%.  

Regulation Rallies

More American regulatory agencies are passing regulations to protect citizens and govern the use of AI tools and data. For example, the Copyright Office and the Library of Congress passed copyright registration guidance concerning works that contained material generated by AI, while the Securities and Exchange Commission developed a cybersecurity risk management strategy, governance, and incident disclosure plan. The agencies to pass the most regulation were the Executive Office of the President and the Commerce Department. 

The AI Index was first created to track AI development. The index collaborates with such organizations as LinkedIn, Quid, McKinsey, Studyportals, the Schwartz Reisman Institute, and the International Federation of Robotics to gather the most current research and feature important insights on the AI ecosystem. 

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Who is Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s next president?

Claudia Sheinbaum has tethered herself to the policies of her mentor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. How will her presidency differ from his?

MEXICO CITY — Claudia Sheinbaum was fuming.

The presidential candidate held a comfortable lead in the polls as her party’s primary got underway last summer. But one afternoon, as she was entering a hotel for a meeting, she was confronted by dozens of her top rival’s supporters, chanting that the contest was rigged.

The normally stoic Sheinbaum strode inside and upbraided Alfonso Durazo , the official coordinating the primaries for the Morena party.

“Wherever I arrive, I want to be respected,” she declared, jabbing the table. “Do you understand?”

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The scene, captured on video, went viral. “We’d never seen Claudia Sheinbaum this way, with this strong character, this anger,” TV journalist Joaquin López-Dóriga said.

Sheinbaum, 61, made history Sunday when she defeated the pro-business tech entrepreneur Xóchitl Gálvez to be elected Mexico’s first female president and first Jewish head of state. She’s due to take office in October.

Sheinbaum has an impressive résumé, with a PhD in environmental engineering and a term as Mexico City mayor. Still, after nearly a quarter-century in the public eye, she remains an enigma, known mainly as the low-key protégée of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the charismatic leader known as AMLO.

The question is whether a President Sheinbaum can step out of his shadow and govern a violence-racked country whose political institutions are in flux.

Mexico’s presidential election

The Morena party, founded by AMLO in 2014, has become the 800-pound gorilla of Mexican politics, controlling Congress and 23 of 32 governorships. While Sheinbaum is now president-elect, the party faithful maintain an intense loyalty to AMLO of the sort that Donald Trump’s base has for him.

“It’s clear to me she wants to be her own person. But we are in an unprecedented situation,” said political analyst Carlos Heredia, who advised AMLO when he was mayor of Mexico City. “Instead of power being centered in the Mexican state, it’s in one person.”

Sheinbaum: Mexico’s first Jewish president?

Sheinbaum is so closely tethered to AMLO that she sometimes adopts his slow, pause-filled style of speaking. Yet her profile is distinctly different. He frequently cites his Christian beliefs. She’s not religious; she rarely discusses her Jewish heritage . (Her grandparents migrated from Lithuania and Bulgaria to escape discrimination and Nazi persecution.)

AMLO doesn’t speak English and dislikes traveling abroad. Sheinbaum did postdoctoral research at the University of California at Berkeley; her sister and daughter live in the United States.

AMLO, raised in Mexico’s poorer south, has the kind of folksy, small-town charm that catapulted Bill Clinton to the presidency. Sheinbaum grew up among the intellectual elite of the capital, enjoying daily ballet lessons and private tutoring in French.

What unites the two is a passion for political activism.

Sheinbaum’s parents were committed leftists, with a copy of Karl Marx’s “Das Kapital” hidden in the closet. Her mother, a biology professor, lost her job for participating in the 1968 student-led demonstrations against the one-party system that ruled Mexico for decades.

“In my house, we talked about politics at breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Sheinbaum told the journalist Arturo Cano for his biography “Claudia Sheinbaum: Presidenta.”

As an undergraduate at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the country’s flagship school, Sheinbaum plunged into student politics. Rosaura Ruiz, an academic and family friend, recalled Sheinbaum’s passion for helping the poor. At one point, Ruiz said, Sheinbaum spent weeks in an Indigenous community in the central state of Michoacán, designing more efficient wood-burning stoves for poor women.

“She decided that by studying science, she could contribute more to Mexico,” Ruiz said.

