Management PhD, MScR

PhD in Management

The PhD in Management is 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, with an additional year at the end to allow you to complete the writing up of your thesis. Please note that the part-time programme is still an on-campus programme, it is not an online PhD or a PhD by distance.

The Professional Pathway route within the PhD in Management is designed for those already in senior management or research roles who are looking to explore an aspect of their organisation, profession, or industry.

You will take taught courses during your first year to build your research skills and the knowledge required for your area of study. Part-time doctoral researchers will spread these courses over 2 years.

• If you are joining our Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Marketing, Organisation Studies or Strategy research groups, you will take one compulsory introduction course and 60 credits of option courses.

• If you are joining our Management Science and Business Economics research group, you will take one compulsory introduction course and 40 credits of option courses.

• For the Professional Pathway, you will take four compulsory supervised reading courses regardless of which research group you are joining.

To be awarded a PhD, you will need to defend your written thesis in an oral examination called a viva.

MSc by Research in Management

This MScR programme is one year of full-time study. You will take 60 credits of compulsory courses and 60 credits of option courses, and will complete your programme with a dissertation worth 60 credits.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest course descriptor information available at the time this page was published. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered as a guide.

• Management (PhD) (Full-time)
• Management (PhD) (Part-time)
• Management (MSc by Research)

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Your supervisory team will be made up of at least two members of academic staff who will meet with you regularly to discuss your research progress and plans.

You will be assigned to one of our research subject groups as relevant for your topic, who will host regular research activities.

Our doctoral training programme will allow you to pursue research and professional skill training alongside your subject-specific taught courses.

There will be a variety of seminars and workshops delivered by international experts throughout the year, providing further opportunities for advanced learning and networking.

Another way the Business School supports your individual development is through dedicated funding. Doctoral researchers can apply to use this funding for further opportunities such as attending international conferences or professional body membership fees.

The Business School's location right in the heart of Edinburgh means you will be based close to the city’s cultural attractions, including a wealth of libraries, archives, museums and galleries.

As a doctoral researcher at the Business School, you will have access to our PhD study spaces, as well as the staff lunch room and kitchen.

The Business School has its own postgraduate library and study centre (The Hub), a Finance Computer Lab, and Librarian who can help you find the information you need throughout your studies.

Our world-class research programmes offer:

• supervision from acclaimed academic faculty within a wider range of subject areas
• courses designed to expand your knowledge base and develop your research strategies
• dedicated, modern facilities with state-of-the-art databases and specialist resources
• a peer network of students and inspiring alumni from across the globe
• a vibrant research environment with regular seminars, masterclasses, and events allowing you to connect and learn from experts across the business world

The Business School offers training events and support for all our postgraduate research students in both academic and professional skills – we support a diversity of career pathways.

There are opportunities for doctoral researchers to be employed as our Research Assistants and Teaching Assistants.

Graduates from our postgraduate research degrees often pursue further careers at internationally renowned universities or become senior consultants for private and public bodies.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

Entrance to both the PhD by Management programme and the MSc by Research is competitive. Academic credentials are important for a successful application, however, we also pay great attention to the fit of students to our academic programme, and particularly to the research interests of our academic faculty.

Minimum academic requirements

For entry to the PhD programme applicants must meet the following minimum academic qualifications.

A postgraduate masters degree from an accredited institution in the UK or overseas showing evidence of above-average academic achievement. This includes:

• a degree classification with a mark of 65% or more overall (University of Edinburgh level or overseas equivalent)

• normally a masters dissertation at the distinction level (University of Edinburgh level or overseas equivalent). MBA or master's students without a dissertation are welcome to apply and should normally provide evidence of distinction level work.

Entry to the MSc by Research programme requires that applicants have a UK 2:1 undergraduate degree or an equivalent overseas qualification.

Applications may be accepted to the PhD or MSc by Research programme from those still currently studying; however, any offer will be conditional on the successful completion of the degree at the required standard.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

• Postgraduate Study

There are various scholarship opportunities. For those joining in September 2023, the Business School scholarships will be advertised late 2022 on our School website.

• Business School scholarships and funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding