The Bath PhD

Training tomorrow’s professional management researchers

Stefanie Gustafsson
PhD student
Contents

01 Welcome to the Bath Advantage

02 Why choose the Bath PhD?
03 Student profile - Stephanie Gustafsson
04 Life on campus
05 Life in Bath
06 Our research and faculty
07 Research Centres
08 Programme structure
10 Student profile - Stefan Hoejmose
11 Student profile - Anastasia Petraki
12 Subject groups:
13 Accounting and Finance
14 Business, Society, and Business Economics
15 Information, Decisions and Operations
Marketing
15
16 Organisation Studies
17 Strategic and International Management
18 Entry requirements
19 How to apply
Accommodation
20
21 Contact us
21 How to find us

www.bath.ac.uk/management
 University of Bath School of Management 01

Welcome to the Bath Advantage.

Research-intensive and practice-driven,
we are consistently rated as one of the best
performing business schools in the UK.

At Bath, we have a strong track record of

internationally recognised research in the field of
management and provide a strongly supportive,
vibrant research culture.

Our faculty excelled in the most recent Research

Assessment Exercise (2008). 90% of our
academics submitted work to the RAE and 30% of
this work was considered ‘world-leading in terms of
originality, significance and rigour’. The other 70%
was still ‘internationally excellent’. In the next
important assessment of research quality and
output, the 2014 Research Excellence Framework,
we hope to achieve even more impressive results
as our faculty goes from strength to strength. As a
PhD student at Bath, you could be a part of this.

We pursue a path of management research which encourages critical thinking. We

want to debate and critique as that is the cornerstone of a good education. It’s this
partnership between student and academic that accounts for why we are so highly
ranked for student satisfaction.

We are keen to generate ideas that have impact in the workplace. Our research
influences government thinking, policy-making and management practice. The
knowledge we create through world-class research is disseminated through our
network of corporate, government and NGO relationships that support our research
and enhance our teaching.

There is a great quality of life enjoyed by our students and staff. We offer a compact,
safe but vibrant university campus with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Beyond
the campus, Bath as a city is simply a very beautiful place in which to study and live.
People who come here to research, learn or teach will tell you that they thrive in this
environment.

Whilst our students may live in a world heritage city, they are equipped with an
educational experience reflecting the needs of the 21st century. We are very
international in our outlook, we recruit both students and faculty from around the
globe and aim to reflect the globalisation of markets and recognise the importance of
being connected with a strong emphasis on the value of an extensive international
alumni network.

And in all of this, we are mindful of the ethical, social and environmental aspects of
everything we do as a university. We want our students to have a happy and enriching
study experience with us, to leave here capable of making a significant contribution to
the wealth and well-being of the societies in which they will work, and to be motivated
and committed to become responsible citizens within these societies.

And that’s what we call the Bath Advantage.

Professor Veronica Hope-Hailey

Dean, School of Management
02 The Bath PhD

Why choose the Bath PhD?

Professional academic training for professional

management researchers.

We seek to attract and fully train
exceptionally qualified and
strongly motivated individuals
from around the world who
want to excel in careers as
professional business academics
and researchers.
Our goal is to train tomorrow’s
leading management analysts by
ensuring all our PhD candidates
graduate with both the formally
recognised training and the
practical research and teaching
experience needed to succeed
in the international job market
for management academics
and researchers.
In addition to providing the
advantage of Bath’s excellent
world-wide research reputation,
we achieve high job-market
success for our PhD graduates
through a programme that:
• Provides all PhD candidates
with a comprehensive taught
training in management
research methods that can
earn the award of a Master
in Research degree after the
first year of registration.
• Enables PhD candidates
to work closely with our
international faculty on
original scholarly research at
the frontiers of management
knowledge.
• Actively encourages PhD
candidates to present and
publish their scholarship before
they graduate.
• Offers the possibility for
PhD candidates to gain both
teaching training and some
direct teaching experience.
With these four elements of
the Bath PhD, your success
in a career as a management
researcher is assured a
world-class foundation in
research, and scholarly and
teaching excellence.

Rankings and accreditations

Our ratings in the UK’s Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) put us
in 5th place, equal to Oxford and LSE.

We are an ESRC-accredited Doctoral Training Centre and form

part of the South West Doctoral Training Centre, along with the
Universities of Bristol and Exeter.

Our research is ranked 7th in Europe in the latest Financial Times

..............

Global MBA global MBA ranking (research category).

Ranking 2013
We are included in the annual ranking of the Financial Times top 80
..............

European Ranking business schools in Europe.

2013

We are one of a select number of international business schools

which have been accredited by the European Foundation for
Management Development’s quality inspectorate, EQUIS.

We are currently ranked 1st for business by the Sunday Times

University Guide.
University of Bath School of Management 03

Meet our students

Stefanie Gustafsson
Year of study: 3

What made you decide to embark on a PhD?

After finishing my Bachelor and Master in Australia
and the UK, I first joined a Graduate Scheme and
specialised in Human Resources. I quickly realised
though that I missed the academic challenge and
the university environment. The PhD gives me the
opportunity to dedicate time to a field that I am
really passionate about. At the same time, with the
guidance of my supervisors, I can really take my
research project and make it my own.

What is it like to live and study in Bath?

Bath is one of the best places to live and study
in the UK. The University and especially the
School of Management are known for research
excellence, which is why I decided to apply for
the PhD programme here. In addition, you get
the opportunity to work with and be taught by
leading scholars in various fields. Bath in itself is
a beautiful place. It is great to go for a stroll in the
city and enjoy the historic architecture or visit the
surrounding countryside for a Sunday walk.

What is your research about and have you

published any of your work yet?
My PhD research broadly explores the dynamics
underlying partner promotions in law firms. It draws
on qualitative data, interviews and participant
drawings, collected from partners and HR
professionals across seven UK law firms. I have
started to present my findings at international
conferences and I am currently working on
developing my ideas into journal papers.

