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MRes/PhD in Management - Marketing

• Graduate research
• Department of Management
• Application code N2Z2
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Closed
• Overseas full-time: Closed
• Location: Houghton Street, London

This programme offers you the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to the field of marketing. You will begin on the MRes and will need to meet certain requirements to be upgraded to PhD status.

The MRes/PhD in Management – Marketing is part of a rigorous and interdisciplinary graduate training programme designed to stimulate critical thinking and creative ideas and provide you with the analytical skills to test hypotheses.

As a research-led department of management  ranking #5 in our field , we aim to produce top-quality social scientists who are able to engage with the conceptual foundations of marketing – such as consumer behaviour and quantitative modelling – and employ robust methods in their research.

The Marketing faculty group’s research is internationally recognised for its potential to impact practice in the field (e.g., Marketing Science Institute’s Young Scholar Award, Google-WPP Marketing Research Award, AMA-SIG Awards, AMA-SRT Forum Award, and Society for Judgment and Decision Making Awards). Faculty have diverse academic backgrounds (physics, economics, psychology, marketing, and management), interdisciplinary research interests, and a variety of methodological approaches (econometrics, lab experiments, field experiments, and surveys). Accordingly, the research strategy of the faculty is to focus on pursuing fundamental research questions that have a bearing on critical marketing issues like consumer decision making, managing new products and innovations, pricing strategy, advertising, and channels of distribution.

You will work closely with the Marketing faculty as part of a vibrant doctoral student community. The programme includes a comprehensive methodological training with the opportunity to specialise in a designated field.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mres/phd in management - marketing.

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree in any discipline, or the equivalent.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

GRE/GMAT requirement

The GRE/GMAT is required for all applicants. We do not require a specific GRE/GMAT overall score but the test gives us an indication of your aptitude for our programmes. There is no preference for GMAT or GRE but all applications must submit scores at the time of application. Your score should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024.

See  LSE information on GRE and GMAT  for more detail on our requirements and submission of test scores, including information on LSE’s institution codes.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate  staff research  interests before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your;

• academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications)
• academic statement of purpose ( see guidance on writing your statement of purpose )
• academic references ( see guidance on references )
• GMAT/GRE ( how your scores are reviewed )
• outline research proposal ( see guidance on writing your research proposal )
• sample of written work

See LSE Graduate Admissions information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements.

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . See the fees and funding section for more details.

How to apply

To apply online go to the LSE Application System .

We do not require a specific overall score but the test gives us an indication of aptitude for our programmes. A strong GMAT or GRE score will count in your favour, but other information, such as your research interests, your examination results, previous qualifications and references are central to our overall evaluation of your application. We recognise that if your first language is not English, the verbal test will be more demanding and we view your score on that basis.

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MRes/PhD in Management - Marketing

Home students: £4,786 for the first year Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for  LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

Financial Aid and Funding sorted by research degree programme for applicants in the Department of Management.

Funding deadline for LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.   Find out more about financial support.

External funding 

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

Research practicums.

For the duration of your 2-year MRes programme, you will engage in active research, called Research Practicums, with different members of Faculty. The rotation of practicum assignments will include one-to-one training and collaboration that provides you better understanding of the research process, e.g.;

• literature reviews,
• applied research methods and practices,
• determining theory-driven,
• testable hypotheses,
• identifying appropriate methods and samples,
• coding and data analysis,
• conducting analyses,
• evaluating findings and implications,
• writing manuscripts for the academic peer-reviewed process with ultimate goal of publication in top-tier academic journal.

First year (MRes)

Study in the first year includes a doctoral seminar in Marketing, and the option to choose courses in Microeconomics, Econometrics, advanced Statistics, and quantitative methods courses.

All first year doctoral students in the Department of Management take the seminar course on A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management.

Should you wish to study Microeconomics, you will need to attend the Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics. This course begins before the start of the academic year, normally in late August.

Should you wish to study Econometrics or Statistics in your first year you should have completed an undergraduate level course and have sufficient prior academic training in econometrics and statistical theory.

You also have the option to apply to take relevant external courses with our partner institutions, such as the London Business School, with approval of the Programme Director.

