PhD Studentships in The Faculty of Business and Law

The Open University Business and Law Schools are inviting applications to join our on-campus PhD programme. We also invite applications to join our new PhD by Distance Learning programme. Note that successful applicants to the PhD by Distance Learning programme can be based anywhere in the UK or in most parts of the world. The starting date for joining either programme is 1^st February 2026.

Your application could be based on one of the advertised projects below. Alternatively, we also welcome full- and part-time applications in other areas of business, management and law, including on a self-funded basis; please note such projects are dependent on supervision expertise, availability and capacity. We have a number of fully-funded full-time studentships available.

For this round, the advertised projects are on:

• DAF01 – Breaking barriers: inclusion strategies in Higher Education
• DAF02 – IFRS accounting standards and the cost of capital
• DAF03 – The relevance of climate disclosures and climate policy to capital markets
• DAF04 – Accountability and ethics in Islamic financial institutions
• DAF05 – ESG investing and investor behaviour
• DPO01 – Exploring policies and regulations on surplus food redistribution
• DPO02 – Organising identities and inclusion in the cultural and creative industries
• DPO03 – Women farmers and climate change adaptations in the MENA region
• DSM01 – Women in the games industry: organisational, diversity and inclusivity perspectives
• Pol01 – Women’s health and careers in the emergency and uniformed services: a trauma informed approach
• Law01 – Freedom of thought, conscience and religion in constitutional and international context supporting human and societal flourishing 

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 either at the Milton Keynes campus via our face-to-face PhD programme or remotely via our PhD by Distance Learning programme.

For our on-campus PhD programme, 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. 

PhD by Distance Learning students can live in the UK or abroad. Those living in the UK are required to attend the programme registration and induction on Milton Keynes campus (this requirement can be waived on the basis of disability or caring responsibilities). Those living abroad can attend the registration and induction either on campus (which is encouraged) or remotely. There is no further mandatory on-campus attendance, with Distance Learning students expected to meet their supervisors and engage in training and research events remotely. Please note that we are currently unable to accept students residing in a small number of countries for a PhD by distance learning – please see the guidance on the application form for the up-to-date list of ineligible countries.

Fully-funded studentships for full-time on-campus and UK-domiciled distance learning students cover tuition fees, and a stipend (circa £19,237 per annum – currently under review) 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). Studentships are not available for part-time study. 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 programmes 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 on-campus PhD application form or PhD by Distance Learning application form
• official copies of degree certificates and all transcripts relevant to your application. If your certificates are not in English, both the original copies and certified translations are required
• 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.

The deadline to submit your application is 9^th June 2025 at 23:59 (GMT).  Your proposal, covering letter, fully-completed application form, and copies of certificates and transcripts including IELTS certificate should be emailed to fbl-phd@open.ac.uk by the closing date and time.

Interviews will form part of the selection process and will be held primarily throughout July and August 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 23^rd May 2025 at 15:00-16:30 (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.

Please ensure to thoroughly check your application before submission as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Keywords: Inclusion, Higher Education, barriers, IFRS Accounting Standards, information, disclosure, cost of capital, sustainability, capital markets, climate disclosure, climate finance, climate change risk, accountability, Islamic financial institutions, ethics, disclosure, ESG, investor behaviour, investor preference, motivations, portfolio choices, social impact, surplus food redistribution, food waste, policies and regulations, work in creative organisations, gender identities, cultural and creative industries, social justice, sexualities, agriculture, climate crisis, gender, feminism, intersectionality, MENA region, post-conflict, women in gaming, gender diversity, workplace culture, inclusion and equity, career development, female leadership, human rights, freedom of thought, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, national and international constitutionalism, interdisciplinary approaches, women’s health, misogyny, organisational culture, police, fire, ambulance, health, military, women in leadership.