Perhaps the most important moment in Sheinbaum’s early political development was a student strike she helped organize in 1987 to fight a plan to raise university fees. She became part of a new generation of leftist politicians emerging from the university as the one-party system was crumbling. Many became prominent in the Revolutionary Democratic party, and helped AMLO become mayor of Mexico City in 2000.

As mayor, AMLO made Sheinbaum his environment secretary and entrusted her with one of his key projects: The construction of a “second story” for the Periférico, the highway that rings the capital. If he was the charming politician, known for cracking jokes at daily news conferences and scooting around the city in a white Volkswagen Jetta, she was the disciplined engineer who delivered projects on time.

In 2018, a public disgusted with corruption, violence and a sluggish economy voted overwhelmingly to make AMLO president . Sheinbaum, meanwhile, became Mexico City’s first elected female mayor.

Success reducing crime

In many ways, Sheinbaum’s mayoralty was an exercise in pragmatism. To battle crime, she brought in Omar García Harfuch , a former head of Mexico’s equivalent of the FBI, who had worked closely with U.S. law enforcement. He was the scion of a police family despised by many on the left; his grandfather was defense secretary in 1968 when security forces massacred hundreds of pro-democracy protesters , many of them students, in Mexico City’s Tlatelolco plaza.

Sheinbaum claims that homicides dropped by half on her watch. Analysts have questioned her figures, noting that a growing number of violent deaths — around 30 percent — are classified as “undefined” and not counted in murder statistics. Still, political scientist Rodrigo Peña said, “we’ve seen a very important drop in many crimes.”

Sheinbaum’s government created a special police intelligence unit, encouraged cooperation between prosecutors and cops, and turned to experts for innovative ideas, including techniques from Operation Ceasefire , a program developed to reduce gang violence in Boston.

“One of Claudia Sheinbaum’s great merits is that she made a political bet on maintaining a civilian police force,” Peña said. AMLO, as president, has taken the opposite approach, cutting funds for local police while expanding the military’s role in fighting crime.

Environmentalists view Sheinbaum’s performance in office as mixed. She battled Mexico’s powerful energy chief, Manuel Bartlett, to get funds to cover the city’s wholesale food market in solar panels. But she has also ardently defended AMLO’s efforts to roll back a 2013 energy initiative that gave a bigger role to the private sector and renewables.

Urban policy analysts say she is better known for highly visible projects — bike lanes, electric buses, cable cars to poor neighborhoods — than for a long-term vision. Her “big political sin” was inadequate upkeep of the sprawling Metro system, said Erika Alcantar, a professor of urban studies at UNAM.

In May 2021, a Metro overpass collapsed , killing 26 people. Sheinbaum hired a Norwegian consulting firm to investigate the causes. She praised its initial reports, which blamed construction errors that occurred under her predecessors. But when the firm’s final report also cited poor maintenance, she called it “biased and false.”

Trying to fill AMLO’s shoes

Sheinbaum isn’t known for her charisma. “In general, I’m an introverted person,” she told Cano.

Her political shortcomings were apparent in the June 2021 midterm elections. Morena won less than half of the 16 borough presidencies in Mexico City, the left’s political base for decades. While the vote represented a middle-class backlash against AMLO, analysts said, it also reflected Sheinbaum’s inability to turn out a strong pro-Morena vote.

As president, she faces a colossal task. López Obrador has managed a balancing act: Keeping the competing factions of Morena in line, maintaining the country’s stability as criminal groups fought for territory, protecting his idea of national sovereignty while satisfying U.S. demands on drugs, commerce and migration.

But he had strong support from Morena.

“This is his party,” Heredia said. “Sheinbaum will have to construct her own power base.”

AMLO, who relishes the spotlight, says he’ll retire to his ranch when his term ends in October and leave politics. Mexicans are skeptical.

AMLO has already set part of Sheinbaum’s agenda. He’s laid out proposals that are central to her campaign, including a constitutional amendment to elect Supreme Court judges by popular vote.

That’s alarmed Mexicans, who fear AMLO supporters would cast ballots for his allies. He has already weakened independent institutions such as the electoral board. If Morena wins the congressional supermajority necessary to pass the amendment, the party could gain control of all three branches of government.

Sheinbaum scoffs at the idea that AMLO will continue to run the government.

“Let’s see,” she told Cano. “A woman can’t do things, and needs a man behind her to tell her what to do?”

Ríos reported from Monterrey.