PhD Business and Enterprise

OverviewLSBU Business School has a growing research degrees programme, with an emphasis on part-time study by students who are simultaneously developing and enhancing their professional careers. The School offers traditional postgraduate research study leading to the award of PhD.Funding successesThe School has been successful in securing considerable research funding from many sources including the Economical and Social Research Council (ESRC), The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) (through Knowledge Transfer Programmes) and the European Commission.EmployabilityAll research students are required to participate in a Key Skills Development programme aimed at developing transferable skills in addition to those employed in carrying out research. Training in research methods is available through frequent research seminars.When necessary the research student can follow, in part, relevant Masters courses available within the School and in particular units on research methodology. In some cases, research students are encouraged to follow other courses available within the University or externally aimed at improving their general expertise in their chosen areas.In addition, they may be encouraged to follow language courses aimed at improving their oral and written skills – both essential in their future careers.Transferable skillsA research degree will equip you with many transferable skills. The self-discipline, the demand for clear analytical thinking and intellectual synthesis, and the ability to turn criticism of others’ work into something constructive of your own, all constitute a unique training for almost any kind of career. The excitement and satisfaction of finding new facts, developing a robust new thesis, or a new methodology for considering architectural paradigms can be highly rewarding.Teaching and learningAll research students are supported in their work by a staff supervisory team. In the first instance students are supervised by their Director of Studies, with whom they are expected to maintain close contact, whilst further guidance may also be given by co-supervisors.The first efforts of the supervisory team will be to enable research students to prepare their registration. This normally takes place after an initial probationary period of six months (full-time) or nine months (part-time). The School offers opportunities for students to present their work in progress to a School audience that is both supportive and critical, through open staff/student seminars.Where relevant to their research field, students are able and encouraged to take units from the wide range of taught masters programmes within the School.