Information for new PhD students
Management
We look forward to welcoming you to the Adam Smith Business School and the wider University of Glasgow community.
This web page has been prepared for PhD students who hold offers and are making preparations for coming to Glasgow.
If you have any queries you are welcome to contact the PGR admin team:
The PhD programme
The PhD in Management is one of seven PhD programmes at the Adam Smith Business School, sitting alongside PhDs based in Economics and Accounting & Finance.
The PhD in Management is one of the few management programs in the UK that receive recognition by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and are eligible to host ESRC PhD fellowships. You will be joining leading academic experts, an excellent training programme and a community of over 100 PhD students in Management and over 250 PhD students at the Adam Smith Business School.
Registration
If you have accepted an unconditional offer you will shortly receive an email from the University asking you to register as a student if you haven't already.
You must complete both financial and academic registration ahead of you starting in order to have full access to the university facilities. Please refer to the support available on the registration webpage
Induction
PGR induction week will commence on 5 October. The College of Social Sciences induction will be held on Monday 5 October.
More information on PGR Induction week will go live on our Researcher Development webpages when the schedule has been confirmed.
The Business School will also hold a welcome event for our new PhD students, with exact date and venue to be confirmed. We will be in touch with all new students regarding this event in due course.
It is vital that you attend, as key information will be communicated and you will also be meeting the rest of your student cohort. If you are unable to attend induction week for whatever reason, please let us know in advance by contacting asbs-pgrsupport@glasgow.ac.uk
Training
Training provided by School
Compulsory Management PhD training
As part of our commitment to the ESRC, our PhD Management training programme provides a robust introduction to research philosophy and methodology including qualitative and quantitative methods. The PhD training is delivered through intense small-group seminars where students engage with cutting-edge research. These specialised workshops provide an opportunity to discuss your ideas with academic experts and engage with other PhD students.
All first year Management PhD researchers are required to take two training courses, which will commence in October 2026:
Both full-time and part-time researchers will need to discuss challenges in attending the training with their supervisors to allow us to make arrangements to accommodate this. You will be able to enrol on these courses when registration opens in August 2026. If any issues with enroling or attending these then please contact the graduate school at asbs-pgrsupport@glasgow.ac.uk
Other training
Training is also available from the Graduate School’s Research Training Programme and PGR Opportunities hub, as well as the university’s Researcher Development Programme.
Mandatory Moodle Courses
All University of Glasgow PhD students must complete 5 short online courses in their first year. These are:
- Introduction to GDPR
- Information Security Awareness
- Equality and Diversity Essentials
- PGR Research Integrity
- Introduction to Research Data Management for PGRs.
More information on these courses can be found on the Researcher Development webpages.
PG Certificate in Management Research Methods
All researchers registered on the Management PhD programme are eligible for the Postgraduate Certificate in Management Research. The certificate is an additional qualification that formalises your training in research methods. It is free of charge for all registered researchers.
To obtain the PG Certificate, a researcher must complete 60 credits of research methods training in Management. This includes Management Research Methods (30 credits) and Research Master Class (10 credits) plus another 20 credits from a broad range of options within the Adam Smith Business School and the Graduate School of Social Sciences. More information will be provided by the convener at induction.
PGR Handbook
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Glasgow can be challenging. You are encouraged to secure accommodation in advance of travelling to Glasgow.
There is an online booking system for University Accommodation; however, if you haven't already arranged University accommodation then there is limited availability. Accommodation Services have an Accommodation Enquiry Line on +44 (0) 141 330 7157 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
The Student Representative Council is another source of advice. You may find their fearless-flathunting guide helpful.
For international students
There is information for international students on the International student support and visas website.
This includes advice around living in the UK, opening a bank account, health services and other relevant topics if coming here for the first time.
As your visa sponsor, international students must also be aware that the university is legally required to monitor your engagement with your studies.
You can find more information on the process and what will be required from you on our Student Immigration Hub. Please ensure you read through this to familiarise yourself with the requirements.
PGR Community
There are many ways to get involved in the PGR community at University of Glasgow. Below are just a few links to get you started.
- Student Life at Glasgow. You can find information, advice and fun tips here for Glasgow newcomers.
- UofG PGR blog. A blog run by and for the PGR community at University of Glasgow.
- Tips for PGRs. The Student Represetatives Council (SRC) have a handy guide for helping PGRs navigate the programme
- Gilchrist Postgraduate Club. A place for PGRs and staff to meet and grab a coffee.
- Join a Club or Society. Over 300 at the university you can join - Including the PGR Society!
Office Space and Equipment
Office Space
All new PhD students will have access to a large hotdesking space on levels 4 and 5 of the Adam Smith Building once they are fully registered.
It is accessible via your student card and enables everyone a workspace when they need it. There is no need to book. It is open 7 days a week.
There are also a variety of work areas in different locations throughout the building for one-to-one meetings and bookable spaces for focused work or to collaborate. We will provide more information on this at induction.
Full-Time students will be able to apply for an allocated desk in the Gilbert Scott Building from year 2 onwards, subject to availability.
Laptops
New students will have the opportunity to receive a loan laptop from the university, to be returned at the end of your studies. These will be given out in your induction week and you will be contacted in advance with details on how to secure one. These will mostly be Microsoft PCs, with some MacBooks also available but in more limited quantities.