The Management Science doctoral programme
Aims and student support
The doctoral programme in Management Science offers students the ideal opportunity to research in depth as a prelude to an academic or consulting career.
The programme is highly interactive with a large number of students in operational research, operations management, and information systems and e-business. There are many opportunities to interact with faculty, industry, and co-students, both formal and informal. This offers a supportive environment in which to study.
For highly qualified students both home, EU and overseas, scholarships are available. In particular, the department has a large number of enhances studentships available for UK students. Students may also be funded through scholarships from their home employer.
Each student will have a member of staff appointed as a supervisor to guide the research study. Where it is helpful two supervisors may be appointed. Part-time students working a significant distance from Lancaster may additionally have a local research adviser.
Students are assigned a study room and new computer, and as they progress through the programme are funded to attend appropriate conferences and workshops, both national and international.
Programme outline
The first year of study is normally a probationary year for all research students. During their first few months, students normally spend their time in a review of the literature in their chosen area of research and conduct initial research to help to develop a more precise topic for their thesis. Students are encouraged to attend any of the Masters courses or research training courses offered by the Management School, where this is appropriate to their personal development or research goals.
Formal assessments of progress are made at suitable intervals, with the first taking place no later than the end of the first fifteen months of research. If all goes well, the student is confirmed as a PhD student and continues the research to submit a thesis for the award of a doctorate, typically within 3+ years. Alternatively the student may be allowed to submit a thesis for the award of MPhil.