Courses include:

Marketing I or Marketing II: Consumer Behaviour and Quantitative Modelling (Marketing II is suspended for 2024/25)

In the area of Consumer Behaviour you will become familiar with research in cognitive psychology, social psychology, and marketing on information processing and judgment and decision making related topics to better understand and develop marketing strategies that affect consumer behaviour. In the area of quantitative modelling you will develop the quantitative foundations for marketing decisions. Both theoretical models which help analyse marketing issues, and decision-support models will be covered

Microeconomics 1 or Statistical Inference: Principles, Methods and Computation

Prior to starting the programme you will decide with your Programme Director if your research interests require you to take either Microeconomics, Statistical Inference, or quantitative methods.

Econometrics or Quantitative Research Methods

You may choose either to study a course in Econometrics, or take additional methodology training depending on your previous research design training and research interests.

A Social Sciences Perspective of Academic Research in Management

Along with all MRes/PhD and MPhil/PhD students from across the Department of Management Research programmes you will participate in a seminar on the nature of scientific enquiry in the Social Sciences. The seminar series is led by members of the Faculty across the Department and provides an interdisciplinary collaborative perspective and the opportunity for students to develop academic presentation skills

Second year (MRes)

In the second year, you will continue to participate in Research Practicums and the Marketing Seminar. You will take elective courses in Economic, Statistics or quantitative methods, data mining and analysis. Courses taken will depend on your previous training, intellectual requirements and preferences. You will write a research paper in your field of interest which will form an important element in your upgrade to PhD.

Applied Regression, Multivariate Analysis and Measurement, or Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies.

Microeconomics, Econometric Analysis

Generalised Linear Modelling and Survival Analysis, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Machine Learning and Data Mining

Research Paper in Management

Third, fourth and fifth year (PhD)

Upon successfully completing the MRes and progressing to the PhD, you will work on your research and write your PhD thesis.

Throughout the 3-5 years there are regular reviews on your research progress and in the final year you prepare a detailed plan of work for the successful submission of your thesis.  Throughout your PhD you will be expected to show the continued development of research ideas for publication, participation in relevant training courses and career development activities.

For the most up-to-date list of courses please visit the relevant  School Calendar page .   

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar ,  or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information  page.

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision.

You do not need to have identified a supervisor prior to application. During your MRes you will be supervised by the PhD Directors of Marketing programme.

During the first two years of the programme, you will participate in Research Practicums, working in collaboration with different faculty mentors. Each research practicum will enable you to participate in research activities, understand Faculty research interests, and develop your own research skills. Your PhD supervisor will be appointed when you upgrade to PhD.

Progression and assessment

You will need to meet certain criteria to progress to each subsequent year of the programme, such as achieving certain grades in your coursework and engaging in all aspects of the programme.

Your final award will be determined by the completion of an original research thesis and a viva oral examination.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career.

• The placements and careers of previous Department of Management PhD students

The Department aims to give all qualified doctoral students the opportunity to teach. Developing teaching skills and experience is an important component of the students' career development and prepare you for future academic roles. To make this experience as valuable as possible we draw on the support from the LSE's Teaching and Learning Centre.

Support for your career

Throughout the programme, you are expected to participate in Marketing Faculty Research Group research workshops, enabling you to grow familiar with the process of presenting and discussing academic papers with experienced faculty, and provide opportunities for networking. Funding is also available for you to attend and present papers at academic conferences.

LSE Careers has a team dedicated to PhD students offering a wide range of resources and advice. You will receive regular updates on career events and workshops offered by LSE Careers and the LSE’s PhD Academy. Research based employment opportunities are communicated to students in our newsletters and email updates.

Programme enquiries

Faculty members are unable to comment on your eligibility without viewing your full application file first. However, if you have any questions regarding the programme please contact the Department of Management PhD Office at  [email protected] . 

Admissions enquiries

With questions related to the admissions process, please contact the LSE Graduate Admissions team via their  getting in touch page .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

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Related Programmes

Mphil/phd in management - information systems and innovation.

Code(s) G5ZC

MRes/PhD in Management - Employment Relations and Human Resources

Code(s) N2Z1

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Management Science and Operations PhD programme

• Faculty profiles
• Publications
• Research lab
• PhD Student Profiles
• Faculty Recruitment
• Postdoctoral recruitment

Advance operations and analytics for business and social impact 

Data. Models. Decisions. In the MSO area PhD program, you will undertake cutting-edge quantitative research (both fundamental and applied) to advance the understanding of processes and decision-making in organisations such as digital platforms, supply chains, healthcare delivery systems, and non-profits.

