PhD in Management Studies

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Selection Process

Applications are only accepted from students who are completing (or have completed) a CJBS research MPhil, or occasionally from students completing the MPhil Economics Research at Cambridge. (Please see departmental website for the specific MPhil needed for each PhD pathway).

All applications are considered as a gathered field after the closing date of 7 January 2025.

Interviews take place in late January. Interviews are either in person or online. Offer decisions are normally made and communicated in early February. Occasionally applicants may be informed that they are on a waiting list.

Further information on How To Apply

Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

• Two academic references  
• Transcript  
• CV/resume
• Evidence of competence in English  
  If required - you can check using our tool
• PhD pathway
  Select a Pathway from the list on the website https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/research-programmes/pathways/
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
  If you choose the Finance Pathway, please prepare a ‘Winter Paper’ selected from a list of topics provided by Faculty and upload this as your research proposal. A list of the topics can be obtained from the MPhil Finance programme administrator. For all other Pathways, upload a research proposal outlining your proposed research topic. Please follow the instructions given by your Pathway’s faculty representative on what to include in your research proposal. Suggestions might include: A. the research question(s) and their academic and practical significance B. a link with extant literature in leading journals and current debates in your Pathway C. outline research method(s) (how will the question be approached, what data will be required and how will it be analysed?) D. innovation in approach (e.g. through the nature of theory and/or the nature of the data and analysis) E. feasibility as a research topic for the PhD including data accessibility and a rough time plan
• Supervisor
  the name of the supervisor you would prefer to work with (optional)
• Research experience
  Details of any research assistant experience (optional)
• Papers and publications
  details and references of any conference papers you have presented and any journal publications under review or published (optional)
• Academic teaching experience
  details of any experience of teaching assistance, lecturing or supervision (optional)
• Career goals
  A statement of your long-term research goals

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

How to Find a Supervisor

You may (optionally) state on your application form the name of a member of faculty you are interested in working with.

The final decision as to supervision arrangements will be made by the PhD Admissions Committee after student interviews at the end of January.

Current research MPhil students are provided with an introductory talk from the PhD Director at the beginning of October. This includes information given about which supervisors have supervision capacity in each pathway. You are advised to carefully consider you choice of PhD pathway during the first week of your MPhil course, then to contact the PhD relevant pathway representative during Michaelmas Term to discuss potential research topics and the interview requirements of the Subject Group. The pathway representative may recommend you to other faculty members in the Subject Group.

The supervisor of your MPhil dissertation (if applicable) might not necessarily become your PhD principal supervisor.