Industrial Relations - PhD

Course structure

We have international expertise in the following areas: accounting; finance, operational research, international business strategy, organisational behaviour, human resource management, marketing and supply chain management. Supervisors are not allocated until each applicant’s qualifications and eligibility have been checked after submitting a full application online.

Master’s and PhD degrees are available in most of these areas or in the general subject area of management.

Study support

Postgraduate resources

Kent Business School occupies a purpose-designed building consisting of executive learning facilities with wireless provision throughout. Each postgraduate student is assigned a specific member of academic staff who acts as your
first point of contact throughout your studies. There is a lively postgraduate community at the School, with plenty of space to relax and interact with your fellow students and our academic staff.

An international focus

Kent Business School has more than 50 internationally recognised academics from 22 different countries. Most of our teaching faculty are involved with researching the latest issues in business and management, working with organisations to provide new insight for business leaders and policymakers. Their knowledge and findings feed into the programmes to ensure they are both cutting-edge and globally relevant.

Worldwide partnerships

Kent Business School has close links with: ifs (Institute of Financial Services); dunnhumby, who partner the Consumer Insight Service in the Centre for Value Chain Research; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, where we have strong research links in tourism management; Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences (Germany); Chinese Academy of Sciences; Hong Kong Baptist University, with whom we offer a joint Master’s programme in Operational Research and Finance Business Statistics; University of Castellanza (Italy); University of the Littoral (France); University of Lille (France); University of Rouen (France); University of Deusto (Spain); and University of Tasmania (Australia).

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Critical Perspectives on Accounting; Quantitative Finance; Human Resource Management Journal; International Journal of Market Research; European Journal of Operational Research. Details of recently published books can be found within our staff research interests.

Entry requirements

 A 2.1 at undergraduate level and, for PhD applicants, a Merit at Master’s level in a relevant discipline from a UK or other approved university and/or equivalent. You must submit a research proposal of approximately 1,500 words on your intended topic.

PhD applicants who do not hold a first class honours degree (if still completing their Master’s programme) or a relevant Master’s degree with Distinction will be asked to pay a £100 application fee (deductible from the first year’s fees).

Research areas

Accounting and Finance

This group pursues research in a variety of areas including financial management in the public and profit-seeking sector, environmental and social aspects of accounting, cash flow analysis, the law and practice of auditing, accounting history and international accounting, financial econometrics, corporate finance, asset pricing, real-estate modelling, security price behaviour.

Marketing

Research in this group cuts across four main domains including, marketing strategy and performance; product development and innovation; buyer behaviour; and the management of supply (value) chains and market delivery systems. Strong links with industry and an international network of research partners support the Group’s empirical research. The growing body of postgraduate research students is at the heart of the theoretical and conceptual work in which the Group is engaged.

Management Science

This group covers a wide range of research areas in operational research and systems thinking. These include research in the area of logistics including green logistics and network security with a special emphasis on the innovative design and analysis of heuristic and exact optimisation, DEA, operation management, multi-variate analysis, biometrics, multi-methodology and soft OR/systems.

People, Management and Organisation

Research examines themes in the areas of employment relations, human resource management, organisational behaviour and leadership. The Group covers a wide range of research, including employment relationships, the role of social partners, the effects of skills, technology and culture on the world of work, employee engagement, and the role of leadership.

Strategy and International Business

Research in this group focuses on strategic alliances, non-market strategies, performance management, business in emerging economies, international strategy, management of multinational enterprises and corporate social responsibility.

Staff research interests

Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘find a supervisor’ search to search by staff member or keyword.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.

Dr Vinh Sum Chau: Senior Lecturer in Strategy

Dr Li-cheng Chang: Senior Lecturer in Financial Accounting

Professor Marian Garcia: Professor of Marketing and Innovation

Dr Mark Hampton: Reader in Tourism Management

Professor Soo Hee Lee: Professor in Organisation Studies

Dr Abdullah Iqbal: Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance

Dr Des Laffey: Senior Lecturer in e-Commerce

Professor Patricia Lewis: Professor of Management

Dr Shenxue Li: Senior Lecturer in Strategy

Professor Ben Lowe: Professor of Marketing

Professor John Mingers: Professor of Operational Research and Systems

Professor Jesse O'Hanley: Professor of Environmental Systems Management

Professor Paul Phillips: Professor of Strategic Management

Dr Nikolaos Voukelatos: Senior Lecturer in Finance

Dr Madeleine Wyatt: Senior Lecturer in Human Resources Management

Dr Shaomin Wu: Reader in Business-Applied Statistics

Fees

As a guide only, the 2014/15 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Exceptions may apply. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk