13
13th for Business and Management in the UK
QS World University Rankings by Subject (2025)
99
99th for Business and Management in the world
QS World University Rankings by Subject (2025)
Lancaster University is top 10 in The Complete University Guide 2026
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. This 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.
The 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.
This open-access TPM route consists of the modules shown in the course structure, 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 listed modules, plus a 45,000-word thesis and an academic paper of publishable quality.
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 INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
This module is divided into three sections:
1. The Foundations of Social Science Research.
This element of the module will provide you with an understanding of the foundational underpinnings of management research. Core topics will include:
2. An Introduction to Quantitative Research
The quantitative element of the module will cover the following topic areas, with the intention of providing an overview of relevant approaches and methodologies:
3. An Introduction to Qualitative Research
The qualitative element of the module will cover the following topic areas, with the intention of providing an overview of relevant approaches and methodologies:
This module will introduce you to research design issues in business and management. The module will make the assumptions and procedures necessarily entailed in management research of different kinds (including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods) more explicit. The approach emphasises the place of different research designs and strategies in the accomplishment of knowledge about management as well as how to craft research. In this way, it offers a basis for the appreciation and evaluation of different varieties of research as well as providing an opportunity for you to consider these issues in relation to your own research.
You will be required to undertake between 15 and 30 hours of specific, advanced research training relevant to your research design. This could relate to data collection methods, data analysis methods or broader methodological understanding.
Suitable modules, workshops or courses could be accessed from PhD or MSc programmes from the Management School or wider university, events run by our DTP partners Liverpool and Manchester, or events hosted by the Northern Advanced Research Training Initiative (NARTI). The proposed training must be approved as relevant and at the right level by your supervisors and the programme director. Training attended can be assessed or unassessed, but you will be required to write a brief (500-word) report on each piece of training attended, giving a brief summary of the content, how it relates to your research, and how you will utilise the learning going forward.
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:
This module will support you in developing your ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders to your research. Topics covered will include:
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.
As a part-time programme, there is no studentship funding available to applicants for this programme.
I can’t thank you enough for all the encouragement and belief during my first year which was my most challenging year. New environment, weather, technology, language, food, and no family or friends. Now I have two papers accepted in prestigious conferences and am writing the final chapter of my thesis. All was anchored on your encouragement that I can do it!
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.
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. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.
