Overview
The part-time PhD in the Theory and Practice of Management (TPM) combines the academic rigour of a traditional PhD with the accessibility of a structured, part-time research programme. A recent EFMD doctoral conference hosted at Lancaster gave significant emphasis to the changing forms of knowledge production within academia and in society more broadly, and the need for universities to update their provision to reflect the societies they serve. This programme is a response to that need, with its increased focus on research impact and business engagement. It also recognises that doctoral researchers form an integral part of our research community and add value to the research conducted here at Lancaster. Through a combination of online resources and facilitated activities, face-to-face workshops, and collaborative supervision, the programme will be accessible to part-time researchers from the public, private and third sectors. Working closely with academic faculty, they will be supported in developing their research skills at the same time as generating a valuable contribution to knowledge.
There are two routes within the programme, designed to meet the needs of a range of applicants. The main route (PhD in Theory and Practice of Management (TPM)) is open access and is designed to offer a strong methodological understanding/skillset, a ‘light touch’ grounding in the management discipline, and to support participants in producing a quality piece of independent research.
This International Doctorate in the Practice of Management (IDPM) route delivers the same qualification but is founded upon the existing IMPM programme and is only open to graduates of this programme. Following completion of the IMPM Major Paper, students will undertake tailored research training designed to enable them to produce a quality piece of research. There is significant overlap between the two training programmes, and between our part-time and full-time training programmes, to offer the richest possible experience to participants on all routes.
Your department
Ranked in the Top 100 worldwide
Lancaster is ranked 85th worldwide for Business and Economics in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject 2022.
THE World University Rankings by subject
#70 in the world for Business and Management
Lancaster is ranked #9 in the UK and #70 in the world for Business and Management according to the QS World Rankings by Subject 2022, one of nine subjects at Lancaster to be featured in the top 100 in these prestigious listings.
QS Rankings 2022Entry Requirements
- 7 years relevant experience
- IMPM with 65% overall and 65% in the major paper
- Research proposal/IMPM major paper
- Bachelors transcript and certificate
- CV
- Two references
- English test for overseas applicants who not completed the IMPM within 3 the last years
Fees and Funding
UK and International Fee:
For the first 2 years of the programme, please see the fees information detailed on the IMPM programme.
The fees for years 3, 4, 5 and 6 are £6,000 per year.
Scholarships and bursaries
At Lancaster, we believe that funding concerns should not stop any student with the talent to thrive.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to help cover the cost of tuition fees and/or living expenses.
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Additional costs
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small which supports the running of college events and activities.
For students starting in 2022, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2023 have not yet been set.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
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Fees in subsequent years
The University will not increase the Tuition Fee you are charged during the course of an academic year.
If you are studying on a programme of more than one year's duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. The way in which continuing students' fee rates are determined varies according to an individual's 'fee status' as set out on our fees webpages.
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Management and Business
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- Professional Development PGCert
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- Professional Practice MSc
- Professional Practice PgCert
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- Project Management MSc
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- Theory and Practice of Management PhD
Course structure
The IMPM follow-on IDPM route consists of the following modules, all of which are compulsory:
Participants will also need to undertake 15-30 hours of tailored research training in relation to data collection and data analysis, in alignment with their research.
Participants will be awarded a PhD on successful completion of the below modules, plus a 45,000-word thesis and a practitioner paper of publishable quality.
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Philosophy of the Social Sciences
This module provides a solid introduction to the various research paradigms utilised in management research, and supports students in locating their own beliefs about reality and knowledge within a structured framework. This, in turn, will enable them to develop a more robust, coherent research proposal, which will be delivered as the IMPM506 Major Paper. The module thus forms an important bridging point between IMPM students undertaking the Masters qualification and those wishing to progress to the full PhD.
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Research Skills in Action Research
This module aims to provide training in Action Research as the most likely methodology to be adopted by students on the IDPM pathway, given that their research projects usually relate to their own working environment and are aimed at producing practical outcomes for the organization as well as academic outputs for the student. The module will provide theoretical input and practical experience of the core techniques/methods relating to Action Research as a research methodology.This will include the main approaches to data collection and analysis, plus ethical and practical issues associated with action research as follows:
- The action research cycle
- Quality and rigour in action research
- Managing ethics and organizational politics in action research
- Benefits and pitfalls of researching your won organization
- Understanding versus "re-understanding": the challenges of role duality
- Designing and implementing an action research project
- Theoretical frameworks for studying organizations in action (e.g. systems thinking)
- Generating evidence to test knowledge claims in action research
- Writing up action research
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Delivering Impactful Research
The aim of this module is to support you in building impact into your current and future research, rather than seeing it as an add-on. Topics covered will include:
- Understanding the significance of impact
- Routes to impact - considering the different ways in which impact can be achieved
- Building impact into the research design
- Engagement with project stakeholders as a route to impact
- Aligning with the agendas of policy-makers and funding bodies as routes to impact
- Being an impactful researcher
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Communicating with Different Research Audiences
This module will support you in developing your ability to communicate effectively with a wide rangeof stakeholders to your research. Topics covered will include:
- Understanding the different agendas of different research stakeholders - including funders, end-users, policymakers and research participants, and hence the form, content and frequency of communication they might desire
- Considering the similarities and differences between academic and practitioner audiences in this regard, and the implications for modes of communication
- Developing the ability to utilise a range of communication channels, including digital and social media, effectively, including having an awareness of some of the pitfalls
- Understanding the ethical issues relating to the dissemination of research outcomes
- Developing a personal presence and profile in support of your research agenda.
Confirmation of supervisors
Programme supervisors will be drawn from the four departments within the School’s Business and Management doctoral pathway, namely:
Applicants are advised to look at the profiles of academics within these departments to gain an overview of the broad range of topic areas for which we can offer supervision.
Studentships and funding opportunities
As a part-time programme, there is no studentship funding available to applicants for this programme.
Important Information
The information on this site relates primarily to 2022/2023 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.
Our Students’ Charter
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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