PhD Studentships

 

Applications for entry to The Open University's Business and Law Schools' PhD programme in October 2026 are now closed. Applications for entry in February 2027 will open in the spring of 2026.

 

If your application is successful, you will join the Faculty of Business and Law, where we conduct research of the highest international standard and embrace economic, public and social value consistent with the mission of The Open University. You will work with subject specialists to develop an original contribution to knowledge as well as your skills in research, communication, engagement and impact.

 

We will advertise projects with pre-assigned supervisors. Alternatively, we also welcome full- and part-time applications in other areas of business, management and law, including on a self-funded basis and externally-funded basis; please note that such projects are dependent on supervision expertise, availability and capacity.

 

 

Studentships details and training grant

PhD studentships are based on full-time study for three years either via our campus-based learning programme at our Milton Keynes campus or remotely via our distance learning programme.

 

Fully-funded studentships for full-time campus-based students and UK-domiciled UK citizen distance learning students cover tuition fees, and a stipend of circa £20,780 per annum for 36 months. Studentships for full-time distance learning students living overseas cover tuition fees only (please tick the 'fee bursary' option on the application form if you wish to be considered for such a studentship). Studentships are not available for part-time study. Please note that UK-domiciled non-UK citizen distance learning students are not eligible to study full-time and are therefore not eligible for a studentship. Please also note that studentships do not cover visa-related expenses, the immigration health surcharge or relocation-related expenses, and that visa-related expenses and the immigration health surcharge need to be paid in advance of registration.

 

In addition, a generous research training support grant is allocated to all students accepted into the programme to cover research-related costs including fieldwork and conferences.

 

Studentships for PhD study in FBL are also available via the ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (GUDTP) on the Organisation, Leadership and Governance Pathway – please note that the GUDTP applications have separate entry processes and requirements, and have to be made via the FASS Faculty; please see the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership page for further details. Please note that GUDTP studentships are not available for distance-learning students.

 

 

Residential requirements

Our campus-based full-time students are expected to live within an easily commutable distance of Milton Keynes, meet their supervisors face-to-face on a monthly basis, and are advised to be on campus or another site of research a minimum of two days per week. Our campus-based part-time students are expected to live within the UK and attend campus when required.

 

Students on the PhD by Distance Learning Programme can be based anywhere in the UK or in most parts of the world (please see the guidance on the application form for the up-to-date list of ineligible countries). Following registration (mandatory in-person for UK-based students) and faculty induction (recommended for in-person attendance), there is no mandatory on-campus attendance for distance learning students residing in either the UK or abroad. They are expected to meet their supervisors and engage in training and research events remotely.

 

Please note that non-UK citizens applying to join the PhD by Distance Learning Programme are not eligible to apply for a UK visa based on these studies.

Please also note that UK-domiciled non-UK citizens applying to join the PhD by Distance Learning Programme are not eligible to study full-time.

 

 

Maximum hours for paid work

If you are offered a full-time place, you will be limited to a maximum of 6 hours of paid work per week outside of your PhD studies. This applies to both on-campus and distance-learning programmes. If you intend to work more hours in parallel to your studies, consider our part-time study mode.

 

 

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold the minimum of an upper second-class honours degree, or a specialist Master’s degree in a subject relevant to the intended study with a strong research element. Applicants holding other qualifications must demonstrate suitability for postgraduate level research based on professional experience, publications, written reports or other appropriate evidence of previous research related to the proposed PhD application. In addition, applicants must provide the names of qualified persons from whom the University may seek references as to the applicants’ academic attainment and potential for undertaking research at this level. Applicants who do not hold any degree level qualifications will not be admitted and will not be eligible for consideration.

 

 

How to apply

You do not need to contact a potential supervisor before submitting an application. However, if you would like to apply with a proposal for a project of your own design (rather than one of the pre-designed projects that will be advertised on this webpage in the spring of 2026) and you would like to discuss your research interests with one of our academic colleagues, their contact details are available on their profiles, which can be accessed via the Business School website's 'People' page and the Law School website's 'People' page.