What does a typical week involve as a

research student?
This really depends on the year you are in. In the
first year, students usually take part in a range of
courses on research methods, approaches and
philosophy. At the same time you will start your
literature review and continue to develop your
research. During year two, once you have passed
your transfer examination, you will usually start data
collection. Year three is often all about data analysis
and the write-up of your thesis.

What are you finding most challenging about

studying for a PhD?
The PhD is very much your own responsibility and
you have to make many decisions throughout
your journey. Staying on track with the PhD can
be challenging at times, as there are so many
interesting theories and ideas out there. I found
that getting feedback from your supervisors,
other scholars in the department and your PhD
colleagues from early on is very helpful.

What do you plan to do after completing

your PhD?
I am planning to stay in academia and apply for
a postdoc or lectureship position, ideally at a
UK university.
04 The Bath PhD

Life on campus

Compact and purpose-built, our campus is set in extensive grounds

with open views across the beautiful hills of the West Country, but is only
a mile from the city centre.

The library, shops, banks, Post

Office, Students’ Union, bars,
cafés and restaurants are
grouped around a central
pedestrian parade, creating a
strong sense of social and
academic community.

As a top UK university, Bath

provides all the world-class
support services and facilities
you would expect. Recent
substantial capital investment in
new buildings and facilities means 2
that physical working conditions
are modern and pleasant. Bath
has one of the few libraries in the
UK that is open 24 hours during
semester-time. The University’s
Accommodation Office helps
in the search for suitable
accommodation both on campus
and in the city of Bath. The
University has its own International
Office which provides support and
assistance to our international
community of scholars.

The Students’ Union offers over

100 clubs and activities, and
the University’s Chaplaincy
is a meeting place and base for
several university societies
representing many denominations
and faiths. The University’s
Institute of Contemporary
Interdisciplinary Arts (ICIA) runs
a vibrant and thriving programme
of activities encompassing all
kinds of music, theatre and dance,
creative and visual arts. You also
have the opportunity to develop
your language skills in a range of
options from French to Mandarin
Chinese. Classes are run through
the University’s Foreign
Languages Centre.
1 3
The University’s Sports Training 1 Building 8 West, home of the School of Management
Village offers some of the best
sporting facilities in the country 2 The Parade, at the heart of the campus
and a number of Olympic athletes
train on campus. Facilities include: 3 The fitness suite in the Sports Training Village
an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 4 The Roman Baths and Bath Abbey
floodlit 8-lane athletics track, a
12-court multi-purpose sports 5 Rooftop pool at the Thermae Bath Spa
hall, a judo dojo, fencing and
shooting facilities, 18 tennis 6 The Circus
courts, a fitness and conditioning
suite, extensive rugby and football
pitches and a bobsleigh/skeleton
push-start track.

Life in Bath
Bath is one of the most interesting, cosmopolitan and vibrant cities in
the UK. It is also one of the safest.
41
5 6
University of Bath School of Management
The only city in England to be
included in UNESCO’s World
Heritage list, Bath is spectacularly
beautiful.
Its striking architecture, the Roman
Baths, medieval Abbey, and
world-famous Georgian squares
and sweeping crescents built
of honey-coloured stone, all
combine to make it one of the
most remarkable cities in Europe.
The best-known feature of the city
is the natural hot water spring. This
was first used by the Celts who
believed it to be sacred, but it was
subsequently and more famously
exploited by the Romans, who
built their extensive baths from
which the city takes its name and
which may still be visited today.
The Roman Baths represent one
of the most complete ancient sites
in the world, much of it unchanged
for 2000 years. Now, with the
opening of the Thermae Bath
Spa, Britain’s original and only
natural thermal spa, visitors can
enjoy the warm, mineral-rich
waters which the Celts and
Romans enjoyed over 2000 years
05
ago. The open-air, rooftop pool
boasts spectacular views across
the skyline of Bath and is the
perfect place to unwind.
The social scene
Bath is a lively city offering some
of the best shopping and cultural
attractions outside London.
As well as many small and
independent retailers, the
SouthGate shopping centre
provides all the top chain stores
you would expect from a city.
There is also a huge variety of
restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs,
clubs, five theatres, cinemas and
a wide range of museums.
Beyond the city
London is approximately 90
minutes from Bath by train and
there is a frequent service
operating every 30 minutes. For
those who want to explore a larger
city, Bristol is about 15 minutes
away. As well as being steeped in
history, Bristol is the south-west’s
capital, offering a lively restaurant,
bar and music scene as well as
the recently opened Cabot Circus,
a first-class shopping venue
boasting over 120 stores. Bristol
International Airport provides fast
access to an ever increasing
number of destinations.
For those seeking quieter retreats,
Bath is surrounded by beautiful
countryside, with the Cotswolds
to the north, the Mendips to the
south-west and – just across the
Severn Bridge – the Wye Valley
and the Forest of Dean. The coast
at Weston-super-Mare or South
Wales is also within easy reach.
Visit www.visitbath.co.uk to find
out more about what makes
Bath special.
06 The Bath PhD
Our research and faculty
We are a firmly established, leading international centre for
management research.
This is reflected particularly in
our rating in the 2008 Research
Assessment Exercise (RAE)
which places us 5th in the UK,
and in our consistent position
within the top ten in Europe for
research in the Financial Times
global MBA ranking.
Our research culture is both
interdisciplinary and international.
The practice of interdisciplinary
research within flexible clusters of
staff is a defining strength of the
School of Management. This is
complemented by an active policy
of internationalisation which
encourages joint research with
leading academic institutions in
Europe, the US and Asia.
The School’s international
reputation is supported by leading
academics who inform policy at
the highest levels of business and
society. Our faculty of around 90
teaching and research staff is
diverse in origin, and typically
“ There is a great atmosphere among
the PhD students, and senior faculty
members are very approachable. I’ve
always been treated as a colleague rather
than a student. ”
about 20 different nationalities
are represented. Having an
international faculty allows us to
conduct research of international
scope and relevance and to deliver
education with a global outlook.
Subject Groups
Our research output is structured
around the following six issue-
based subject groups which span
several functional disciplines.
Teaching is also organised within
these subject groups:
• Accounting and Finance
• Business, Society and
Business Economics
• Information, Decisions and
Operations
• Marketing
• Organisation Studies
• Strategic and International
Management
More information on the specific
research interests of each of these
groups can be found on page 12.
Johannes Warther, PhD student

