Business PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Subject and course type
- Postgraduate
On Kingston University’s Business PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) you will develop advanced research skills and professional credibility. You'll work with leading academics, access excellent resources, and explore real-world business challenges in your chosen field.
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Make a distinct and original contribution to your chosen field of business
Combine inspiring research with training and teaching opportunities to help develop your thesis and achieve your goals.
A Business PhD at Kingston University offers extraordinary opportunities and professional growth. You’ll contribute original ideas, and collaborate with experts in business and refine your expertise.
Graduates can pursue influential careers in academia and become thought leaders in their fields. Many excel as professional researchers and consultants, shaping modern business strategies.
As a Business PhD student, you'll be part of the Kingston Business School, which has close collaborations with professional organisations. We aim to ensure our programmes bridge the gap between academic theory and professional practice. By working closely with the business world's principal professional bodies, we harmonise our courses with the needs of today's business practitioners.
The academic community at Kingston Business School has close links with the CIM, CIPD, EFMD, and RICS, amongst other organisations. These links ensure that our courses align with real-world requirements beyond graduation.
Why choose this course
At Kingston University you will collaborate with an expert academic supervisory team. Combine inspiring research with training and teaching opportunities to help you develop your thesis and achieve your goals.
While you study, you will have the support of the academic and postgraduate community. As well as excellent networking opportunities with the high calibre of Kingston University's students and alumni.
Your PhD supervision will be highly specialised, adapted to your needs and interests. What’s more, you can study for your PhD in a flexible format. Choose a full or part-time programme according to what suits your lifestyle and career goals best.
You’ll work amongst an esteemed faculty of researchers, each contributing to their chosen field. Many courses within the Kingston Business School are accredited and recognised by professional bodies.
Accreditations
Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 6% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
Many courses in the Kingston Business School are also accredited and recognised by professional bodies, including the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) EPAS, the Chartered Institute for Professional Development (CIPD), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Career opportunities
A Business PhD from Kingston University opens the door and prepares you for a variety of exciting career opportunities, including:
- Academia: Become a lecturer, researcher, or professor.
- Industry Research: Drive innovation in corporations or consultancies.
- Leadership: Advance into senior management roles.
- Policy: Influence business and economic policies.
- Entrepreneurship: Launch and lead your own business venture.
Join our Doctoral programme partnerships
Kingston Business School is a founding member of:
- The European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA)
- The European Doctoral School on Knowledge and Management (EUDOKMA)
Through links with EDAMBA and EUDOKMA, we aim to increase quality and promote excellence in doctoral learning through the pursuit of educational diversity. We are dedicated to the exchange of knowledge among participating schools.
To support your future career prospects, we aim to connect academic society and professional management practice. We aim to create an environment in which postgraduate researchers can develop and transfer knowledge across sectors.
Through these partnerships, members of the Kingston Business School can access collaborative ventures with partner institutions across Europe. Explore opportunities to access events such as summer schools, seminars and workshops and networking sessions.
Teaching and assessment
A PhD, unlike a taught degree, consists entirely of independent study, guided by the supervisory team.
As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services.
As a guide, for a full-time PhD you should commit to a similar number of hours to a full-time job – approximately 35 hours of PhD work a week. For a part-time PhD, this would be halved. We would also expect you to take a similar number of holiday days to full-time or part-time employment.
Your PhD thesis should be around 80,000 words and will be the subject of an oral examination, the 'viva voce'. You will need to show how you have critically investigated your area of research and made an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
PhD students do not receive a timetable, but you will be asked to agree a schedule of supervisory meetings with your team.
Fees and funding
Please view our research degrees page for further details about fees.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
For students interested in studying Business PhD at Kingston, there are several opportunities to seek funding support:
Get a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. Find out more.
Receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in your first year of study. Find out more.
Get a 15% reduction in tuition fees. Find out more.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full- and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni. Visit our alumni discount page to find out more.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
Information required to confirm your place
If English is not your first language, we will require proof of your proficiency to allow us to confirm your place on the course. This will generally be either an IELTS or TOEFL test certificate, which can be forwarded to us after you have submitted your application. If you do not hold a formal English language qualification, please indicate how you have acquired your proficiency in written and spoken English.
After you have applied
For courses that select on application alone, applicants should normally receive an initial decision or a request for more information within four to six weeks of receipt of their application. Our admissions team will notify you of the decision by email.
Learn more about the postgraduate application process in detail.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
