Strategy and International Business, PhD

Program Overview

The PhD in Strategy and International Business from the University of Birmingham combines research-intensive training and independent investigation. The program equips students with advanced research capabilities, fostering engagement with responsible business and sustainable development. Students conduct original research under supervision, resulting in a comprehensive thesis and potential careers in academia, government, business, and other sectors.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The PhD in Strategy and International Business at the University of Birmingham is a research-intensive program that combines short-taught components with intensive research. The program equips students with transferable skills and knowledge with a focus on business and societal challenges.

Objectives:

• To develop students' capabilities to characterize, research, and conceptualize strategy and international business problems and challenges using advanced research tools.
• To encourage students to engage with ongoing debates on responsible business and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• To enable students to derive policy, business, and practice implications from their research and communicate these to policy makers, practitioners, and other academics.

Outline:

The program consists of a training program comprising 60 credits, followed by a supervised research project leading to the submission of an 80,000-word thesis.

Training Program:

• Seminars and workshops on debates in business and management, research project development, and research methods.
• Training in research methods, including interviews, case studies, and modeling.

Research Project:

• Students develop a research proposal that outlines their research question, objectives, literature review, research techniques, timeline, and references.
• Students conduct independent research under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Students present their research findings at the annual progress review and in the form of a thesis.

Assessment:

• Research proposal (5,000 words)
• Annual progress review (10,000-word research document)
• Thesis (80,000 words)

Teaching:

• Seminars and workshops
• Individual supervision
• Guest lectures from industry experts
• Research methods training

Careers:

• Academics
• Government
• Businesses
• Supranational organizations
• Major consultancy firms
• Research arms of major financial institutions

Other:

• Doctoral researchers are expected to fully participate in the life of the Business School and the Department of Strategy and International Business.
• Students are encouraged to attend seminars and conferences organized by the Business School and Graduate School.
• The program provides opportunities for students to develop transferable professional skills, including communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.