Overview
LSBU Business School offers full-time, part-time, and distance-learning research degree programmes. During this PhD course, students work with research supervisors to develop research projects to shape theory, policy and practice in the fields of business and enterprise studies. Under the direction of two research supervisors, students conduct empirical or theoretical research that will lead to new knowledge in a chosen field and are required to write a series of journal articles or thesis of 80,000 words. Previous PhD research topics have included:
Internationalisation of SMEs
Marketing strategies of multinational companies
Sustainability and project management
Managing risk in multinational corporations
Social media as innovation laboratory
Work-life balance and work-family conflict
Industry, public and 3rd Sector Collaborations
Our academics have made an impact and collaborate with a range of private, public and 3rd sector organisations as expert advisors, in contract research and consulting. Such collaborations include the European Commission's Asylum Support Office (EASO), the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science in Australia, the Swiss Olympics - Federal Ministry of the Interior in Switzerland, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in the UK, the British Council in the UK, the society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR, UK) and Erasmus+, the European Commission's Programme.
Enterprise through research
Enterprise as a core research narrative invites researchers to contribute work notable for academic quality and impact and all sorts of areas could fall within this theme including, but not limited to, SMEs, local economy, organisational analysis, social enterprise and society. It offers opportunities to work collaboratively on research and publications, share data, complementary methodologies and connect with enterprise activities.
Engaging with business and society
The School is also committed to ‘civic engagement’ with a mission to share practical research outcomes to improve the society around us and this is reflected in many of the impact case studies which are being generated. Our local business community is essential to the success of London and we are keen to engage in research which supports that community through systematic capture of the structure, economic impact or business lifecycle.
We therefore would like our research to be academically strong and capable of generating impact locally, nationally or internationally. We are happy to consider a broad range of research proposals within the business domain so long as they can be seen to offer the potential for rigour, originality, reach and impact.
A PhD, by definition, is an original contribution to knowledge. A research degree is different from a taught course. Research students are expected to self-direct their learning with support from a supervisory team.
| ModeFull-time | Duration3 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9005 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| ModePart-time | Duration5 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9025 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| ModeDistance learning | Duration6 years | Start dateJanuary; April; September | Application code9057 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Course Accreditations
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IoEE
Location
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides.
Walk or bicycle
The University is in easy walking distance of underground and leading overground stations. We are only 20 minutes away from the Thames. We encourage walking and cycling and have bicycle racks on campus. Please check the Transport for London cycling website for London cycling maps and route planners.
By bus
LSBU is very well connected, and a large number of buses travel to and connect in the Elephant and Castle area from across London.
By train or tube
The Bakerloo and Northern lines stop at Elephant & Castle underground station, which is right next to campus. The closest rail stations are Elephant & Castle, London Waterloo and London Bridge. To plan your train journey, visit the National Rail website.
By car
London South Bank University does not provide public parking space. There is a limited amount of parking in the area, so we strongly advise using public transport.
Do consider the Congestion Charge if you are driving through London to reach the campus. Find out if you'll be crossing the Congestion Charge zone to reach our Southwark Campus.
TfL journey planner
You can travel to Southwark Campus by using public transport, plan your journey using the Transport for London journey planner.
Entry Level Requirements
Applicants for a Research Degree programme at LSBU are usually expected to have a good honours degree (2:2 and above) and a relevant postgraduate qualification, preferably a merit at Master's level. Please also supply two academic references as part of your application. You will also be required to show proof of all of your qualifications. If English is not your first language you will be required to prove your competency in English, showing an IELTS score of at least 7.0 at postgraduate level. You will be invited to an interview with your potential supervisor, in person or by telephone, prior to an offer being made.
