Management PhD / MPhil
Our interdisciplinary Management PhD offers specialisation in key business areas, such as supply chain, international business, entrepreneurship, marketing and the world of organisations.
Why study with us?
I am thankful for all the learning and experiences as it has equipped me in facing various challenges and opportunities presented within as well as outside of academia. Most importantly I have been, and continue to be, surrounded by inspirational individuals and a motivating community whose interests are to see me grow and develop.
Mary Joy Baloyo - Management PhD student
91%
of our School's research classified as 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
160
international experts shape world-class academic thought and make a direct impact on a wide range of organisations.
100%
of our research environment classified 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
Overview
If you have a master’s degree in a management related field, the University of Liverpool Management School offers the perfect environment to become a world-class specialist researcher in this area.
Offered as full-time or part-time, the programme gives you the opportunity to explore your own ideas while you receive thought-provoking advice from our academic staff.
Our Management PhD programme covers a broad range of topics for investigation across all aspects of business management.
We welcome research proposals including, but not limited to:
Marketing
- B2B marketing
- Consumer behaviour and digital identity
- Consumer culture
- Marketing strategy and analytics
- Vulnerable consumers and responsible marketing.
Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Transport and logistics
- Agri-food supply chains
- Sustainable operations and supply chain management
- Agile operations
- Supply chain technologies, analytics and risk.
Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship (SIBE)
- Sustainable strategy and its governance
- International business and management of people, knowledge and technology across borders
- Innovation, collaboration and emerging digital technologies
- Strategic intellectual property management across global innovation contexts
- Entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
Work, Organisation and Management (WOM)
- Work, health and wellbeing
- Leadership
- Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
- Identity
- Grand challenges in work, organisation and management.
Find out how to write your PhD research proposal.
Research training
We offer tailored training with modules designed to develop your research skills, specifically those needed to study business and management phenomena:
- Business and Management as a Social Science
- Quantitative Methods in Business and Management
- Qualitative Methods in Business and Management
- Advanced Research Methods.
To ensure you receive the most relevant support during the thesis development stage, you will work with a primary supervisor who is a leading expert in their field. Additionally, you will be supported by a secondary supervisor, who is a promising early career researcher specialising in your specific area of study.
Research environment
The Management School is a research powerhouse, with international financial and accounting experts shaping academic thought and making an impact on business practice, policymaking and society. As a PhD student, you will become part of a triple accredited (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS) and internationally recognised research institution, with outstanding REF 2021 results against 108 ranked Business and Management Schools across the UK:
- 12th for submissions judged as World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*)
- 16th for research outputs classified as World Leading (4*)
- 9th place for Research Power (17 places higher than in 2014)
- 100% of research supported by a World Leading (4*) or Internationally Excellent (3*) environment.
We also support pioneering research through our six interdisciplinary Research Centres focused on contemporary issues in business and society.
As a PhD student, you are welcome to join any of these Centres to connect with experts across the School and University.
Depending on your area of specialisation, you will become part of the four management-related groups at the Management School:
- Marketing Group
- Operations and Supply Chain Management Group
- Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship Group
- Work, Organisation and Management Group.
These Groups produce world-class theoretical and applied research with a strong focus on the real-world impact, with their members regularly publishing in a range of top scholarly journals.
When you join the Management School’s PhD community, you will become an active member of one of these four Groups. This means you are welcome to join their activities and research seminars, where prominent international speakers present their latest research and ideas.
Facilities
The Management School offers excellent research facilities, with dedicated hot desking offices at Chatham Building and Mulberry Court, allowing for plenty of interaction with other students and leading researchers.
As a PhD student, you will enjoy free access to professional software relevant to your area of specialisation, as well as a broad list of globally recognised journals and databases for management research available via our Library.
Financial support
We encourage you to explore the existing external and internal funding opportunities available to support your studies.
If you hold an Upper Second-Class or a First-Class Honours master’s degree, don’t miss the opportunity to apply for one of our four-year Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTFs) or our four year fully funded PhD scholarships - Intellectual property (IP), entrepreneurship and innovation in SMEs to fund your PhD studies and kickstart your career as a well-rounded academic.
Although our GTFs are not compatible with other studentships, such as those offered by the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership and the China Scholarship Council, we also recommend you to consider these options.
To ensure you receive the most relevant support during the thesis development stage, you will work with a primary supervisor who is a leading expert in their field.
Additionally, you will be supported by a secondary supervisor, who is a promising early career researcher specialising in your specific area of study.
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study. Fees stated are for academic year 2025/26.
| MPhil / PhD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £5,006 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,503 |
|
The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.
* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.
Entry requirements
To apply for our Management PhD programme, you need a UK master’s degree (or equivalent) in a business and management discipline, preferably with an Upper Second-Class or First-Class qualification.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall 7.0 no band below 6.5 |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 100 overall with L 21 R 21 W 21 and S 23 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 185 with no less than 176 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 69 with minimum scores of 61 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | ISE II with an overall pass with merit in components |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
Additional requirements
To apply for this research degree, you must have reached a minimum standard of English. You need to be able to provide evidence of this. See our English language requirements for international students for guidance on the different English language qualifications and evidence that you can provide.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from within the EU and from around the world. You should ensure that your qualifications are equivalent to those which are required to study for this research degree. See our guidance on international qualifications.
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
You’ll need the following documents to complete your online application:
- A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
- University transcripts and degree certificates to date
- Passport details
- English language certificates (international applicants only)
- A personal statement
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
- Contact details for your preferred primary supervisor
- Names and contact details of two referees (these should be academic referees if you've been in full-time education in the last three years).
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- Professor Carola Wolf
- Email: Professor Carola Wolf
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