phd in management in dubai

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PhD Management

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus

+971 4 571 7000

[email protected]

The PhD programme in the School of Social Sciences offers unique opportunities for students in the region to research issues of relevance to the Islamic and Arab world as well as globally.

For instance, the programme offers opportunities for research in areas such as Islamic business, international human resource management, cross-cultural management, equality and diversity, emiratisation and other nationalisation policies, marketing, sustainability, accounting, finance and corporate governance.

Accreditation

Read more about the UAE Federal Accreditation .

Entry requirements

Fees and funding, research topics for phd supervision.

• International Human Resource Management 
• Human Resource Management policies and practices in local and multinational organisations
• Expatriate staff in organisations (experiences, organisational strategies, etc.)
• Diversity/Equality in organisations
• Emiratisation, Qatarisation (and any other nationalisation/localisation) policies
• Critical management, comparative management and Islamic management. Cross cultural management
• Electronic HRM (specifically internet recruitment)
• Small and Medium size enterprises (SMEs) and Entrepreneurship development
• Female Entrepreneurs
• Employer branding
• Sustainability
• Non-genuine branded goods (from a marketing perspective)
• Customer relationship management (CRM; Relationship Marketing; Trust, commitment and quality in customer, business and marketing channel relationships (especially in a financial services context); Marketing Channel Management. Ethical and environmental dimensions of Consumer behaviour and marketing practice.)
• Digital marketing, social media, consumer behaviour online

Accounting, Banking, Finance areas

• Corporate governance and corporate finance
• Corporate governance and regulatory reforms in emerging economies
• Risk management and efficiency in the banking sector
• Islamic banking and finance
• Corporate social and environmental responsibilities
• Carbon disclosures and biodiversity
• Financial Reporting and Corporate Disclosure
• Risk Disclosure
• Investor Relations
• Management Accounting
• International Accounting
• Corporate Governance and Ethics
• Accounting education and ethics
• Socio-economic perspectives on accounting

Research proposal

The research proposal (normally 3 to 4 pages) should contain as much as possible of the following:

• Introduction or outline of the proposed topic
• Statement of objective(s) and/or specific research questions
• Summary of some of the relevant literature that 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, 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 using plagiarism software.
• Interested applicants should complete the online application form, making clear on the form that you are applying to study at the Dubai Campus.
• If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Shirin El Chami ( [email protected] ).

Supporting documents

Applicants interested in our PhD opportunities need to submit the following:

• Copies of full academic transcripts from all previous academic degree courses and copies of certificates for degrees already awarded.
• Confirmation of funding source and/or confirmation of sponsorship/sufficient funds to pursue studies.
• A detailed research proposal.

English language requirements

Where English was not the medium of instruction during previous education, applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5. Other qualifications may also be considered.

• AED 95670 per year*

* All tuition fees inclusive of VAT

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See our range of degree entry, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and PhD scholarships and discounts .

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• PHD IN ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT

DOCTOR OF PHD IN ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT

Introduction.

Welcome to the SSM PHD program

Structure and Schedule

The PhD Program structure is aligned with international standards of Postgraduate Education and, accordingly, fulfils the criteria of the process of Harmonisation of Higher Education in Europe (Bologna Process).

The first stage of the PhD program consists of coursework that gives the candidate an overview of the entire research process. The aim is to acquire fundamental research skills.

The coursework consists of five mandatory modules, which will be delivered as taught modules in three general Workshops. Each workshop typically covers one or more modules. The successful students will acquire 60 ECTS credits through the coursework.

The modules are delivered interactively and are based on actual knowledge and research in this pathway. The “Research Methods” modules are taught via lectures and/or seminars and require students’ attendance. A long-distance learning version will be introduced as alternative form of study as well.

Students, who have decided to attend also the Master of Research (MRes) pathway, have to continue with three additional optional modules (10 ECTS Credits each). If the candidate passes successfully the additional coursework, a Research Proposal is required. The Research Proposal is the final work in order to achieve the Degree of the Master of Research (MRes).

The students can move forward in the second stage, the Research Lab, after the fulfilment of all five modules. In this stage, they will collect, edit and analyse data.

The third and final stage of the process of the PhD program is the write-up. This normally requires additional analyses and the time-consuming task of presenting findings clearly and without mistakes. After six months, a draft version should be ready for submission to internal and external readers. Processing readers’ comments may take up to three months, after that a date will be set for the oral defense, the so called viva voce (VIVA).

Workshop OUTLINES - Modules

Research methods.

Professional and academic research are vital necessities for modern management to forge ahead. Research is the process of asking the right and relevant questions and of gathering and analyzing the necessary data in a systematic and methodologically sound manner. An important aspect of sound professional and academic research is to embed the research within the body of existing knowledge (applied research) and to add to it (generating new knowledge).

