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Faculty of Business, Law and Politics

Marketing research degrees

Postgraduate - Research

PhD

Looking for a funded PhD?

Check out our current PhD scholarship opportunities now

About our programmes

The Hull University Business School provides an inspirational environment for researchers on PhD pathways. Our dynamic team of research-oriented academics have expertise in a number of key areas within marketing, including electronic and mobile marketing, and social media; services marketing including service evaluation; ethical, social, non-profit and political marketing; SMEs and business to business (B2B) marketing; brand management and internal branding; corporate social responsibility; relationship marketing; advertising and social media.

Our PhD is a four-year full-time degree which requires a student to complete the equivalent of 540 credits of research, including both research specialist modules and research thesis preparation.

PhD students have the opportunity to add to the sum of knowledge in their chosen field by producing an original piece of research. Our PhD candidates are closely supported and given opportunities to travel and attend conferences, and on campus facilities are excellent. PhD candidates have exclusive access to the Postgraduate Lounge in the newly refurbished Brynmor Jones Library, and all our postgraduate students can make use of facilities in the University's Graduate School. The Business School, meanwhile, has a dedicated work room with cutting-edge facilities.

Apply for research programmes in the Business School

Details

Open for admission in 2024/25

Qualification Full time Part time
PhD 3 years* 5 years*

* The length of programme registration will be longer as it includes the maximum writing-up phase.

Start in January, May or September

Research

Our dynamic team of research-oriented individuals have expertise in a number of key areas within marketing. With a strong focus on applied research that impacts both academic and practitioner areas, our guiding vision is to conduct research that advances knowledge and thinking in the marketing discipline.

Key themes within the Marketing research group include;

  • Electronic and mobile marketing, and social media
  • Services marketing including service evaluation
  • Ethical, social, non-profit and political marketing
  • SMEs and B2B marketing
  • Brand management and internal branding
  • Corporate social responsibility
  • Relationship marketing
  • Advertising & social media

Our experts welcome applications for postgraduate research across a broad range of topics. Please click on the links below for help with being matched up with a potential supervisor.

  • Social marketing, brand communities and cross-cultural aspects of marketing - Dr Stephan Dahl
  • Cross-cultural advertising strategies, marketing communications, online marketing, mobile shopping, new media, consumer behaviour - Dr Wen-Ling Liu
  • CSR, services marketing and product management, financial services - Dr David Harness
  • New product development, financial product innovation, service quality, service failure and customer rage, customer loyalty, customer relationship management - Dr Raphaël Akamavi

“It’s been really enjoyable studying alongside people from many different cultures. Hull is a beautiful and affordable city in which to live.”

Famara Badijie, MSc Financial Management

Fees and funding

Home


Full time:
£4,712 per year

Part time: £2,356 per year

International


Full time:
£17,300 per year

These fees are for all research degree programmes on this page. For courses lasting more than one year, annual increases apply. For more information, please visit the fees and funding page. 

Postgraduate research programme structures


PhD

  • Full-time: 3 years of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 5 years of research, with up to 20 months of writing up if required

Masters

  • Full-time: one year of research, with up to 12 months writing up if required
  • Part-time: 2 years of research, with up to 24 months of writing up if required

Writing-up and thesis submission


A standard full-time PhD programme comprised three years of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up. Part-time is five years plus up to 20 months writing-up if needed. Full-time standard Masters programmes are comprised one year of research plus up to 12 months of writing-up if needed; and part time Masters programmes have two years of research with up to two years of writing-up.

For full-time students, the writing-up phase typically takes about three months but may be extended to one year without further paperwork. For part-time students, writing-up typically takes one year, but may be extended to two years without further paperwork. The maximum writing-up period is included in your overall programme length, which means that international PGRs will not need to apply for an additional visa to cover the writing-up phase.

If you need to move into the writing-up period of your research degree, you must enrol for this phase and you will be liable to pay a continuation fee.

The fees for the writing-up period for 2023/24 are:

Full time

  • Writing-up fee £345
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Part time

  • Continuation Fee £170
  • Rebate for submission within first 3 months of the research period end date 100%
  • Rebate for submission between 4- 6 months of the research period end date 50%
  • Rebate for submission between 7-9 months of the research period end date 25%

Thesis submission timelines


It is expected that you will submit your thesis within the timeframes outlined below:

Masters degrees

  • Submission by one year and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 2 years and 6 months part-time.

Doctoral degrees

  • Submission by 3 years and 3 months full-time.
  • Submission by 5 years and 6 months for part-time.

Doctoral Loan

UK students who haven’t secured a scholarship can take out a Doctoral Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. They provide up to £29,390 for full-time and part-time PhDs in all subject areas.

EU students starting a course on or after 1 August 2021 must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Additional costs

There are some extra costs that you may have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary:

  • Student visas (international students).
  • Books (you’ll have access to many books through the University library, but you may want to buy your own copies).
  • Optional conference/field/archive/library trips (Faculties support some travel and conference attendance financially. Details vary. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want to buy your own).
  • Printing and photocopying (There is a printing allowance in place for all students, currently £20 a year. Some Faculties grant PGR students access to printing and photocopying as staff. Please check with the Department/School to which you are applying).
  • Professional-body membership.
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography).

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few.

For information about bursaries and how to fund your studies see our money page, or take a look at our PhD scholarships page for specific funded PhD opportunities.

Watch: find out more about postgraduate study at the University of Hull.

The University’s Postgraduate Training Scheme (PGTS) provides a range of generic and discipline-specific modules to support research students through their programme. 

The library has an exclusive lounge for postgraduate research students and a dedicated Skills Team to provide a wide range of study and research skills help.

The Doctoral College provides support to postgraduate research students. Offering skills development opportunities and dedicated facilities, the school is here to help you achieve your potential.

Research at Hull tackles big challenges and makes an impact on lives globally, every day. Our current research portfolio spans everything from health to habitats, food to flooding and supply chain to slavery.

Entry requirements

You should normally have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent).

International students

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

  • For 2024 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each competency.
  • For 2025 entry, this course requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each competency.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

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