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Curriculum & Coursework

Our programs are full-time degree programs which officially begin in August. Students are expected to complete their program in five years. Typically, the first two years are spent on coursework, at the end of which students take a field exam, and then another three years on dissertation research and writing.

The Marketing program draws on computer science, economics, behavioral science, and psychological methods to focus on marketing problems faced by the firm and its management. Through a combination of discipline- and field-based methods, the curriculum enables students to master concepts and research skills directly relevant to business problems. Candidates must come to understand the point of view of practicing managers and be able to bring theory and careful research to bear in illuminating important business problems.

The program requires a minimum of 13 semester-long doctoral courses. Students in the Marketing program are required to complete a year-long discipline sequence typically in microeconomics or psychology. They also complete courses in the areas of machine learning, computer science, statistics, research methods, academic field seminars, and two MBA elective curriculum courses. In addition to HBS courses, students often take courses at other Harvard Schools and MIT.

Research & Dissertation

Students in Marketing begin research in their first year typically by working with a faculty member. By their third and fourth years, most students are launched on a solid research and publication stream. The dissertation may take the form of three publishable papers or one longer dissertation.

Recent examples of doctoral thesis research include: The effects of brand extensions on the value of parent brands; Multi-method examination of the consumption of “knockoffs” of high status brands, and the counter-intuitive positive outcomes for consumer-brand relationships; Competitive analysis of pricing and quality decisions in industries with strictly complimentary products; The psychological effects of pricing, and how these affect consumers and firms; and "Choice amnesia," the motivated forgetting of difficult decisions.

phd proposal marketing

Mengjie "Magie" Cheng

phd proposal marketing

Ta-Wei "David" Huang

“ Finding an advisor who you really click with and who is willing to support your research interests is absolutely key. ”

phd proposal marketing

Current HBS Faculty

  • Tomomichi Amano
  • Eva Ascarza
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Alison Wood Brooks
  • Julian De Freitas
  • Rohit Deshpande
  • Anita Elberse
  • Sunil Gupta
  • Ayelet Israeli
  • Leslie K. John
  • Elizabeth A. Keenan
  • Edward McFowland III
  • Navid Mojir
  • Das Narayandas
  • Michael I. Norton
  • V. Kasturi Rangan
  • Isamar Troncoso
  • Jeremy Yang
  • Shunyuan Zhang

Current Marketing Students

  • Stuti Agarwal
  • Mengjie (Magie) Cheng
  • Jingpeng Hong
  • Ta-Wei (David) Huang
  • Jimin Nam
  • Lucy Shen
  • Sihan Zhai

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, emily prinsloo, 2023, ximena garcia-rada, 2021, serena hagerty, 2022, dafna goor, 2020, byungyeon kim, 2022, grant donnelly, 2018.

  • Marketing proposals

Marketing Research Proposal Template

Used 5,031 times

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Prepared by: ​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​ ​ [Sender.Company] ​

Prepared for: ​ [Client.FirstName] [Client.LastName] ​ ​ [Client.Company] ​

Image 1

​ [Sender.Company] is one of the industry's leading firms for marketing research. We specialize in understanding consumer behavior and helping you align your marketing strategy to best capture audience attention.

​ [Sender.Company] ’s headquarters is situated in [Sender.City] , but we have operations expanding overseas, including cities such as Mumbai, London, Washington DC, Sydney, Tokyo, and Mexico City. Our client list includes noteworthy names, such as (Client A, Client B, and Client C, etc.) , amongst others.

With over (X) years of industry experience, we have learned what makes your audience tick — and what makes them click — and we help you understand consumer behavior such that you can create better marketing strategies, land dream clients, and improve your sales processes.

Client testimonials

Here’s what some of our past clients have to say about our work.

(Client Testimonial 1)

​ [Client.Company] ​

​ [Client.FirstName] [Client.LastName] ​

(Client Testimonial 2) (Client.Company) (Client.FirstName) (Client.LastName)

(Client Testimonial 3) (Client.Company) (Client.FirstName) (Client.LastName)

The purpose of this research is to understand consumer behavior for the customers of [Client.Company] . We also aim to understand what strategies work for the target mix and how [Client.Company] can improve their marketing strategy to better educate, inform, and persuade their potential clients to buy their products or services.

This research was commissioned by [Client.Company] , and the proposal is therefore created uniquely for [Client.Company] by [Sender.Company] . This ensures both parties are on the same page before beginning the research process. We will be using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques to learn about [Client.Company] ’s target group’s consumer behavior, refining the process as we go, and presenting the most useful results of our analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of the study is to gain a comprehensive, 360-degree understanding of consumer behavior with respect to [Client.Company] ’s customer base and target audience.

The study must meet the following research objectives to be considered accomplished:

It should critically examine the target demographic’s behavior.

It should intercept both primary and secondary data to come to conclusive results.

It should address implications of an ineffective marketing strategy.

It should understand what would be the right way to communicate with the target demo.

All other research objectives that the client deems necessary to be included in the study.

Framework analysis

This section goes hand-in-hand with the aims and objectives section, but should focus more in-depth on the background circumstances which indicate a need for the specific market research project proposed. While aims and objectives describe the specific outcomes the research will produce, the framework analysis section should demonstrate the scope of these outcomes from a practical standpoint. The framework analysis should include information from existing sources (the current body of knowledge) regarding the specific topic to be researched. You can then demonstrate the specific need for your proposed research plan.

Existing knowledge

Through secondary research and the previous data we have on the client’s target demographic, we know the following about the client:

Add details about the existing knowledge you have on your target mix.

By conducting this study, we also plan to understand if this knowledge still holds true for our client, and to what degree, within the current economic and social environment.

Image 8

The hypothesis of the study is that the target audience enjoys [Client.Company] ’s social media posts. However, it does not like interacting with offline events that [Client.Company] conducts, and would ideally like to see more engaging offline events from the brand.

Image 9

COLLECTION OF DATA

Use this section of the marketing research proposal to thoroughly describe all data collection methods which will be utilized in your research. The overall strategy can be addressed, as well as the individual data collection methods. For market research, these often include methods such as focus groups, surveys, social networking research, or in-home tests. Be specific about each method. For example, if your research includes the collection of surveys, specify in this section precisely how those surveys will be conducted (via phone, email, mail, etc.), what demographics will be sampled, and what the format will look like. The more detailed you can be in this section, the better likelihood that your proposal will be accepted.

Data collection can be done through many ways, such as client interviews, focus group studies, observation, social media data, online surveys, tests, questionnaires, published studies, public records, etc. Analysts usually use a mix of these data collection methods to understand audience behavior. Still, they may prefer some data collection methods over others depending on if they’re conducting qualitative research or quantitative research.

Target audience

Our target demographic for this study are men between the ages of 30-45, who are present on social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. The same target mix also has a spending power of up to (X) dollars per month, enjoys vacationing often, and prefers to buy luxury, high-quality products. They are motivated to buy [Client.Company] ’s products because they like the quality of materials the items are made from and because everything is ethically sourced and created.

Sampling method and size

For the research we’re conducting, [Sender.Company] has decided to explore the probability sampling methodology. Keeping all requirements of the research in mind, we believe that this method would be particularly fruitful to achieve accurate results. With probability sampling, [Sender.Company] plans to employ the stratified random sampling method, and will be using a sample size of (X) , which will be further divided based upon ages of the individuals.

Research methodology

Use this section to discuss the merits of your research methods. Describe the implications of each method of data collection, and explain the methodology you will use to interpret the data. Discuss the means of evaluating the collected data.

Fieldwork and Reporting

Starting from the date when the contract is signed by both parties, [Sender.Company] will begin fieldwork within 10 days. We will create a live data link to share all updates on the project. At every project milestone, [Client.Company] will be updated with a progress report. The link will be shared within 10 days of acceptance of the agreement, and can be accessed through a passcode [Sender.Company] will provide [Client.Company] .

Timeline and Budget

The following tables describe the budget and time requirements projected for the project.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Ethical considerations are very important in all types of research. Use this section to delineate the ways in which the research will abide by an ethical code in both methodology and practice. Among other possibilities, address factors such as confidentiality, data security, privacy, and consent of research participants.

LIMITATIONS

This section can remain somewhat brief. Here, you can concede any potential or probable limitations of your research methods.

FURTHER OUTCOMES

Although you have already addressed the likely outcomes of your findings previously in this research proposal, in this section you can expand upon the implications and potential benefits of your intended findings.

Image 10

Terms and conditions

​ [Client.Company] agrees to pay [Sender.Company] 50% of the total project fee before beginning the project. The project will begin work once signatures are attained from both parties and 50% upfront payment is received by [Sender.Company] .

Once the project is completed, [Client.Company] is to send the remaining 50% payment amount due within 15 days after the final report is shared. Failure to send payment within the stipulated time period will result in a 10% late fee — this payment is to be made to the (Sender.Client) , unless the deadline for payment is agreed on a different date by both parties.

Any disputes arising from the agreement will be resolved based upon the laws and jurisdiction of [Sender.City] , [Sender.State] , [Sender.Country] ​.

Both parties agree that the contents and findings of the study will remain confidential, unless otherwise agreed upon. Confidential information is not information that is readily available to the public.

​ [Sender.Company] is not responsible for any damages arising from the case study unless there has been an error in the way the study was conducted.

​ [Client.Company] understands that there may be minor delays, not exceeding more than 2 weeks, depending on if the target audience of the study is quick (or not) to respond. Any delay and modifications in deadline will be communicated with [Client.Company] .

​ [Sender.Company] agrees to provide accurate and truthful information learned from the study. [Sender.Company] is not, however, responsible for the findings of the study. Nor is it liable for any damages arising out of the application of suggested solutions.

Please provide confirmation of agreeing to the terms of this agreement by signing the signature block below.

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​

​ [Sender.Company] ​

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How to write a research proposal

What is a research proposal.

A research proposal should present your idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition – the what.

It should also make a case for why your question is significant and what value it will bring to your discipline – the why. 

What it shouldn't do is answer the question – that's what your research will do.

Why is it important?

Research proposals are significant because Another reason why it formally outlines your intended research. Which means you need to provide details on how you will go about your research, including:

  • your approach and methodology
  • timeline and feasibility
  • all other considerations needed to progress your research, such as resources.

Think of it as a tool that will help you clarify your idea and make conducting your research easier.

How long should it be?

Usually no more than 2000 words, but check the requirements of your degree, and your supervisor or research coordinator.

Presenting your idea clearly and concisely demonstrates that you can write this way – an attribute of a potential research candidate that is valued by assessors.

What should it include?

Project title.

Your title should clearly indicate what your proposed research is about.

Research supervisor

State the name, department and faculty or school of the academic who has agreed to supervise you. Rest assured, your research supervisor will work with you to refine your research proposal ahead of submission to ensure it meets the needs of your discipline.

Proposed mode of research

Describe your proposed mode of research. Which may be closely linked to your discipline, and is where you will describe the style or format of your research, e.g. data, field research, composition, written work, social performance and mixed media etc. 

This is not required for research in the sciences, but your research supervisor will be able to guide you on discipline-specific requirements.

Aims and objectives

What are you trying to achieve with your research? What is the purpose? This section should reference why you're applying for a research degree. Are you addressing a gap in the current research? Do you want to look at a theory more closely and test it out? Is there something you're trying to prove or disprove? To help you clarify this, think about the potential outcome of your research if you were successful – that is your aim. Make sure that this is a focused statement.

Your objectives will be your aim broken down – the steps to achieving the intended outcome. They are the smaller proof points that will underpin your research's purpose. Be logical in the order of how you present these so that each succeeds the previous, i.e. if you need to achieve 'a' before 'b' before 'c', then make sure you order your objectives a, b, c.

A concise summary of what your research is about. It outlines the key aspects of what you will investigate as well as the expected outcomes. It briefly covers the what, why and how of your research. 

A good way to evaluate if you have written a strong synopsis, is to get somebody to read it without reading the rest of your research proposal. Would they know what your research is about?

Now that you have your question clarified, it is time to explain the why. Here, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the current research climate in your area of interest.

Providing context around your research topic through a literature review will show the assessor that you understand current dialogue around your research, and what is published.

Demonstrate you have a strong understanding of the key topics, significant studies and notable researchers in your area of research and how these have contributed to the current landscape.

