PhD Studentships

The Open University Business and Law Schools are inviting applications to join our PhD programme beginning on 1st October 2025. We welcome full- and part-time applications in business, management and law, including on a self-funded basis; please note such projects are dependent on supervision availability. We have a number of fully-funded full-time studentships available.

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.

PhD studentships are based on full-time study for three years at the Milton Keynes campus. 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. Part-time students are expected to live within the UK and attend campus when required. Please note that our PhD and MPhil degrees cannot be studied online or via distance learning.

Fully-funded studentships cover tuition fees, and a stipend (circa £19,237 per annum) for 36 months. A generous research training support grant is allocated to all students accepted into the programme to cover research-related costs including fieldwork and conferences.

Applicants for the PhD programme should have minimum qualifications of an upper second class honours degree (2:1 or an equivalent) or usually a specialist masters in a subject relevant to the intended study with a strong research element.

Your application must include:

• a proposal which should be at least 1,000 words and no longer than 2,000 words, indicating your knowledge of the literature, methods and likely approach to your project of interest (guidance on how to write your research proposal is available here)
• a covering letter indicating your suitability for the project
• a fully-completed application form
• copies of degree certificates and all transcripts relevant to your application
• an IELTS Academic Exam certificate (if applicable). If you are not from, or do not have a full degree certificate from, one of the countries in the tables on page 17 of the application form (international), you will need to submit an IELTS Academic Exam certificate with your application by the deadline. A minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four categories (or approved equivalent) are required in order to make the application process fair and equal for all applicants. You should have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration, and provide your certificate and grade with your application. Test certificates must be no older than 2 years (from date of submission of application). IELTS is the only proof of English competency we accept at The Open University. There are no exceptions or waivers to having an IELTS exam certificate. This is regardless of other qualifications, career experience, other academic experience or English-medium education that took place in countries not on the aforementioned list.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and will be held primarily throughout February 2025, either in person or remotely via videoconference. Applicants are expected to give a 10 minute presentation about their proposal, followed by a question and answer session lasting up to 45 minutes.

You are welcome to attend our webinar, 'Preparing Your PhD Application', on 16th December 2024 at 10:30-12:00 (GMT). 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. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please register via Eventbrite.