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Essex Business School

PhDs and other research degrees

Research Degree Finder
An Essex Business School student wearing a blue hijab headscarf sits in a classroom with a pen in her hand.

Join our global research community

Challenge conventional thinking and become a leader in your field by exploring your doctoral thesis at Essex Business School.

Our researchers produce cutting-edge research that helps organisations innovate and economies flourish, you could join them and help champion a more responsible approach to management for the benefit of organisations and society.

You will join one of our leading research groups to carry out your doctoral research under the supervision of our experienced academic staff and you'll become a member of one of the UK’s youngest, most dynamic business schools.

At Essex Business School we train you to think critically about business and encourage you to make a positive impact on society. Undertaking a research degree will develop the skills you'll need to achieve your potential and set you up for a rewarding career, whether in industry or academia.


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Dr Louise Nash
" We offer an inclusive and collaborative research environment that enables our students to quickly grow into confident world class researchers, innovating, forging and leading a responsible and robust response to challenges and issues facing business and society."
Dr Louise Nash Director of Postgraduate Research at Essex Business School
Dr Nash introduces Research Degrees at Essex Business School


What can you study?

Find out more about our subjects at Essex Business School and explore the kind of PhD you can study with us. 

Accounting
Develop new insight into accounting and accountability, exploring theory, policy and practice.
Finance and banking
Become part of a vibrant research community, challenging the conventional perspective of the finance and banking sectors and their impact.
Business and management
Join the next generation of researchers shaping theory, policy and practice in the fields of management studies and business analytics.
Entrepreneurship
Explore topics such as innovation, intrapreneurship and venture creation in the new economy.
Marketing
Further your understanding of contemporary marketing issues and delve into consumer behaviours.
Organisation studies and human resource management
Explore the lived experience of work and investigate ways that businesses can manage and motivate the workforce effectively.

So, what do we have to offer?

Supervision

Essex Business School is a research intensive school where you are supervised by internationally recognised academics, in a collaborative, welcoming and supportive environment. Our academic team includes leading journal editors and our research has been cited by the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve.

You are normally assigned two supervisors in your chosen research area. You work closely with your supervisors, who offer regular feedback on your ideas and findings.

We encourage you to contact our academics directly to discuss your ideas, or our Postgraduate Research Academic Services Administrator can put you in touch with staff in your proposed research area. 

 

Find potential supervisors

Research community

At Essex Business School, you become a member of a lifelong, international, community of researchers. Our research centres host regular seminars, giving you the chance to network with students and academics from around the world. Our students organise social and educational events, including the annual PhD conference where you can showcase your work to colleagues.

You may have the opportunity to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) and gain valuable experience for your CV.

 

Follow us on Twitter to discover our research community

Data, software and digital learning resources

We give you access to a wide range of databases and software packages to support your research, such as:

Most databases and learning resources can be accessed via the Library Services portal.

Build your own research degree

Throughout your PhD, you undertake a progress board every six months. At this meeting, your supervisors and an independent chair mark your progress and set objectives for the next period. You are also encouraged to take part in peer group debates and discussions.

Year one

Your studies begin with an intensive induction programme. You attend advanced research methods training and undertake compulsory modules tailored to your individual research needs.

By the end of your first year, you should have a solid understanding of the key debates in your field and have defined your research questions, outlining your original contribution to knowledge. Some students are also expected to have made substantial progress on their first research paper.

Year two

In your second year, you are likely to finalise the design of your own research project and either collect primary data, or access and analyse large scale datasets. You may also make progress on your second research paper.

Final year

In your final year, you continue to analyse your own research data and further refine your original contribution to knowledge. You will collate your work into an approximately 50-80k words thesis. Some students are also expected to make substantial progress on their third research paper.

You may attend a number of conferences in your final year to test out your research findings and thesis on an international stage.

Once you have submitted your thesis, you will be asked to attend a viva voce examination with examiners from within and outside of the University. A viva voce examination usually takes place within three months of submission of thesis.

 

Contact our research administrator for more information

Our research centres

Essex Business School is home to a number of world-leading research centres, covering a wide range of topics. As a PhD student and student researcher, you will join the active research of one or more of our research centres.

Essex Accounting Centre
The Essex Accounting Group (EAC) produces theoretical and empirical research at the forefront of the field of accounting.
Essex Finance Centre
The Essex Finance Centre (EFiC) fosters internationally renowned and high-quality academic research in banking, finance and financial econometrics.
Centre for Accountability and Global Development
The Centre for Accountability and Global Development (CAGD) advance interdisciplinary research in the field of accountability across all sectors, in both developed and emerging economies.
Centre for Research on Entrepreneurship Innovation Management and Internationalisation
The centre for Research on Entrepreneurship, Innovation Management and Internationalisation (REIMI) is a recognised interdisciplinary centre, both nationally and internationally.
Essex Centre for Macro and Financial Econometrics
The Essex Centre for Macro and Financial Econometrics brings together academic and industry expertise from inside and outside the University of Essex to research and help solve important issues in financial markets.
Centre for Work, Organisation and Society
The Centre for Work, Organisation and Society (CWOS) is a leading centre for innovative and critical thinking about different aspects of the relationship between work, organisations and society.
Centre for Commons Organising, Values Equalities and Resilience (COVER)
The Centre for Commons Organising, Values Equalities and Resilience (COVER) studies the theoretical and practical possibilities of how commons values based on principles of cooperation, collaboration, and open knowledge sharing can foster more egalitarian, inclusive, and participative 21st-century economies, communities, and organisations.
Centre for Environment and Society
Essex Business School staff contribute to this interdisciplinary research centre which brings together world-leading, impact-focused research on all aspects of sustainability science being undertaken at Essex.
Student on laptop and phone in lecture theatre
How to apply