Research Centres
Our subject groups contain cross-functional research centres and networks. These focus and formalise our major research initiatives.
They span a wide range of management issues which interlink with the interests of our subject groups and research clusters.
Research Centre
Centre for Governance and Regulation (CGR)
Work and Employment Research Centre (WERC)
Centre for Business, Organisations and Society
(CBOS)
Centre for International Business & Management
(CIBAM)
Centre for Research in Advertising and
Consumption (CRiAC)
CIMA Centre of Excellence at the University
of Bath School of Management
Centre for Strategic Risk (CSR)
Research Groups and Networks
Centre for study of Regulated Industries (CRI)
Collaborative Research in Strategic Purchasing
and Supply (CRiSPS)
Lean and Agile Research Group (LARG)
Research Network for International Business and
Emerging Economies (RNIBEE)
University of Bath School of Management 07
Field
CGR focuses on the design and implementation of governance structures and forms of
control that ensure that organisations are run effectively, efficiently, and lawfully.
Its current research themes can be grouped as: forms of governance and regulation;
relationships among multi-level governance structures and practices; forms of incentive
and accountability.
WERC conducts research into key areas of contemporary practice in the world of work
and employment.
CBOS is concerned with the relationship between corporations and the societies within
which they operate. It undertakes research to gain a better understanding of the role of
corporate social responsibility and to inform the ethical position of corporations in
different societal contexts.
CIBAM aims to deepen the understanding of internationalisation and managing in the
semi-global, knowledge-based economy. It conducts research, seminars, workshops,
distinguished lectures and global business symposia and provides advisory services in:
International business theory and strategy; Foreign direct investment, clusters, networks,
alliances and competitiveness; National competition, industrial and competitiveness
policies, privatisation, (de)regulation; Human resources and intercultural strategic
management; Transition and emerging economies.
CRiAC focuses on a broad range of consumption practices that constitute consumer
culture in both developed and developing economies and examines the role of
advertising in the development of brands.
CIMA’s aim is to research the changing role of the finance function and the implications
for best practice in the development of finance professionals so that the finance function
maximises the value added to its organisation.
CSR conducts, promotes and disseminates relevant and high impact research on the
management of risks faced by individuals, companies, and the public sector. CSR’s
overarching vision is to promote risk scholarship as an interdisciplinary area of research
of both national and global significance.
Field
CRI investigates how regulation and competition are working in practice, both in the UK
and abroad. It aims to produce authoritative, practical contributions to regulatory policy
and debate.
CRiSPS’ research agenda is aimed at developing practical models, methods and tools
that may be used by both public and private sector managers to improve their
understanding.
The key objective of LARG is to conduct high-quality research into design, manufacture
and the management of processes and systems, with an emphasis on Lean Production
and Agility Best Practice. This research is managed through three industrial sector-led
themes: automotive, aerospace, and construction.
The RNIBEE network brings together scholars from across the School of Management
with research interests relating to international business and/or emerging economies.
08 The Bath PhD
Programme structure
The Bath PhD is an integrated programme combining taught research
training and applied research practice.
The Bath PhD programme is an
integral part of the research-led
environment of the School of
Management. Successful PhD
applicants are welcomed very
much as junior academic
colleagues rather than students,
and are expected to play a full
and professional role in
contributing to the School’s
guiding objective of international
academic excellence.
Candidates are accepted onto
the PhD programme on the basis
of (i) their intellectual potential
to succeed as professional
management scholars, and
(ii) their motivation to pursue
careers as professional
management researchers.
Candidates join the School as a
member of the disciplinary subject
group in which they initially have
a broad research interest and
that will have overseen their
acceptance into the School.
Earning the Bath PhD usually
takes three to four years.
The Bath PhD is an integrated
programme of both taught
research training and applied
research practice. All candidates
progress from their initial
Master-level registration status
to transfer to full PhD status by
demonstrating satisfactory
progress at predetermined
stages of their training.
A Master in Research (MRes)
can be awarded in recognition of
successful completion of the first
year of taught research training
that all candidates must undertake
as a condition of progression.
Research and specialised
disciplinary training continues
into subsequent years.
Because we provide full research
training that can be recognised
by the award of an MRes degree,
our PhD programme is open both
to Bachelor and Master degree-
holders alike.
Academic year one
Starting in autumn, all PhD
candidates begin three integrated
processes to lay solid foundations
for their professional research
careers.
1 Formal research training
All PhD candidates undertake
research methods training. This
usually includes the taught units
below (waivers for some units
may be possible in some
circumstances, provided
that appropriate alternative
Master’s- level units are
undertaken as substitutes):
Semester 1
• Approaches to Management
Research
• Social Science Research
Principles and Skills
• Qualitative Research
Methods 1
• Quantitative Research
Methods 1
• Other Master’s units as
prescribed by the Director of
Studies/supervisory team
Semester 2
• Research and Publishing
Practicum
• Qualitative Research Methods
2 the Bath PhD programme all
• Quantitative Research
Methods 2
• Other Master’s units as
prescribed by the Director of
Studies/supervisory team
Summer semester
• Initial Research Proposal
In addition to these formal
research methods units, all
candidates will throughout the
year undertake practically-
oriented research apprenticeships
with faculty members in their
subject group, and will be
encouraged to take additional
relevant taught units both at Bath
and other academic institutions.
Candidates are also expected
to gain valuable research
experience by attending and
presenting at School seminars,
and additionally to begin the
process of developing papers,
with group members and on their
own, for presentation at academic
conferences and for submission
to scholarly journals.
2 Refining and crystallising
research interests
While all PhD candidates will have
joined the subject group within
the School that most reflects
their general area of academic
interest, few will have arrived
with a precisely defined, clearly
elaborated and theoretically
sound thesis that they can
immediately research and test.
Nor will they usually have had
the opportunity to determine the
optimally appropriate analytical
approach and detailed
methodologies necessary
practically to operationalise their
thesis research.
Consequently, in the first year of
candidates simultaneously
begin a systematic process of
developing and refining a relatively
narrow and feasible research topic
and of exploring, evaluating and
becoming proficient in the
methodologies that will provide
the most appropriate analytical
strategies for their research.
The Initial Research Proposal
undertaken in the summer
semester is designed specifically
to help in this process.
3 Recruiting and formalising a
supervisory team
Selecting a feasible research
topic will be dictated
predominantly by candidates’
personal intellectual interests,
but will also be determined in
part by the availability and
willingness of faculty members
to supervise candidates and
their topics. Accordingly, PhD
candidates in their first year are
responsible for developing their
research ideas in consultation with
faculty members in order to put in
place and formally agree their
personal supervisory team, which
will consist of two or more experts
from relevant subject groups.
Satisfactory progress in each of
the above three areas will be
considered both as a requirement
for progression into the second
academic year and subsequently
as part of the transfer process to
full PhD status.
Academic year two
During their second year, PhD
candidates will continue to
undertake taught units in subject
and method areas determined in
consultation with their supervisory
team. Candidates will also
continue both their practical
research apprenticeships with
faculty members and their
development of scholarly papers.
 University of Bath School of Management 09

