PhD Operational Research

University of Kent

United Kingdom, Canterbury

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University of Kent

United Kingdom , Canterbury

Key Facts

Program Level

PhD (Philosophy Doctorate)

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Canterbury

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 4 year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

PhD Operational Research

About

Overview

The department is also known in the areas of soft OR, research metrics, big data, data envelopment analysis, and environmental management. We welcome student research projects on a variety of topics including:

Location analysis
Routing problems
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Environmental management
Operations management
Multivariate analysis
Big data
Insurance/warranty data analysis and management
Research metrics
Soft OR
Data envelopment analysis and performance measurement

Students working on relevant research topics in logistics are invited to join the Centre for Logistics and Heuristic Optimisation.

The group is a member of NATCOR and students can attend a wide range of courses and workshops in the field of operational research and management science. Students interested in more mathematical topics are advised to follow the ‘Operational Research’ programme while those interested in more applied topics or operations management are advised to choose ‘Management Science’.

Exchange partners

Kent Business School has excellent links with business schools globally, including in China, USA, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Italy. Our wide array of exchange partners give you the opportunity to gain international experience. Our partners are committed to enhancing their international outlook while providing excellent teaching. You will gain invaluable work experience, develop your understanding of a new culture and improve your language skills.

Our exchange partners include these top ranked institutions amongst others:

University of Technology, Sydney
Renmin University of China, School of Business
University of Hong Kong
ESSEC
Neoma Business School
Freie Universitat Berlin
University of Florence
IE Madrid University
Stockholm Business School.

About Kent Business School

Kent Business School has over 25 years’ experience delivering business education. Our portfolio of postgraduate programmes demonstrates the breadth and depth of our expertise. Academic research and links with global business inform our teaching, ensuring a curriculum that is relevant and current. We are a leading UK business school for the standard of our teaching and student satisfaction. We also hold a number of accreditations by professional bodies.

Studying at Kent Business School (KBS) gives you the opportunity to increase your employability with real-life case studies, a student council and a business society. We have strong links to local and national organisations providing opportunities for projects, internships and graduate placements. The School attracts many high-profile speakers from industry and last year included visits and lectures from staff of the Bank of England, BAE Systems, Barclays, Lloyds Insurance, Cummins, Delphi and Kent County Council.

The School currently has 60 PhD students, who form a dynamic and close-knit research community.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants should hold a 2.1 at undergraduate level and a Merit at Master’s level in a relevant discipline, from a UK or other approved university and/or equivalent. You must submit a research proposal of approximately 1,500 words on your intended topic.

In Kent Business School, entry to all research programmes is in September only. The deadline for PhD applications is 31 July.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

International students

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.

English language entry requirements

This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.

Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.

Examples:

IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test

A degree from a UK university

A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.

Career

Your future

The KBS PhD programme is designed to provide a thorough training for research careers in academia or industry. Our students generally take up academic appointments in UK or international higher education institutions or work in policy or industry settings.

Professional recognition

Kent Business School is a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS); and the Kent MBA is an Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredited programme.

In addition, KBS has accredited programmes with the following professional bodies:

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA)
The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
CFA Institute

KBS is a signatory of the United Nation's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), which provides a global network for academic institutions to advance corporate sustainability and social responsibility.

Career support

Whether you want to get ahead in your current career, change lanes, or kickstart a new one – we are here to help you realise your ambition.