Earn an Oxford Doctorate in Professional Management on Their Dime

Or their pound, or euro.  Oxford’s Said Business School has an interesting D.Phil. program in professional service firms (including management issues relating to law firms and the profession, but not so limited–think accountants and architects too).  They also offer scholarships to cover tuition/fees plus 10,000 pounds (roughly $18,800 US) each year for three years (and this doctorate can be earned that quickly), in an application process that begins about now, due early Jan. 07.  This is all part of the relatively new Clifford Chance Centre for the Management of Professional Service Firms, with an accomplished full-time and visiting faculty.  For example, one of the professors does research and surveys on patterns of change in professional businesses, including law firms, as well as human capital development such as payment structures and promotions in large law firms.  Others study reputation and identity within professions. The Centre held a conference in Boston in 2004 along with BC.

For those who think one of the interesting things about professions is how they organize (sorry, organise), manage their labour, enforce ethics and norms, and attract business–if the b school, management, and economics side of ‘professionalism’ is more your cup of tea than practicing law or studying laws–then this may be the programme (and funding opportunity) for you.  If you write them, learn to add the two dots over the i in Said.  I can’t get typepad to do that, or spell umlau for that matter.    [Posted by Alan Childress]