Brunel University Uxbridge

What you'll study

Research supervision and study are organised around three complementary research groups that indicate the department’s substantive strengths and likely PhD topics:

• Digital Strategy, Social Analytics and Business Intelligence — digital transformation, AI and business intelligence, business analytics and data science, information systems, consumer analytics, social media, immersive technologies, operational intelligence and decision‑support.
• Marketing and Branding Futures — branding, consumer behaviour and customer experience, digital marketing and social media, social marketing, tourism and hospitality marketing, wellbeing and consumer vulnerability, ethical and sustainable consumption, experiential and visual identity research.
• Sustainable Operations and Circular Economy — sustainable operations and supply chains, circular economy, resilience and crisis management, operations and quality management, responsible business and ESG, data‑driven operations and operational analytics.

Students undertake original, supervisor-led research that aligns with these areas and contributes to academic knowledge and real‑world problems such as responsible AI adoption, sustainable consumption, operational resilience and digital innovation.

Entry requirements

The published entry requirement is a 2:1 undergraduate degree. Prospective applicants are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors whose research aligns with their proposed project.

Career prospects

Graduates typically move into research‑intensive careers: academic posts, industry research roles, policy and consultancy positions that require advanced analytical, digital strategy, marketing research or sustainability expertise. The department’s active collaborations with businesses, public organisations and international partners support applied, impact‑oriented research that is valued by employers across sectors.

Scholarships & funding angle

The department has a growing portfolio of nationally and internationally funded projects and a track record of securing support from bodies including UKRI, EPSRC, ESRC, Horizon Europe and other international funders and industry partners. Prospective PhD students should explore department directories and funded project pages for studentships and project‑linked funding opportunities; general university doctoral funding routes and external scholarships may also apply.