Key information
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Edinburgh Business School
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Award
- PhD
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start date
- September
- Duration
- Normally 3 years
We are internationally renowned for our cutting edge research on Logistics.
Our Centre for Logistics and Sustainability has a world class reputation and is well networked with industry and government both in the UK and internationally. In recent years LRC has undertaken projects on home delivery operations, performance measurement in the road freight sector, the development of coastal roll on-roll off (ro-ro) services for trucks, the process of freight traffic growth, future logistical trends in Europe and the distribution systems of UK supermarket chains. It has been a full partner in several major EU projects and conducted studies for government departments, the Institute of Logistics and Transport and several trade bodies.
Much of our research is undertaken within the broad areas below:
- Relationship between logistics / supply chain trends and freight transport
- Environmental sustainability of logistics operations
- Low carbon logistics
- Performance measurement, benchmarking and data collection in logistics
- Freight transport policy
- Shipping and port development
- Retail logistics
- Clothing and textile supply chains
- Effects of IT and e-commerce on logistics
- Impact of infrastructure development and traffic congestion on logistics
Logistics and Supply Chain Research Project 1
Personalized cellular therapeutic research is focused on developing technologies to up-scale or out-scale manufacturing to meet future demand. However supply chain strategy has been overlooked. This research will advance theory in operations management by exploring how to achieve alignment /co-innovation of product and supply chain design for competitive advantage.
Potential supervisors:
Logistics and Supply Chain Research Project 2
SCM value creation in the digital world is no longer simply linear and additive. Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a structured approach to study the relationship patterns among interacting network nodes that can capture behaviour led value creation. The research would examine how digitalisation affects SCM value creation.
Potential supervisors:
- Nigel Caldwell
Logistics and Supply Chain Research Project 3
Shipping is worth $375billion and carries 90% of world trade. Shipping companies design drone-ships in order to reduce their Operations Expenditure, as they would be safer, cheaper and less polluting. Vessels regulation considering the liability in tort and potential criminal implications of their use, could be paramount for global trade and economy.
Entry requirements
Candidate criteria
We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates. Please note that it is not necessary to have identified a potential supervisor before submitting your application.
Students successful in obtaining a place on our PhD programme normally commence their research studies at the start of the academic year in September. However, it is possible to join the PhD programme at an agreed date during the academic year.
How to apply
To apply to study a PhD in Logistics, please select 'PhD Management' in the application form's drop-down menu.
N.B: In order that your application can be processed please ensure all of the supporting documents listed below are submitted with your application:
Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
Copies of full academic transcripts from all previous academic degree courses and copies of degree certificates for degrees already awarded.
If you are currently pursuing a degree course please provide all available marks to date.
Research Proposal
The research proposal should be around 5-8 pages long and contain as much as possible of the following: an introduction or outline of the proposed topic; a statement of objectives and/or specific research questions; a summary of some of the relevant literature which supports the research objective(s); an indication of the intended research methodology; an indication of the theoretical structure and/or conceptual outline; a provisional timetable of the major phases of the research process; results expected from the research e.g. practical value of the research or possible contributions to knowledge or policy or methodology. At this stage we are not looking for a definitive document but merely an indication that you have thought through most of the above issues.
Please note that work submitted may be subject to screening via plagiarism software.
Funding Information
You should confirm how you are proposing to fund your studies.
References
If you have references available these should be submitted with your application. If they are not currently available please ensure that you provide the names and contact details, including email addresses, of two academic referees on the application form. You may also submit a Curriculum Vitae if you wish.
English language requirements
If you have not already studied a degree programme that was taught and examined in the medium of English we require evidence of language proficiency:
For IELTS: the minimum overall IELTS score is 6.5 with no score lower than 6.0 in Reading, Writing, speaking and Listening.
Further information can be found on the UK Government's Knowledge of English page.
Funding information
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £5,006 | £2,503 |
| England / Wales / N Ireland | £5,006 | £2,503 |
| International | £19,816 | £9,908 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Additional information
Self-funded
We welcome self-funded PhD research candidates from around the world. The majority of academic supervisors are open to applications from self-funding students and potential candidates should match their application to the research expertise and interests of the Business Management department. If you are interested in research areas that are not advertised here then please look at our research web pages and contact staff working in your area of interest. We also welcome good quality self-funded research projects from industry. For self-funded research from industry, we may be able to cover a percentage of the fee via a scholarship.
Queries may be directed to Dr. Babak Taheri b.taheri@hw.ac.uk
Additional scholarship information
The Business Management Department offers a number of scholarships every year. These opportunities are advertised on our Postgraduate Research Scholarships page during the period from January to April.
Shortlisted candidates are then interviewed, and those awarded the scholarships would normally start in September or early October.
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Related content
Explore facilities, & chat to staff and students
