Business Management: Fully Funded ESRC Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) PhD Studentship in the Business and Management Pathway (RS697)

Funding provider(s): ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50% 

Subject area(s): ‘WGSSS ESRC studentship Management and Business pathway 

Project start date(s): 1 October 2025 

Supervisors: 

This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC Wales DTP website.  

The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr Daniele Doneddu, might be able to advise you.  

Pathway Link: Dr Daniele Doneddu 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Business Management 

Mode of study:  Full or part-time study is possible. 

Please note that full-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold either a full-time job, permanent part-time job or temporary role for an extended period of time, during the period of their award. Part-time ESRC studentship award holders cannot hold a full-time job. 

Project description: 

Swansea University, supported by the ESRC Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS), invites applications for PhD study in Business and Management, with the possibility of being awarded a fully-funded ESRC WGSSS studentship, available to start in October 2025. 

The Business and Management pathway focusses the realm of social sciences on current challenges for businesses and the industrial landscape. There are significant opportunities for interdisciplinarity through its disciplinary expertise in accounting, finance, banking, marketing, strategy, logistics and operations management, organizational management, innovation, and tourism; all underpinned by the research strength and experience of faculty members at the Universities of Swansea, Cardiff and Bangor. This joint working allows students increased access to leading researchers and practitioners whilst also offering them a breadth of contacts and experiences, enabling them to network within a larger cohort and to see their research within an especially wide disciplinary context. The pathway also examines and develops knowledge relating to wider issues, e.g. (in)equality, wellbeing, climate change, and sustainability.  

Swansea University’s School of Management has significant strengths in digital innovation, human resources, and enterprise development policy. Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (e.g. Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Public Policy and Practice, Geopolitical Challenges, and Culture and Communities), Networks (Climate Action, AI & Digital Economy & Society) and Research Centres e.g. i-Lab (Innovation Lab), EPSRC CDT Enhancing Human Interactions and Collaborations with Data and Intelligence Driven Systems; All-Wales Intensive Learning Academy for Innovation in Health and Social Care) foster challenge-led research and impact. Within the School there are also significant opportunities to engage with practitioner-focussed initiatives such as the Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) and major health think tank, the Bevan Commission. Such outlets represent further structured links and offer potential for shared skills training. The School collaborates with other Faculties within the University to enable strong inter-and multi-disciplinary research to flourish. The pathway will build on the highly successful collaboration between Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea in the Previous Doctoral Training Partnership Wales (DTP-Wales). This pathway also collaborates on supervision/training with other WGSSS cluster pathways such as Economics, and Digital Economy and Society.

At every stage, students are active participants in a wide range of reading and discussion groups, roundtable sessions, seminar series and data analysis workshops. Flexibility in delivery through online and offline bespoke training courses, currently includes research seminars, methods workshops, standard modules, intensives, as well as regular in-person/online research seminars. Wider skills training sessions are also available. You are strongly encouraged and supported to attend and present at relevant national and international conferences. 

Duration of study: The duration of study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs which will be assessed by completing an Initial Development Needs Analysis (Initial DNA) at the application stage and a Full DNA prior to award if successful.

Duration of study may vary from 3.5-4.5 years, full-time (or part-time equivalent) dependent on your prior research experience. Swansea University, in conjunction with colleagues in the WGSS, will undertake an assessment of the successful applicant’s training needs and work with them to tailor the training they are offered to meet their research needs. This might take the form a full master's course, or might be comprised of individual courses designed to enhance skills required for their chosen area of study.

Research in practice placement:  All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.  

To receive ESRC studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation.  

Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply. 

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.   

The WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.  

We welcome applications for both full and part-time study. 

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.  

Students also have access to a Research Training Support Grant, worth up to £940 per year.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – please select as per preferred mode of study, either:
   (Full-Time) Business Management/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October

   (Part- Time) Business Management/ PhD / Part-time / 6 Years / October

   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2025
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS697 - WGSSS 5'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  Please click the following link to complete your EDI Monitoring Form: 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

Please include the following documents with your application:   

• WGSSS Application Form 
• Academic CV (two pages maximum) 
• 2 academic or professional references (candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application. The reference must detail the applicant’s research strengths). 
• Degree certificates and Transcripts (including translations if applicable)   
• If relevant, proof of English Language Competency (see institutional requirements for entry) 
• Confirmation of submission of EDI Form

Assessment: 

Applicants are reminded to submit all relevant documents (transcripts, supporting statement, etc) by the deadline. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.  

Application deadline: 11th December 2024 

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are expected to take place in January and February 2025. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions consistent with previous practice on the pathway during the Wales DTP and guided by the WGSSS’s commitments on EDI.  

Interviews may be held in person but should also be available through Zoom/Teams for all students who wish to participate in that way.  

Most applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their interview within 10-12 weeks. 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Daniele Donnedu (d.doneddu@swansea.ac.uk). 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.