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Faculty of Business and Social Sciences: PhD studentships for 2021/22

Studentships for October 2021 start

Kingston University has established an international reputation for high quality, innovative research. Our research degree students are a core part of this.

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences (FBSS) is again seeking to make substantial investment in a variety of new PhD studentships for awards beginning in late September 2021.

We are looking for students with expertise that matches our areas of research excellence. Application for these highly competitive research studentships is now open.

General information and deadline:

General information on research degrees at our Faculty is available here. Studentships are available this year in all research areas of the Faculty, except in the disciplines of Politics and International Relations.

The deadline for application is midnight (GMT) Friday 25 June 2021.

Research areas

Information on research areas/groups at Kingston Business School (KBS) can be found here.

Research within KBS is organised around five "research hubs" (communities of practice) on the following topics:

  • Sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship
  • New forms of organising and ways of working
  • Strategic foresight and creativity
  • Capital markets and risk
  • Consumer behaviour and value.

Information on research areas/groups at the School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences (LSBS) can be found here.

Information can also be found listed by discipline in: 

In addition, we host two University Research Centres – the Centre for Research in Communities, Identities and Difference (CResCID) and the Small Business Research Centre (SBRC).

Funding available

Up to four studentship awards are available – two for Kingston Business School and two for the School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences (except for Politics and International Relations).

The studentships include both an annual stipend and the coverage of annual fees for a duration of three years full time (six years part-time):

Stipend

The doctoral stipend for 2021/22 is £17,609 pa (three years full-time) or £8804 pa (six years part-time). Levels are likely to rise slightly for the following years but have not yet been confirmed.

Coverage of fees

  • Two studentships will cover up to the International fee level (£15,400 pa in 21/22) for 3 years full time (or part-time fees of £7,700 pa for six years).
  • Two studentships will cover up to the level of Home fees only (£4,500 pa in 21/22) for three years full time (or part-time Home fees for six years, £2,250 pa in 21/22)

Note: For more information on fee eligibility, including EU settled status, please see our research degrees fees webpage.

Eligibility

To apply you must:

  • have a postgraduate masters degree or a first/upper second class honours degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed research project.
  • be intending to research in an area that is covered by the Faculty of Business and Social Science research expertise.
  • have proficiency in English. If you are not from an English-speaking country or have not studied at a UK university before, you must provide proof of Internet-based IELTS at a minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7 (or equivalent qualification). The requirement varies by subject so please contact the relevant faculty for further details. See our international pages for details of alternative English language qualifications.

Please note that:

  • Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  • Current doctoral students are not eligible to apply.

How to apply

Deadline: midnight (GMT) on Friday 25 June 2021

Complete the following steps:

1. See the guidance on how to put together a research proposal. For KBS, this is available in this PDF document. For LSBS please look here under ‘Our degrees'.

2. Complete an online application including:

  • A project proposal

Guidance on writing project proposals is available on the faculty webpage listed above.

  • Copies of your transcripts and/or degree certificates, or partial transcripts if you have not yet completed the degree (you will be required to provide the originals for verification at a later date).
  • English language qualification, if applicable (see above).
  • CV, including publications (if relevant).
  • A KU Studentship statement of application. This should be a brief statement in a document titled ‘KU FBSS Studentship application YOUR NAME'. The statement should cover why you wish to apply to Kingston and should be no more than 200 words long. If you do not include this statement we will not be aware that you are applying for a studentship.
  • Equal Opportunities form. Please note this form will not be reviewed as part of your application.

Applicants are recommended to discuss their research proposal with potential supervisors before submitting an application – please visit our staff pages where you can find information on the University's members of staff and their research interests.

If you have already applied to Kingston and wish to be considered for a studentship please email the appropriate faculty listed below with your application reference number and attach your Studentship statement of application. Please also complete the Equal Opportunities form.

References

References are not required with the application but will be required for shortlisted applicants and must be provided by the applicant before their interview. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that these are submitted.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified and must ensure references are submitted by midnight Wednesday 7 July 2021.

Referees should be asked to complete the Reference Form. Note that references should be from professional or academic contacts and cannot be from family members or friends. At least one reference should be from someone who knows you from your most recent academic qualification.

Interviews

Applicants invited for interview will be informed as soon as possible after the closing date.

You should assume that your application has been unsuccessful if you have not heard from the University by four weeks after the closing date.

Need more information?

Please read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Read about our past and current research students and their research projects:

For more information about research degree programmes at Kingston University.

For faculty-specific enquiries please use the contacts listed below.

FacultyContact 
Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

Visit the Faculty's research webpage for more information.

For enquiries please email the research student coordinator or call +44(0)20 8417 5226 (for business) or +44(0)20 8417 2304 (for Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences).

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