As early as possible during

their second year, PhD
candidates need to submit,
present and defend at an oral
examination a detailed research
proposal. Getting the theoretical
and methodological aspects
of original PhD research right
is vital to expeditious
achievement of a successful
PhD thesis, so performance
in this formal examination will,
alongside satisfying other
requirements in both academic
years 1 and 2, determine
progression of transfer from
MPhil to PhD status.

Subsequent
academic years
Carrying on from their second
year, PhD candidates continue
during the subsequent one or two
years to carry out supervised,
original research in accordance
with their research proposal, and
to write-up this research as a
substantial thesis.
University regulations require that
a PhD thesis dissertation must
provide ‘evidence of originality of
mind and critical judgment in a
particular subject’ as well as
constituting material ‘worthy of
peer-reviewed publication’.
Theses are examined by a Board
of Examiners normally consisting
of internal and external examiners.
Candidates are expected to
continue to produce scholarly
papers for presentation and
publication throughout the whole
period of their candidacy in order
to ensure they graduate with
the beginnings of a publication
track-record of the kind
demanded by the international
market for professional
management scholars and
researchers.
Professional
teaching training
and experience
To compete successfully in the
international job market for
professional academics, the Bath
PhD programme recognises that
its graduates need to have not just
world-class research training and
emerging publication records, but
also demonstrable evidence of supervisors, and to assist them can progress to applying to
university teaching knowledge, with teaching as an introduction to compete for the opportunity to
experience, and ability. For this professional university teaching. undertake some limited direct
reason, the School offers a Additionally, all candidates are teaching practice under faculty
number of opportunities for PhD expected to avail themselves of supervision. Some of these
candidates to acquire valuable university courses relating to teaching practice opportunities
teaching skills. teaching and pedagogy. attract remuneration.
All PhD candidates are expected Subject to performance in
to shadow the teaching of a limited acquiring initial teaching training
number of faculty members in in the early stages of their
their subject groups, usually their registration, PhD candidates
010 The Bath PhD
Meet our graduates
Stefan Hoejmose
Graduated: 2007
Years of study: 4
What are you doing now?
I am a Lecturer in Corporate
Social Responsibility and
Strategy at the University of Bath
and a member of the Business,
Society and Business Economics
group, here in the School of
Management. My key research
interests are: sustainable
supply chain management;
environmental management
in SMEs; and the relationship
between CSR and strategy.
Has your research been
published?
Yes, I have had several joint
papers published in leading
academic journals, including
International Journal of
Operations and Production
Management, Supply Chain
Management: An International
Journal, and the Journal of
Purchasing and Supply Chain
Management. Full details of these
are listed on the School’s faculty
webpages.
What made you decide to
embark on a PhD?
After finishing my MSc in
Economics and Finance from the
University of Bath, I knew that
at some point I would be likely
to return to do a PhD. However,
at the end of my MSc, I noted
several PhD studentships that
were available from the School
of Management and I decided
to take advantage of this
opportunity and my research
proposal was accepted.
What attracted you to Bath and
the School of Management?
The University of Bath has one
of the best research reputations
in the UK and the School of
Management in particular has
a good reputation, not only in
terms of its research but also
among its students. This, and
the international reputation of
my supervisors, influenced my
choice in applying for a PhD
at Bath.
What was your PhD
research about?
My PhD research was
concerned with strategic
management and the role of
business strategy in shaping
firms’ social and environmental
initiatives within global supply
chains.
What does a typical week
involve as a research
student?
The first year is probably
the busiest in terms of
number of activities. In the
first year, a typical week will
include a number of research
methods classes, such as
management research
methods, quantitative research
methods and qualitative
research methods. In addition
there are a number of PhD
seminars taking place throughout
the year. Usually these take
place every other week and
allow new students to present
their research ideas in a friendly
and supportive environment,
where they receive feedback
from second- and third-year
PhD students.
After the first year, there are no
mandatory classes to attend.
However, usually a researcher
will start to design their surveys
or questionnaires and will
subsequently collect data in the
second year, before analysing
data and writing-up in the third
and fourth year.
What did you find most
challenging about studying for
your PhD?
One of the things I had difficulties
with at the start of my PhD
was the acceptance of the
fact that the PhD certainly isn’t
a sprint or an extension of a
Master’s dissertation, but rather
a marathon during which there
will be several ups and downs.
This sounds clichéd, but doesn’t
make it any less true.
The first major challenge is to
identify what is your original
contribution to the field. This
is a daunting task as it is likely
to involve several months of
reading and identification of gaps
and limitations in the existing
literature.

