PhD Studentships 2026: Applications Now Open for The Open University Business and Law Schools

The Open University Business and Law Schools are delighted to announce the opening of purposes for the 2026 consumption of PhD Studentships, commencing on 1 October 2026. These alternatives can be found by each the campus-based PhD Programme and the PhD by Distance Learning Programme, enabling candidates from throughout the United Kingdom and around the globe to pursue doctoral analysis inside a world-leading establishment for open, inclusive, and high-quality training.

The Open University (OU) is globally recognised for its analysis excellence and revolutionary studying mannequin. Within the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL), our tutorial group conducts analysis that’s intellectually rigorous, socially related, and internationally impactful. Doctoral candidates be part of a dynamic analysis surroundings the place inquiry is guided by ideas of excellence, fairness, and engagement with real-world challenges.

By becoming a member of our doctoral programmes, college students grow to be part of a collaborative group dedicated to producing analysis that contributes to tutorial scholarship, informs coverage, and delivers tangible advantages to society, the economic system, and the surroundings.

About the PhD Studentship Programmes

A Foundation for Scholarly and Professional Growth

The Open University gives two modes of doctoral study inside the Faculty of Business and Law:

Campus-Based PhD Programme – carried out at our Milton Keynes campus, designed for college students who want to immerse themselves in a vibrant, in-person tutorial surroundings.
PhD by Distance Learning Programme – a versatile, online-based pathway for college students residing throughout the UK or internationally, supported by distant supervision and engagement.

Both programmes supply candidates the chance to undertake unique analysis underneath the steering of knowledgeable supervisors, supported by complete coaching and entry to the University’s intensive tutorial and digital sources. Students develop superior capabilities in analysis design, information evaluation, tutorial communication, and analysis affect.

The 2026 studentships name invites purposes for ten marketed analysis tasks inside the Business and Law Schools, along with self- or externally funded tasks in different related areas of enterprise, administration, and legislation, topic to supervisory capability.

Available Research Projects

The 2026 studentships cowl a various vary of analysis matters that replicate The Open University’s dedication to advancing data that responds to international, social, and technological transformations.

Projects Available for Campus-Based or Distance Learning Study

DAF01 – Accounting, Accountability and Governance
Investigating modern points in monetary transparency, ethics, and organizational accountability frameworks.
DAF03 – Private Consultants and Notions of Accountabilities
Examining the evolving roles of personal consultants and their affect on accountability constructions throughout sectors.

DAF04 – The Semantics of Capitalism
Exploring the shifting language, ideologies, and social meanings related to capitalism in fashionable economies.
DSM01 – Aligning Financial Ecosystems with Sustainable Innovation in Emerging Industries: Pathways, Barriers, and Institutional Dynamics
Analysing how monetary and institutional methods can allow sustainable innovation in new and rising industries.
DSM03 – Taking the Energy Transition Forward in Emerging and New Frontier Countries: Complementary Innovations in Off-Grid Systems, Multi-Purpose Energy Hubs, Battery Repurposing, and the Enabling Institutional Reforms
Assessing the technological and institutional pathways supporting vitality transition and clear vitality entry in growing contexts.

Projects Available for Campus-Based Study Only

DAF02 – Debt, Growth, and Inequality in Financialised Capitalism
Exploring how modern debt dynamics form financial progress and inequality in financialised economies.
DPO01 – The Role of Digital Twin and Thread to Facilitate Whole Lifecycle Information Flow in a Circular Economy
Investigating how digital applied sciences can allow sustainability by lifecycle data integration and design innovation.
DSM02 – Artificial Intelligence vs. Human-Composed Music in Advertising: Exploring Consumer Responses, Brand Perceptions, and the Future of Creative Authenticity
Comparing the psychological and emotional results of AI-generated and human-created promoting content material on shoppers.

Law01 – Policing Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women and Girls
Examining coverage, follow, and policing methods to fight on-line and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Project Available for Distance Learning Study Only

Law02 – Project in Human Rights Law and/or Migration Law
Exploring urgent questions in human rights, worldwide migration, and international justice from authorized and coverage views.

