PhD and MPhil
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The School offers PhD and MPhil study within several main research areas. We are looking for highly capable and motivated individuals who wish to pursue research careers in academic or other research-oriented institutions. We are also looking for research projects that match closely the interests of our research active staff members.
Our research training and project supervision help students develop the necessary research skills to succeed in the programme and beyond.
Programme Structure
Students are expected to complete the PhD programme in up to four years. Their work over this period is typically structured as follows:
In the first year, the PhD candidature is provisional. Students undertake formal training and work closely with their supervisors to refine their research questions, situate them within the relevant academic discipline and articulate their potential contributions, and design the research activities to answer those questions.
This work is assembled in a thesis proposal. Each student submits and defends their thesis proposal at the end of the first year in front of a specially convened progression panel.
The thesis proposal defence is a major milestone of the programme. If successful, students progress to the research phase of their studies and their PhD candidature is confirmed.
In the second year, students plan and engage in data collection, and conduct preliminary analyses.
In the third and fourth years, they finalise the data analysis and write up and submit the full thesis.
Supervision and Training
Each student is supervised by a team of two academic staff members. The supervisors are chosen based on their active research agenda and expertise in the chosen research topic and / or methodology.
Regular interaction between student and supervisors enables the student to meet the milestones established for successful completion of their research programme.
In their first year, students who have not had ESRC-recognised Research Master training complete the Faculty Research Training Programme.
The programme provides useful advice on managing the PhD process and writing a PhD thesis as well as introduction to the philosophy of research and to various research methodologies.
In addition, all students in management-related disciplines take two specialised PhD seminars, Core Readings and Research Designs in Management and Business Studies.
Students also receive specific training within their subject or research groups that covers advanced or tailored topics on using particular research methodologies or data analyses.
Research Facilities
The School provides dedicated space for full-time PhD students, with individual work spaces and access to networked computers and printers. All students have access to the University Computing Services Desktop with Microsoft Office, Web access and e-mail.
Many of the library services including databases and journals are accessible via the network.
Specific facilities available to PhD students include the on-line financial and economic database Datastream and an in-house library of financial reports for UK companies.
Contact Details
If you have any questions about the PhD or MPhil programmes or would like to visit the School please contact the Postgraduate Office:
E-mail: Carolyn.Watkin@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 1580
