Staff research interests in this department cuts across four main domains including, marketing strategy and performance product development and innovation buyer behaviour and the management of supply (value) chains and market delivery systems.

Projects cover a wide range of themes ranging from the marketing departments influence on organisational performance, determinants of marketing innovation, brand and product development success, and pricing, advertising and distribution effectiveness, to marketing information/decision-support systems utilisation, value co-creation by open innovation, and consumer evaluation and processing of product communications.

The department has a long tradition in its sectoral focus on the food industry which has complemented its aim of promoting empirical, international and interdisciplinary research to enhance marketing theory and practice. Ongoing and future projects will continue to extend its sectoral foci to emerging market economies, high-technology and new (social and digital) media environments. In addition, the groups empirical and policy-oriented work is supported by the strong links with industry and an international network of research partners.

Location

You will be based either at the Canterbury or Medway campus, depending on where your first supervisor is based, for the duration of your PhD. Should you be based at Medway you will be expected to travel to Canterbury for compulsory modules and events run by the Graduate School. There is a regular University shuttle bus, which runs between Canterbury and Medway during term-time, this service is free for students.

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

Our exchange partners include these top ranked institutions amongst others:

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