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Postgraduate Study

Course closed:

Strategy, Marketing and Operations is no longer accepting new applications.

The MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations (SMO) is an intensive nine-month programme that prepares you for continuation to the Cambridge Judge Business School (CJBS) PhD in the fields of strategic management, marketing, operations and technology management, or organisational behaviour.

The educational aims of the programme are to prepare students for doctoral work in the fields of strategic management, marketing, operations and technology management, or organisational behaviour at CJBS. The programme is an integral part of the CJBS PhD programme for these fields, by:

  • providing teaching in research methodology, in particular in econometrics and mathematical modelling;
  • providing teaching in foundational subjects, such as economics; and
  • providing research seminars in which students will learn about the current debates in their field of specialisation, and about the canonical literature that underpins these debates;
  • providing guidance on the structuring, writing and critiquing of academic research papers;
  • giving students the opportunity to experience research first-hand, either through an individual research project or a dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have:

  • critique research papers on the basis of content and methodology;
  • develop and defend a research proposal for their subsequent PhD year, including a clearly articulated research question, its positioning in the literature, and appropriate research methodology:
  • acquired or consolidated foundational knowledge and methodological skills necessary for research in their chosen field of specialisation;
  • demonstrated an ability to critique research papers; and
  • presented their own ideas in a public forum and learned to contribute constructively within an international environment.

Continuing

Students may apply to continue to the PhD, but success is subject to satisfactory performance at the admissions interview in the Lent Term 2024, and achieving a minimum average grade of at least 70 per cent on the MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations. Students are required to also achieve at least 70 per cent in their dissertation (if not replaced by additional modules). 


Open Days

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.

See further the Postgraduate Admissions Events pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Cambridge Judge Business School also hosts Experience Days throughout the year. Please see Cambridge Judge Business School wide-events page for further information.

Key Information


9 months full-time

Study Mode : Taught

Master of Philosophy

Judge Business School

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Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Feb. 22, 2024
Course Starts
Sept. 2, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 5, 2023
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 11, 2023

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.


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