Specialising via a PhD pathway

Eight pathways to a career in a business school discipline

Use the table below to explore our eight PhD pathways (specialisations) and the masters degree(s) you will need to study to complete each pathway:

PhD pathway	Masters programme required in the first year
Accounting	Either MPhil in Finance or Master of Research (MRes)
Business Economics	Master of Research (MRes) or exceptionally the Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research
Finance	Either MPhil in Finance or Master of Research (MRes) (for students with a Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research)
Marketing	Either MPhil in Strategy, Marketing & Operations or Master of Research (MRes)
Operations & Technology Management	Either MPhil in Strategy, Marketing & Operations or Master of Research (MRes)
Organisational Behaviour	Either MPhil in Strategy, Marketing & Operations or Master of Research (MRes)
Organisational Theory & Information Systems	Either MPhil in Innovation, Strategy & Organisation or Master of Research (MRes)
Strategic Management	Depending on which stream you take, either MPhil in Innovation, Strategy & Organisation or MPhil in Strategy, Marketing & Operations or Master of Research (MRes)

Why we have pathways (specialisations)?

The placement of PhD students in junior faculty positions is done within discipline boundaries, at specific job-market conferences with clear expectations of signals for high research potential.

Therefore, it is important for your future academic career that you attach yourself to a specific discipline at the start of your PhD.

Our PhD specialisations (which we call “pathways“) reflect these disciplines and prepare you for the academic job market in your chosen discipline.