Applying for a research degree at Essex is a simple process. We've got all the information you need to make your application, find out more in our step-by-step guide.

Find out more

Meet our current research students

Our research students are active over two campuses and across six subject areas within Essex Business School. You could join this diverse community of researchers and help make a difference for business, for people and for the planet.

Research students

Jamsith Abdul Azeez
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Nour Abdullah
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ruqayah Abdullah
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mohammed Abubakari
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Sabreen Abul Haija
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Alexander Acheampong
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Philip Achoki
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Adam Adams
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Kehinde Adekunle
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mohammed Al Shayi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ali Al-Aloosh
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Abdulmajeed Alalyani
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Abdullah Albakri
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ibrahim Albkhetan
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Abeer Aldhafeeri
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Turki Aldhwaihi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Fahad Alessa
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Talal Alfaifi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Fahad Alhajraf
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Abdulrahman Alhujailan
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Constance Ali
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Faddia Al-Jhany
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Hanan Almathami
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Sarah Almershed
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Hanan Alsharah
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mohammed Alwabisi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Buthaynah Alzayed
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Jity Bajaj
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Justin Bareham
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ashman Bin Khairuddin
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Khairani Binti Ibrahim
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Adetunji Bolorunduro
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Daniel Brockwell
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Beenish Neik Chaudhry
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Xunyi Chen
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Moses Dada
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Noha Mohamed Nagib Dawod
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Samir Diss
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Boubacar Drame
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Oselunamie Ebhomielen
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Rasha Elsawy
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Wenjiao Fang
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Yuan Feng
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Yutong Feng
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Gadim Gadimov
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Audu Garga
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Chirath Jeewantha Gatawa Kandage
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Olatunde Gbolasere
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Selman Gemuhluoglu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Sylvia Goddard
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Deborah Hamer-Acquaah Hamer-Acquaah
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: Diversity management, fatherhood in the workplace, stereotyping, discrimination, professional parents
Seth Harrison
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Research interests: Time Series Econometrics; Financial Bubble Detection Methods
Xudong He
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Anthony Ogbonnia Isu-Okoh
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: Digital financial inclusion; Mobile financial services; Digital governance
Md Jalil
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Shabnam Kazembalaghi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Omar Khodr
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Poojani Konara
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Puttiporn Legkhow
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Qiuyu Liang
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Luyao Ling
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Nadia Lopes De Carvalho Andrelino
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Meichen Lu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ludovico Luce
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: Volatility shocks; Financial Time Series
Fanis Lyrintzis Lyrintzis
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Shengqiu Ma
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ziyu Ma
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Xiaoxian Meng
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Dario Meyer-Marsilius
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ahmed Moustafa
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Tinei Nhau
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Farjana Nipa
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Josephine Nwaelene
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Frank O'Fidel
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Chukwuma Okeke
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Chinwe Okpeku
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Oluwole Olabode
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Favour Olorunsomo
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Meryem Oncul
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Maame Osei-Mensah
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Emmanuel Owoade
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: Management, Human Resources, Learning and Development, Organisational Management and E-learning
Phillip Oyetunji
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mohammad Sharfuddin Rashed
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Research interests: Overcoming Barriers to Circular Supply Chain Management in Bangladesh and the Role of Digital Technologies
Marcus Richards
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mark Russell
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Alfons Sangunji
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Siân Savage
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: The MBA at Essex Business School.
Mohammed Sharara
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Renqiong Shi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Kehinde Shoroye
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Sirisak Siripibarn
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Sweta Srivastava
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Arief Susilo
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Penphatsorn Suwannapornkul
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Payam Tahmasbi
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Aishah Tawhari
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
May Thet Nwe
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Research interests: Leadership; Philosophy; Strategy and Change
Mohammad Shahab Uddin
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Ask me about: Teaching undergraduate and graduate, Circular Economy, Entrepreneurship, Business and Management courses, voluntary works. Research interests: Circular Entrepreneurship
Happiness Uka
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Nattanapa Veesapen
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Shuangshi Wang
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Catherine Wilson
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Mickey Wu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Yanjie Xie
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Xiaoling Xu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Yanfeng Xu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Olcay Yagci
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Haji Yakubu
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Haolan Yang
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Junjie Yang
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Haneen Yassin
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
Wanying Zheng
Postgraduate Research Student, Essex Business School
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