Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management

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The Department of Management at the University of St Andrews Business School is one of the UK's leading business and management schools. With a distinctive and proud identity, the Department is known for its research-intensive approach, commitment to teaching of the highest quality, and strong grounding in the social sciences.

At postgraduate level, students can benefit from internationally recognised research expertise, as acknowledged in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), while still enjoying the benefits of a close-knit and welcoming institution.

The PhD is studied over three to four years (or six to seven years part-time). Students produce a thesis comprising no more than 80,000 words, excluding the bibliography and appendices.

Additional support

St Leonard's Postgraduate College at the University of St Andrews offers supplementary resources and support services, enhancing the overall postgraduate experience.

Programme structure

A doctoral candidate in the Department of Management works closely with their supervisor, while undertaking a focused programme of original research. Read about the School's current postgraduate cohort and their research interests.

A range of research seminars, meetings and presentations provide support and encouragement throughout the period of study. At workshops and conferences, students meet with colleagues from other universities, share experiences and present their work as it develops.

Modules in the social sciences, addressing philosophy and methods, are available for Management doctoral students to audit. In recent years, these modules have considered topics including:

• how to design and produce a research dissertation
• fundamental concepts of quantitative analysis
• theoretical approaches in the social sciences
• theoretical and practical introduction to the collection, analysis and writing of qualitative social science research
• professional development

In addition to research training in the School and advanced training provided by the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS), doctoral students have access to the Centre for Educational Enhancement and Development (CEED). Within CEED, GRADskills is a free, comprehensive training programme supporting academic, professional, and personal development with activities and workshops.

At the end of the programme, students will submit a well-developed thesis for examination by experts in the appropriate field of research. This oral examination represents the culmination of the candidate's study and dedicated work. It is not uncommon for candidates, by the time of their examination, to have given papers at academic conferences or to be in the process of submitting papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Research supervisors

Before you apply for a research degree in the Department of Management, you will need to identify a potential supervisor. Start by reviewing the information about our Department's research groups and find a group whose research aligns with your interests. If your specific research area isn't represented within our thematic groups, we might not be able to offer the supervision you need. 

Having identified your research group, you need to identify a potential supervisor. We recommend contacting potential supervisors directly to discuss your research interests and their availability before submitting your application. 

Contact a prospective supervisor by sending them your research proposal, which should be no longer than 1,500 words excluding references, and your CV. They will expect you to have a research background in your chosen field.