A key part of your experience will be original research guided by your supervisor. However, postgraduate research should also be seen as an academic apprenticeship, helping you to develop a wider range of advanced research methods skills and knowledge of your discipline. Our aim is to produce not just excellent doctoral research dissertations, but also excellent students who are well rounded and fully equipped for careers in academia and research.
The nature and scope of the training will depend on your academic qualifications, previous knowledge, and experience. However, as a general rule, students are expected to spend a large part of their time in the first year developing their general research skills. All taught modules are assessed, either by exams or coursework. Seminars, workshops and the annual Leeds University Business School PhD conference are also an important component of this training programme.
Students entering the programme opt for one of our three core pathways in: Business and Management, Economics, or Accounting and Finance. All three pathways will include both a core element (taught modules attended by all first year students) and more specific training relevant to each area. The overall amount of training will vary according to the specific needs of students in each pathway and will be negotiated as part of your Personal Development Plan.
We actively champion the provision of advanced skills training for doctoral students. You will benefit from our school's position as one of the co-ordinating universities for the Northern Advanced Research Training Initiative, an ESRC-funded network of research-based business schools in the north of England. Further training opportunities in generic research skills are also available through the Staff and Departmental Development Unit, the Researcher Training and Development service and the Leeds Social Science Institute. Finally, our school also runs a range of activities that bring members of the school together with key external stakeholders to help ensure the continuing relevance of our research to user communities. These activities include the FT Masterclass and the Corporate Wisdom lecture series.
View the content of one year full-time/MPhil training and development for Business and Management, Economics, or Accounting and Finance.