• A rigorous and extensive curriculum
• Create new knowledge
• Teaching experience

Our coursework incorporates graduate-level training in mathematical modelling, advanced optimisation, econometrics, statistical research methods, analytics and machine learning. Participate in research seminars, international conferences, and innovative field research.

Write and defend your doctoral dissertation

Access a wealth of MSO expertise. Collaborate with our world-leading faculty and benefit from a close mentor relationship

Contribute to our research output and support our ability to have a positive impact on the world

The teaching component of the PhD Management Science and Operations curriculum give you the opportunity to:

Develop teaching experience and skills in the classrooms of our internationally recognized, award-winning business school

Work for a limited number of hours between your second and fourth years as a teaching assistant and tutor for LBS courses taught by MSO faculty in our MBA, Executive MBA and Master in Management programmes.

Our faculty combine academic expertise and practical impact

Innovative business thinking with a global reputation. Our PhD supervisors are a prestigious group of academics renowned for their world-class research.

PhD students testimonial and placement

Meet our PhD students

We prepare the next generation of scholars to undertake cutting-edge research. Find out how they’re pushing the frontiers of their individual subject area.

A unique life experience

Benefit from our central London location. Enjoy our vibrant campus environment. Welcome to a dynamic student and alumni community that provides lifelong engagement and opportunity.

Interested in applying? We recruit students through our annual PhD application process.

Ready to join the LBS PhD programme? We’d love to hear from you.

The academic year starts in October. The year is divided into three terms (AUT, SPR and SUM), lasting 10 weeks each. Some new students may also need to attend a pre-sessional course in September.

Most students complete the Programme within five years.

All students offered a place on the PhD programme receive full funding, which includes a tuition fee waiver and a stipend guaranteed for five years.

The Programme is run on a full-time basis only and students are expected to live in London.

As long as you complete in four years, no fees are payable. After that period, there is a nominal continuation fee. In year five, students can apply for a remission of the continuation fee, but if you don't complete the continuation fee will be doubled in years six and seven.

Some students are expected to attend a four week maths refresher or pre-programme course in September (depending on the subject area). All students will be required to attend a 3-day orientation in the first month of the programme, giving you the chance to meet faculty, your first year supervisor and other PhD students. You'll also receive training and induction in London Business School's facilities and services.

We do not offer transfers. You may be admitted to the programme from year one and apply for exemption from courses already taken. In such cases students will be required to pass a waiver examination. No more than three course waivers are permitted.

All students must work as teaching or research assistants for 20 days (160 hours) a year in years 2, 3 and 4 of the programme. At least 10 days (80 hours) should be of teaching assistance (and the other 10 days could be research assistance, depending on each subject area’s preference). This is seen as a valuable part of your training.

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Curriculum & Coursework

Our programs are full-time degree programs which officially begin in August. Students are expected to complete their program in five years. Typically, the first two years are spent on coursework, at the end of which students take a field exam, and then another three years on dissertation research and writing.

The Marketing program draws on computer science, economics, behavioral science, and psychological methods to focus on marketing problems faced by the firm and its management. Through a combination of discipline- and field-based methods, the curriculum enables students to master concepts and research skills directly relevant to business problems. Candidates must come to understand the point of view of practicing managers and be able to bring theory and careful research to bear in illuminating important business problems.

The program requires a minimum of 13 semester-long doctoral courses. Students in the Marketing program are required to complete a year-long discipline sequence typically in microeconomics or psychology. They also complete courses in the areas of machine learning, computer science, statistics, research methods, academic field seminars, and two MBA elective curriculum courses. In addition to HBS courses, students often take courses at other Harvard Schools and MIT.

Research & Dissertation

Students in Marketing begin research in their first year typically by working with a faculty member. By their third and fourth years, most students are launched on a solid research and publication stream. The dissertation may take the form of three publishable papers or one longer dissertation.