This module will guide you through the research process, from the formulation of the topic to critically detecting and reviewing relevant literature, designing the research project and choosing appropriate methodologies, collecting and analyzing the data and writing the report. Especially for those who are new to research, this workshop will offer a helicopter view of the approaches that researchers use to answer research questions. The other workshops will zoom in on specific parts of the research process and on specific methodologies that can be employed.

Learning Objectives

• Formulate research topic in clear terms.
• Formulate research objectives and questions, hypotheses and propositions.
• Carry out a critical review of literature relevant to the topic at hand.
• Essential skills in reviewing literature: search for recent and relevant articles in (electronic) libraries and on the Internet; using tools to structure the review; know how to use systematic referencing; summarize the review concisely.
• Understand the key methodologies used in modern research. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Creatively combine various approaches to generate relevant data.
• Have a good knowledge of the various methods of data collection.
• Be familiar with statistical concepts like sampling, and hypothesis testing. Have an understanding of the main statistical (descriptive and inferential) techniques used to analyze data.
• Know how to structure the report, and the main requirements of a high quality professional or academic report.
• Be familiar with ethical considerations in research, including the concept of plagiarism.

The assessment will be based on one assignment. The assignment consists of two parts. In part one you will be asked to evaluate parts of a sample research proposal written by somebody else. In the second part you are invited to draft a rough plan for your own research project.

In the assignment you are asked to:

Clearly describe the topic;

Formulate research objectives and questions;

• Identify and summarize at least five articles relevant to the study;
• Design your research (in terms of approaches; methodologies; and strategies), and to motivate why the chosen design is effective in meeting the research objectives.

Quantitative Methods & Survey Design

Numbers play an important role in research. Statistical skills are critical to understanding a lot of what goes on in society. Many of us find statistics hard.

One reason is that understanding statistics requires mathematical skills. The mathematical skills needed seldom go beyond operations that all students are familiar with – adding, subtracting, multiplication and division. This module will introduce basic and advanced statistics in an intuitive way. Concepts are introduced using examples that students will easily recognize from daily life. Although we refrain from discussing advanced topics in statistics, the workshop paves the way to exploring more advanced statistics.

A second reason why some students have a fear of statistics is the gap that exists between understanding the statistical concepts on the one hand and applying the concepts to reality. This workshop introduces the student to descriptive and inferential statistics. All techniques will be illustrated with easy-to-understand examples.

In the process, this workshop will zoom in on important topics in survey design: sampling techniques; validity and reliability; and data cleaning.

• Ability to design a survey (sample; questionnaire)
• Understand basic descriptive statistics
• Understand the concepts used in inferential statistics
• Understand which statistical tests and techniques can be used in a variety of settings
• Be able to perform, interpret and report statistical tests.

Students will be assessed through one assignment.

The assignment will challenge the candidate to draft a plan of analysis, for his or her research, based on a draft of the data collection instrument to be used in the research.

Qualitative Methods

This workshop is designed to help qualitative researchers with all aspects of their qualitative research project from the beginning to the end. It discusses the key philosophies underpinning qualitative research and design – with a focus on research in management – and assesses the key advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches.

We will zoom in on aspects of research design for qualitative studies. The core part of the workshop elaborates qualitative research methods that have been touched upon in the workshop on research methods: action research; case study research; ethnographic research; grounded theory; interviews; participant observation; and document analysis. All techniques will be discuss the various approaches of that technique, along with strengths and weaknesses and examples.

In a separate block the workshop will discuss the analysis of qualitative data, which is fundamentally different from analyzing quantitative data. After an overview of the various methods and techniques that can be used when analyzing qualitative data – including the use of dedicated software – the principles of hermeneutics, semiotics and narrative analysis will be taught and trained.

In a concluding block, the workshop will address issues of write-up and publication, with a focus on the differences from writing up non-qualitative studies.

• Familiarize the participants with the fundamentals of qualitative research
• Understand the pros and cons of qualitative research as compared to quantitative research
• Have a sound understanding of the various methods and techniques in qualitative research
• Ability to use the various methods and techniques of qualitative research
• Obtain the various skills needed for carrying out qualitative research: formulating and asking questions; listening; summarizing; analyze qualitative data; write-up.

This course will not make use of software dedicated to analysis of qualitative research. The use of Nvivo is the topic of an elective course.

The assignment will be based on the application of various methods and techniques of qualitative research to one’s own research (even if the study will be mainly quantitative).

