The Social Sciences Business and Management track focuses on current challenges facing companies and the industrial landscape. There are significant opportunities for interdisciplinarity through its specialized expertise in accounting, finance, banking, marketing, strategy, logistics and operations management, organizational management, innovation, and tourism; All of this is supported by the research strength and experience of teaching staff at Swansea, Cardiff and Bangor universities. This joint work allows students increased access to leading researchers and practitioners while offering them a wide range of contacts and experiences, enabling them to network within a larger group and see their research within a particularly broad disciplinary context. The track also examines and develops knowledge related to broader issues, such as (inequality) well-being, climate change and sustainability.

Swansea University’s School of Management has significant strengths in digital innovation, human resources and enterprise development policy. Interdisciplinary research institutes (e.g. innovation and entrepreneurship, public policy and practice, geopolitical challenges, culture and societies), networks (climate action, artificial intelligence, digital economy and society) and research centres, such as i-Lab (Innovation Lab), EPSRC CDT, enhancing human interactions and collaboration with data-driven systems and intelligence; The All Wales Academy for Intensive Education for Health and Social Care Innovation) promotes challenge-led research and impact. Within the School there are also great opportunities to engage with practitioner-focused initiatives such as the Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) and the major health think tank, the Bevan Commission. These outlets represent more structured connections and provide the possibility of training in shared skills. The College collaborates with other colleges within the university to enable strong interdisciplinary research to flourish. The pathway will build on the highly successful collaboration between Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea in the previous Doctoral Training Partnership Wales (DTP-Wales). This track also collaborates in supervision/training with other WGSSS group tracks such as Economics, Digital Economy and Society.

At each stage, students are active participants in a wide range of reading and discussion groups, roundtable sessions, seminar series, and data analysis workshops. Flexibility in delivery through tailored online and offline courses, which currently include research seminars and workshops on methods, modules and concentrators, as well as regular in-person/online research seminars. Broader skills training courses are also available. We strongly encourage and support you to attend and participate in relevant national and international conferences.

Funding suspension

The ESRC-funded scholarship covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with the UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). Students can also access a Research Training Support Grant.

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) in addition to your studies. Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)