PhD & research masters
Preparing you for an exciting and rewarding academic career with our fully-funded PhD programme. Join one of our 4 research masters programmes, each an integral part of a route to the PhD.
The Cambridge Judge PhD programme will:
- Prepare you for an exciting and rewarding academic career in a world-leading business school.
- Enable you to research independently and contribute to important ongoing debates.
- Empower you to impact society through your research and deep engagement with business.
Masters + PhD structure
Our PhD programme at Cambridge Judge Business School, starts with one of our 9-month research masters degrees, followed by a PhD degree of 3-4 years.
From the start of your masters degree, you’ll join one of 8 PhD pathways. Each leads you to specialise in a particular discipline of Management Studies.
PhD Director Raja Chattopadhyay explains the aims and structure of the doctoral programme
Financial support
All PhD and Master of Research students, as well as some MPhil research students, receive full funding through University or departmental scholarships.
Students in the 4th year of their PhD receive funding conditional on their progress.
We offer scholarships for UK and EU research students, funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC). The wider University of Cambridge offers additional funding sources for domestic and international students.
Why a CJBS PhD?
Undertaking a PhD is a life defining choice, explore the reasons to choose CJBS for your PhD:
PhD pathways
From the start of your research masters degree, you’ll join one of 8 PhD pathways. Each leads you to specialise in a particular discipline of Management Studies.
Prerequisite masters programme:
- Either MPhil in Finance
- or Master of Research (MRes)
Prerequisite masters programme:
- Either Master of Research (MRes)
- or exceptionally the Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research
Prerequisite masters programme:
- Either MPhil in Finance
- or Master of Research (MRes) (for students with a Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research)
Prerequisite masters programme:
Prerequisite masters programme:
Prerequisite masters programme:
Prerequisite masters programme:
Prerequisite masters programme:
Research masters
Cambridge Judge Business School offers 4 research-oriented masters programmes, each an integral part of a route to the PhD. Each masters programme covers essential pathway coursework.
- The 3 MPhil programmes are for students without a prior research masters degree. Which MPhil you take will depend on your research interests and background.
- The Master of Research (MRes) programme is the foundation year of the PhD for students who have a masters degree which provides a strong grounding for research in a subject relevant for management research, and with evidence that they have the calibre and prior training to undertake a research-focused degree.
- Prepares students for a PhD in Management Studies (Finance) or a research career in finance.
- Prepares students for a PhD in Management Studies.
- Emphasis on qualitative research methodology (involving fieldwork in which the researcher observes and analyses behaviours in organisations).
- Prepares students with prior degree-level quantitative training for a PhD in Management Studies.
- Emphasis on quantitative research methodology (involving the design and analysis of laboratory experiments, the statistical analysis of natural experiments or large archival datasets, or the game-theoretic modelling of managerial decision processes).
- Offers a tailored suite of courses for students who already have significant research training at masters level relevant to their chosen PhD pathway.
- Is intended for students who wish to pursue a PhD at Cambridge Judge Business School.
News and insights from our PhDs
Learn more about our doctoral students' research and activities.
AI and technology
Step into AI-driven business and leadership learning
If you’re thinking of engaging with a business school for learning or research, you’ll want to be sure it’s embracing the technologies of the future. Right now, that means AI. But where should AI show up in the classroom? How should it be used in research? And what should a truly forward-thinking vision for AI in business education look like?
Research centre news
UN report: circular economy boosted by digital tech
United Nations posts report authored at the Circular Economy Centre on how digitisation can advance circular economy principles and help meet UN goals on responsible consumption and production.
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Cambridge Judge alumna shares her life and entrepreneurship story
Cambridge Judge Business School graduate and successful entrepreneur and author Dr Neri Karra (PhD 2002) reflects on her journey, the impact of education, and the invisible ties that connect us all. Her remarks were made at a dinner at Clare College, University of Cambridge, during a reunion weekend for alumni of the Cambridge Judge Business School Management Studies Tripos, MPhils and PhD programmes hosted at the Business School during CJBS Connects: Worldwide, September 2024.