Research courses
Throughout your PhD, you will be supported by a team of supervisors carrying out cutting-edge research in a range of topics including competitiveness in the visitor economy, digital visitor economy, and sustainability and wellbeing in the visitor economy. You will also have several mentoring and teaching opportunities, joining more than 50 PhD students, in one of the largest hospitality and tourism communities in the world.
What we are researching
Competitiveness in the visitor economy
- Competitiveness at firm and destination levels
- Modelling and forecasting the visitor economy
- Equality and diversity in employment
- Labour markets, productivity, career mobilities, skills, flexible employment and entrepreneurial migration
- Advances in destination branding, innovation, revenue management, and visitor experience and satisfaction
- Risk and disaster impacts
Sustainability and wellbeing in the visitor economy
- Sustainability evidence-based policy making
- Industry’s acceptance of responsibility for sustainable development
- Sustainable development and entrepreneurship
- Sustainable and efficient transportation
- Sustainability marketing, product design and communication
Digital visitor economy
- Digital transformation
- New media and consumer behaviour,
- New business models
- Disruptive innovation, transformation in business operations and performance
- Smart systems including artificial intelligence and robotics, sensors andthe internet of things
- Data science including biometric research, data analytics and pattern recognition in big data
Studentships
South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) studentship
Funding information:
Awards cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the UKRI home rate on a full-time and part-time basis.The UKRI has not yet announced the fees and stipend for 2025/26, but for the academic year of 2024/25 the UK fees are £4,786 and the stipend is £19,237 (£21,237 if London weighting applies).This competition-funded studentship is available to UK and International students and includes full UK or International fee waiver and stipend at UKRI rates.Dual PhD studentship: University of Surrey and Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Funding information:
Successful candidates will receive a fee waiver and a UKRI standard stipend for 36 months.Techne DTP- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Studentships 2025
Funding information:
Awards cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the UKRI rate.The UK fees and stipend for 2025/26 have not yet been announced but for the academic year of 2024/25 the UK fees are £4,786 and the stipend is £19,237 (£21,237 if London weighting applies).This competition-funded studentship is available to UK and International students and includes full UK or International fee waiver and stipend at UKRI rates.Expert support
Our Doctoral College supports the academic and professional development of postgraduate researchers to ensure our world-leading research continues to grow. There is also an extensive Researcher Development Programme run at university level.
What our students say
Read our student profiles to discover first-hand what it's like to study with us.
Completing my PhD at Surrey has fortified me with top-notch research skills that will stand the test of time internationally.Frederick Dayour, PhD Hospitality and Tourism Management
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