Management and Business: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS)

Funding Providers: ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS)

Subject Area: Management and Business 

Project Start Dates: October 2027 

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.) 

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed. 

Supervisors: 

This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants must approach a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application. This is to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application of which the supervisor must complete a section. 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 WGSSS website. The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr Daniele Doneddu, [email protected], might be able to advise you. 

Aligned programme of study: Management and Business pathway, PhD WGSSS DTP 

Mode of study:  

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

Place of study: 

• Swansea University (Singleton Campus) 

• Swansea University (Bay Campus) 

Project description: 

The Management and Business 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.