Expected research contribution

In this section, you should consider the following:

  • Why is your research question or hypothesis worth asking?
  • How is the current research lacking or falling short?
  • What impact will your research have on the discipline?
  • Will you be extending an area of knowledge, applying it to new contexts, solving a problem, testing a theory, or challenging an existing one?
  • Establish why your research is important by convincing your audience there is a gap.
  • What will be the outcome of your research contribution?
  • Demonstrate both your current level of knowledge and how the pursuit of your question or hypothesis will create a new understanding and generate new information.
  • Show how your research is innovative and original.

Draw links between your research and the faculty or school you are applying at, and explain why you have chosen your supervisor, and what research have they or their school done to reinforce and support your own work. Cite these reasons to demonstrate how your research will benefit and contribute to the current body of knowledge.

Proposed methodology

Provide an overview of the methodology and techniques you will use to conduct your research. Cover what materials and equipment you will use, what theoretical frameworks will you draw on, and how will you collect data.

Highlight why you have chosen this particular methodology, but also why others may not have been as suitable. You need to demonstrate that you have put thought into your approach and why it's the most appropriate way to carry out your research. 

It should also highlight potential limitations you anticipate, feasibility within time and other constraints, ethical considerations and how you will address these, as well as general resources.

A work plan is a critical component of your research proposal because it indicates the feasibility of completion within the timeframe and supports you in achieving your objectives throughout your degree.

Consider the milestones you aim to achieve at each stage of your research. A PhD or master's degree by research can take two to four years of full-time study to complete. It might be helpful to offer year one in detail and the following years in broader terms. Ultimately you have to show that your research is likely to be both original and finished – and that you understand the time involved.

Provide details of the resources you will need to carry out your research project. Consider equipment, fieldwork expenses, travel and a proposed budget, to indicate how realistic your research proposal is in terms of financial requirements and whether any adjustments are needed.

Bibliography

Provide a list of references that you've made throughout your research proposal. 

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PhD Degree Program in Marketing

Marketing is fundamentally concerned with the description and prediction of decision outcomes involving all aspects of the firm that relate to its customers, competitors, distributors, and business regulators. Interest in description and prediction, in turn, is associated with the improvement of marketing decision making.

Marketing is an interdisciplinary field that draws upon theory and methodology from a wide variety of sources, including psychology, sociology, mathematics, statistics, and economics. Recent developments in the field include new methods and theories for understanding buyers’ perceptions and preferences, probabilistic choice models, models for allocating marketing resources,  econometric analysis of large data bases, and micro-economic models for marketing strategy.

The Wharton School’s Marketing Department has had a long tradition in the development of new research methodologies and the successful implementation of new decision models and techniques in the practice of marketing.

Information Sessions about Admissions for 2024

We are happy to announce that we will hold two information sessions about Admissions to the Wharton Marketing PhD Program this fall. One in-person and one virtual. If you are interested in learning more about the program, research in marketing, and the admissions process, please visit here to sign up: 2024 PhD Admissions Information Sessions .

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

The program’s specific objectives are:

  • To provide an interdisciplinary environment for the generation of creative ideas in marketing;
  • To provide sufficient analytic skills for evaluation (and implementation) of these ideas, i.e., critical insight;
  • To provide training in the communication of these ideas to others; and
  • To encourage a type of cumulative contribution to the marketing field by a process of learning how to learn, i.e., the strategy of scholarly inquiry.

These objectives are implemented by means of a varied program of seminars, joint research projects, and colloquia.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Wharton Doctoral Programs consist of two distinct phases: pre-candidacy and candidacy. In general, during the pre-candidacy phase the student completes

  • the required coursework
  • preliminary examinations
  • any requirements imposed by the student’s specific Department or Program such as additional qualifying examinations and research papers.

Upon satisfying all of these requirements, the student applies in writing to their Department Ph.D. Faculty Coordinator for admission to candidacy. The Coordinator will review the student’s record and make a recommendation to the Vice Dean. Upon approval by the Vice Dean, the student is admitted to candidacy.

The candidacy phase comprises

  • preparation and defense of the dissertation proposal
  • doctoral dissertation
  • final defense of the dissertation

CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS

The following are the specific requirements for the Marketing Department.

Before admission to candidacy , the student is required to:

  • Complete the required 15 credit units of graduate level courses as described in detail in the Coursework section below.
  • Take and pass the Marketing Qualifying Examination offered at the end of the first year.
  • Complete a faculty-supervised First Year Research Paper due approximately August 25, before the start of the second year.
  • Complete a faculty-supervised Second Year Research Pape r due by approximately August 25, before the start of the third year.
  • Complete all forms required by the University. Link to forms:  https://doctoral-inside.wharton.upenn.edu/forms/
  • The Ph.D. program in marketing is based on the completion of the dissertation as well as a minimum of fifteen graduate level course units.
  • These courses assume that the student has a basic knowledge of various business areas, computer programming, calculus, and matrix algebra.
  • Of the 15 course units, a maximum of 4 can consist of transfer courses for graduate work at other universities with approval of the Department’s PhD Coordinator.
  • In addition, only 2 of the 15 course units can be independent study courses.
  • Courses are taken from the following categories:

MAJOR Field Courses - 5.0 CU

The Marketing Department requires that students take five course units (cu) of Ph.D. seminars .

  • Students can select the Quantitative Track or the Consumer Behavior Track when choosing which marketing seminars to take, according to their research interests.
  • If a required Marketing Seminar is not offered, students may submit a request to the Marketing Department’s Doctoral Committee for a course substitution.
  • The required seminars are:

Consumer Behavior Track : 3 credit units as follows

  • MKTG 9500 (0.5 cu) and MKTG 9510 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9520 (0.5 cu) and MKTG 9530 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9540 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9560 (0.5 cu)

Quantitative Track: 3 credit units as follows

  • MKTG 9540 (0.5 cu) and MKTG 9550 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9560 (0.5 cu) and MKTG 9570 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9500 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9520 (0.5 cu)

Seminars required for all students : 2 credit units

  • MKTG 9400 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9410 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9420 (0.5 cu)
  • MKTG 9430 (0.5 cu)

Please see the links on the right for Course descriptions and schedules. Students wishing to take any of these courses need permission from the course instructor before they can register for them. Please see  Program Advising and Registration for details about how to enroll in these courses, and how to set up an Independent Study section (MKTG 9990).

Basic Courses - 3.0 to 4.0 CU

Economics Requirements

  • ECON 7100 and ECON 7110 ( Microeconomic Theory I & II) OR
  • ECON 6100 (Microeconomic Theory) and ECON 6110 (Game Theory and Applications) OR
  • BEPP 9500 (Managerial Economics)

Statistics Requirements

  • STAT 5000 and STAT 5010 (or PSYC 6110 and PSYC 6120)
  • STAT 5150 and 5160
  • STAT 5200 and 5210
  • STAT 9700 and 9710
  • ECON 7300 and 7310
  • SOCI 5351 (Quantitative Methods II) and STAT 5010

*Non-statistics Wharton PhD students may take STAT 9270, 9610 (Statistical Methodology – previously STAT 541), 9620 and STAT 5420  as electives only after fulfilling one of the required course combinations listed above. Students who would like to take these courses are required to ask for an interview with the instructor and receive his/her permission.

Exceptions to these sequences, or the ability to “mix and match” courses from these sequences, is allowed- however, must receive written approval from the current doctoral coordinator of the statistics department program.

Courses in a Related Field - 2.0 to 3.0 cu

Students also complete course units in related fields. A partial list of possible related fields includes:

  • Communications Research
  • Decision Processes
  • Econometrics
  • Information Systems
  • Operations Research

Electives - 4.0 to 5.0 cu

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For more information or to request admission application forms:

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Preparing a Research Proposal

Considering applying for a PhD? Explore our advice on everything you need to consider - from finding a supervisor to drafting a research proposal.

All applicants to our PhD programme should follow the simple steps below:

Identify a potential supervisor

Before making a formal application to our PhD programme you should discuss your ideas with a potential supervisor within the School. 

Develop your research proposal

Your research proposal (of no more than 2000 words) is an important element of the selection process. You should work closely with your potential supervisor to develop this.

Gather the necessary documents

Your application will need to be supported by a number of other documents. Before applying online, make sure you have prepared the following documents:

1. Completed application form (see step 4) 2. CV 3. Research proposal (2000 words excluding references) 4. Statement of purpose (one A4 side) 5. Full transcripts 6. Two academic references 7. Proof of English language ability (for applicants from non-English speaking countries)

Complete the online application form

All applications are to be  submitted online to the Admissions and Recruitment Office at Queen Mary, in the first instance. 

Identifying a Topic

Before applying for a PhD, there are a number of questions you need to consider. Most important amongst these are:

  • Does your proposed PhD topic fit with the broader research interests of the School?
  • Does the School include members of staff with specialist expertise in your chosen area of research?

If you think your proposed project fits within the broad interests of the School, the next step is to identify a member of academic staff who may be able to supervise you, and who can help you develop your research proposal. You can do this by viewing the individual research interests listed on our   staff pages ,  or through the   find an expert tool .  You can also find information by  viewing the   Research Centre   pages.

Finding a Supervisor

Finding the right supervisor.

If you think your proposed project fits within the broad interests of the School, the next step is to identify a member of academic staff who may be able to supervise you, and who can help you develop your research proposal. You can do this by viewing the individual research interests listed on our   staff pages ,  or through the   find an expert tool .  You can also find information by  viewing our  Research Centre   pages.

Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It is one of the key criteria that the School (and funding bodies) uses to differentiate between different applicants. 

The research proposal should not exceed 2000 words. Bibliography, references and appendices are excluded from the wordcount. If your proposal goes over the word limit, you may be marked down.

Before making your final application, it is likely that you will need to revise your proposal several times. Whilst your potential supervisor may help you do this, it is important that you present them with as clear a proposal as you can, when you first make contact with them.

The keys to writing a strong research proposal are:

  • To formulate a precise, interesting research question; this may take the form of a hypothesis to be tested, or a more open-ended enquiry.
  • To establish the relevance and value of the proposed research question in the context of current academic thinking.
  • To outline a clear and practical methodology which enables you to answer the research question, and to describe and evaluate any data or source material you will draw upon.
  • To suggest what you hope to discover at the end of your research and what new areas it might open up.
  • To demonstrate that your research will not take longer than three years.

Statement of Purpose

Applicants must also submit a Statement of Purpose within their application.

Candidates should use the Statement of Purpose to set out information which is NOT set out in their Research Proposal. The Statement of Purpose should be a one side A4 document, containing the following information:

  • Previous academic and other experience relevant to your proposed research.
  • Why you wish to undertake this research at Queen Mary (thinking about where the project fits with the School and supervisors research interests).
  • What research training and professional preparation you have already received.
  • Any further training you think you may need to complete the PhD.
  • Any ethical issues you will need to consider in undertaking your research.

Entry Requirements

We are committed to appointing only the very best candidates to our PhD programme. Applications are accepted based on their previous academic performance, the quality of their research proposal and the availability of two suitable members of staff to supervise the chosen topic. Our current entry criteria are:

  • Undergraduate degree with First Class Honours.
  • Masters (MA, MSc or MRes, usually not an MBA) at Distinction level in Business, Management or discipline related to your research topic.
  • Overall IELTS score of 7 with 6.5 in writing at the time of application, if English is not your first language.
  • Applicants must be based in London for the duration of the programme.

We normally expect to see examples of First Class academic work (marks of 70 or above).

Borderline cases are considered when applicants have relevant work experience.

Funding your PhD

Fees and funding.

Undertaking a PhD is a serious financial commitment, and involves careful financial planning at the time of application and for the duration of the programme. Prices will almost inevitably rise and you must allow for this when planning your finances. Your costs will comprise both tuition fees and living costs.

Tuition fees

Full tuition fee information is available on Queen Mary's tuition fee pages .

A number of University and external funding opportunities are available to PhD research students. Find out more on the University's  scholarships web page .

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

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Moray House School of Education and Sport

Writing your PhD research proposal

Find guidance on how to write your PhD research proposal and a template form for you to use to submit your research proposal.

By asking you for an outline  research proposal we hope to get a good picture of your research interests and your understanding of what such research is likely to entail.

The University's application form is designed to enable you to give an overview of your academic experience and qualifications for study at postgraduate level. Your outline research proposal then gives us an idea of the kind of research you want to undertake. This, together with information from your referees, will help us assess whether the Moray House School of Education and Sport would be the appropriate place for you to pursue your research interests.

