| Scholarship |
PhD Scholarship in International Business and Strategy |
| Reference |
25TM_YL |
| Length of Scholarship |
Up to 36 months, subject to satisfactory progression |
| Places |
1 |
| Programme |
PhD Strategy |
| Department or School |
Nottingham University Business School China |
| Entry |
24 February 2026 |
| Closing Date |
31 October 2025 China Standard Time (CST) |
The available PhD scholarship cover
- Tuition fee
- Monthly stipend (RMB 4,500.00)
- All above items are covered for up to 36 months based on satisfactory progression
- All regulations set out in the PhD Scholarship Terms and Conditions apply
In addition to the above scholarship, successful candidates also have the opportunity to carry out teaching (after the completion of Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training) or research assistant duties at UNNC since second year of their PhD programmes.
Available PhD research areas
This PhD project explores how multinational enterprises (MNEs) make strategic decisions about international expansion, restructuring, and withdrawal in an evolving global environment. The research broadly investigates how firms respond to institutional, economic, and geopolitical shifts when managing their global operations and portfolios.
- Foreign divestment and subsidiary exit strategies under institutional and geopolitical uncertainty
- Internationalization and de-/re-globalization dynamics of multinational enterprises
- Strategic decision-making and risk management in cross-border operations
- Institutional distance, firm strategy, and global portfolio reconfiguration
- Building replicable event-level databases for international business research
PhD programme structure
PhD programmes at the UNNC are composed of 3 years research and a 1 year thesis pending period for full time PhDs. Full time PhDs are expected to submit their theses within a maximum of four years from initial registration.
On successful completion of the PhD, the students will be awarded a PhD degree from University of Nottingham. No reference will be made on the degree certificate as to where the degree has been completed. The University of Nottingham PhD degree is accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the UK Quality Assurance Agency.
Eligibility
Demonstrated competence in econometric analysis, with experience in software such as Stata, SAS, or Python
Applicants considering applying for PhD Scholarship must have met the entry requirements of a PhD programme first. More details can be found on the 'entry requirements' page of the website.
Applicants must have a master degree, with minimum average score of 65% and degree classification Merit or above from a British university. Applicants also should hold a bachelor degree at upper second class or above level. Applicants from institutions where different score system is used must have achieved an equivalent level of performance to the above.
The also considers applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree with first class honours from one of Nottingham’s campuses and demonstrate a strong passion for research in a particular area.
Applicants must meet the required English language proficiency for the relevant subject area.
IELTS test score report or its international equivalent has to be submitted together with the application by the deadline 31 October 2025.
How to apply
No separate application is required for applying for a scholarship but please make sure you select the correct scholarship reference number in the PhD application system. A list of required documents can be found on the 'how to apply' page.