 

Once applications for entry in February 2027 have opened, you must send the following documents to [email protected] by the deadline. If your fully-completed application form or your research proposal is not sent by this deadline, your application will not be accepted. Please submit your files as PDFs, Word documents and/or JPEGs. Please send them as email attachments; we cannot accept files submitted via a link to an online storage area (such as Google Drive) for systems/data protection-related reasons.

  • A fully-completed UK citizen’s application form, non-UK citizen’s application form or distance learning application form, as well as a separate Equal Opportunities and Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) Monitoring Form. These forms are available on The Open University’s website.

  • A proposal between 1,000 and 2,000 words indicating your knowledge of the relevant literature, appropriate methods and likely approach to your project of interest. We recommend you read our guidance document on how to write your research proposal.

  • A covering letter indicating your suitability for the project.

  • A CV.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and will be held primarily throughout late June, July and August 2026 via a Microsoft Teams meeting. Applicants are expected to give a 10-minute presentation about their proposal, followed by a question-and-answer session lasting up to 45 minutes.

 

If your application is selected for progression to Graduate School and you are a non-UK citizen applying for a campus-based place, you must provide the documents listed below before the end of September 2026. If your application is selected for progression to Graduate School and either you are applying for a distance learning place or you are a UK citizen applying for a campus-based place, you must provide the documents listed below before the end of October 2026. If you do not provide the required documentation by the applicable deadline, we may not be able to consider your application for entry in February 2027.

  • A copy of your passport.

  • Official copies of degree certificate(s) and all final transcripts relevant to your application. If your certificate(s) and/or transcripts are not in English, both the original copies and certified translations are required.

  • The proof of English language proficiency you identify on your application form if you are not a UK citizen and do not have either indefinite leave to remain or settled/pre-settled status. For further information on acceptable proof of English language proficiency, please visit the UK Government website or contact our Graduate School by either emailing [email protected] or phoning +44 (0)1908 653806. 

    • If you are a national of one of the recognised majority English-speaking countries listed on the UK Government website, the aforementioned copy of your passport will serve as your proof of English language proficiency.

    • If you hold a degree from one of the recognised majority English-speaking countries listed on the UK Government website, the aforementioned copies of the degree certificate(s) and final transcripts relevant to your application will serve as your proof of English language proficiency.

    • If you have previously demonstrated proof of English in another approved UK visa application, we will inform you of any required documentation after your interview.

    • If you hold a degree from a country not listed as a recognised majority English-speaking country on the UK Government website, you will need to provide an English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) from Ecctis as well as the aforementioned copies of the degree certificate(s) and final transcripts relevant to your application.

    • If you hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an exam taken no earlier than 2nd October 2024, you will need to provide the certificate. The exam’s CEFR band must be B2, C1 or C2. Our preferred SELT providers are IELTS and LanguageCert. If your SELT is from IELTS, a minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four categories are required. If your SELT is from LanguagesCert, a minimum overall score of 70 and a minimum score of 60 in each of the four categories are required. If you hold a SELT from Pearson, PSI (if the exam was taken outside the UK) or Trinity College London (if the exam was taken in the UK), please email [email protected] or phone +44 (0)1908 653806 before you apply (please ensure to allow sufficient time for your query to be answered before the application deadline).

 

Pre-application workshop

You are welcome to attend our webinar, 'Preparing Your PhD Application' (date to be confirmed).  This online 1.5-hour workshop with faculty academics will address questions on whether studying a PhD is right for you, what to consider when applying, what it’s like to do a PhD at The Open University, and how to best craft a research proposal that aligns with advertised project calls. An Eventbrite registration link will follow soon.

 

 

Useful contacts

If you have any queries regarding proof of English language proficiency, immigration or the Research Degrees Regulations, please email [email protected] or phone +44 (0)1908 653806. If you have any queries regarding the FBL research degrees programme, our advertised projects (details to follow) or the application process, please email [email protected].