Research opportunities in business, management and leisure are available for either full or part-time study.
Range and Scope
With more than 100 academic staff, the Business School is able to supervise across the broad range of management topics. There are particular strengths in services marketing, human resources, accounting and finance, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, organisational behaviour and strategy. We may also be able to offer you effective supervision for crossover projects that major on computing and IT application.
Excellence and Activities
Over 50% of The Business School’s research has achieved national standard (RAE, 2008). It is also a national leader in Knowledge Transfer Programmes funded by government. This active backdrop means that research students — whether full or part-time — join a group of individuals involved in pushing forward both new knowledge and professional application. With more than 90 students drawn from a range of backgrounds — academic, professional, managerial and consulting as well as over a number of countries, there is an energetic and diverse community.
Awards and Programmes
The Business School offers supervision for three research degrees — MPhil, PhD and DBA. The Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is for executives able to engage in major projects inside their employing organisations.
Current Topics
Students have recently completed programmes on conceptualizing and measuring perceived service quality in higher education, variable pricing and its impact on consumer trust, competitiveness of the Uruguayan poultry industry, facilities management in retailing, mortal embodiment in the context of organ donation, knowledge management as a determinant of new product development success, and the development and use of market knowledge in micro-businesses.
Training in Research Methods
All research students who have not completed a relevant Masters Degree, or other appropriate research methods training, are required to complete two core modules of the Master of Research (MRes).
Entry requirements
You will normally need an Honours Degree of upper second class or above from a UK university, or an equivalent qualification, in a subject area relevant to the proposed research topic. However, the University will consider applications from non-graduates with experience of undertaking research. Please contact Sabina Fiebig to discuss any queries you have on entry requirements.
Staff offering supervision
Martin Bennett BA MA FCA
Principal Lecturer in Finance
Environmental accounting; greener management
John Buswell BEd MSc MILAM
Principal Lecturer in Leisure Management
Quality systems in service industries; service operations management; best value; leisure policy; commodification of leisure
Professor Barry Davies MA DMS FCIM
Professor of Marketing
Service environments; customer interactions; retailing
Janine Dermody BA PhD
Reader in Consumer Psychology
Political marketing; green marketing; not for profit marketing; advertising
Stuart Hanmer-Lloyd BSc MCom PhD
Reader in Marketing, Head of CeReS
Social marketing; customer satisfaction; service quality & switching behaviour; channel management
Xiaoling Hu BA MA PhD PGCFHE
Research Fellow
International business; transition economies; international trade
Professor Peter Jones BSc MSc PhD
Professor of Management
Retailing & retail development; town centre management; services marketing
Tracy Jones BSc MPhil PhD
Senior Lecturer in Management Accounting
Performance measurement, budgeting
Sarah Maddock BSc PhD DipM
Senior Lecturer in International Marketing
International marketing; consumer behaviour
Professor Marin Marinov BSc MSc PhD
Professor of International Business and Management
International marketing;marketing and marketisation of emerging economies; foreign direct investment
Natasha Tolstikova BSc MSc PhD
Senior Lecturer
Consumer culture; advertising; communication and media studies; visual analysis; historical research in the area of Soviet advertising and consumer culture
Philippa Ward BA PG Dip CIM MA
Principal Lecturer in Marketing
Consumer behaviour; retailing
Sue Williams BSc MSc PhD Chartered MCIPD
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management
Management learning; personal skills development & reflective practice