Anastasia Petraki
Graduated: 2012
Years of study: 4
What are you doing now?
Well very briefly, I graduated
from my PhD within four years,
as I planned. During my last
year, while I was busy writing-up,
I started working part-time as
a Research Officer here at the
School of Management.
I still plan to pursue an
academic career.
What made you decide to
embark on a PhD?
I had considered the possibility
of following an academic career
after my graduation but it wasn’t
until I was given the opportunity
to work as an assistant on a
research project here at the
School of Management that I
learnt what research is all about,
what it involves and how to
approach different questions.
Going through this experience,
combined with my earlier wish,
motivated me to pursue a
PhD degree.
What attracted you to Bath?
One factor was that the
School of Management is very
research-intensive and has had
consistently high ratings over the
past years. That it happens to
be in this beautiful city is a very
happy coincidence. What really
made the difference though,
was the help and support I
received from the faculty from
the very beginning, especially the
Accounting and Finance Group.
What is it like to live and study
in Bath?
I must admit that having come
to the UK shortly before I started
at the School of Management,
I knew little about the wonderful
city of Bath. Spending most
of my day here on campus,
I have precious little time to walk
around the city. Nevertheless, the
student community is organised
and very large, so there are
always opportunities for different
activities and nice breaks in the
city and around the campus.
University of Bath School of Management 011
What was your PhD research
about and have you published
any of your work yet?
My research was about pension
fund portfolio allocation, the
risks and returns of different
investment strategies, the
interaction with stock markets,
and the impact pension fund
regulation has on it. Although
I have one publication based
on previous research and I am
in the process of submitting a
paper based on a project I have
provided assistance in as co-
author, I haven’t published any
of my work yet. I plan to do so
within the next year.
What does a typical week
involve as a research student?
The biggest part of it is working
on your research topic. This
involves reading relevant
literature, data collection and
also thinking of different ways
to approach concrete research
questions. During term, you can
attend seminars which provide
research skills training and are
given by other academics or
organised by the University.
Some of my hours were
dedicated to teaching and this
involved preparation, teaching,
and discussion with students, as
well as providing some research
assistance in projects run by
Professors in the department.
What did you find most
challenging about studying for
your PhD?
Studying for a PhD means that
I managed my own research and
this gave me a lot of freedom.
However, this freedom came
with responsibility and required a
lot of self-discipline. Staying on
track means I had to constantly
concentrate on what I was doing;
there is no room for laziness.
012 The Bath PhD

Subject
Groups

The members of our six subject

groups actively seek outstanding
PhD candidates who want
a thorough and systematic
research training in order to
pursue successful careers as
professional scholars.

Our subject groups welcome

applications from candidates
from any discipline and from
any national or occupational
background. Applicants wishing
to work on research relating
jointly to the fields in one subject
group and to the disciplines of
other subject groups within the
School are also welcomed.

We strongly advise applicants

to view group members’
personal web pages at
www.bath.ac.uk/management/
faculty to familiarise themselves
with the areas of research
and publishing currently being
undertaken in each group.

Explore our website to

find out more about our
research and to identify
potential supervisors who
have similar research
interests to yourself.

www.bath.ac.uk/
management/research
 University of Bath School of Management 013

Accounting and Finance

Ranked 1st for Accounting and Finance in the UK.

Times Good University Guide 2013

About the group

The Accounting and Finance group at the University of Bath School of Current research topics
Management is one of the UK’s leading research groups. Members of
the group publish their research in leading international journals including Currently the Accounting and Finance group has over a
the Journal of Finance and Journal of Financial Economics. dozen PhD students from around the world. To extend its
research strength the group actively seeks PhD candidates
They regularly present at major conferences such as the American of the highest standards.
Accounting Association, European Accounting Association, European
Finance Association, and Financial Management Association. Members of the group are interested in supervising PhD
students around the following topics:
They also advise major governmental bodies (Bank of England;
Financial Services Authority; Competition Commission), work closely Accounting
with leading consultancy firms, and maintain close links with the • Auditing
business community. • Capital markets-based research
• Financial and management accounting
The group runs an active internal and external speaker seminar series, • Corporate governance
which brings international researchers to the School to talk to staff and • Performance measurement and management
PhD students. • Public sector accounting
• Accounting and regulation
• Accounting education

Finance
• Corporate finance
Good University • Financial markets and regulation
Guide 2013 • Market microstructure
for Accounting & Finance
• Pensions and fund management
• Emerging markets
corporate Financial
Sector
Public

• Behavioural finance
Fund Management

• Corporate governance
finance Services
Market-
Pensions
Regulation

Associated research centres

based Policy &

research Regulation
Governance
Management
Accounting
Market
Microstructure
Performance Measurement
“ The fall-out from the 2008 financial crisis continues to reverberate around the world, making the search for
understanding the origins of the crisis, and the consequences for future policy and regulation, vitally important.
There are a number of highly relevant research questions that need to be answered in the areas of banking,
governance and the structure of financial markets. Here at Bath, PhD studies in these areas of accounting and
finance are supervised by academics at the cutting-edge of this research. ”

