The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme is designed to prepare students for a career as an academic or a researcher in the public or private sector. The research in the PhD programme is an in-depth investigation of specific research issue(s) related to a management discipline with the aim of enhancing and contributing to new knowledge in that discipline. Students are expected to have strong theoretical and research methodological foundations and be able to conduct their research fairly independently.

• PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

PHASE I – COURSEWORK 

The coursework is mandatory. Each student must attain an overall CGPA of 3.00 before he/she is allowed to proceed with his/her research in Phase II.

Three core courses (9 credit hours)

• Research Methodology
• Research Analysis
• Advanced Research Methodology

Exemption to certain courses may be given to a student who has taken the equivalent courses before his/her enrollment into the PhD programme.

PHASE II – PROPOSAL DEFENCE (PD)

Each student must publicly present and defend his/her PhD research proposal. The assessment at the PD stage involves evaluation of the student’s knowledge of the extant literature in his/her area of research, his ability to integrate the theories pertinent to the research in formulating the appropriate research framework and his/her ability to adopt the appropriate research design.
The student is only allowed to continue with his/her research to Phase III upon passing of the defence of his/her proposal.

PHASE III – THESIS PREPARATION

The student proceeds to continue with his/her data collection, data analysis and thesis writing.

PHASE IV – VIVA VOCE

After submission of the thesis, the student is required to attend a viva-voce to orally defend his/her thesis.
The assessment at the viva voce involves evaluation of the student’s knowledge and ability to complete his/her research study to the satisfaction of the panel of three independent examiners.

• ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must possess one of the following qualifications:

• A recognised Master’s Degree or relevant field; or
• Other qualifications approved by the PBS Senate.

All international candidates graduated from degree programmes whereby English is not the medium of instruction must have obtained a minimum of 550 for the TOEFL Paper-based test or 80 for the Internet-based test, or IELTS Band 6.0, or MUET Band 5.0.