At  the application stage, you are unlikely to be in a position to provide a comprehensive research proposal; the detailed shaping up of a research plan would be done in conjunction with your supervisor(s). But it is important for us to appreciate what you are hoping to investigate, how you plan to carry out the research, and what the results might be expected to contribute to current knowledge and understanding in the relevant academic field(s) of study. In writing your proposal, please indicate any prior academic or employment experience relevant to your planned research.

In your research proposal, please also ensure that you clearly identify the Moray House research cluster your proposal falls under, as well as two to three staff members  with expertise in this area. We also encourage you to contact potential supervisors within your area of proposed research before submitting your application to gauge their interest and availability.

How to write your research proposal

The description of your proposed research should consist of 4-5 typed A4 sheets. It can take whatever form seems best, but should include some information about the following:

  • The general area within which you wish to conduct research, and why (you might find it helpful to explain what stimulated your interest in your chosen research field, and any study or research in the area that you have already undertaken)
  • The kind of research questions that you would hope to address, and why (in explaining what is likely to be the main focus of your research, it may be helpful to indicate, for example, why these issues are of particular concern and the way in which they relate to existing literature)
  • The sources of information and type of research methods you plan to use (for example, how you plan to collect your data, which sources you will be targeting and how you will access these data sources).

In addition to the above, please include any comments you are able to make concerning:

  • The approach that you will take to analyse your research data
  • The general timetable you would follow for carrying out and writing up your research
  • Any plans you may have for undertaking fieldwork away from Edinburgh
  • Any problems that might be anticipated in carrying out your proposed research

Please note: This guidance applies to all candidates, except those applying to conduct PhD research as part of a larger, already established research project (for example, in the Institute for Sport, Physical Education & Health Sciences).

In this case, you should provide a two- to three-page description of a research project you have undertaken, to complement information in the application form. If you are in any doubt as to what is appropriate, please contact us:

Email: Education@[email protected]

All doctoral proposals submitted as part of an application will be run through plagiarism detection software.

Template form for your research proposal

All applicants for a PhD or MSc by Research must submit a research proposal as part of their application. Applicants  must   use the template form below for their research proposal. This research proposal should then be submitted online as part of your application. Please use Calibri size 11 font size and do not change the paragraph spacing (single, with 6pt after each paragraph) or the page margins.

phd proposal marketing

Grad Coach

Research Topics & Ideas: Marketing

50+ Marketing Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Marketing and advertising-based research topics

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a marketing-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Here, we’ll explore a variety of marketing-related research ideas and topic thought-starters, covering both traditional marketing (offline media) and digital marketing (including social media marketing, content marketing and the like). We’ll also look at actual dissertations and theses from marketing students to give you a view of what a well-defined research topic looks like.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the marketing domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. 

Overview: Marketing-Related Topics

  • How to find a research topic (video)
  • Traditional (offline) marketing topics/ideas
  • Digital (online) marketing topics/ideas
  • Examples of actual dissertation topics
  • Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
  • Where to get extra help

How To Find A Research Topic

Before we look at specific research ideas and topics, it’s useful to first understand what the topic ideation process entails and how to go about finding and refining viable topic ideas. In the video below, we cover exactly that. So, if you’re a first-time researcher, be sure to watch this tutorial before jumping into the collection of marketing research topics we present below. 

Research topic idea mega list

Now that you’ve got a big-picture view of the topic ideation process, we can dive into a few research ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Please note that these research topic ideas are intentionally broad and generic, so you will need to refine them a fair deal using the techniques we discussed in the video above.

To make life a little easier for you, we’ve grouped the topic ideas based on two main categories – traditional marketing and digital / online marketing . For the latter, we’ve divided it up into a few subcategories, including social media marketing, content marketing and search marketing. That said, there is naturally some overlap between topics, so keep this in mind.

Research Ideas: Traditional Marketing

  • The perceived effectiveness of different types of direct mail campaigns (e.g., postcards, catalogues, brochures) among small business owners in New York
  • The perception and use of traditional marketing in creating and nurturing customer loyalty and retention among UK Financial Firms.
  • The impact of demographic targeting on traditional marketing performance among green businesses
  • The perception of different types of sales promotion (e.g., discounts, coupons, contests) among GenZ consumers
  • The continued use of celebrity endorsements in traditional marketing campaigns, post-2020.
  • Exploring factors related to outdoor advertising recall in India
  • Measuring the ROI of traditional marketing efforts: a review of current methods
  • Comparing the effectiveness of different traditional media channels (e.g., television, radio, print) in driving engagement and conversions among established brands
  • The use of public relations in traditional marketing campaigns among large insurance companies
  • The role of event marketing in building brand awareness and engagement: perceptions among marketing professionals in the UK

Free Webinar: How To Find A Dissertation Research Topic

Research Ideas: Digital/Online Marketing

Social media marketing

  • The use of artificial intelligence in social media marketing among online fashion companies in Sweden
  • The impact of social media on public relations and media relations: a Case Study of Nandos
  • The role of Twitter in crisis communication and reputation management: a discourse analysis
  • The impact of social media influencer presence on brand loyalty and customer retention among Gen X.
  • The use of social media for market research and consumer insights among SMEs in Kenya
  • The impact of social media on consumer buying behaviour of fast food in Italy
  • The challenges and opportunities of social media in global and multicultural marketing: perceptions of marketing departments in large corporations
  • The relationship between social media engagement and website traffic: an analysis of fitness brands
  • The effectiveness of influencer marketing on social media platforms for household cleaning products in the UK
  • The perceptions and understanding of paid vs organic social media advertising among Gen Z consumers in San Francisco

Content marketing

  • The use and understanding of micro-moments in creating personalized content experiences among content creators in the USA
  • Comparing the effectiveness of methods of personalization of content marketing: an evaluation of best practice
  • The experiences and use of SEO in content marketing strategy among small online businesses
  • The use of social media influencers in content marketing campaigns: a Case Study of Hello Fresh
  • Comparing different content distribution channels for different types of content: perceptions of best practices among content marketing experts
  • The use of user-generated content in building brand trust and engagement among green companies in the UK
  • Measuring the ROI of content marketing efforts among luxury brands
  • The perception and use of Chat GPT in content creation among small online businesses
  • The perceptions of interactive and immersive content formats (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality) in marketing among consumers: an experimental study
  • Comparing image and text-based content formats in driving engagement and conversions on social media: a multi-case study of NGOs

Research topic evaluator

Search engine marketing

  • The effectiveness of different ad formats (e.g., text ads, shopping ads, video ads) in Search Engine Marketing for tourist destinations
  • The impact of search engine algorithm updates on Search Engine Marketing performance – who are the winners and losers?
  • The perception and use of AI and machine learning in Search Engine Marketing strategy and bidding optimization within a UK marketing agency
  • The use of voice search and its impact on Search Engine Marketing among food retailers in Switzerland
  • The role of local SEO in driving brick-and-mortar sales: a case study of a local fashion outlet in France
  • The impact of mobile optimization on Search Engine Marketing performance and conversion rates in Nigeria
  • Comparing analytical tools for measuring ROI of Search Engine Marketing campaigns
  • The effectiveness of different types of keywords and search queries in driving traffic towards restaurants in Italy
  • The use of remarketing and retargeting in search engine marketing campaigns among marketers
  • The understanding and use of schema markup and structured data in improving Search engine marketing performance among Start-Ups

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Email marketing

  • The perception and use of AI and machine learning in email marketing among NGOs: a focus on personalized content and dynamic segmentation
  • The effectiveness of email subject line strategies in driving open and click-through rates: an experimental study
  • Comparing A/B testing and multivariate testing in improving email marketing performance: a case study
  • The use of personalization on email marketing performance among craft bloggers
  • The impact of automated email marketing among local online retailers on customer loyalty and retention
  • The use of automation and triggered emails in increasing engagement and conversion rates for online courses
  • The perception and understanding of GDPR and other data privacy regulations on email marketing among SMEs
  • The role of mobile optimization in email marketing targeting Gen Z consumers
  • The challenges of measuring the ROI of email marketing campaigns: perceptions of SMEs
  • The effectiveness of different email formats (e.g., text-based, HTML, interactive) in driving engagement: A/B testing for a small online retailer

Marketing-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding marketing-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various marketing-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

  • The Influences of Brand Personality, Culture, and Social Media on Iconic Brand Preferences (Whelan, 2021)
  • Customer Success and the Transformation of Customer Relationships (Raines, 2022)
  • The Effects of Online Incentivized Reviews on Organic Review Ratings (Jeong, 2020)
  • Are You For Real? The Consumption-Driven Self-Authentication Process And Its Effects On Perceived Brand Authenticity (Kuchmaner, 2020)
  • You Are What You Eat: How Food Texture And Packaging Influence Consumer Well-Being (Ning, 2020)
  • Social Dialogic Listening: Connecting Marketing Activity To Strategy (Collins, 2020)
  • Millennials’ Attitudes Towards Influencer Marketing And Purchase Intentions (Yu, 2019)
  • Cannibalization between Two Mercedes-Benz Models and Consumer Behavior (Ma, 2020)
  • Selling and Buying Aspects of Used Products That Are Brand Anthropomorphized (Kim, 2019)
  • Global Identity: Conceptualization, Measurement, And Implications For Marketing Strategy (Yoruk, 2022)
  • The Intersection of Organizational Frontline Marketing and a High-Tech World (Krotz, 2021)
  • The Unexplored Impacts of Communication Elements in Marketing (Trinh, 2022)
  • Founder Social Identity As A Predictor Of Customer And Competitor Orientation In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises (Rutherford, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are far more specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Research Topic

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your marketing dissertation or thesis, check out our 1-on-1 private coaching services below.

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phd proposal marketing

Management (Marketing & Reputation) PhD Opportunities

In this postgraduate research programme you will undertake original research in Marketing & Reputation that will make a contribution to theory and impact upon practice.

At a glance

  • Supervision from an internationally renowned faculty
  • Contribute to teaching and research activities
  • Participate in the M&R PhD Annual Conference
  • Programme features personal development modules and workshops
  • Network with practitioners and academics at guest speaker talks and international conferences

During your PhD in the area of Marketing and Reputation, you will develop your critical thinking, intellectual capacity and creativity. You will work with your academic supervisors to engage with industry and publish your ideas. You’ll be an important member of the academic community at Henley.

Our postgraduate research students are drawn from all over the world and you’ll benefit from a dynamic research environment. You’ll have supervision from an internationally renowned faculty , and a programme of personal development modules and workshops. You’ll also benefit from our dedicated administrative support, and outstanding facilities.

We recognise that as a PhD student, you’ll enrich the ideas within your academic discipline and in practice. You are therefore invited to play an active role in the department and are invited to research seminars, conferences and guest talks. You’ll also be encouraged to make external links with practitioners and academics in their field. This will be through presentation of your work at international conferences, and there is financial support for this activity.

Due to the taught elements of this programme we will only consider applications for full-time , campus-based students. For part-time or distance options, please instead consider the Henley Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme . For this reason, we also do not currently offer an option for January entry.

Henley Business School holds triple-accreditation status and enjoys a reputation for high quality academic and applied research. It is part of the University of Reading, consistently rated among the UK's most research-intensive institutions.

Course structure Open

The module descriptions set out on this page are correct for modules being taught in the current academic year. Optional module listings are indicative and may be subject to change.

During your first year of studies, you will be required to:

  • Obtain at least 60 credits from PhD/Masters level courses in research methods and other relevant courses, plus one no-credit bearing course (see below);
  • Complete the Preparing to Teach training programme (which is necessary to be able to complete any teaching-related activities within Henley Business School);
  • Participate in the M&R PhD Annual Conference, monthly research seminars organised by your Department, and research seminars of other departments relevant to your area of interest;
  • Hold regular/monthly meetings with your supervisor(s), and attend monthly M&R PhD Meetings

Required Taught Component

We have a slightly different path of taught components for students primarily using qualitative vs. quantitative research methods - Marketing & Reputation PhD students will usually (though not always) follow the Qualitative path.

Qualitative Path

Quantitative path.

You can also view the whole range of Module Descriptions , though only modules at Masters level (7) and above will be available to PhD students.

Year 2 & 3

Confirmation of registration.

In the middle of the second year - 12 to 15 months from the start of your PhD (usually in October) - you will submit a substantive Confirmation Report of ~10-20k words that will be assessed by and defended in front of independent examiners. This process will review and determine your Confirmation of Registration and, if successful, will upgrade your status from initial registration to the programme to that of a full PhD candidate.