Choose your country
Select country here:
United Kingdom
£4820
Tuition fees for home students
International
£16900
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
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Part-time
part-time
PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 1
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £4820 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 1DS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 1
UK fee: £2892 International fee: £10140 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 1PS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 1DS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 1DS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 1PS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 1PS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 2
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £4820 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 2DS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 2
UK fee: £2892 International fee: £10140 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 2PS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 2DS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 2DS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 2PS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 2PS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 3
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £4820 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 3DS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 3
UK fee: £2892 International fee: £10140 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 3PS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 3DS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 3DS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 3PS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 3PS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 4
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £4820 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 4DS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 4
UK fee: £2892 International fee: £10140 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 4PS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 4DS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 4DS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 4PS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 4PS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 5
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £4820 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 5DS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 5
UK fee: £2892 International fee: £10140 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 5PS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 5
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 5DS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 5
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: 5DS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 5
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 5PS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 5
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: 5PS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 6
UK fee: £1190 International fee: £1190 AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: WUS00 Total course fee: UK: £25290 International: £25290 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 6
UK fee: £1190 International fee: £1190 AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: WUS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 6
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: WUS10 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (DL) - Year 6
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9057 Session code: WUS20 Total course fee: UK: £24500 International: £24500 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 6
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: WUS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (PT) - Year 6
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9025 Session code: WUS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 -
Full-time
full-time
PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 1
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £16900 AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 1FS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 1FS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 1
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 1FS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 2
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £16900 AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 2FS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 2FS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 2
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 2FS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 3
UK fee: £4820 International fee: £16900 AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 3FS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 3FS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 3
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: 3FS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 4
UK fee: £1190 International fee: £1190 AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: WUS00 Total course fee: UK: £15650 International: £51890 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: WUS10 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350 PhD Business and Enterprise (FT) - Year 4
UK fee: £ International fee: £ AOS/LSBU code: 9005 Session code: WUS20 Total course fee: UK: £15160 International: £47350
The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
At the London Doctoral Academy we are committed to supporting and developing professional researchers who are driven to make a difference. We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations - and when they're available we'll publish notices on the London Doctoral Academy site.
Home/EU applicants
| Mode Full-time | Duration 3 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9005 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| Mode Part-time | Duration 5 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9025 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
| Mode Distance learning | Duration 6 years | Start date January; April; September | Application code 9057 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Considering your application
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
Research proposal
When applying, please attach an outline of your research proposal (approximately 1,500 words).
Prepare to start
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Enrolment
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
PhD students at LSBU Business School attend weekly research seminars and Key Skills Development Programme organised by the university, but they are not required to attend any taught modules or to complete coursework. Students are encouraged to present their work at research seminars to gain feedback from doctoral students and researchers in the business and enterprise disciplines. The library offers a range of research-related courses such as how to use SPSS or NVIVO, or how to use a reference management software. In addition, doctoral students may audit selected Masters- level modules relevant to their research project.
Careers
Employability Service
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
- An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
- Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Research skills development
All 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 skills
A research degree will equip you with many transferable skills. The self-discipline, the demand for clear analytical thinking, 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, a new idea, or a new way of looking at something can be highly rewarding.
Attending conferences
Research students are often sponsored to attend national and international conferences and to meet leading scientists in their fields and to present their research findings. The progress of all research students is formally monitored by the University's Research Degree Committee.
Links with external funding bodies for research have been developed and particular attention has been given to increasing the quantum of external funding for research activity.
External funding has been obtained from sources that include the European Union, UK Research Councils, major charitable research foundations and the U.K. Government’s Department of Trade and Industry.
Particular attention has been given towards the development of postgraduate research degrees and increasing the levels of external funding for research activity.
- In further recognition of the School’s entrepreneurial culture and leading-edge practice it has been awarded the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs (IoEE) Centre of Excellence status. This is the IoEE’s flagship organisational accreditation for organisations that promote and deliver enterprise skills development.
Memberships
LSBU Business School is an esteemed member institution of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), an international membership and quality assurance body of world-leading and high-potential Business Schools who share a commitment for responsible management practices and lifelong learning, and are looking to provide positive impact on their students, communities, and the economy as a whole. BGA is the sister brand to the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the world's impartial authority on postgraduate management education.
As a BGA member institution, students of LSBU Business School are able to access BGA's individual membership, which offers a range of tools and resources designed to support the professional and personal development of business students and graduates, free of charge. This includes CV building services, a job search function, skill assessments, thought-leadership, partner discounts and much more.
Teaching and Assessment
All 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.