Essential Tools

The module will introduce you to essential tools for doing research at doctoral level. The toolbox offers a rich set of tools. The focus will be on STATA. The STATA package is one of the main packages used by researchers doing serious research. A fully operational permanent license for the latest version of STATA is included in the study fees.

Candidates are requested to submit and defend a doctoral thesis.

The topic of the thesis has to be one of the following broad field of research:

• Strategic Management
• Human Resource Management
• Production and Operations Management
• Logistics Management
• Business Environment
• Public Policies
• Specific Sectors of the Economy

General Entry Requirements

Candidates with master’s degree, candidates need to have completed a significant research project, dissertation or thesis, at university level. candidates must own a comparable master’s degree; i.e., it has to be awarded by an officially acknowledged higher education institution., graduates without a master’s degree are equally admitted, but they must have acquired another similar degree, which can be directly compared to a postgraduate degree, i.e. equivalent to level 7 of studies. this regulation acknowledges differences, which may internationally exist on national levels., all applicants from countries in which the official language is not english or german are required to submit official evidence of english or german language proficiency., acceptance by the department, meeting our academic requirements does not guarantee entry. you must demonstrate an ability to research independently and possess a high level of theoretical understanding., acceptance is subject to staff availability for supervision. a committee decides whether your qualifications fulfil the admission requirements as a doctoral candidate. the department’s committee usually meets periodically., application and enrolment.

How to apply: step by step from Application to Enrolment

• 1. Application and Biographical Information (Portfolio)

To apply for a PhD program, please submit the application form and provide us your biographical data. For this purpose, use the student portfolio form, which is used to assess whether an applicant is eligible for a Doctorate. In case of admission, the candidate receives a letter of acceptance. You can download the forms from our website or use the application form, which you will get at the Office of Admissions.

The Application form will ask you to provide biographical and academic information and to give details about your educational and extracurricular activities. Information must be completed with accurate dates on each entry. Please fill in the form carefully as far as you can, so that your application can be processed as soon as possible. All documents have to be submitted in an electronic version (PDF or jpg-Format) to the Office of Admissions.

• 2. Letter of Acceptance

SSM will notify you of the results of your application. Wait for it! In the case of admission, the student receives a letter of acceptance.

• 3. Educational Agreement and Tuition Fees

After receiving the letter of acceptance, please fill in the educational agreement. The student receives a confirmation of enrolment and can start the educational path, as soon as the study contract is signed and submitted (an electronic version/pdf-file can be submitted via email) and the application and tuition fee are paid at least for the first semester.

• 4. Begin of Study

An individual study plan can be prepared or discussed with a student counsellor, during a personal meeting or a preliminary seminar at the beginning of the course.

Quality Assurance on National Level of Further Education

SSM is a quality certified school aligned to the standard of Swiss Further Education by EduQua.

EduQua is a Public Private Partnership with international bodies, e.g. the Swiss Federation for Adult Learning and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs for Quality Assurance in HE in Switzerland (SQS).

Certificate of Accreditation and excerpts from EduQua online database are displayed on the following pages.

Cost of the program

The tuition fee for the doctorate program is euro 30,000., the tuition fee can be paid in instalments, in accordance with a step-by-step plan consisting of 20 steps, which will give structure to your study. broadly speaking, candidates are expected to pay in three main instalments as shown below:, fees structure, application fee : € 200, enrollment fee : € 10,000 – before starting program, first installment : € 10,000 – at the beginning of 2nd academic., second installment : € 10,000 – at the beginning of 3rd academic., total tuition fees : € 30,000, short facts overview.

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PhD in Strategic Management

The right methodology in practicing management in the different organizations is through strategic management.

The effective strategic management practice is one of the most important reasons to distinguish leading institutions from affiliated institutions, and successful institutions form other unstable institutions.

The development to reach the current concept of strategic management was reached after many phases of planning implementation that started by using budgets, long-term planning, strategic planning and finally reaching the strategic management methodology.

Reaching this phase has changed the philosophy of the organization’s management in dealing with the work environment, and changed it from being constant -that must be recognized- to being variables that can be interacted with and impacted on to serve the mission and objectives of the organization.  