The Confirmation Report will be a significant development of the initial Research Proposal you submitted for your application. It will include material you may have produced during the 1st year courses in research methods (e.g. literature review, methodologies, data description).

If you plan to do a PhD thesis combining three papers, you may be expected to include a draft of the first paper in your research proposal; if you intend to use a book-like structure for your thesis, the document should include the draft of at least one of the three/four key chapters.

During the rest of your 2nd and 3rd years you will:

  • Continue to work on your PhD dissertation drafting the other two papers / key chapters;
  • Hold regular/monthly meetings with your supervisor(s), attend monthly M&R PhD Meetings, and present at the M&R Annual PhD Conference;
  • Contribute to Henley Business School and Marketing & Reputation departmental teaching/research activities and events;
  • Present posters/papers at national/international conferences;

Your thesis should be completed before your viva examination at the end of your third year.

*The module or course content descriptions set out on this page are correct for those being taught in the current academic year. Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.

How to apply Open

The application process normally consists of three main steps :

  • Formal application
  • Shortlisting based on the documents you upload in your application
  • Formal interview to assess your suitability to pursue a PhD at Henley Business School

Formal Application

Before we can begin to review your suitability for our programme you will first need to complete a formal application through our RISIS Application Portal ; once you have submitted your application we will be able to provide you with further information on the admissions process.

You can apply either by:

Submitting your own research proposal which should be a well-developed document of about 6-7 pages which should:

  • identify the motivation of your study
  • place it within relevant literature, highlighting the current gap and potential research questions
  • state your intended methodology
  • show understanding of the data (if any) necessary and show relevant sources
  • discuss a reasonable intended timeline to completion, reflecting on issues you may encounter during your studies as presented above

Or, if you would like to apply for a studentship then we will favour applications in one of the areas listed on the “Research Areas” page. If you would like to apply to work on one of these projects please include a Research Proposal with your application that aligns with the project that you are interested in.

Shortlisting

Your application will then be reviewed by potential supervisors, to assess suitability for our programme. You do not need to contact a potential supervisor before you submit your application, although if applying with your own research proposal, it is good practise to identify a potential supervisor whose research interests align with it, explaining exactly how your research fits the academics current research interests. You can find information on potential supervisors on the M&R Supervisors section of our website.

Please note that due to supervisor capacity entry onto our programme is extremely competitive, and eligibility is assessed against several criteria including previous education or relevant experience, and how well your research proposal aligns with the interests of the department.

After reviewing your application, our faculty may decide to invite you to interview - this is an opportunity to discuss your research proposal in more detail, and to ask further questions regarding the M&R PhD Programme. Feedback from interviews should be discussed directly with the faculty involved.

If applying for a Henley Studentship then you must also discuss this with your potential supervisors at the interview, as they will need to provide a statement of support to sponsor your application.

Successful Candidates

Following successful application, shortlisting and interview, candidates will be provided with further details regarding enrolling onto the M&R PhD Programme.

It is also at this point that applications for studentship can be submitted - the process for this will be discussed with the PGR administrator, who can provide you with the necessary forms and information on the procedure. You must have discussed this with your potential supervisors at the interview stage.

Fees & funding Open

For fees, please visit the Graduate School website .

Overseas applicants should refer to the non-laboratory based fees listed in the tables (International Band 1 for non UK/Home students).

Scholarships

Further phd funding.

  • UK/EU nationals: The University of Reading takes part in the South East DTC (Doctoral Training Centre). If you’re interested in applying, please follow the link for further details.
  • Nationals from India and developing countries: The Felix Scholarship competition is open to candidates applying for either taught Masters or Postgraduate Research Degrees who are either Indian nationals, or from developing countries, and who fulfil the required criteria. For more information and how to apply please follow the link.
  • Regional PhD Bursaries: They are available for PhD applicants normally living within 25 miles of the University. The scheme is not open to students who have already started their study at the University of Reading. For further information, please go to Graduate School website .
  • Former UoR Graduate: If you have already studied at the University of Reading you will receive a discount of up to £1,000 off of your fees through the alumni fee discount .
  • Other: For information on further opportunities, please see the find funding section on our University website.

Current scholarships

Marketing & reputation scholarship, entry requirements open, application & requirements:.

Due to the taught elements of this programme we will only usually consider applications for full-time , campus-based students for entry in Sept/Oct; for part-time or distance options, please instead consider the Henley Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme .

For this reason we also do not currently offer an option for January entry.

Key Requirements

We consider a wide range of candidates with a variety of qualifications, and are proud of our diverse and extraordinary PhD cohort; for this reason we welcome applicants from both academic and professional backgrounds.

Whilst we review all applications individually and on their own merits, the key criteria required for each successful candidate are:

  • Masters degree in relevant subject area (minimum grade recommended is Merit or equivalent; a Distinction is preferred); equivalent experience will also be considered
  • Top grade in your Masters Dissertation (or equivalent research-based piece of work) as an indication of your research attitude and skills
  • A well developed Research Proposal aligned with the M&R Research Agenda, with reasonable intended timeline to completion
  • IELTS with an overall score of 7.0 (with no element below 6.0) or equivalent – full range of equivalents available here ;
  • a qualification of higher education (BSc/MSc, etc.) from a qualifying UK-based Higher Education institution within the last 2 years
  • Two academic references (professional references will be considered where academic references are unavailable)
  • Full funding in place for the 3 year programme, either through self/external funding or upon successful award of a Henley Studentship

Your application will also need to be supported by a member of our Faculty, who will agree to act as supervisor for your research – for this reason, it is important that your research proposal and topic align with our department’s wider research agenda.

Please note that due to supervisor capacity entry onto our programme is extremely competitive; as such, it is recommended that applications are made as early as possible.

For more information, please see our How to Apply section.

Careers, accreditation & progression Open

How can henley careers work with you.

We have an award-winning careers team here to support you through your time at Henley and 4 years after graduating.

Henley Careers and Professional Development run numerous events throughout the autumn and spring terms to help you gain industry experience. These events are aimed to enhance your professional development and network with employers. We also offer one-to-one career coaching appointments where you can talk to a Careers Consultant about your professional development. This may include planning your ideal career journey or building confidence in a particular area. It could also involve practicing for interviews or having your CV checked.

For more information please see our Careers page .

Continuing Your Career

A PhD in Marketing & Reputation can open doors to a successful career in academia and other organisations. This includes large multinationals, leading consulting firms, and governmental and non-governmental organisations worldwide. Your supervisors will work with you to create a personal development plan which will support your future career. You can apply for funding from the department for external workshops and conferences to complement your progression.

If you are seeking an academic career, then you’ll be able to undertake training that prepares you for the lecturing role. This includes opportunities to lead classes, deliver lectures and undertake assessment within the department. All PhD students will gain experience presenting their ideas through regular PhD conferences. You will also have meetings with the programme director, and attendance at department and faculty research events.

Throughout the programme you will be encouraged to make links with practitioners and relevant industry associations. You’ll be strongly encouraged to publish your work in leading journals during your PhD and following completion.

Research Areas Open

Henley Business School’s research in Marketing and Reputation is driven through leading centres. This includes the Henley Centre for Customer Management , the John Madejski Centre for Reputation , and the Governance & Leadership group.

We welcome applications from self/externally funded candidates seeking to conduct full-time postgraduate research in all areas of Marketing and Reputation. This includes in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methodologies. The faculty has extensive experience in survey methods, experimental design, depth interviewing, case studies, content analysis and ethnography (including netnography).

The faculty are also interested in the following topics for projects:

In Marketing:

  • Aspects of customer experience, especially relating to the use of new technologies;
  • Relational dynamics in markets, including aspects of service recovery, service innovation and the management of customer relationships;
  • Emerging consumer cultures, particularly non-Western contexts and practices involving new technologies;
  • Organisational culture and climate and its impact on customer satisfaction, retention and sales;
  • Marketing planning, strategy and competitive advantage especially involving new technologies

In Reputation:

  • Corporate responsibility and wellbeing in/around organisations including individual and organisational resilience;
  • Decision-making within a stakeholder environment, particularly bias and prejudice in leadership decision making, or the unintended consequences and decision making;
  • The impact of the reputation of leaders and leadership teams on organisations;
  • Nature of and working through ethical dilemmas;
  • Governance and reputation enhancement especially leading for a sustainable and reputable organisation.

In Governance & Leadership:

We are seeking potential PhD students for the following group projects:

  • Board of Directors, Shareholder Engagement and Director Independence
  • Governance Innovation for Emergent Hybrid Entities

Further areas of interest include:

  • Board performance and value delivery, including boardroom diversity and the dynamics and functioning of boards;
  • Responsibility and accountability of the board, board sustainability and resilience, including the strengths and weaknesses of governance frameworks, governance risk and reputation;
  • Top-Team dynamics and the CEO role and contribution, including the reality of strategy generation and execution;
  • The functioning of government, especially the relationship between minister and civil servant, and between government and critical bodies such as Central Bank, Financial Authorities and Regulators;
  • Relationship of the firm to government, and relationship of the concentration of capital to policy development and execution

Teaching staff Open

The supervision experience.

The Marketing & Reputation department has considerable experience of supervision and will work to ensure that you quickly develop a constructive and productive relationship with your supervisors. All PhD students will be supported by a supervisory team that will include at least one experienced supervisor who has previously supervised students to completion, and a second supervisor with subject, context or methodological expertise. We will ensure that a suitable supervisory team is identified and available before you are accepted on the programme.

You will have regular meetings with your supervisors, normally at least every 2 weeks. You will also meet regularly with the Director of Postgraduate Research who will also support you with all academic issues. In addition, all PhD students have access to workshops run by both the University of Reading and by Henley Business School , and will be invited to attend department research seminars and research events. As a PhD student you will be provided with a budget to attend further external training if required, and to present your work at international conferences.

See below for first supervisors in Marketing & Reputation:

Professor Moira Clark

Professor Moira Clark

Professor Carola Hillenbrand

Professor Carola Hillenbrand

Professor Nada Korac Kakabadse

Professor Nada Korac Kakabadse

Professor Andrew Kakabadse

Professor Andrew Kakabadse

Professor Kevin Money

Professor Kevin Money

Professor Adrian Palmer

Professor Adrian Palmer

Current students

Sylvian jesudoss, you might also like, doctor of business administration (dba).

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Graduate Research

Doctoral Program in Marketing

  • Arrow-right #8 Graduate Employability

Course overview

What is it about.

Taught by the Department of Management and Marketing , the Doctoral Program in Marketing at the University of Melbourne is committed to providing outstanding research training for the world’s most ambitious minds. Challenge yourself through a program that broadens your skillset and advances your research career prospects in academia or within research and development teams in industry and the public sector.

The program is made up of a 2-year Master of Commerce coursework program followed by a 3-year PhD.

Generous scholarships are available for high achieving applicants, including full fee waivers and a stipend of AUD 37,000 per year (2024 RTP rate).

Research conference travel funding of AUD$15,000 is available to all confirmed PhD candidates.

The program combines rigorous research training and substantial opportunity to work on independent research projects with world renowned academics. This research training and activity will provide you with the skills and knowledge to address meaningful problems facing consumers, employees, managers, organisations, industries and communities. The expected career outcome is placement in research-focused academic jobs. Graduates could also seek applied research career opportunities in the public and private sector.

Our graduate students have successfully attained positions in leading academic and business institutions both within Australia and internationally.

Register to attend an information session

A PhD journey is a voyage into consumer minds and ever-shifting market tides, where every data point tells a story, and each revelation reshapes the landscape of strategic influence. Dr Fang-Chi Lu, Graduate Research Director, Marketing

We strongly encourage students to be creative, intellectually curious, hard-working and contribute to the advancement of the marketing field.

Related study areas

  • Business and economics

phd proposal marketing

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Best Doctorates in Digital Marketing: Top PhD Programs, Career Paths, and Salaries

There is a wide range of digital marketing jobs you can get if you have a doctorate. You can be a professor or researcher in academia or pursue roles in different industries. In this article, we show you the best PhDs in Digital Marketing that you can earn to advance your career. We also provide information on the best digital marketing jobs and salaries for professionals with PhDs in Digital Marketing.

What Is a PhD in Digital Marketing?

A PhD in Digital Marketing is the highest-level academic degree students can get in the field of digital marketing. This program entails more research work than coursework. Typically, doctoral programs take four to five years to complete.