Professor Ian Tonks, Head of Group

014 The Bath PhD
Business, Society and Business Economics
Group members have research interests in corporate social and
environmental responsibility, governance, regulation and the strategies
of transnational corporations.
About the group
The Business, Society and Business Economics
(BSBE) group has an active community of PhD
students, undertaking a diverse range of impactful
research of academic distinction. These PhD
students benefit from not only the School’s excellent
training programmes, but also the expert guidance
from experienced researchers with international
reputations in the fields of both business and society
and business economics. The group’s excellence in
these fields is evidenced by our association with the
well-established stream of rigorous and influential
research within the Centre for Business,
Organisations and Society (CBOS) and the Centre for
Governance and Regulation (CGR).
Recent graduates are currently working in research
positions overseas (e.g. Switzerland, Argentina and
Turkey), and in leading UK business schools
(including Bath, but also Warwick and Queen Mary).
To facilitate such career progression, PhD students
are not only provided with research training, but also
opportunities to teach within the group whenever
possible and appropriate.
The group welcomes enquiries from potential PhD
students on a wide variety of research topics, and
from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds.
“ We have a vibrant community of PhD
students, addressing a wide variety of research
questions in order to not only further our
understanding of key issues, but also inform
managerial and policy practice. We have an
international reputation for impactful research of
academic distinction. ”
Professor Andrew Millington, Head of Group
Current research topics
The group’s interests draw upon a host of research questions within our two
key areas of expertise:
Business and Society
• The complex relationships between business and society – from corporate
philanthropy to environmental sustainability, and from employee welfare to
sustainable supply chain management
• The nature and extent of corporate social and environmental responsibilities
• The financial and reputational consequences of firms exhibiting an apparent
record of responsibility or irresponsibility
• The drivers of corporate strategies that impact on social and environmental
issues
• The impediments that can hinder firms’ responses to social and
environmental issues
• Strategic implications for corporate philanthropic activities, environmental
management, corporate governance, risk management, human resource
management, community involvement and supply chain management
Candidates should have a disciplinary background in economics, psychology
or sociology and/or have a management/business-focused educational
background in strategy, operations or business law. They should also be able
to demonstrate a sound understanding of quantitative and/or qualitative
research methods
Business Economics
• Corporate strategy and governance
• The impact of local and transnational corporations on regional economic
development
• The tendencies for growth and technological innovation to be driven forward
amongst geographically clustered – or otherwise connected through
network linkages – groups of similar firms
• The impacts of firm organisation and market structure on the achievement
of outcomes for consumers and others that are in the public interest
• The effects of public policy (e.g. corporate tax rates) and government
regulation (e.g. of utility industries, such as electricity and railway provision)
on social welfare, corporate strategy and competitive outcomes.
Candidates should have a disciplinary background in economics. They should
also be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of quantitative and/or
qualitative research methods.
Associated research centres

Information, Decisions
and Operations
The group offers a strongly
practice-centred environment
with access to internationally
renowned experts.
About the group
The Information, Decisions and Operations (IDO) group within the
School has three primary areas of research focus: the improvement
of operational systems performance; the effective management of
purchasing and supply processes; and the strategic development and
implementation of information systems.
In addition to offering thorough and systematic research training, the
group offers a supportive, multi-disciplinary and strongly practice-
centred environment for personal and professional development, with
access to internationally renowned experts.
Current research topics
Applications are invited in any area of research related to
Information Systems, Decision Sciences and Operations
and Supply Management, but specific research interests of
the group include:
• Professional service operations management
• Forecasting for products and services
• Customer-centric service design
• Supply chain risk
• Process optimisation
• Environmental operations management and innovation
• Globally distributed work teams
• Globally dispersed innovation management
• Organisational implications of ICT (e.g. Enterprise
Social Media)
• Procurement of complex performance
• Design/procurement interface
• Operations and supply strategy and leadership
processes
“ Whether it is their participation in the
IDO PhD conference and seminar series,
or it is their key role in our teaching and
tutoring activities, or indeed their active
support for our various social events,
PhD students are at the heart of the
IDO group. We are actively seeking
great students to follow in the footsteps
of recent graduates who have gone on
to teaching and research posts here at
Bath and at other leading institutions
such as Imperial College, Manchester,
and Cambridge. ”
Professor Michael Lewis, Head of Group
University of Bath School of Management 015
Marketing
Faculty have published in many
of the leading marketing journals.
About the group
The Marketing group maintains a rolling cohort of up to ten PhD
students, some of whom are co-supervised with colleagues from
other groups within the management school or other departments
within the University.
Faculty from the Marketing group have published in many of the leading
marketing journals, such as Journal of Consumer Research. Two
leading journals, Journal of Consumer Behaviour and Journal of
Strategic Marketing, are edited by members of the group.
The group normally only considers PhD candidates who want a
thorough and systematic research training in order to pursue successful
careers as professional marketing scholars. Teaching experience can
also be offered. The group particularly welcomes applications from
those with a relevant Master’s degree or a first-class degree (or
equivalent) in any social science discipline relevant to marketing (such as
psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, or business studies).
Current research topics
• Consumer Behaviour
• Consumer Culture Theory
• Advertising
• Branding and Brand Management
• Sustainability, Ethics and Socially Responsible Marketing
Associated research centres
“ My research contests the assumption
that consumers make rational choices. I
assume consumers are only rational some
of the time, or are often not very good at
making rational choices, or that they find
being rational burdensome, difficult or
simply boring. This has important
implications for businesses and policy-
makers in terms of how consumers are
understood and ‘managed’ for company
profitability, market efficiency or policy
effectiveness. ”
Professor Avi Shankar, Head of Group
 016 The Bath PhD

Organisation Studies

The group works within the broad fields of organisational behaviour,

organisational theory, HR management and public sector management.

