Business School MPhil/PhD

This programme will give you the opportunity to carry out cutting edge research that will help you understand the challenges of business in a globalised society, will prepare you for a career in higher education or in professional practice, and offer you the chance to make a lasting contribution to organisations, academia and the wider society.

Why undertake a PhD in the Business School at Middlesex University?

Middlesex University’s Business School is internationally renowned and publishes in what the Research Excellence Framework (REF) considers ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ journals. The School features Research Clusters of leading scholars who are ideally situated to supervise doctoral students thanks to their expertise, such as the Alternative Organisations and Transformative Practices cluster, the Business Ethics, CSR and Governance research cluster, the Consumer Research for Well-Being Cluster; the Investment, Banking and Finance Research Cluster; the Transnational Labour and Social Movements Cluster; and others. The Clusters are often interdisciplinary with links to other Schools and Departments. You can find a full list of the University Research Clusters here. The School also has a reputation for equipping graduates with skills that can be applied beyond academia. Depending on your area of research, you will also be able to join one of the University’s research centres.

Our Business School is diverse and inclusive, with staff and students from different parts of the world and different academic and professional backgrounds. As part of the wider community of practice of staff and students, you will be engaging in designing and researching a project that will stand out for its contribution to knowledge. Through our three-year, weekly PhD Development Programme you will build essential research skills, train in research methods and learn how to write and disseminate your work to different audiences.

You will be encouraged to present your work in progress in a variety of academic settings, having access to professional networking opportunities in a global metropolis, as well as having the opportunity to undertake teachers' training and, if relevant, teach in the classroom.

Programme highlights

• Access to a weekly PhD development training that supports the different facets of becoming a researcher. This currently takes place through live online sessions
• Access to nearly 200 methodological on-demand web lectures through the University’s CARMA membership (Consortium for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis)
• If you are an economics student, access to wider PhD training networks
• Offers training and teaching opportunities in Middlesex University Business School
• Access to consultancy opportunities with government departments through the Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) and our Department of Economics.

About your course

What will you study on the PhD in the Business School?

Under the direction of your Director of Studies you will conduct empirical or theoretical research that will lead to new knowledge in your chosen field and you will write a report or thesis of 80,000 words. The route to a PhD at Middlesex University takes a minimum of three years (full-time). A part-time mode of study is also available. Undertaking this programme includes taking a structured PhD development training programme.

Our PhD is designed to prepare students build a range of skills that are linked to independent research, in particular:

• learn to write effective research proposals, literature reviews and report of findings
• be trained in research ethics, data protection and research management
• develop high level verbal and communications skills across a range of contexts
• select, develop and apply research methods relevant to your discipline
• learn how to plan, carry out and oversee research projects
• learn how to disseminate your findings and engage different audiences

The University monitors your progression through several check points and milestones. There are three stages to the PhD:

- the first stage is registration as an MPhil student within six months of enrolment (for full-time students) or within nine months of enrolment (for part-time students)

- the second stage is the transfer from the MPhil to the PhD programme, in which a panel assesses whether you have made sufficient progress to enrol as a PhD student

- the final stage of the programme is the writing up and submission of the thesis at the end of the third year, which is followed by an oral examination (the viva)

Research

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2023/24 academic year.

UK students¹

Full-time students: £6,300 per year

Part-time students: £3,150 (flat fee per year)

EU/International students²

Full-time students: £15,700 per year

Part-time students: £7,850 (flat fee per year)

Part-time study is only available via distance learning. Due to UK Government visa regulations, students from outside the EU may not study part-time in the UK.

Additional costs

Course costs

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

• A free electronic textbook for every module
• All printing and copying required for your study
• Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours
• Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.