Recent examples of doctoral thesis research include: The effects of brand extensions on the value of parent brands; Multi-method examination of the consumption of “knockoffs” of high status brands, and the counter-intuitive positive outcomes for consumer-brand relationships; Competitive analysis of pricing and quality decisions in industries with strictly complimentary products; The psychological effects of pricing, and how these affect consumers and firms; and "Choice amnesia," the motivated forgetting of difficult decisions.

Mengjie "Magie" Cheng

Ta-Wei "David" Huang

“ Finding an advisor who you really click with and who is willing to support your research interests is absolutely key. ”

Current HBS Faculty

• Juan Alcacer
• Tomomichi Amano
• Bharat N. Anand
• Eva Ascarza
• Max H. Bazerman
• David E. Bell
• Alison Wood Brooks
• Alberto F. Cavallo
• Wilbur X. Chen
• Julian De Freitas
• Rohit Deshpande
• Anita Elberse
• Kris Johnson Ferreira
• Carolyn J. Fu
• Sunil Gupta
• Ayelet Israeli
• Ebehi Iyoha
• Leslie K. John
• Tarun Khanna
• Hyunjin Kim
• Himabindu Lakkaraju
• Jacqueline Ng Lane
• Michael Lingzhi Li
• Edward McFowland III
• Henry W. McGee
• Antonio Moreno
• John C. Mulliken
• V.G. Narayanan
• Das Narayandas
• Michael I. Norton
• Elisabeth C. Paulson
• V. Kasturi Rangan
• Maria P. Roche
• Raffaella Sadun
• George Serafeim
• Sara McKinley Torti
• Isamar Troncoso
• Jeremy Yang
• Dennis A. Yao
• David B. Yoffie
• Shunyuan Zhang

Current Marketing Students

• Stuti Agarwal
• Mengjie (Magie) Cheng
• Jingpeng Hong
• Ta-Wei (David) Huang
• Zhongming Jiang
• Rebecca Liu
• June Park
• Sihan Zhai

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, jimin nam, 2024, byungyeon kim, 2022, emily prinsloo, 2023, ximena garcia-rada, 2021, serena hagerty, 2022, dafna goor, 2020.

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PhD Programme

Become a research expert at king’s.

A PhD from King’s Business School aims to be more than just a qualification. It provides you with the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen field of research. By the end of the programme, you will have developed the skills necessary to analyse complex organisational problems in order to make a difference in business and society.

If that’s you, then King’s Business School provides an ideal home for you to pursue PhD research. It is one of the leading research-intensive business schools in the UK and features world-class research academics in all of our departments:

• Accounting & Financial Management
• Banking & Finance
• Human Resource Management & Employment Relations
• Public Services Management & Organisation
• Strategy, International Management & Entrepreneurship

Many of our graduates continue onto academic careers after completing their PhD. Some take on research, analysis or leadership roles in major corporations and public bodies. Others use their expertise to start up their own research consultancy. It’s entirely up to you to decide what King’s means for your future. However, we know that PhD research will be right for you if you are motivated to interrogate academic puzzles; committed to developing high-level analytical skills; and dedicated to advancing knowledge in your research area.

Upcoming deadlines October 2025 entry

Round 1 - 1 December 2024

Round 2 - Application deadline for all applicants: 1 June 2025

Please note, any application received after 1 December 2024 will automatically be considered for the second round entry.

Application and admissions guide

Our application guide outlines everything you need to know about applying to the programme and for our King’s Business School studentships.

Find out how to apply for our PhD programme

Our full-time PhD programme usually takes three to four years, while the part-time programme will last six to sevent years. As a full-time student, you will spend most of your time in the iconic Bush House where we have dedicated spaces for our PhD researchers. And with central London on your doorstep, you’ll be surrounded by major business, government and cultural institutions. While completing a PhD is probably the toughest academic challenge you’ll ever take on, we’re here to support you throughout your time at King’s (and beyond).

Find out more about life at King's Business School

Skills & Training

The King’s Business School PhD programme is designed to support you in preparing the strongest thesis that you can, which will place you in the best position to move on to the job that you want. We will support you in developing advanced academic skills, but also skills relevant for wider impact in business and on society – for instance, skills in critical and analytical thinking, communication and networking.

