PhD Programme

Students admitted to the University to study for a Doctorate are normally registered at PhD level. At the end of Year 1, subject to the satisfactory completion of the annual review, a student's PhD status will be confirmed. If progress is unsatisfactory, students may be downgraded to MPhil status. Completion of all doctoral research training modules is a necessary pre-requisite for confirming PhD status.

The annual review requires students to submit a draft Literature Chapter (8,000 words) and make a short presentation about their research to a Review Panel of Assessors, which will include a clear summary of what they have achieved over the previous year and a timeline for the completion of their PhD.

Students will also undergo a similar annual review at the end of year 2 and Year 3. The Year 2 annual review requires students to submit a revised Literature Chapter and a sample Chapter, which is likely to be a Methods or Empirical Chapter and the Year 3 annual review requires students to submit a commentary that details how they have addressed the feedback received from the 2nd year annual review and one or more empirical research chapters. Students are also required to present their work to a Review Panel of Assessors.

PhD Degree Stucture

Below is an overview of the structure of a typical Full-Time Doctoral Timetable:

Year 1

Semesters 1 & 2: Attend appropriate taught modules both within the Business School and the Graduate School
Define the nature of the research problem, identify appropriate analytic frameworks, and expect to have completed a first draft of literature review chapters
June: 1st year Annual review

Year 2

Expect to complete empirical work. If data collection is likely to be a lengthy process, perhaps because of gaining access to companies or because the study is longitudinal in nature, then the empirical work may start quite early in the student's second year, or even at the end of the first year
June : 2nd year Annual Review

Year 3

Commence formal writing-up
Expect to complete empirical work and produce draft write-up of results
Submit completed thesis
June: 3rd year Annual review

Students should note that although a 4th year writing up period is available, the expectation is that they will submit their thesis within 3 years. It is most important that students research is written up on a continual basis during the three years of registration. Continual writing-up means that the students should expect to regularly prepare chapters to be read and commented on by their supervisors on a regular basis. This should help to ensure that when the formal writing-up period begins, they have a first draft of a thesis ready for modification.

PhD Supervisory Arrangements

Each student will normally be assigned two academic supervisors who will provide guidance on the formal specification of the topic, the structure and organisation of the thesis and the general direction of the research. Regular supervision helps to ensure that the research progresses in the appropriate way. Full-time doctoral students meet with their supervisors on at least ten occasions during the year. For part-time students at least six meetings take place.

Please also refer to staff list available to supervise to determine if there is a match between your research interests and those of potential supervisors. You may also like to look at Research in the business school to determine whether your research interests correspond with the wider research agenda within the school.

MRes Business and Management Programme

The MRes comprises a blend of taught research training modules, taught subject-specific training modules and a dissertation. The main aim of the programme is to provide students with foundation training in the basic and advanced research skills sufficient to enter a Doctoral programme. The MRes programme is also suitable for candidates who may wish to obtain a research degree, but do not wish to commit themselves to a longer period of study.

MRes Business and Management Degree Stucture

MRes students complete the following compulsory modules:

Introduction to Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methods
Quantitative Research Methods

In addition, students undertake twp advanced subject-specific modules worth 15 credits, which is related to their chosen specialist subject area of study and to be agreed by supervisors.

MRes students are required to complete and submit a 25,000 word dissertation worth 120 credits.

MRes Supervisory Arrangements

Each MRes student will normally be assigned one academic supervisor, who will provide guidance on the formal specification of the topic, the structure and organisation of the dissertation, and the general direction of the research. In order to monitor progress, students are required to submit a literature review. This will also allow them to obtain valuable feedback. The Dissertation is examined by viva voce attended by both an internal and external examiner.

Progression and Acceptance onto the Doctoral Programme

High performing students, i.e. those who achieve an overall taught module average of at least 65 per cent and pass the dissertation (with no corrections or with minor corrections to be made within three months) will be considered for a place on the Doctoral programme.

PhD Programme

MRes Business and Management Programme

Nottingham University Business School