In addition, the Faculty gives studentship alternatives through the ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (GUDTP) underneath the Organisation, Leadership and Governance Pathway. These studentships comply with separate entry processes, obtainable by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).

Funding and Financial Support

Fully funded studentships can be found for full-time study over three years by both the campus-based or distance studying programmes.

For UK-domiciled candidates (campus-based or distance studying):
Studentships cowl full tuition charges and present a tax-free stipend of roughly £20,780 every year for 36 months.
For worldwide (abroad) distance studying candidates:
Studentships cowl tuition charges solely. Applicants wishing to be thought-about for this selection ought to choose the “fee bursary” choice on the application kind.

All profitable candidates obtain a Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) to help with bills associated to information assortment, fieldwork, conferences, and dissemination actions.

Part-time college students should not eligible for studentship funding; nonetheless, the Faculty welcomes self-funded or externally sponsored part-time purposes, topic to supervisory capability.

Residential and Attendance Requirements

Campus-Based Students

Candidates admitted to the campus-based programme are anticipated to reside inside an simply commutable distance of Milton Keynes. They ought to meet with supervisors in particular person on a month-to-month foundation and spend a minimal of two days per week on campus or at their analysis website.

Distance Learning Students

Students enrolled within the PhD by Distance Learning Programme might reside wherever within the UK or in most areas globally, topic to the checklist of ineligible international locations specified within the application steering. UK-based college students should attend a compulsory in-person registration firstly of the programme, whereas worldwide college students are inspired (however not required) to attend induction occasions in particular person.

Supervision, coaching, and analysis engagement are carried out remotely by safe on-line platforms. Please notice that worldwide college students enterprise the PhD by Distance Learning are not eligible for a UK visa primarily based on this programme.

Working Hours and Employment Policy

Students awarded full-time studentships are permitted to interact in not more than six hours of paid work per week outdoors of their doctoral research. Candidates searching for extra intensive employment throughout their research ought to apply for a part-time route, which is on the market on a self-funded or externally funded foundation.

Eligibility and Entry Requirements

Applicants ought to show robust tutorial and analysis potential. The minimal entry necessities are as follows:

An higher second-class honours diploma (2:1) or equal, or
A specialist Master’s diploma in a related topic with a considerable analysis part.

Applicants with various {qualifications} could also be thought-about if they’ll present proof of equal analysis competence by skilled expertise, analysis publications, or different scholarly outputs.

Candidates should present two tutorial references testifying to their functionality for superior analysis. Applicants with out a degree-level qualification should not eligible.

Application Procedure

Applications for entry in October 2026 should be submitted by 12:00 (midday) GMT on 7 January 2026. Incomplete or late submissions is not going to be accepted.

All application supplies should be submitted through e-mail to FBL-PHD@open.ac.uk as PDF, Word, or JPEG attachments. Files submitted through on-line storage hyperlinks (equivalent to Google Drive) can’t be accepted for safety causes.

Required Application Documents

A accomplished application kind (UK citizen, non-UK citizen, or distance studying model).
A accomplished Equal Opportunities and HESA Monitoring Form (obtainable on the OU web site).
A analysis proposal (1,000–2,000 phrases) outlining the applicant’s understanding of the literature, analysis questions, proposed methodology, and anticipated contribution.
A protecting letter demonstrating motivation, suitability, and alignment with the chosen venture.
An in depth curriculum vitae (CV) summarising academic background, achievements, and related expertise.

Interview and Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates might be invited to an interview between late January and March 2026, carried out primarily through Microsoft Teams. The interview features a 10-minute presentation by the applicant on their proposed analysis, adopted by a 45-minute dialogue with a tutorial panel.

Candidates might be notified of the end result of their application in April 2026.

Post-Selection Requirements

Successful candidates really helpful for development to the Graduate School should submit the next paperwork:

A copy of a sound passport.
Official diploma certificates and tutorial transcripts, with licensed English translations the place relevant.
Proof of English language proficiency (if required).