Find your bootcamp match

How to get into a digital marketing phd program: admission requirements.

The admission requirements for a typical PhD in Digital Marketing are an online application for the program and official transcripts from your undergraduate or graduate education. Some schools also require standardized test scores, such as GMAT or GRE. You also need to submit your resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.

PhD in Digital Marketing Admission Requirements

  • Official academic transcripts
  • Test scores (GRE or GMAT)
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose

Digital Marketing PhD Acceptance Rates: How Hard Is It to Get Into a PhD Program in Digital Marketing?

It’s hard to get into a PhD in Digital Marketing program. Acceptance rates for doctorate programs in the marketing field are low. On average, less than 10 percent of prospective students who apply to doctoral programs in digital marketing are admitted because schools only admit a low number of students to these programs every year.

How to Get Into the Best Universities

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Best PhDs in Digital Marketing: In Brief

Best universities for digital marketing phds: where to get a phd in digital marketing.

Some of the best universities for getting a digital marketing PhD are Arizona State University, Duke University, Stanford University, The University of Texas, and University of Pennsylvania. If you’re wondering where to get the best PhDs in Digital Marketing, the following list will help you learn more about the accredited schools that offer doctoral degree programs in marketing.

Arizona State University (ASU) was first founded in 1885 as the Territorial Normal School in Tempe. Offering over 450 graduate degrees in fields such as arts, computing and mathematics, entrepreneurship, and healthcare, ASU welcomes more than 70,000 students every year. It has been recognized by US News & World Report as the most innovative national university . 

PhD in Marketing

ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business offers a full-time residential Doctoral Degree in Marketing. It’s designed for graduate students who want to pursue research and teaching positions in marketing. Students can choose between consumer behavior, service strategy, and quantitative marketing models specializations to concentrate their digital marketing knowledge.

PhD in Marketing Overview

  • Program Length: 5 years
  • Acceptance Rate: 5-10%
  • Tuition and Fees: $11,720 (in-state base tuition); $23,544 (out-of-state base tuition)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Teaching or research assistantships, loans and other financing options, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

PhD in Marketing Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • GRE or GMAT test scores
  • Undergraduate education transcripts
  • Proof of English language proficiency (for international students)

Drexel University is a private research university that was founded in 1891. Its LeBow College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. This college offers PhD programs in economics and business, as well as an executive doctorate program in business administration. 

PhD in Business with a Marketing Specialization 

In this full-time PhD program, students can choose between an economics-oriented track and a behaviorally-oriented research track. Development of marketing channel systems is one of the courses where digital marketing can be covered. To graduate, students must complete 45 credits and write and defend a doctoral thesis.

PhD in Business with a Marketing Specialization Overview

  • Program Length: 4 years
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
  • Tuition and Fees: $0 - All admitted students are considered for research and teaching assistantships which include a full tuition waiver
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, research awards

PhD in Business with a Marketing Specialization Admission Requirements

  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA in undergraduate programs and 3.3 GPA in graduate programs
  • Transcripts
  • GMAT or GRE scores
  • Personal statement
  • 2 letters of recommendation

Duke University is a private research university that was founded in 1838 in Trinity, North Carolina. The school has more than 80 Graduate School Departments, and over 3,000 graduate students are enrolled in its graduate programs. Duke University’s main goal is to give students the analytical and critical skills they need to succeed in their chosen field of study.

The PhD in Marketing at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business aims to prepare students for successful careers in research and teaching. This program covers digital marketing through the effects of Internet search agents on consumer choice. To graduate from this program, students are required to write and defend a dissertation.

  • Acceptance Rate: 11%
  • Tuition and Fees: $28,950/semester (years 1-3); $4,000/semester (years 4+)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Tuition grants, research and teaching assistantships
  • $95 application fee
  • Academic transcripts
  • Provide undergraduate GPA
  • Statement of purpose essay
  • English language proficiency test scores (for non-native speakers)

Georgia State University (GSU) is a public research institution founded in 1913. The university offers more than 150 graduate degree programs across nine different colleges. Innovation is central in GSU’s Graduate Schools, as the US News & World Report named it the second most innovative school in the country . 

GSU’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business prepares students for successful careers inside and outside academia. In this program, students learn to apply combined research and marketing methods to digital marketing. Its curriculum includes 15 hours of research courses, 18 hours of marketing courses, and nine hours of courses in the student’s area of interest. 

  • Acceptance Rate: N/A
  • Tuition and Fees: $4,776/semester (in state); $15,108/semester (out of state)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Teaching and research assistantships, doctoral fellowships
  • Online application and $50 application fee
  • GMAT scores
  • College transcripts
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Immunization records

Harvard University was the first college founded in America in 1636. Its Harvard Business School (HBS) was later established in 1908. HBS is now considered one of the best business schools in the world. It offers doctoral programs in a wide variety of fields, such as accounting, management, economics, organizational behavior, and marketing. 

PhD in Marketing 

HBS offers a full-time Doctoral Degree in Marketing, which requires a minimum of 13 courses, including economics and psychology. Its machine learning, computer science, and statistics courses are useful for digital marketing analysis and application. To graduate, students need to complete a teaching engagement, pass the special exam, and write and defend a dissertation.

  • Acceptance Rate: 4%
  • Tuition and Fees: $0 (fully funded for 5 years)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Financial aid program, research support
  • Online application and $105 application fee
  • GRE or GMAT scores

Northwestern University is a private research institution founded in 1851. US News & World Report considers it one of the top 10 national universities in the country . It’s home to over 50 research centers and receives over $890 million annually in sponsored research awards. More than 13,000 students are currently enrolled in its 90 graduate degree programs.

This PhD in Marketing is offered through the Kellogg School of Management. It offers two concentrations in consumer behavior and quantitative marketing. It teaches students to become successful marketing researchers in various areas of marketing, including digital marketing. To earn a doctorate, students must complete 18 courses and maintain a GPA of 3.0. 

  • Program Length: 4+ years
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Tuition and Fees: $18,689/quarter (8 or fewer quarters); $4,672/quarter (more than 8 quarters)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Fellowship stipend, teaching and research assistantships, tuition scholarships
  • Courses taken form
  • 3 recommendation letters
  • Proof of English proficiency (for international students)
  • Optional writing sample

Founded in 1855, Penn State University is a public land-grant research university with 24 campuses catering to graduate and undergraduate students. The university offers more than 190 graduate degree programs and around 100 graduate certificate programs. Penn State stays on top of the research field with over $1 billion in annual research expenditures.

Penn State’s Smeal College of Business offers PhD in Marketing in three specializations in consumer behavior, marketing management, and marketing models. All three of them provide valuable learnings applicable to digital marketing. The program’s graduation requirements entail the completion of all coursework, a qualifying exam, and a thesis dissertation.

  • Program Length: 3+ years
  • Acceptance Rate: 15%
  • Tuition and Fees: $0 - Admitted students receive a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend guaranteed for five years
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Tuition waiver, monthly stipends, research assistantships, research funding options
  • $65 application fee
  • GPA and coursework
  • GMAT, GRE or TOEFL scores
  • Work sample, such as research papers or essays

Stanford University was founded in 1885, but it didn’t open its doors to students until 1891. In 1925, the Stanford Graduate School of Business was created. Its three full-time graduate degree programs are all accredited by the AACSB. Among this school’s faculty, there are five Nobel Prize laureates and five recipients of the John Bates Clark Medal in Economics. 

Students enrolled in this PhD in Marketing degree can choose between two areas of study in behavioral marketing or quantitative marketing. Its coursework for digital marketing include deep learning, machine learning, and consumer behavior. To graduate, students must pass a field exam, submit academic papers, and complete apprenticeships and a dissertation.

  • Program Length: 2-3 years
  • Acceptance Rate: 3.5%
  • Tuition and Fees: $56,487/three quarters (if 11-18 units per quarter); $36,720/three quarters (if 8-10 units per quarter). 
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, research and teaching assistantships, professional development grants. All incoming doctoral students in the Marketing PhD program are provided with financial aid for five years.
  • Online application
  • $125 application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • 3 letters of reference
  • TOEFL score (for international students)

Syracuse University (SU) is a private research university established in 1870. It’s accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education. SU’s graduate school offers more than 193 master’s degrees and 50 doctoral degrees across 13 schools and colleges. Over 1,400 doctoral students are currently enrolled in SU’s PhD programs.

PhD in Business Administration with a Marketing Major

SU offers a PhD in Business Administration with a Marketing Major through the Whitman School of Management. It has two areas of specialization, analytical modeling and empirical analysis, for quantitative marketing. Students need to earn 72 credits to complete this program. Other graduation requirements include submitting three research papers and a thesis.

PhD in Business Administration with a Marketing Major Overview

  • Tuition and Fees: $1,802/credit hour
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Tuition waivers, yearly stipends, grants, fellowships, awards, teaching and research assistantships 

PhD in Business Administration with a Marketing Major Admission Requirements

  • Recommendation letters

University of Arizona is a public land-grant research university founded in 1885. It offers more than 150 master’s degree programs and over 100 doctoral programs in a wide variety of fields. The university is known for its heavy investments in research and development, spending over $700 million in recent years.

The university’s Eller College of Management offers a full-time PhD in Marketing that prepares students for research-heavy and academic roles. Strategy, marketing models, and consumer psychology are some of the courses useful for a digital marketing career. The program’s coursework has 36 units in marketing, nine units in a minor subject, and 18 units of dissertation credits.

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  • Program Length: 4-5 years
  • Tuition and Fees: $14,600/academic year (in state); $34,800/academic year (out of state)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Teaching or research associateship
  • $90 application fee
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international students)

University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley) was founded in 1868. At present, more than 5,000 graduate students are enrolled at UC Berkeley’s wide variety of doctoral degrees. The US News & World Report named UC Berkeley as the fourth-best global university in the country.

UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business offers an interdisciplinary doctoral marketing program with two areas of research in consumer behavior and quantitative marketing. Both tracks require taking courses in buyer behavior and choice modeling or marketing strategy. To get this degree, students need to pass an oral qualification exam and write and defend a dissertation.

  • Acceptance Rate: 9%
  • Tuition and Fees: $14,442/academic year (in state); $29,238/academic year (out of state)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Financial aid, scholarships, fellowships
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • $120 application fee
  • GMAT or GRE test scores

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) is an Ivy League research university founded in 1740. The Wharton School was established as UPenn’s first business school in 1881. The Wharton School offers nine graduate programs of study in various areas, including finance, management, and marketing. Currently, around 13,000 graduate students are enrolled in UPenn.

This interdisciplinary doctoral program in marketing offers a consumer behavior track and a quantitative track. Data analysis and research methods are some of the program’s courses, which can be best applied to digital marketing. To graduate, students need to complete a dissertation and at least 15 graduate-level course units.

  • Acceptance Rate: 3%
  • Tuition and Fees: $37,678/full program
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Financial aid awards, fellowships
  • $80 application fee
  • Official transcripts and academic history
  • Personal statement essay

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is a public research university founded in 1969. Over 900 students are currently enrolled in the university’s doctoral degrees. UTSA is home to 32 research centers and institutes and offers a wide range of well-funded research partnerships.

UTSA offers its doctoral degree through Carlos Alvarez College of Business. This degree requires a minimum of 84 credits for students who previously obtained a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 66 credits for those with a master’s degree. Its courses that are useful for digital marketing include strategy research and experimental design.

  • Tuition and Fees: $575/credit hour (in state); $1,572/credit hour (out of state)
  • PhD Funding Opportunities: Annual stipends, research assistantships
  • $50 application fee
  • Personal statement of academic goals and interests

Can You Get a PhD in Digital Marketing Online?

Yes, you can get a PhD in Digital Marketing online. Northcentral University and Atlantic International University are some of the schools that offer online doctoral marketing degrees. You can also get a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Marketing online. A DBA program focuses more on practical marketing applications, while a PhD program is designed for research and academic-oriented positions.

Best Online PhD Programs in Digital Marketing

How long does it take to get a phd in digital marketing.

It takes four to five years to get a PhD in Digital Marketing. Typically, students dedicate the first two or three years to completing the required coursework. During their second and third years, students are expected to complete a field exam. This exam measures their depth of knowledge and comprehension of the marketing field.

During the program’s remaining years, students must focus their efforts on research activities, a dissertation, and any additional graduation requirements. Such requirements can be to complete research or teaching assistantships. They can also be to submit academic papers to accredited publications and to participate in seminars.