Find out more about how we train our PhD students

Read more about the PhD journey

Roadmap of the full-time PhD programme

Doctoral Research Studentships

King's Business School invites applications for funded, full-time PhD studentships to start in the…

PhD Studentships

Please see other available King's Business School PhD Studentships

Student Experiences

Current and former students share their experiences of being a PhD student at King's Business School

8 January 2021

Chiamaka Nwosu

Chiamaka Nwosu is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

7 January 2021

Felix Kempf

Felix Kempf is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

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

Conduct innovative research

Marketing faculty and PhD students are part of the Department of Analytics & Operations. PhD students have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty whose projects engage a range of different industries as well as qualitative and quantitative researchers from across Imperial.

Faculty members examine a number of key challenges, from the differing notion of brand attachment to managing employee and customer behaviour, from aggregating and understanding diverse information sources in decision-making to the nature of purchase decisions, strategic marketing problems such as long-term effectiveness of digital and non-digital marketing efforts, statistical modelling and testing, modelling cross-market (spatial) dependencies for both Internet and non-Internet data. 

You may also be co-supervised by faculty in other departments in the School, depending on your research interests.  

Research and partnerships

The Business School is home to several research centres and institutes, offering a diverse range of activities that bring together academics and specialists.

Imperial Business Analytics

Bringing business-focused academics and data science specialists together for research in how business analytics, data, and artificial intelligence will change business and society. 

Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation

Linking innovation and entrepreneurship in companies and institutions globally, through thought leadership, research, technology and next-generation innovation models. 

Climate Finance and Investment

Working to unlock solutions within capital markets to address the challenges posed by global climate change. 

Teaching experience

PhD students on the Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) scholarship will undertake 150 hours of teaching assistant duties from year three of the programme. There will be opportunities for PhD students to engage in teaching activities within the Business School’s programmes on our analytics and big data modules on programmes such as MSc Business Analytics and our MBA suite.

Doctoral theses in Marketing

Meet your faculty

Our PhD programme fosters close collaboration between leading Marketing faculty and doctoral students, developing their research interests and providing continuous support and guidance throughout the programme.  

James Eteen

Eduardo B. Andrade

Andreas Eisingerich

Rajesh Bhargave

Sven Mikolon

Explore more

Doctoral programme.

Study your doctoral programme at a global top 10 university offering world-class faculty, leadership coaching, global business experience, industry connections, specialist careers support and an exciting London location. 

Request a brochure

Downloading a brochure is a great way to find out more about our programmes and discover which is right for you. 

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Keep up to date about news, events, and application deadlines for the Doctoral programme by joining our mailing list. 

UCL School of Management

University college london, phd in management.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully funded scholarships to all admitted students Application deadline: 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time). A late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time), although we encourage you to apply early as places are limited and applications are subject to close sooner if places are filled. Entry:  Minimum of a first class bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline. International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ' Level 1 ' (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

PhD students pursue their studies in one of the Operations & Technology, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics, and Organisations & Innovation groups. All four groups offer a unique education and research experience to a small number of highly motivated students, with the intent of preparing them for scholarly careers at the highest level.

PhD studies in Operations and Technology

Across the different research themes , there is a shared interest in management science, operations management and business technologies. Topics of interest include R&D management, innovation and new product development, service systems, supply chain management and healthcare operations. For candidates in this area, a degree in engineering (e.g. industrial, electrical, computer, mechanical etc), economics, mathematics, statistics or operational research is preferred. 

PhD studies in Strategy and Entrepreneurship

S&E faculty research  focuses on understanding what makes firms successful, how they cope with a complex and dynamic environment, and what leads to new business formation and growth. Doctoral training involves close collaboration between the doctoral student and faculty members on shared research interests, coursework at UCL and other institutions, and independent research. Doctoral students also benefit from the S&E group’s collaborative research community, a lively program of research speakers from other institutions, and links with researchers worldwide. Topics of interest include digitization, big data analytics, machine learning, information environment, platform ecosystems, new organisational forms, learning, innovation, competition, interorganisational relationships, corporate strategy, entrepreneurial strategy, entrepreneurship for development, social innovation. 

PhD studies in Marketing and Analytics

Topics of interest in this group include branding, retailing, advertising, pricing, product development, marketing channels, business marketing, marketing strategy and e-commerce. The researchers in this group use diverse quantitative methodologies that include big data analytics, regression analysis, choice models, field experiments and Bayesian econometrics.

