PhD Programme

Why do your Marketing PhD at London Business School?

The doctoral programme in Marketing produces scholars who go on to become faculty members in the top business schools around the world.

Research topics

The Marketing faculty's teaching and research topics include:

  • brands and branding 
  • competitive strategy 
  • consumer behaviour 
  • distribution channels
  • innovation
  • marketing analytics 
  • metrics 
  • media and social media
  • pricing
  • product strategy 
  • related management processes.

Purpose of the programme

The programme trains the future marketing faculty of the world's top business schools. The average Marketing PhD takes four to five years to complete. During the first two years, students are required to take courses in Marketing, Statistics, Psychology and Economics.  Students are starting to collaborate with Marketing faculty on projects of mutual interest, and are expected to produce a dissertation that focuses on an original research idea. 

The first year

The first year brings you up to date with research in marketing across a broad range of topics. We also include the necessary training in research methods.
Courses include:

  • Microeconomics
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Foundations of Business Research
  • Psychology.

During this time you will also choose an advisor and act as a research assistant to one or more faculty.  This will allow you to get a first experience with research and to get to know better the faculty.   

The second year

In the second year you will continue with courses to continue to build your tool box and you should continue developing your research agenda.

To be eligible for a Masters in Research you'll write a research paper, usually 8,000-12,000 words, to be submitted on July 1st of the second year.

The third year

In this year you are expected to work on your dissertation and will go through the "transfer" from the master's to the doctoral stage. You will be expected to defend your literature review and research proposal by the end of the year.

The fourth year

Year four typically involves writing your dissertation and working on additional research projects. For those interested in starting marketing professorships in September of year 5, the interviewing cycle begins in September of year four.

Teaching experience

We provide Teaching Assistantships which give lecturing and classroom experience as well as some understanding of standards, administration and best practice.

How to apply

For information about the application process, see our PhD Programme pages