PhD Studentships at The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law
The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) has announced an exciting opportunity for aspiring researchers to join its highly regarded PhD programme. Applications are now open for both on-campus and distance learning PhD studentships, offering a chance to undertake impactful research in a range of business, management, and law disciplines.
Programme Overview
The PhD studentships are available for full-time study over three years, beginning on 1st February 2026. Students can choose between the traditional on-campus route, based at the university’s Milton Keynes campus, or the flexible PhD by Distance Learning programme, which welcomes applicants from across the UK and around the world.
Fully-funded studentships are available for both UK-based on-campus and distance learning applicants. These studentships cover tuition fees and provide a stipend of approximately £20,780 per annum (currently under review). For full-time overseas distance learning students, funding covers tuition fees only.
Research Themes and Project Areas
Applicants may submit proposals aligned with a number of advertised research projects, including but not limited to:
- Inclusion and Equity: Investigating barriers and strategies for inclusion in Higher Education.
- Finance and Sustainability: Examining IFRS accounting standards, climate disclosures, and ESG investing.
- Ethics and Accountability: Exploring Islamic financial institutions, climate policy, and investor behaviour.
- Social Justice and Diversity: Researching gender identities in creative industries, women farmers in the MENA region, and workplace inclusion in the gaming sector.
- Law and Human Rights: Focusing on constitutional and international aspects of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
- Health and Gender Studies: Understanding the impact of organisational culture on women’s health in emergency and uniformed services.
In addition to these themes, self-funded proposals are welcomed across a broad spectrum of business, management, and law topics, subject to supervisory availability and expertise.
Eligibility and Requirements
Candidates must hold at least an upper second-class honours degree (2:1 or equivalent) and typically a relevant master’s qualification with a strong research component. Applicants must submit the following documents by 23:59 GMT on 9th June 2025:
- A research proposal (1,000–2,000 words)
- A covering letter detailing suitability for the project
- A completed application form (either on-campus or distance learning)
- Degree certificates and academic transcripts (with translations if not in English)
- An IELTS Academic Exam certificate, if applicable, with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and no component below 6.0
Programme Expectations
On-campus full-time students are expected to reside within commuting distance of Milton Keynes and engage with supervisors face-to-face monthly. Distance learning students may reside in the UK or overseas, with flexible virtual engagement and minimal mandatory travel to campus. However, some residency restrictions apply, as detailed in the application guidance.
All students benefit from a research training support grant, covering essential costs such as fieldwork and conference participation.
Webinar and Further Information
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the online webinar “Preparing Your PhD Application” on 23rd May 2025, from 15:00–16:30 GMT. This session will help candidates assess their readiness for PhD study and offer practical advice on preparing a strong research proposal.
To register for the webinar or to access further details, applicants should visit the Open University’s careers site.
Contact and Application Submission
All application documents must be submitted via email to fbl-phd@open.ac.uk by the stated deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Interviews
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in July or August 2025. Interviews may be conducted in person or remotely and will include a 10-minute presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
The Faculty of Business and Law at The Open University continues to lead in delivering internationally recognised research that contributes to economic, social, and public value. These PhD studentships represent a unique opportunity to be part of this mission and make a meaningful academic contribution on a global scale.
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