Is a PhD in Digital Marketing Hard?

Yes, a PhD in Digital Marketing is hard. The average completion time of a PhD in Digital Marketing is between four and five years. The majority of doctoral degrees are full-time programs. This means that working outside while pursuing your degree won’t be possible. You’ll have to rely on funding options such as research assistantships to support yourself while you are studying.

A doctorate can also be hard because of the program’s coursework and graduation requirements, which will require a lot of hard work and dedication. In general, students have to complete courses in advanced digital marketing topics, as well as courses in complex disciplines like statistics. They also have to complete the program’s dissertation requirements.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing?

It costs approximately $12,171 per year to get a PhD in Digital Marketing at a public institution, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The tuition for a doctoral degree at a private university can cost between $14,208 and $27,776 per year.

Many universities offer affordable graduate tuition rates. An example is Georgia State University, where in-state students pay $4,776 per semester, and out-of-state students pay $15,108 per semester. Moreover, there are plenty of funding opportunities for digital marketing PhD students.

How to Pay for a PhD in Digital Marketing: PhD Funding Options

The PhD funding options that full-time students can use to pay for a PhD in Digital Marketing are tuition waivers, fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Most schools also offer PhD students plenty of financial aid options to reduce their expenses. Some schools even provide stipends to help students with other living costs.

Best Online Master’s Degrees

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What Is the Difference Between a Digital Marketing Master’s Degree and PhD?

The difference between a digital marketing master’s degree and a PhD is the job outlook for graduates. Master’s degree programs are great for career advancement because they teach the necessary skills for various executive positions in the marketing field. PhDs are terminal degree programs designed to prepare students mostly for careers in academia.

Doctoral degrees are a necessity in a range of job roles in the academic field, such as college professor or tenure researcher. Doctorate programs take approximately five years to complete, while master’s degrees can be completed in only two years. Because of this, getting a PhD in Digital Marketing will give you more advanced knowledge of the marketing field.

Master’s vs PhD in Digital Marketing Job Outlook

Digital marketing professionals with a PhD have advanced skills and knowledge for academic positions in postsecondary education. This field has a job outlook of 12 percent . Professionals with a master’s degree can strive for a wide variety of digital marketing jobs across different industries. For example, market research analysts have a 22 percent job outlook .

Difference in Salary for Digital Marketing Master’s vs PhD

While a digital marketer with a Master’s Degree can get a median annual income of $93,000 , the average PhD in Digital Marketing salary is $106,000 per year based on PayScale data. This pay disparity exists because of the advanced skills and knowledge that a PhD graduate can offer in digital marketing roles.

Related Digital Marketing Degrees

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Why You Should Get a PhD in Digital Marketing

You should get a PhD in Digital Marketing because it’ll give you a proper knowledge of advanced topics and crucial research skills needed for various digital marketing jobs. Apart from gaining expertise, PhD graduates also enjoy low unemployment rates, higher salaries, and networking opportunities. Below, we discuss in detail the reasons for getting a PhD in Digital Marketing.

Reasons for Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing

  • Lower unemployment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marketing professionals with a PhD have a lower unemployment rate at 2.5 percent than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree. This can be partially because pursuing doctoral degrees make it easier for graduates to land digital marketing jobs in the academic field.
  • Advanced knowledge. A PhD in Digital Marketing will give you advanced skills and knowledge. With this degree, you’ll also learn quantitative and qualitative research methods that are necessary for landing higher-paying digital marketing jobs in any field.
  • Higher salary. Most companies tend to pay employees with higher education and experience more money. By earning a PhD in Digital Marketing, you’ll be able to make an annual salary of $106,000 or more, depending on your professional experience and where you work.
  • Networking opportunities. A digital marketing PhD will give you plenty of opportunities to grow your professional network. Not only will you have the opportunity to meet other students with similar interests and passions, but you can also attend conferences and seminars. These events are where you can connect with experts from all over the world.

Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing: Digital Marketing PhD Coursework

Three people sitting around a wooden table looking at printed graphs

Getting a PhD in Digital Marketing is a matter of completing the required course load and any other graduation requirements. The typical PhD coursework is broken down into core digital marketing courses, courses in other disciplines, and courses focused on research or how to prepare for your dissertation. Below are a few examples of the courses that students must take.

Consumer Behavior

Consumer behavior studies are the psychological and behavioral processes that influence people’s choices when buying or consuming products and services. With this course, graduate students will better understand how cultural and psychological variables tend to influence the behavior of consumers. They’ll uncover how this can be used for effective marketing strategies.

Introduction to Econometrics

Econometrics is a discipline that combines mathematical and statistical methodologies in order to quantify economic phenomena. With this course, students will learn how to use regression methods, such as nonparametric and linear regressions, to quantify and interpret relevant data. This is useful for students that want to pursue careers in digital marketing research.

Qualitative Research Methods

In digital marketing, qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand phenomena that are useful in market research. With this course, PhD students will learn how to use qualitative research methods to gather data that can help in understanding all the factors and variables that influence consumers’ decisions.

Quantitative Marketing

Qualitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It’s a crucial step in statistical analysis. In this course, students will learn how to quantify and analyze the data gathered from surveys and polls answered by a target audience. This will help students draw insights based on the data gathered from market research focus groups.

Statistical Inference

Statistical inference refers to the process of deducing facts about a specific group of the population based on statistical data. This course will provide digital marketing students the skills necessary for working with statistical data. The use of statistical methods, such as statistical inference, is common in the marketing field, so it’s a crucial skill for digital marketers to learn.

Best Master’s Degrees

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How to Get a PhD in Digital Marketing: Doctoral Program Requirements

To graduate, PhD students have to complete the doctoral program requirements. Common graduation requirements include completing the required coursework, completing the necessary teaching or researching requirements, and writing and defending a dissertation. Finishing these requirements is how to get a PhD in Digital Marketing.

Doctorate programs require students to complete the necessary coursework, as well as a minimum number of credits. Core courses include digital marketing courses and research methods courses. The coursework is meant to be finished in the first two years of the program. Students might be required to maintain a minimum GPA throughout their coursework.

Once students complete the required coursework, they are required to pass an exam meant to assess the depth of their comprehension of topics covered in the first years of the program. It’s also meant to measure the depth of advanced knowledge they learned through completing the required coursework. This examination can be a written exam or an oral examination.

PhD students are required to complete research requirements. These requirements include working as research assistants and completing a set number of hours or classes of teaching. You might also need to participate in research assistantships under experienced faculty members, participate in seminars and colloquia, and submit your research to academic journals. 

Teaching apprenticeship requirements can mean working as teaching assistants (TAs) during a set time frame from the total length of the program. Alternatively, you might need to complete a teaching engagement during a semester or a full academic year. This is a great opportunity for students who want to pursue teaching careers.

To get a PhD in Digital Marketing, you’ll have to write and defend a dissertation. Dissertations are where students show that they’re able to conduct independent research and present it in a well-organized manner. Dissertation requirements include writing a dissertation, presenting a dissertation proposal, choosing a doctoral dissertation committee, and defending the final dissertation.

Potential Careers With a Digital Marketing Degree

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PhD in Digital Marketing Salary and Job Outlook

The typical salary for marketing experts with a PhD is over $100,000 per year. There are plenty of job opportunities for PhD graduates, both in business and in the academic field. On average, there are more than 200,000 job openings for digital marketers with a PhD every year. Most marketing professions are expected to grow between eight and 14 percent in the next decade.

What Can You Do With a PhD in Digital Marketing?

With a PhD in Digital Marketing, you can apply to various senior-level positions in marketing or academia. Once you get your degree, you’ll have the skills and knowledge necessary to work in positions such as marketing manager, postsecondary education teacher, market research analyst, and public relations manager.

Best Jobs with a PhD in Digital Marketing

  • College Professor
  • Marketing Manager
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Postsecondary Education Administrator

What Is the Average Salary for a PhD in Digital Marketing?

The average annual salary for a PhD in Digital Marketing is $106,000. This salary varies depending on the specific digital media marketing field a professional decides to focus on. For example, digital marketers working in an academic environment earn an average of $96,910 per year. Marketing experts who work in marketing management earn $133,380 per year.

Highest-Paying Digital Marketing Jobs for PhD Grads

Best digital marketing jobs with a doctorate.

The best digital marketing jobs with a doctorate are marketing manager, public relations manager, postsecondary education administrator, college professor, and market research analyst. These jobs require an advanced education degree because they need experts who know digital marketing trends very well and know how to apply research methods.

In this section, we discuss an overview of the best digital marketing jobs with a doctorate. We also provide details on the salary, job outlook, and highest-paying states.

Marketing managers plan effective marketing campaigns and evaluate promotional campaigns of businesses. These professionals possess leadership skills and advanced knowledge of advertising principles needed for identifying potential target markets for a specific product or service. They create promotional campaigns for target markets. 

  • Average Salary: $133,380
  • Job Outlook: 10% job growth from 2020 to 2030
  • Number of Jobs: 316,800
  • Highest-Paying States: New York, New Jersey, California

Public relations managers create content, such as press releases, articles, draft speeches, and images for a company to reach its target audience. They also analyze the audience’s perspective of a business and create digital marketing strategies to shape or improve the business’s overall image.

  • Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $119,860
  • Job Outlook: 13% job growth from 2020 to 2030
  • Number of Jobs: 89,000
  • Highest-Paying States: District of Columbia, Virginia, New York

Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and sometimes, faculty research at private and public colleges and universities. These professionals need to have interpersonal, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. They also need experience in administrative settings to perform their job.

  • Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $96,910
  • Job Outlook: 8% job growth from 2020 to 2030
  • Number of Jobs: 178,800
  • Highest-Paying States: New York, New Jersey, Delaware

College professors or postsecondary teachers in the digital marketing field develop outlines and syllabi for the courses they teach. They also plan individual lessons and assess their student’s progress through various assignments. 

  • Salary with a Digital Marketing PhD: $79,640
  • Job Outlook: 12% job growth from 2020 to 2030
  • Number of Jobs: 1,276,900
  • Highest-Paying States: California, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

Market research analysts have a vast knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods that are widely used in the marketing field. They also have the analytical skills required for interpreting complex data. Their main responsibility consists of evaluating the market conditions and determining the potential sales of a product or service.

  • Average Salary: $63,920
  • Job Outlook: 14% job growth from 2020 to 2030
  • Number of Jobs: 740,900
  • Highest-Paying States: Washington, Delaware, New York

Is a PhD in Digital Marketing Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Digital Marketing is worth it because it provides more employment opportunities and a higher annual salary. With a doctoral degree, you can apply for academic positions, such as post-secondary education teacher or researcher. You can also apply in various industries as a marketing manager, public relations manager, or market research analyst.

Additional Reading About Digital Marketing

[query_class_embed] https://careerkarma.com/blog/digital-marketing-best-practices/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/trends-in-digital-marketing/ https://careerkarma.com/blog/digital-marketing-tools-everyone-needs/

PhD in Digital Marketing FAQ

Yes, you can get a PhD in Digital Marketing online. The best PhDs in Digital Marketing with a fully online format are offered by Northcentral University, Washington State University, and Trident University International. Liberty University offers online DBA programs, which have more hands-on experience than a traditional PhD in Marketing.

You should get a PhD in Digital Marketing because it’ll give you’ll learn in-demand skills and knowledge in marketing and research methods. Getting a PhD will not only ensure you earn a high annual income, but it’ll raise your chances of finding a good and rewarding job.

The digital marketing jobs that require a PhD are teaching and research positions in the academic field. If you want to pursue a career in academia, you must get a doctoral degree. While other digital marketing jobs might not require doctoral education, having a PhD will make you stand out from other candidates with a master’s or bachelor’s degree.

Yes, digital marketing is a good career choice. Digital marketers are one of the most in-demand professionals in marketing and advertising. Becoming a digital marketer will open a wide range of careers in business. The average salary of a digital marketing expert is approximately $50,000 per year, and the average PhD in Digital Marketing salary is over $100,000 per year.

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The Stevens Doctoral Program allows scholars to envision and conduct original, cutting-edge research.

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Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use.

We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.

In your proposal, please tell us if you have an interest in the work of a specific academic at York St John. You can get in touch with this academic to discuss your proposal. You can also speak to one of our Research Leads. There is a list of our Research Leads on the Apply page.

