Business and Management
MPhil or PhD
Key facts
Start dates
June 2022 / September 2022 / January 2023 / June 2023
Application deadline
Applications must be received in full by:
- 15 January 2022 (for June 2022 entry)
- 15 May 2022 (for September 2022 entry)
- 15 September 2022 (for January 2023 entry)
- 15 January 2023 (for June 2023 entry)
Location
Course length
Full time: minimum 3 years
Part time: minimum 4 years
Department
Funding status
Self-funded
Overview
Business and Management is a broad disciplinary cluster which includes sub-disciplines such as Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and International Business, amongst others. Accordingly, our doctoral students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of innovative research topics of diverse thematic, spatial, and even temporal contexts.
As a doctoral student in Business and Management you will be supported to pursue and publish original research, combining your empirical enquiry with expert theory building. You will also be invited to participate in a broad range of training workshops and speaker events organised by the School, joining a vibrant research community of students of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Degree routes
All students enrol as probationer research students. The degree for which you register will depend on your academic qualifications and research experience. During the first year you will formally register your research proposal for one of the below routes.
MPhil
If you undertake an MPhil you will:
- critically investigate and evaluate an approved topic
- demonstrate understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field
- present and defend a substantial thesis by oral examination.
Thesis: 50,000 words
Length of study: Full-time: 2-3 years. Part-time: 3-4 years.
PhD
The criteria for a PhD are similar to those for an MPhil, with the key difference that:
- the research carried out will result in an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
Thesis: 100,000 words
Length of study: Full-time: 3-4 years. Part-time: 4-6 years.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
You will benefit from:
- a supervisory team of two to three supervisors who can provide the best combination of expertise to support your work
- training courses in research methods provided by the Business School and wider University
- regular seminars and learning activities at department, school and university level
- experience of presenting work to different audiences
- opportunities to network and discuss your work with staff and fellow students.
- engage with our entrepreneurs in residence and visiting entrepreneurs
- Work with local businesses
- collaborative opportunities, including receiving industrial funding and sponsorship.
You will be supported in developing and sharing your expertise through:
- opportunities to present at internal seminars and conferences
- dupport in attending, and ultimately presenting at external conferences (some financial assistance is available)
- training as an Associate Lecturer and the opportunity to engage in teaching activity on appropriate modules offered by the Business School.
Learning and assessment
While every candidate’s exact experience will vary according to their particular discipline, topic and methodology, there are a number of common elements that all students will undertake:
- critically investigating and evaluating an approved topic
- undertaking an analytical review of the existing literature in your topic area to set the theoretical context for your work and help demonstrate the gap in knowledge you will address
- developing and then implementing a rigorous and appropriate methodology for researching your topic
- demonstrating that your research conforms to all relevant ethical codes of practice
- extensive primary field research, analysis and evaluation.
Your progression will be monitored through an annual process undertaken at the end of each academic year, and through two key progression points after approximately six months and eighteen months of study respectively.

Students

Abigal Muchecheti
Leadership aspirations of black and ethnic minority women in non-academic roles across UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Anthony Ebow Spio
An exploration of women entrepreneurs’ competency development process in pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities in the manufacturing sector in Ghana

Hannah Isabelle Tornow
Which contextual and individual factors shape gender inclusive innovation in the knowledge economy of Oxfordshire?

Cornelia Bogatu
Exploring identity development of independent professional coaches - a narrative study
How to apply
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a good honours degree and a good master's degree at merit level or above that includes a thesis component.
Applicants with equivalent experience will be considered.
Application process
- Complete your research proposal
- Gather your supporting documents (listed below)
- Make a direct application.
If you have any difficulty completing your application, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Supporting documents
When applying for this programme of study please upload all of the required supporting documents listed below to the online application portal.
We suggest merging your supporting documents into a single PDF file. Please note there are two specifically designated options for you to upload your two references to.
- copies of your previous degree transcripts and certificates (both undergraduate and postgraduate)
- a scan of your passport
- two academic references
- a 2,000-word Research Topic Proposal
- evidence of funding (we require evidence of personal funds or letter from funder if being sponsored)
- international students must also provide an English Language Certificate with an IELTS score of at least 7.0.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees
Find out more about fees and funding opportunities by visiting our finance web pages:
- Postgraduate finance for UK students »
- Postgraduate finance for EU students »
- Postgraduate finance for students outside the EU »
Fees increase by approximately 4% each year and apply to all MPhil, MPhil/PhD, PhD, MA by Research, MSc by Research and LLM by Research programmes.
If you have any questions about fees get in touch with the Research Degrees Team at rd-enquiries@brookes.ac.uk