About the group

The Organisation Studies group consists of a dozen highly research- Current research topics
active scholars working within the broad fields of organisational
behaviour, organisational theory, human resource management and • Leadership, learning and knowledge
public sector management. The group is continuously looking for • Human Resource Management (specifically employee
additional PhD students to join its thriving doctoral community; all attitudes such as commitment and engagement):
members of the group are able to act as supervisors, and all are willing to employee engagement, organisational commitment,
discuss options and opportunities with potentially interested applicants. employee performance, affect at work, psychological
For more details on specific research areas and topics of interest please contract
refer directly to the School of Management’s website entries for each • Change: organisational change, social and career
faculty member and the research centre (WERC). Members of the group change, organising for high reliability
supervise PhD research in the following fields and cognate areas: • Approaches: narrative and storytelling, sense-making,
psychoanalysis
• Higher education management: education policy, public
management

business Leadership
International

Higher Education Management

• Global perspectives: Europeanisation, privatisation,
globalisation, international business
• Socio- and psychological: power and dependence,
emotion, identities
• Stakeholders: awareness, communication, governance
Work Communication
Governance

• Work, space, technology

Performance

Identity
• Evidence-based management
Global perspective
Power
Human
Resource
Management

Associated research centres

Organisational Work and
Commitment Employment
Research Centre
Public Sector
Change
Evidence-based
Education Management
Policy Privatisation
“ Some exciting research is being undertaken within the group, within the area of collaborative innovation. Led by
my colleague, Dr Svenja Tams, Lecturer in Organisational Studies, this research involves building communities
across traditional organisational boundaries to advance innovative responses to societal challenges. Over the past
decade, many novel approaches to open, participatory and social innovation have been emerging. Yet we lack a
critical, theoretically informed and empirical understanding of these. This emerging field of professional practice
raises interesting research questions across individual, group, organisational and institutional levels. At Bath, we
have a particular interest in the practices, discourse, artefacts, space and power by which people engage in social
innovation. In practical terms, Svenja has conducted ethnographic fieldwork observing collaborative innovation by
a leading environmental charity. More recently, a regional water and waste-water business has asked us to help
them engage customers in more sustainable water consumption and ecosystem management. ”

Professor Juani Swart, Head of Group

 University of Bath School of Management 017

Strategic and International Management

Group members have very wide international teaching and research

experience at top-tier universities around the world.

About the group

This is a dynamic, research-oriented group of scholars with extensive Current research topics
research and teaching experience at top-tier universities around the
world and a strong publishing record in leading international journals. The research interests of the group combine strong
Developing a vibrant community of PhD researchers is a major part disciplinary foundations with openness to cross- and
of the group’s commitment to continuously enhancing the quality of interdisciplinary approaches. Topics of particular interest
its research. within the group include:
• Practices and institutions of strategic renewal
The group is looking for highly capable and motivated individuals who • The economics of innovation
wish to pursue research careers in academic or other research-oriented • Innovation capabilities
institutions and whose research projects match closely the interests of • Value creation in an international context
its group members. • Entrepreneurial processes, action, and milestones

The group treats its PhD candidates as junior colleagues and helps
socialise them into the academic profession. PhD graduates from Associated research centres
the group have gone on to become established scholars in
universities throughout East Asia, Australasia, South Asia, Europe,
and the Americas.

GlobalismSupply
Cross Cultural Management
Global perspective

Chain
Innovation
Union
European

management
Management economic
International growth
Cultural
Context

Markets
Governance
New technology
Emerging

Business
Cognitive
Mapping
Competitiveness
Sustainability
“ The Strategy and International Management group focuses on the interface between entrepreneurship,
strategy and international business and management. Sustainability is core to the research interests of the group,
as well as to the Centre for International Business and Management (CIBAM), incoming from Cambridge. CIBAM
provides a focal point for interdisciplinary research and links between business, academia and policy-makers.
It brings together managerial practice, public policy and theory, with an eye to prescribing business, public and
supra-national policies that foster sustainable competitive advantage. ”

Dr Christos Pitelis, Head of Group

018 The Bath PhD
Entry requirements
Our prime emphasis is on intellectual ability and motivation to
become a professional management scholar.
We regard our PhD programme as
an investment in the future of our
profession of scientific enquiry into
management. So we welcome
applications on an ongoing basis
from those with the determination
and ability to join the first rank of
professional management
researchers and academics.
Our policy is to admit the best and
most promising applicants based
on their intellectual ability,
academic achievements, and
motivation to undertake the
professional scholarly research
training we offer on the Bath PhD
programme.
We therefore seek applications
from outstanding individuals from
anywhere in the world and from
any disciplinary background who
are strongly committed to and
potentially capable of high-quality
academic research in any of the
disciplinary areas covered by the
subject groups of the School
and who:
• Have, or expect to receive
before September of the year
of entry, exceptionally good
academic qualifications in
any discipline.
• Are fluent in reading and,
especially, writing English.
“ For me, the most important part of the experience is
definitely the people: both academics and students are very
supportive, engaged and open to new ideas. The diversity of
group members’ research interests makes for amazing seminar
discussions and it also means that when you have a question,
there is a greater chance that someone in the group will know
the answer or will be able to point you in the right direction. ”
Exceptionally good academic
qualifications
These are evidenced by high GRE
or GMAT scores, or high GPAs,
or high degree classifications, or
similar. All applicants must hold as
a minimum a first degree award
at First or Upper-second (or GPA
equivalent) level before final
acceptance.
Prior academic disciplines
studied are less important than
demonstrable quality of academic
achievements and a willingness to
undertake systematic research
training, including both qualitative
and quantitative methods training,
as well as specific disciplinary
training as necessary. We
therefore welcome applications
from any disciplinary background
and regardless of whether or not
applicants have already taken
a Master’s degree. Our prime
emphasis is on intellectual ability
and motivation to become a
professional management scholar.
Applicants who have taken GRE
or GMAT and achieved high
scores will be very greatly
advantaged in the admissions
process. The advantage of having
taken GRE or GMAT applies to
candidates from any disciplinary
or national background.
Liudmyla Svystunova, PhD student
Fluent English
Taking the taught elements of
our PhD programme and
writing-up original research to
an internationally successful
standard demand a high degree
of fluency in English.
For non-native English speakers,
the School normally requires a
score of at least 7 in the IELTS
test administered by the British
Council, or a TOEFL score of 250
(computer-based) or 600 (written).
Please note that these are the
minimum requirements, with
higher ability generally expected.
In some cases students may be
made an offer of a place that is
conditional on successful
completion of one of the
pre-sessional English language
courses offered by the University's
Academic Skills Centre.
See www.bath.ac.uk/asc
 University of Bath School of Management 019

How to apply

Applications are welcome throughout the year, with accepted

candidates entering the PhD programme at the autumn start of each
academic year.