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PhD Research Proposal Sample

phd research proposal example

PhD Research Proposal Sample for Your Inspiration

One of the toughest things to do when it comes to completing a voluminous and challenging PhD research project is the proposal. The thing about the PhD research proposal is that you have to encapsulate everything that you want to accomplish, communicate in a concise way what you want to do, the resources that it will require, and finally you have to convince the reader of the viability and necessity of the project. It isn’t easy to know where to begin with something like this, but with the help of a PhD research proposal example from our professional PhD writing service , it’s easier than ever! We’ve got a wide range of samples made by doctoral proposal writer that you can take advantage of to learn all the ins and outs of crafting the highest quality proposal. No matter what the subject or specifications of your proposal are, our professional example research proposal is here to provide you with the help that you need!

phd proposal marketing

If you need some help with PhD investigation, you may use these samples for writing. Another smart solution is to pick a sample research proposal with comments from an expert. Such samples are just to give you some idea about writing the research proposal. However, if you are still confused or facing some time constraints to write PhD proposal, we are here to help you. Our team of experts has vast experience and expertise to write a perfect research proposal for your needs. Moreover, we can help you choose the most relevant research proposal topics , write a paper from scratch, or improve the existing one. No matter what your subject is, we have the subject specialist on every subject, who have years of experience of writing research proposals. We ensure fresh and unique work, which is 100% plagiarism free. Each student is special to us, and we ensure your personal and work details will be kept secret. We can also help you to meet your short deadlines. With the lightning-fast experts on the board, our PhD proposal writing service accepts even last-minute tasks, delivering high-quality outcomes on time or even earlier, leaving enough time for revisions and comments from your supervisor. Get your PhD research proposal without any hassle, contact us Now!

Look Through Our Well-Written PhD Research Proposal Sample

The dynamics of hyperinflation and stabilization policies – the case of zimbabwe.

The dynamics of hyperinflation and stabilization policies

The running of the country can be viewed commercially as a business enterprise by the economists. The business needs to be run in equilibrium; a balance between supply and demand must be stricken if the entrepreneur or the owner of the enterprise is to enjoy any benefits accrued by running a business. In the case of a country, it should be governed in a way that that the prices of goods and services are kept in control.  The stakeholders must not let the prices escalate beyond the ability of a typical citizen. Similarly, the release of cash into the economy should be maintained so that the flow of money is monitored and controlled, hence preserving the value of that particular currency.

This proposal will dig into inflation and find out how inflation has affected economies of a country, in particular, Zimbabwe and the ways to stabilize this condition. The dynamics of hyperinflation will also be looked into in detail to bring out the real picture and the damages it causes to an economy. The proposal will also focus on the causes of inflation in Zimbabwe and the how the theories of hyperinflation have applied in this context. The proposal will also look at the quantity theory of money and how it is associated with hyperinflation.

Introduction

Hyperinflation can be defined as a situation where the prices of goods and services escalate beyond control that the concept of inflation is an understatement. Economically, hyperinflation can be defined to occur when the total inflation over a period of three years is equivalent or exceeds 100%. Countries in hyperinflation usually experience rapid erosion of the real value of local currency prompting the population to hold a relatively stable foreign currency.

Hyperinflation makes the prices of goods and services in an economy to rise rapidly since the value of the local currency loses the real value quickly. Zimbabwe has experienced hyperinflation since 2001 with inflation rates over a whopping 100%.  However, as from 2006, inflation in Zimbabwe has risen to an uncontrollable 1500% annually. It should be observed that Zimbabwe was the only country that was experiencing hyperinflation and the first in the 21st century to have hyperinflation. Inflation in Zimbabwe has been perceived in two ways. First, the private sector speculation which the Zimbabwean authorities argue that the private sector rises up the prices intentionally to maximize profits on to pile pressure on the economy through ruthless price increments.

Secondly, the authorities also believe that the withdrawal of aids and the international economic sanctions have led to an economic decline from the year 2000. This perception has the explanation that the printing and minting of excess money by the government is usually tailored to bridge the gap between the government revenue and the actual receipts. This proposal to examine these concepts in depth.

Literature review

In this section, the Cagan (1956) hyperinflation model will be examined, where he assessed the statistical connection between cash and changes in price by conducting instances of hyperinflation in six different countries across Europe. According to Cagan, the demand for money balances declined with increase in inflation, assuming inflation played a significant role in determining hyperinflation.

Milton Friedman bases his view of hyperinflation in quantity theory of money. This theory states that the relationship between money and the price level is directly proportional.  This relationship implies that inflation will increase with an increase in money supply and the continued trend will lead to hyperinflation. In Zimbabwe, the supply of money and the prices of goods and services increased in tandem, as per the quantity theory of money because people opted to use the available cash immediately, rather than to wait on the depreciating cash. This, in turn, led to the increase of velocity as well as an increase of money through the printing of new currency, hence the exponential increase in prices of goods and services in Zimbabwe.

Methodology

This proposal will seek to clarify the mechanisms through which money, the setting of price behavior and the requirements of government revenue collaborate in Zimbabwe, to examine the explanations put forth by the authorities about the hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. To achieve this goal, the proposal will look at various models and tests that will lead to the understanding of the hyperinflation.

Granger causality test

In general, it is obvious that money engenders the rate of inflation, but the reverse could also be claimed to be true. It can be said that hyperinflation has self-perpetuating tendencies, due to the fact that the rise in prices of goods and services results in the rise in demand for nominal cash. Thus, causation develops from inflation to supply of money. This test investigates the amount of the existing value of money and premium is a utilizable component in the prediction of inflation.

Theoretical model

This model provides the classical quantity theory of money which believes that institutional factors determine the rate of money circulation. The economy is assumed to be or close to the real GDP.  In this case, the growth of money does not have an effect in the real GDP. This implies that holding both variables constant, the growth rate of money is directly proportional to the rate of inflation. Inflation reduces money demand due to an increase in the opportunity cost of holding money. Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe increased the parallel market premium and consequently, a change in the parallel market premium affected the velocity of cash in the circulation. The data used here was derived from various sources including the website of the RBZ.

The inflation data and money supply were collected from RBZ while parallel exchange rate was collected from Carmen M. Reinhart, a Harvard Kennedy School Professor of the International Financial System. The methodology in this paper employs heavily the ARDL co-integration approach for investigating the relationship between the inflation and its determinants.  ARDL was used because it has several advantages over other models of co-integration. ARDL can be used with time series data, can also be employed in a general-to-specific modeling by including insufficient numbers to lags for the data generating and error correction model (ECM) can be derived using ARDL co-integration model.

Theoretical/conceptual framework

Lagged change in the inflation and money supply growth are insignificant in the ARDL framework. Moreover, the ever-increasing prices are not unsustainable in the long-run; hence using the concept of long-run relations could give incorrect results. Zimbabwe had almost all her prices listed in foreign currencies which fully wrote off inflation inertia. In this case, an exchange rate is a useful tool for curbing inflation rates thereby making stabilization of hyperinflation less costly in comparison to moderate methods of dealing with hyperinflation. Through Ordinary Least Squares method, hyperinflation in Zimbabwe is said o have been caused by the rapid growth of paper money. The money demand model will seek to find out if this result is consistent. Additionally, a unit increase in the parallel market premium will result in an equivalent change in inflation.

High rates of interest will deter borrowing and foster saving, slowing the economy and hence disinflationary effects. The Treasury bill by the Zimbabwe government had turned the interest rates negative and this manipulation discouraged savings by the households. As per the Quantity Theory of money, hyperinflation in Zimbabwe could have been a monetary phenomenon and the only way to curb it would be to constrain the unnecessary money supply growth.

Research plan

Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe had severe adverse effects on the economy in regard to wealth, savings and deposits. Prices of essential goods and services became unreachable, especially to those on inflexible incomes. Countermeasures including price controls and foreign currencies ban to control the then escalating levels of inflation and the devaluation of the Zimbabwean currency were taken. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation was at its peak when the government compelled the RBZ to issue banknotes of higher denominations, hence fuelling the rate of inflation. The Zimbabwean dollar value diminished at a faster rate and the RBZ could not keep up with the printing. This led to the abandonment of the Zimbabwean dollar in favor of the US dollar as well as the SA Rand.

This study aimed at finding the causes of hyperinflation in Zimbabwe by using the right econometric models. Its main aim is to find out if the growth of money has a positive effect on inflation. Additionally, it will be aimed at finding out whether the parallel market premium is directly proportional to the growth of inflation. Whether money supply is the primary driver of hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, the findings of the research will provide the answer.

Works cited

BBC News,. ‘Zimbabwe Abandons Its Currency’. N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.

Cato Institute,. ‘Measurements of Zimbabwe’s Hyperinflation’. N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.

Larochelle, C., J. Alwang, and N. Taruvinga. ‘Inter-Temporal Changes In Well-Being During Conditions Of Hyperinflation: Evidence From Zimbabwe’. Journal of African Economies 23.2 (2014): 225-256. Web.

McIndoe Calder, Tara. ‘Hyperinflation In Zimbabwe: Money Demand, Seigniorage And Aid Shocks’. SSRN Journal n. pag. Web.

Makochekanwa, A. ‘A Dynamic Enquiry Into The Causes Of Hyperinflation In Zimbabwe’. The University of Pretoria, Department of Economics (2007): n. pag. Print. Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ),. ‘Bank Annual Reports From 2000-2008’. N.p., 2008. Web. 29 Dec. 2014

Sokic, Alexandre. ‘The Monetary Analysis Of Hyperinflation And The Appropriate Specification Of The Demand For Money’. German Economic Review 13.2 (2011): 142-160. Web.

Works, Anchor. ‘Data’. Carmenreinhart.com. N.p., 2014. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.

You can also take a look at our guide for writing an  interpretive thesis if you feel like you’re struggling to write on your own. So check it out! You can also find out more helpful examples of research proposals if you contact us.

If you need an additional professionally written PhD research proposal sample or any kind of support – just contact us right now!

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PhD Programme

Become a research expert at king’s.

A PhD from King’s Business School aims to be more than just a qualification. It provides you with the opportunity to become an expert in your chosen field of research. By the end of the programme, you will have developed the skills necessary to analyse complex organisational problems in order to make a difference in business and society.

If that’s you, then King’s Business School provides an ideal home for you to pursue PhD research. It is one of the leading research-intensive business schools in the UK and features world-class research academics in all of our departments:

  • Accounting & Financial Management
  • Banking & Finance
  • Human Resource Management & Employment Relations
  • Public Services Management & Organisation
  • Strategy, International Management & Entrepreneurship

Many of our graduates continue onto academic careers after completing their PhD. Some take on research, analysis or leadership roles in major corporations and public bodies. Others use their expertise to start up their own research consultancy. It’s entirely up to you to decide what King’s means for your future. However, we know that PhD research will be right for you if you are motivated to interrogate academic puzzles; committed to developing high-level analytical skills; and dedicated to advancing knowledge in your research area.

Upcoming deadlines October 2024 entry

Round 1 - Now closed. 

Round 2 - Application deadline for all applicants: 1 June 2024

Please note, any application received after 15 December 2023 will automatically be considered for the second round entry.

Application and admissions guide

Our application guide outlines everything you need to know about applying to the programme and for our King’s Business School studentships.

Find out how to apply for our PhD programme

Our full-time PhD programme usually takes three to four years, while the part-time programme will last six to sevent years. As a full-time student, you will spend most of your time in the iconic Bush House where we have dedicated spaces for our PhD researchers. And with central London on your doorstep, you’ll be surrounded by major business, government and cultural institutions. While completing a PhD is probably the toughest academic challenge you’ll ever take on, we’re here to support you throughout your time at King’s (and beyond).

Find out more about life at King's Business School

Skills & Training

The King’s Business School PhD programme is designed to support you in preparing the strongest thesis that you can, which will place you in the best position to move on to the job that you want. We will support you in developing advanced academic skills, but also skills relevant for wider impact in business and on society – for instance, skills in critical and analytical thinking, communication and networking.

Find out more about how we train our PhD students

Read more about the PhD journey

Read more about the PhD journey

Roadmap of the full-time PhD programme

Doctoral Research Studentships

Doctoral Research Studentships

King's Business School invites applications for funded, full-time PhD studentships to start in the…

PhD Studentships

PhD Studentships

Please see other available King's Business School PhD Studentships

Student Experiences

Current and former students share their experiences of being a PhD student at King's Business School

Chiamaka Nwosu

8 January 2021

Chiamaka Nwosu

Chiamaka Nwosu is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

Felix Kempf

7 January 2021

Felix Kempf

Felix Kempf is a current PhD student at King's Business School.

