A Master’s degree (Merit or Distinction) in Marketing, Business Administration, Management, Economics, or a closely related social science discipline.

Applicants must also hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least a UK 2:1 (Upper Second-Class Honours) or international equivalent in Business, Economics, Psychology, or another relevant area.

Strong grounding in marketing theory, consumer behaviour, research methods, and data analysis is expected.

Candidates with degrees in mathematics, sociology, or communication studies may also be considered if they have strong research skills applicable to marketing studies.

International qualifications must meet UK equivalence standards (verified via UK ENIC, if required).

Top UK universities (e.g. London Business School, Warwick, Manchester, and Lancaster) typically expect a Distinction-level Master’s and strong research training background.

Work experience is not mandatory, but relevant academic or professional marketing experience can strengthen an application.

Applicants with backgrounds in market research, brand management, digital marketing, or business analytics are often preferred for applied research areas.

Experience in research design, data analysis (SPSS, R, or Python), or academic publishing adds considerable value.

For professional doctorates (e.g. DBA with marketing specialization), several years of managerial or industry experience may be required.

Candidates with conference presentations, journal publications, or teaching experience in marketing have a distinct advantage for academic research pathways.

IELTS (Academic): Overall score of 7.0, with no component below 6.5.

TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 95–100, with minimum section scores of 23–25.

PTE Academic: Overall score of 68–70, with no skill below 62.

Applicants who completed previous degrees in English or studied in a majority English-speaking country may be exempt from language testing.

Some business schools may set higher IELTS requirements (7.5 overall) for research programmes involving extensive academic writing and presentations.

Official academic transcripts and degree certificates from all completed qualifications (with certified English translations where necessary).

Research proposal (typically 1,500–3,000 words) describing your intended research topic, theoretical framework, research objectives, and proposed methodology.

Personal statement explaining your academic interests, motivation for pursuing doctoral research, and how your background aligns with the chosen programme.

Curriculum vitae (CV) listing academic achievements, research skills, publications, work experience, and relevant marketing or analytical skills.

Two or three academic references, including at least one from a research supervisor or lecturer familiar with your academic work.

Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).

Some universities may request a sample of written academic work, such as a Master’s dissertation chapter or research paper.

Applicants may also be invited for an interview to assess research alignment, analytical skills, and motivation.