PhD studies in Organisations and Innovation

O&I faculty research focuses on understanding individual and team outcomes within organisations. Group members engage with a variety of perspectives and approaches including network research, experiments and ethnographies. There is a shared interest in the topics of creativity, innovation, social networks and diversity. For applicants to the PhD programme, prior training in social science (e.g. social psychology, sociology or economics) is highly relevant. 

PhD studies in Financial Economics

Our MRes and PhD Programme in Financial Economics with UCL's Department of Economics now has more information about how to apply and what you can expect from the programme on a brand new programme page, please see the specific entry requirements and programme structure here . 

PhD Structure

• The programme typically consists of five years of full-time study, starting with one year of modules registered as MRes. These modules are typically advanced postgraduate modules to provide rigorous methodological training to prepare students for their PhD research. Along with the School’s modules, students typically take some of these from other UCL departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), the London Business School, Bayes Business School, and Imperial College Business School.
• In addition to methods modules, students also undertake a first-year research project under the tutoring and supervision of a faculty member later in the MRes year (Term 3 + Summer period).
• Progression from MRes to PhD is not automatic . Superior performance in taught modules and independent, original research is required for progression from MRes to PhD.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or engineering department of a world-class university
• PhD applications are reviewed once a completed application form has been submitted online . 

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project:

• MSIN0135 - MRes Research Project: 8,000-10,000 words . 105 credits.

Students take 75 credits of taught modules, of which the following three are compulsory modules:

• MSIN0131 - Research Presentation and Critical Writing Skills . 15 credits
• MSIN0132 - Seminar in Organisation Theory . 15 credits
• MSIN0240 - Designing Management Research Projects.  15 credits

Finally, students choose elective modules (15 credits each) among those offered by the School of Management, other UCL Departments (e.g., Economics, Psychology), and partner universities in London.

Students can take additional (non-credit) modules at UCL and our partners schools in the remaining years to complement their learning, but there is no requirement to take modules after the MRes year.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion based on case studies and other activities. Student performance is assessed through simulations, presentations, coursework, group projects, class participation, and examinations. 

Students typically study 3 compulsory modules over Terms 1 and 2. Students will also typically study 2 optional modules which may take place in Terms 1, 2 or 3. Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually be undertaken over Terms 2 and 3. 

Each taught module is delivered over 10 weeks, with 3 contact hours per week comprising lecture content and interactive components. 

In addition, students typically spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What our students say:.

'The UCL School of Management PhD programme is designed to provide students with skills that lead to academic excellence. Candidates are part of a dynamic and vibrant group and benefit from the programme's flexibility, as they can choose from a wide range of disciplines. The frequent cooperation with world-leading faculty members enhances our knowledge and skills and ultimately leads to high-quality research output, laying the foundations for a subsequent successful academic career.' 

UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF. 

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Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

We seek to recruit highly motivated, ambitious students with strong educational backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a first-class Bachelor's degree from the UK or an overseas qualification of equivalent standard from a leading university. We encourage students from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g, engineering, economics, business, mathematics/statistics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology, among others) to apply to our programme. Also, notice that a Master’s or graduate level degree is not required for admission, you can apply with only an undergraduate (e.g. bachelors) degree. 

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand – you do not need to do so. In fact, applicants are discouraged from randomly contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

All MRes/PhD applicants are normally expected to take either a GMAT test or GRE test (UCL's institution code is 3344, but also make sure you include a scanned copy of your test result on your online application), although the School has no minimum score requirements.  

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 1” English qualification which corresponds to:

• IELTS: Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
• TOEFL: Score of 92, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 20/30 in the listening and speaking subtests.  

Application Deadline

The application window closes 01 February 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 01 February 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 2-3 page personal statement or research proposal* that clearly indicates: (i) which research group you are interested in (i.e., Organisations & Innovation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Marketing & Analytics or Operations & Technology, (ii) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (iii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iv) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE / GMAT  score report**
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

* While submission of a full research proposal is not required, you can send us one if you have already written it up.

** You can submit your application even if you don’t have a GRE/GMAT score —simply indicate when you plan to take the test.

Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year MRes/PhD scholarships in the UCL School of Management to all admitted students. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000, which is tax-free.

Additional costs 

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  

Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Apply today

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

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Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

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Located in:

• Moskva Oblast
• Ščëlkoso urban district