From admission to dissertation. Tips on making the PhD journey happy, productive and successful

phd proposal marketing

PhD Research Topics In Marketing

New PhD aspirants are anxious about researching the best topics for their PhD program in Marketing. Here I am sharing with you Top 25 PhD Research Topics in Marketing. With one of the topics, you can confidently go ahead into your doctoral program in Marketing

  • Thesis of Client Profitability in marketing.
  • The Effectiveness of Distribution.
  • Customer Retention and Retrieval in the Retail Sector.
  • Modern Trends embracing marketing sector
  • Fare Marketing analysis and Entry Strategy
  • Organized Retailing and Demographic Effects.
  • Reliance Services in view of telecom application.
  • Cellular Companies and its Future Arena.
  • Retail Marketing Analysis in terms of Consumer.
  • Impact of Confectionary Products on Kids.
  • Reliance Money Structure in Brokerage.
  • Marketing Project of famous company Bisleri.
  • Consumer Buying Behavioral levels of satisfaction.
  • The Impact of  Customer Relationship Management(CRM)
  • Loan Search Burdens in the present generation.
  • Worldwide Marketing Implementation Strategies.
  • E-Marketing Rules to improvise Marketing Economy.
  • Marketing (Your Country) Worldwide.
  • Publicizing Critical Problems in the current Economy
  • Convenience Stores and Loyalty Programs.
  • Channel Development through marketing.
  • Nonconventional tactics of Distribution.
  • Survey of Advertising Channel.
  • Packaging drawbacks and effects on Consumer.
  •  Effects of Branding and Quality on Consumer.

After bachelors, you think of higher study and want to be at the professional level, a professor and a doctoral title. For this, you should apply for the Ph.D. This is a great challenge for every master’s level student. You must need to write a research paper. If you have excellent research skill and writing skill, then you can proceed with it. One of the most widely recognized issues when composing a Ph.D. research paper is picking the phd research topics in marketing. Luckily, there are Ph.D. pape- composing services and methodologies that will make point determination simpler on your part. To guarantee quality subjects, ensure that you characterize the reason for your paper; this will enable you to create Ph.D. look into topics in promoting that will induce your group of spectators and clarify the significance of your writing reagarding topics of research in marketing. Your preferred research topic ought not just to present a great extent of your field yet additionally give a chance to further research.

For your business development and improvement, marketing is fundamental. Therefore marketing/advertising task compositions can help you in building up a dependable and powerful limited-time plan for your organization that can bolster your business objectives. Subsequently, an understudy must pick an intriguing research paper topic that can develop their advantage while doing the research paperwork and make your project look proficient and fantastic. To release all your pressure and surpass in your scholastic profession, you have to get help from a specialist writer and an informative site from where you can get an idea about phd research topics in marketing.

What Makes Good phd research topic in marketing ?

Commit an error toward the beginning of your doctoral research by picking the wrong Ph.D. to look into topics in marketing, and you could do a lot of diligent work and worry for yourself. You should invest enough energy and exertion to choose the correct research topics in marketing/advertising for Ph.D. papers with the goal that you can make sure you will almost certainly get your paper finished effectively. This implies you should completely comprehend what is average from your examination thoughts. They should be:

Attainable: Searching for research topics is attainable. While you may have a couple of years to embrace your exploration in marketing, you should even now have the option to finish it on schedule and with the majority of different assets that you have accessible to you.

One of a kind: for your Ph.D., you should most likely demonstrate that the task you have picked has not as of now been investigated entirely by another. 

Significant: If the primary individual that will need to have a solution to your exploration questions is you, then you might not have chosen something that will bear some significance with your field. It must positively affect your region to be appropriate. 

Fascinating: you likewise need to think about your enthusiasm for your exploration. If you are probably not going to have the option to keep up that plan, at that point you are going to battle to finish the work.

Method for choosing Research Topics in Marketing?

Finding those ideal research subjects in promoting for Ph.D. searches for some is a battle. Coming up next are a portion of the manners in which that you can locate the perfect topic for your exploration:

Proceed with past research: various understudies will need to keep on taking a shot at something that they have begun to explore some research topics in marketing already in their scholarly profession.

Peruse papers in the regions of promoting that intrigue you: most papers will feature zones for further research in marketing or even feature where research is powerless. These can be phenomenal wellsprings of motivation.

Glance back at work involvement: are there specific issues that you experienced that would make for a decent venture?

Think about your future profession: what would you like to be known for, and what would you like to have the option to do in your next job? What openings does this feature for research?

Hope so; the above PhD topics in marketing will help you to take off your stress about your professional career. So read these topics and choose the best one suited you.

Step by step instructions to write an Effective Marketing Ph.D. Research Paper

The accompanying tips will assist you with ensuring that you compose a paper that will most likely submit proudly:

Plan your Ph.D. arranging: a great arrangement that subtleties out the achievements that you should meet to finish your composition will assist you in keeping things on track. Guarantee that you leave time in your arrangement for making modifications and checking your work.

Structure your paper : a straightforward layout with clear notes in each area of your paper concerning what ought to be composed will make your writing significantly simpler. It will likewise guarantee that you stay away from intemperate revising during the procedure.

Have clear focuses on your composition: set yourself an objective for what number of words you will compose each day and stick to it. Try not to put an aim that will overstretch your capacities.

Update and edit your composition with consideration: the norms expected of your Ph.D. paper in marketing are out and out flawlessness.

Syam Prasad Reddy T

Hello, My name is Syam, Asst. Professor of English and Mentor for Ph.D. students worldwide. I have worked years to give you these amazing tips to complete your Ph.D. successfully. Having put a lot of efforts means to make your Ph.D. journey easier. Thank you for visiting my Ph.D. blog.

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COMMENTS

  1. How to nail your PhD proposal and get accepted

    When writing your PhD proposal you need to show that your PhD is worth it, achievable, and that you have the ability to do it at your chosen university. With all of that in mind, let's take a closer look at each section of a standard PhD research proposal and the overall structure. 1. Front matter.

  2. How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal

    You'll need to write a research proposal if you're submitting your own project plan as part of a PhD application. A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it. It's helpful to think about the proposal like this: if the rest of your application explains your ability to do a PhD ...

  3. Marketing

    Marketing. The doctoral program in Marketing draws on a variety of underlying disciplines to research important marketing management problems centered on the immediate and future needs and wants of customers. Students in the marketing program work closely with faculty in the Marketing Unit and engage in a broad spectrum of disciplinary bases.

  4. Research Proposal Example (PDF + Template)

    Detailed Walkthrough + Free Proposal Template. If you're getting started crafting your research proposal and are looking for a few examples of research proposals, you've come to the right place. In this video, we walk you through two successful (approved) research proposals, one for a Master's-level project, and one for a PhD-level ...

  5. PDF A Guide to Writing your PhD Proposal

    Therefore, in a good research proposal you will need to demonstrate two main things: 1. that you are capable of independent critical thinking and analysis. 2. that you are capable of communicating your ideas clearly. Applying for a PhD is like applying for a job, you are not applying for a taught programme.

  6. How to Write a Research Proposal

    Research proposal length. The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor's or master's thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

  7. Free Marketing Research Proposal Template (Updated)

    COLLECTION OF DATA. Use this section of the marketing research proposal to thoroughly describe all data collection methods which will be utilized in your research. The overall strategy can be addressed, as well as the individual data collection methods. For market research, these often include methods such as focus groups, surveys, social ...

  8. How to write a research proposal for a strong PhD application

    A research proposal should present your idea or question and expected outcomes with clarity and definition - the what. It should also make a case for why your question is significant and what value it will bring to your discipline - the why. What it shouldn't do is answer the question - that's what your research will do.

  9. PhD Degree Program in Marketing

    The Ph.D. program in marketing is based on the completion of the dissertation as well as a minimum of fifteen graduate level course units. These courses assume that the student has a basic knowledge of various business areas, computer programming, calculus, and matrix algebra. Of the 15 course units, a maximum of 4 can consist of transfer ...

  10. Preparing a Research Proposal

    Preparing a Research Proposal Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It is one of the key criteria that the School (and funding bodies) uses to differentiate between different applicants. The research proposal should not exceed 2000 words. Bibliography, references and appendices are excluded from the wordcount.

  11. Writing your PhD research proposal

    All applicants for a PhD or MSc by Research must submit a research proposal as part of their application. Applicants must use the template form below for their research proposal. This research proposal should then be submitted online as part of your application. Please use Calibri size 11 font size and do not change the paragraph spacing ...

  12. PhD Research Proposal in marketing

    Congratulations on your up and coming PhD. Maybe as a suggestion a possible proposal: micro-enterprise digital marketing practices in bottom of the pyramid-subsistence markets. Dear Ali Akbar ...

  13. Research Topics In Marketing (+ Free Webinar)

    Here, we'll explore a variety of marketing-related research ideas and topic thought-starters, covering both traditional marketing (offline media) and digital marketing (including social media marketing, content marketing and the like). We'll also look at actual dissertations and theses from marketing students to give you a view of what a ...

  14. Marketing PhD Projects

    PhD in Marketing funding options. In the UK, PhDs in Marketing are funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which provides a tuition fee waiver and a living cost stipend. Depending on the programme, you may submit your own research proposal before being considered for funding, or apply for a project that already has funding attached.

  15. Marketing (research proposal form) PhD Projects, Programmes ...

    School of Business Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) funded PhD. University of Leicester. The School of Business is offering fully-funded Graduate Teaching Assistant PhD Studentships starting 23 September 2024. The Graduate Teaching Assistantships are available for full-time campus based registration to our PhD Economics or PhD Management.

  16. Management (Marketing & Reputation) PhD…

    During your PhD in the area of Marketing and Reputation, you will develop your critical thinking, intellectual capacity and creativity. You will work with your academic supervisors to engage with industry and publish your ideas. ... The Confirmation Report will be a significant development of the initial Research Proposal you submitted for your ...

  17. Where To Earn An Online Ph.D. In Marketing In 2024

    A Ph.D. from National University costs $26,520, while the same degree from Kennesaw State University costs a minimum of $18,384. However, the tuition rates for Ph.D. programs vary significantly ...

  18. Doctoral Program in Marketing

    The program is made up of a 2-year Master of Commerce coursework program followed by a 3-year PhD. Generous scholarships are available for high achieving applicants, including full fee waivers and a stipend of AUD 37,000 per year (2024 RTP rate). Research conference travel funding of AUD$15,000 is available to all confirmed PhD candidates.

  19. Best PhDs in Digital Marketing

    Yes, you can get a PhD in Digital Marketing online. The best PhDs in Digital Marketing with a fully online format are offered by Northcentral University, Washington State University, and Trident University International. Liberty University offers online DBA programs, which have more hands-on experience than a traditional PhD in Marketing.

  20. PhD Proposals and Defenses

    Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. Philip J. Reny (Chair; Department of Economics, University of Chicago), Alexander Frankel, Emir Kamenica, and Doron Ravid (Department of Economics, University of Chicago) Proposal: "Unraveling Information Sharing in Consumer Credit Markets". Benedict Guttman-Kenney.

  21. Examples of Research proposals

    Research proposals. Your research proposal is a key part of your application. It tells us about the question you want to answer through your research. It is a chance for you to show your knowledge of the subject area and tell us about the methods you want to use. We use your research proposal to match you with a supervisor or team of supervisors.

  22. Well-Written PhD Research Proposal Sample

    The thing about the PhD research proposal is that you have to encapsulate everything that you want to accomplish, communicate in a concise way what you want to do, the resources that it will require, and finally you have to convince the reader of the viability and necessity of the project. It isn't easy to know where to begin with something ...

  23. PhD programme

    However, we know that PhD research will be right for you if you are motivated to interrogate academic puzzles; committed to developing high-level analytical skills; and dedicated to advancing knowledge in your research area. Upcoming deadlines October 2024 entry. Round 1 - Now closed. Round 2 - Application deadline for all applicants: 1 June 2024.

  24. PhD Research Topics In Marketing

    Here I am sharing with you Top 25 PhD Research Topics in Marketing. With one of the topics, you can confidently go ahead into your doctoral program in Marketing. Thesis of Client Profitability in marketing. The Effectiveness of Distribution. Customer Retention and Retrieval in the Retail Sector. Modern Trends embracing marketing sector.