All applicants should apply online and additionally attach the following three documents:

1. A single document containing the following and in this order:-

While there is no specific
deadline for applications,
potential PhD candidates
should apply as far in
advance as possible so that
they can be fully considered
and advised of any
acceptance conditions in
time for these to be met well
before the start of the
programme in the autumn
of each year.
a) The names of at least two, but preferably three, School of Management faculty members who
applicants think might be appropriate doctoral supervisors for their research interests.
b)
A statement up to 200 words explaining to which Subject Group of the School applicants wish to
make a research contribution and why they think they will succeed in making such a contribution.
c)
An additional statement up to 200 words of why the applicant wants to become a professional
management scholar.
2. An original preliminary research proposal written by applicants themselves.
3. A full academic CV, including all schools, colleges and universities attended, along with all grades and
other verifiable evidence of academic ability and achievement, plus any work experience, plus the full
contact details of at least two academic referees who will be prepared to give references at possibly
short notice, a statement of willingness to be interviewed if short-listed, and proof of English fluency
(for non-native English speakers only).
Applications that do not include the three documents above cannot be considered, so please ensure
you send all that is requested.

Application checklist
Identify a possible supervisor for your research
Step 1 proposal and discuss your application

2 Apply online

3 Track your application

4 Await a decision

5 Accept or decline your offer

6 Meet your offer conditions

For international students only: provide Confirmation

7 of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) and upload your visa

8 Register online and pay your tuition fees

9 Enrolment and document review

10 Obtain your University Library/ID card

Fees and Funding

For more information, visit www.bath.ac.uk/study/pgresearch/finance
020 The Bath PhD

Accommodation

More than 600 places are available for postgraduate students.

The University offers over 600

postgraduate accommodation
places in the city, and these are
either managed or owned by the
University.

Living off-campus offers the

chance to take a break from your
academic work, with cinemas and
theatres on hand as well as
numerous restaurants, cafés and
pubs and a great range of
shopping. Bath is also home to
several excellent museums and 2
galleries, and hosts various arts
festivals throughout the year.

University–owned
accommodation
All our University-owned
postgraduate accommodation is
based around the city centre.
Each of these facilities has secure
card-only access, and generally
has a smaller number of
bedrooms to each kitchen than
the campus residences.

We ensure all our accommodation

is maintained to the highest
standards, and prices include:
utility bills, high-speed wifi and
ethernet connection, connection
to our residential computer
network, and core possessions
insurance.
University-managed housing
University-managed housing
offers the experience of living in a
private property in the city, but
without the need to deal with
landlords and utility companies.
These properties have a smaller
number of bedrooms with social
living space, and most have
gardens and regular bus services
to the University.
1 3
several other students, or you
could rent a study bedroom in
a house, known as lodgings.
The University maintains a
database of privately owned,
self-catered accommodation
available to rent in the Bath
area. The Bath Student
Accommodation Guide has
all the information you need.
Visit: www.townandgown.org.uk/
accommodation
reserved for undergraduates, a 1 Woodland Court student
number of places are allocated to accommodation
international postgraduate
students from the School of 2 Pulteney Court student
Management. Demand for these accommodation
rooms is high however, so you are
advised to apply early. Visit the 3 Typical studio room
Accommodation website for
more details.
Find out more at
www.bath.ac.uk/study/
pgresearch/accommodation

Private housing Living on campus

Private sector accommodation While on-campus
could be a shared house with accommodation is largely
 University of Bath School of Management 021

Contact us
For enquiries, please contact the Postgraduate Student Research Office:

Suzanne Swallow
Email: pgradmin@management.bath.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 386714 or 386162

How to find us M61

M62
M1
M6

Manchester
Liverpool M18

Sheffield
M56

Travel to the University In Bath follow signs for The M6

M1 Nottingham
of Bath American Museum and
University. Leicester
Norwich
M54
By Car Birmingham
From the north: M5 south to By Rail M42
M6
M1
Bristol, M4 east to junction 18 and Bath Spa station is on the main Cambridge

A46 to Bath. line between Bristol and London M50 Luton

M11
Ipswich

Paddington. It can be reached Gloucester

M5 Oxford M40 M1 A1(M)

From the south-west: M5 north to from the north and south via M4 M25
London
Bristol, M4 east to junction 18 and Bristol Temple Meads. Cardiff Bristol
M4
Heathrow
A46 to Bath. Bath M25
M23 M20
By Coach M3 Gatwick

From Wales: M4 east to junction A frequent National Express M5 Southampton

M27

18 and A46 to Bath. service operates from London Exeter

Victoria to Bath Coach Station. Plymouth

From London: M4 west to junction Buses run from here to the
18 and A46 to Bath. University.

The City of Bath

Key
1 Abbey, Roman Baths,
Pump Room
2 Thermae Bath Spa
3 Bus Station
4 Bath Spa Railway Station
5 Police Station
6 Sports Centre
7 Holburne Museum
8 Art Gallery, Market, Guildhall
9 Library
10 Theatre Royal

P Car Parks
Bus stops
The Bath PhD
Training tomorrow’s professional management researchers

www.bath.ac.uk/management

Note: The information in this brochure is correct at time of going

to press. Courses are monitored and reviewed regularly, as a
result of which changes may be made as part of the School’s
policy of continuous improvement. There may be amendments
to the programme described in this brochure both before and
after a candidate’s admission. This brochure does not form any
part of any contract between any person and the University.
When you have finished with
07/2013 this brochure please recycle it