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PhD Studentships

The Open University Business and Law Schools invite applications for a number of full-time fully or partially funded PhD studentships beginning 1 February 2023.  Your application should be based on one of the advertised projects. We also welcome full- and part-time applications in other areas of business, management and law, including on a self-funded basis, dependent on supervision availability.

You will join a vibrant environment of students and academics in the Faculty of Business and Law who conduct research of the highest international standard that has economic, public and social value consistent with the mission of the Open University. You will work with subject specialists and have the opportunity to develop your skills in research communication, engagement and impact.

Fully funded PhD studentships are based on full-time study for three years at the Milton Keynes campus. Full-time students are expected to live within commuting distance of Milton Keynes. Studentships cover tuition fees, a generous research training support grant and a stipend (circa £16,062 per annum) for 36 months.

Applicants for the PhD programme should have minimum qualifications of an upper second class honours degree 2:1 (or an equivalent) or usually a specialist masters in a subject relevant to the intended study with a strong research element.

Projects listed below:

Business School

Department of Accounting and Finance (DAF)

DAF01 Asset management over the long run:  UK investment trusts after the 1930s

DAF02 Exploring linkages between sustainability, Equality, Diversity and inclusion (EDI) and accounting

Department of People and Organisations (DPO)

DPO01 How did we get here?  The Organization of Anthropocentricism

DPO02 Building a Resilient and Sustainable Textile Supply Chain System

DPO03 Identifying risk mitigation strategies for service supply chains in the aftermath of covid-19

DPO04 Maximising the effectiveness of degree apprenticeships for enhancing practitioner effectivensss in the workplace

DPO05 Advancing Minority Entrepreneurship:  Obtaining Resources and Legitimacy

DPO06 Managing testing activities in new product development and manufacturing

Department of Strategy and Marketing (DSM)

DSM01 Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

DSM02 A strategic review of market-based reforms in the electricity sector:  cases from India and/or Sub-Saharan Africa

DSM03 The Role of Empathy in Service Failure and Recovery

DSM04 Marketing the Smart City:  New Technology, Urban Development and Underserved Communities

DSM05 Consumer response to green marketing

Department of Public Leadership and Social Enterprise (PuLSE)

PuLSE01 Researching the lived experience of organisational paradox through contradicitons and tensions, and its impact on organisational life

PuLSE02 Social innovation and integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the UK labour market

Law School (Law)

LAW01 Legal Charity and Public Services

​LAW02 Gender, sexuality, law and humanities

Your application must include:

  • a proposal which should be at least 1,000 words and no longer than 2,000 words, which indicates your knowledge of the literature, methods and likely approach to your project of interest (guidance on how to write your research proposal)
  • a covering letter indicating your suitability for the project
  • a fully completed application form
  • copies of degree certificates and transcripts relevant to your application
  • If your first language is not English, you will need to verify your competence in the English Language in all four elements (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). You should have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.

Please note that PhD by Published works is only available to internal OU staff and staff based at our Affiliated Research Centres

The closing date for applications is noon British Time on Wednesday 13th July 2022.  Your proposal, covering letter, fully completed application form and copies of certificates and transcripts, should be emailed to fbl-phd@open.ac.uk by the closing time and date.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and will be held in August or September, either in person or remotely via videoconference. Applicants are expected to give a 10 minute presentation about their proposal, followed by a question and answer session.

If you are applying to the FBL PhD Programme as a Centre for Policing Research and Learning PhD student please see here for further information about the process and application deadlines.

Further information

We welcome full-time and part-time self-funded applications in topics in Business and Law, dependent on supervision availability and you can apply for a faculty studentship with a research proposal that is not related to one of these advertised projects.  If you have any questions regarding our PhD studentships or about studying with The Open University Law School please contact us.

If you have any questions regarding our PhD studentships or about studying with The Open University Business School please contact us.