Marketing

PhD

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Full time 3 - 4 years
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Overview

Would you like to join one of the largest groups of marketing academics in the UK? Become a part of the most research-intensive business school in the UK, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework, where we have a lively research ethos and seek doctoral students who can build on our success.

Over the years, our expertise has grown into two areas: consumer research and market dynamics. Our research interests are particularly focused within specialist areas including Sustainable Innovation, Marketing and Digital Strategy, Markets, Design-Led Thinking, Consumption Insights, Digital Consumption, Social Justice, and Health Inequality. Furthermore, we have several active groups of researchers interested in business marketing and business networks in the context of supply chain interactions, innovation, market development, and the development of the firm in international markets. Our department is also linked to the Centre for Consumption Insights, which is a platform for our staff to engage in specialist research that centres on the transformative aspects of consumer research and consumption-related phenomena of pertinence to culture and society. Topics of interest here include consumer vulnerability, diet and health, the environment and family.

As a member of this PhD programme, you will have access to state-of-the-art databases, dedicated office space, scientific computing facilities, and IT support. We offer a research training seminar series, workshops and conferences to create the ideal environment for innovative thinking.

Many of our staff work closely with marketing practitioners. This allows us to make sure our research is relevant to commercial and public-sector organisations, as well as to the academic community. You will receive support from a specialist supervisor as you research and write your thesis.

In addition to your thesis, an oral examination will form an integral part of the assessment of your doctoral research.

Part-time PhD study over five years is available through the Theory and Practice of Management PhD.

Programme structure

Below is an overview of the modules you will study throughout your PhD. You will also study a range of optional research training seminars to enhance your skills.

Year 1

  • Induction Workshop, which includes Ethics and Plagiarism training and assessment
  • Foundations of Management Research
  • Central Themes in Management

Year 2

  • Research Skills – Data Collection and Analysis
  • Delivering Impactful Research
  • Structured Writing Retreats

Year 3

  • Communicating with Different Research Audiences
  • Structured Writing Retreats

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A relevant UK Master's degree with the a minimum of 65% overall and 65% in the dissertation, or a non-UK Master's degree, graded at the equivalent level.

We may also consider non-standard applicants; please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional requirements

As part of your application, you also need to provide a viable research proposal of up to 5,000 words, which has potential to make a significant contribution to prior literature. Guidance can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.

English language requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 7.0, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programme.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Fees and funding

The tuition fee for students with home fee status is set in line with the standard fee stipend provided by the UK Research Councils. The fee stipend for 2025/26 has not yet been set. For reference, the fee stipend for 2024/25 was full-time £4,786.

The international fee for new entrants in 2025/26 is full-time £21,620.

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

  • Find a PhD topic

    Discover the research interests of our academics to find a synergy with your desired area of research.

  • Studentships and funding

    Find out more about our range of options to help you fund your postgraduate studies.

Job market candidates

Our Marketing job market candidates are listed below. Please visit PhD Job Market Candidates for a full list of LUMS candidates.

For further details, please contact the Doctoral Office.

Marketing job market candidates

Gilang Kartika

Gilang Kartika

PhD student

Mark Ryan

Mark Ryan

PhD student

Alumni profiles

portrait photograph of Scott Jones

Scott Jones

PhD Marketing, 2022
portrait photograph of Tobias Finke

Tobias Finke

PhD Marketing, 2019
portrait photograph of Erik Jacobi

Erik Jacobi

PhD Marketing, 2016

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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