Acceptable proof of English language proficiency contains:

A level obtained from a recognised majority English-speaking nation; or
A Secure English Language Test (SELT) taken on or after 2 October 2024, assembly the next minimal necessities:
- IELTS: Overall 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in every part.
- LanguageCert: Overall 70, with a minimum of 60 in every part.

Applicants holding {qualifications} from non-recognised English-speaking international locations should present an English Language Proficiency Statement (ELPS) from Ecctis.

For additional steering on English language necessities, candidates might contact the Graduate School at Graduate-School@open.ac.uk or cellphone +44 (0)1908 653806.

Pre-Application Workshop

To help potential candidates in getting ready high-quality purposes, the Faculty will host a web based workshop titled “Preparing Your PhD Application” on Thursday, 11 December 2025, from 14:00 to fifteen:30 (GMT).

The workshop, led by college lecturers, will cowl:

Determining whether or not PhD study aligns along with your tutorial and skilled targets.

Understanding the PhD expertise at The Open University.
Crafting a robust analysis proposal aligned with the marketed tasks.
Practical steering on the application course of.

Interested members can register for the webinar through Eventbrite. Attendance is free however registration is required.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Open University is firmly dedicated to selling equality, variety, and inclusion throughout all areas of its analysis and instructing. The Faculty of Business and Law fosters an surroundings that values various views, experiences, and voices.

We strongly encourage purposes from people of all backgrounds, together with these historically underrepresented in larger training. The University supplies applicable lodging to make sure equitable entry to study and analysis alternatives.

Research Training and Academic Development

All doctoral candidates inside the Faculty of Business and Law profit from a complete programme of analysis coaching delivered by the Graduate School Network.

Training contains core modules in analysis design and strategies, in addition to discipline-specific workshops, seminars, and alternatives for collaboration throughout schools. Students even have entry to:

Academic writing and publication coaching.
Presentation and convention participation workshops.
Opportunities to interact with tutorial networks, analysis centres, and skilled our bodies.
Support for data change, public engagement, and analysis affect initiatives.

Through these actions, college students develop the competencies and confidence to grow to be impartial researchers and contribute meaningfully to their fields.

A Global and Connected Research Community

The Open University’s doctoral programmes are distinguished by their international attain and flexibility. The PhD by Distance Learning mannequin, specifically, allows candidates to interact in world-class analysis from any location, supported by superior digital infrastructure and skilled supervision groups.

Distance studying college students have full entry to The Open University’s on-line library, analysis databases, digital archives, and digital coaching sources. Regular supervision conferences and progress evaluations are held on-line, guaranteeing constant engagement and collaboration.

This versatile method displays The Open University’s broader mission—to make high-quality analysis and training accessible to people wherever they’re primarily based.

Contact Information

For normal queries relating to the Faculty of Business and Law PhD programmes, marketed tasks, or the application course of, please contact:

Email: FBL-PHD@open.ac.uk
Contact: +44 (0)1908 653806

For enquiries about English language proficiency, immigration, or Research Degrees Regulations, contact:
Email: Graduate-School@open.ac.uk
Contact: +44 (0)1908 653806

Key Dates

Event	Date / Deadline
Application submission deadline	7 January 2026 (12:00 GMT)
Interview interval	Late January – March 2026
Notification of final result	April 2026
Document submission deadline (non-UK/campus-based)	End of April 2026
Document submission deadline (UK/distance studying)	End of May 2026
Programme begin date	1 October 2026
Pre-application workshop	11 December 2025 (14:00–15:30 GMT)

Conclusion

The PhD Studentships 2026 provided by The Open University Business and Law Schools symbolize an distinctive alternative for proficient researchers to hitch one of many UK’s main establishments for doctoral study.

By combining tutorial excellence, flexibility, and a robust dedication to societal relevance, these programmes equip candidates with the data, expertise, and expertise to make a long-lasting contribution to their disciplines and communities.

The Faculty seems to be ahead to welcoming a brand new cohort of researchers whose work will assist form the way forward for enterprise, legislation, and international coverage.

For extra alternatives, go to: opportunitiesforyouth.org

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