Postgraduate research in Management PhD

The School of Management at the University of St Andrews is one of the UK's leading business and management schools. It has a distinctive and proud identity as a smaller school focused on research and teaching of the highest quality.

The School is research intensive, and is underpinned by a strong grounding in the social sciences. At postgraduate level, students can benefit from internationally recognised research expertise, as acknowledged in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), while still enjoying the benefits of a small and friendly institution.

Programme structure

A doctoral candidate in the School 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.

The School would usually expect a first class or 2.1 degree in a relevant subject and a distinction at Masters level, with a significant component of advanced study in the intended area of specialism. However, qualifications are less important than the proposed topic, the quality of the research proposal, and the identification of an appropriate supervisor.