Business and Management Research Programmes

Overview

In the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework (REF), Ulster University Business School had 90% of its research recognised as either World Leading or Internationally Excellent.  This placed the Business School in the top twenty of UK Business Schools for research outputs and Top 10 (Joint 1^st) for the Impact of our Research.

Another indicator of the satisfaction of our current PhD Researchers is reflected in the latest results from the 2018 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) where our PhD Researchers highlighted very high satisfaction levels (87% overall satisfaction). This recognition shows that our facilities, procedures and practices are up to the high standards that they expect.

Summary

Research is organised across three broad sub-disciplines, Operations Management and Contemporary Organisational Issues,Accounting and Finance and Marketing. In addition to these three main research themes, there are two research centres based in the Faculty: the Food and Drink Business Development Centre (FDBDC) and the Economic Policy Centre (EPC).

About

Accounting and Finance

Within accounting and finance the group focuses on efficiency and performance measurement and the analysis of structural change in the financial sector.

Current areas of research include: public sector /charity accounting and gender / board diversity issues; understanding financial decision making and generational renewal in Irish agriculture; banks and credit unions as well as other Corporate Social Responsibility and Organisational Governance issues.

Marketing

In the diverse field of marketing, UUBS has pursued two key themes for achievement of maximum impact on the NI economy.

First, given the prevalence of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the NI region, the marketing/entrepreneurship nexus is a dominant lever. Members research issues linked to knowledge management and decision-making in entrepreneurial firms, and internationalisation and SME performance.

Also, in this area researchers engage in research designed to understand innovation and economic development in food production and small rural agri-food firms has also been a key focus.

Secondly, by tracking the changing economic landscape and the influence of technological advances in organisations, several researchers in this group are interested in the role of the internet and social media in firms’ marketing whilst other expertise lies in more traditional marketing issues in the context of branding innovations, services and retailing marketing as well as consumer behaviour.

Operations and Contemporary Organisational Issues

UUBS has a tradition of research in the Operations Management field, with key areas of investigation coalescing around supply management and innovation in business processes. Researchers investigate sourcing decision-making; organisational culture and supplier development strategies; supply chain dynamics and inter-organisational systems; lean management and performance measurement and quality management.

Researchers are also investigate organisational innovation, focussing on operations, innovation and R&D investment; informational processing and decision-making. Another area of work centres on corporate social responsibility and ethical issues in operations management, with a particular focus on corporate environmental initiatives and health and safety - operational risk management.

Researchers in this sub-discipline also study contemporary organisational issues linked to international business and the future of work. In the tourism domain, researchers have interests in ethical and post-conflict tourism, while several researchers investigate organisational innovation in terms of enhanced strategies for HRM / people management and employee behaviour, value co-creation and technology transfer as well as delivery of business educational development interventions.

Research Centres

The FDBDC was established in 2018 and focusses on the food supply chain and researchers work with colleagues from the three core thematic areas to address issues related to agri-food SME innovation capabilities, food security / poverty and consumer behaviour, as well as supply chain and technology-driven distribution solutions.

The EPC focuses on applied research, designed to inform Government policy on the development of the NI economy and conducts research into developing skills, innovation and competitiveness in the region.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study. We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Get additional information for International applicants

English language requirements

In order to be admitted to research study at Ulster, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of your application.

Get full details on the requirements for both home and overseas applicants can be found on our English language requirements page.

Careers and opportunities

PhD graduates are recognised by employers to hold valuable transferrable skills, as the nature of the degree trains candidates in creativity, critical inquiry, problem solving, negotiation skills, professionalism and confidence.

The most recent Ulster survey of PhD graduates found that 92% had secured employment within the first year since graduation (HESA Destination of Leavers Survey 2015), and while two thirds end up in the Higher Education or Research sectors, the range of skills acquired equips the remainder for employment in a wide range of contexts.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Details of tuition fees can be found under the fees schedule for the academic year of entry.

To work out for which fees you would be eligible and to find out more information about potential sources of funding, please view the Fees and Funding pages on the Doctoral College website.

Apply

We are delighted that you are considering Ulster University for your research studies.

Get full details on the application process and further guidance on how to apply, and what you will need to upload as part of your application.

Once you have identified supervisors, discussed a research proposal and are ready to make an application, please apply using the online application system.

Ulster University welcomes applications from all sections of the community and from persons with disabilities. It is University policy to assess all applications using academic criteria and on the basis of equality of opportunity and you should be assured that reasonable adjustments will be made should you require them.