The PhD in Strategic Management aims to introduce students to the advanced and deep process in strategic management and its importance to the success of institutions and organizations

• Prepare efficient and qualified staff that the governmental and business sectors need to keep developing and face the business challenges.
• Develop knowledge, skills and capabilities of managers in the governmental sector and businessmen and businesswomen in the private sector by combining the scientific thoughts to build strategies and its practical implementation and the recreating of the concepts and practices of strategies according to successful bases.
• Cover the local market needs of the scientific competencies in strategic management.
• Provide students with experience and skills to be in leading positions in the public sector and the non-profit sector by using theory and practice.
• Upgrade the level of research and academic studies by conducting researches in a scientific way and focusing on researches that provide knowledge in all program courses.
• Develop a relation network with academic institutions and the local community organizations to act like one organization to serve community.
• Enhance communication, group work skills and the social responsibility concepts that lead to better organization practices.
• Focus on the courses, seminars and modern theories in all courses.
• Connect the theory with the practice part to refine the skills and experiences of employees who join this program, in order to prepare managers and experts capable to apply the strategic methodology in governmental project management and governmental institutions … etc. 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME

The Importance of Strategic Management in Institutions:

• Provide managers with the critical thinking mechanism in general.
• Increase the ability to predict the changes in the surrounding environment and the way to adjust to them.
• Allocate all available resources.
• Contribute in raising awareness about changes, and understanding the available threats and opportunities.
• Provide a sound logic in evaluating budgets.
• Organize sequencing process in the overall planning effort for all administrative levels.
• Work in making managers innovative and creative, and direct them to creating events not receiving them.

Careers of Graduates

Strategic Management fields and the careers of graduates in this field in Palestine are:

• In the different ministries and organizations related to health– Education – Economic – Media – Work – Transportation – Housing – Finance – Tourism – Interior – Foreign Affairs – Telecommunications and Technology.
• The research and studies center in the governmental and central organizations.
• Youth institutions.
• Environment and Land Management Authorities.
• Water and Electricity Companies.
• Private Companies.
• Insurance companies and social security companies.
• Universities and higher education institutions.

Program Curriculum

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• PhD in Aviation Management

Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation Management

• Course Outline
• Learning Outcomes
• Entry Requirements

The PhD programme in Aviation Management is designed to develop professionals with a deep understanding of aviation management. The programme equips students with advanced knowledge through rigorous research, enabling them to contribute to industry innovation and provide leadership in the field. The PhD programme offers students a solid foundation in subject-specific knowledge and provides training for doctoral researchers through a variety of modules and research workshops. A supervisory team comprising experienced researchers offers diverse perspectives and expertise to support students, complemented by a community of peers and learning hub facilities provided at Emirates Aviation University (EAU).

Programme key features:

• Comprehensive researcher development training.
• Robust support system provided by trained PhD supervisors.
• Cumulative submission of thesis components over time.
• Opportunity to publish research.

Why enrol on this programme?

EAU is the Middle East’s leading educational institution for aeronautical engineering, aviation management, business management, and aviation safety and security studies. The university offers an experienced faculty, a multinational student body, and a purpose-built campus in the heart of Dubai, ensuring a vibrant learning environment.

PhD students in Aviation Management will collaborate with distinguished faculty proficient in business and aviation management, bringing expertise from top academic institutions and industries worldwide. EAU's faculty commitment to research, in collaboration with academic institutions, government organizations, and industry, provides an ideal environment for candidates to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and develop their research interests.

Candidates will receive excellent supervision and access to a full range of research workshops and resources, supporting their development as postgraduate researchers.

Accreditation

The PhD in Aviation Management is accredited by the  Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, UAE.

Career Prospects

Completion of the PhD in Aviation Management programme presents valuable career opportunities for individuals at different stages of their professional journey. For those seeking to enter the aviation industry or advance their careers, the programme equips them with advanced skills and qualifications. Employers highly value the comprehensive understanding and skills gained from this programme, making graduates valuable contributors across academia, research, regulation, and management.

Duration and Delivery:

The PhD consists of 540 credits, distributed as below:

On successful completion of the programme, a Postgraduate Researcher should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, cognitive, practical and transferable skills, as outlined below:

Knowledge and Understanding

• KU1 -Make a significant and original contribution to a specialised field of enquiry worthy of publication.
• KU2 -Command highly specialised and advanced technical, professional and/or research skills including recognised theories, processes, analytical methods and uses of empirical evidence related to research.
• KU3 -Propose, discuss, critically evaluate and defend such knowledge and scholarship with peers and explain the function and contexts in which specialist and advanced level research occurs.
• KU4 -Debate the philosophy and research methodology, including design and management of projects and ethics, of research.

Cognitive (thinking) Skills

• CS1 - Create and interpret new knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or an area of professional practice.
• CS2 - Identify relevant research theories, methods or techniques, to undertake a large independent research project and critically evaluate the outcome
• CS3 - Analyse and draw reasoned conclusions concerning structured and unstructured problems from documentation, practical activity, case studies, observations and sets of data.
• CS4 - Synthesise ideas, theories or arguments and formulate research questions and research design.

Practical Skills

• PS1 - Reflect, investigate, and apply knowledge which supports the research and programme of study.
• PS2 - Apply and develop appropriate techniques and methodologies applicable to research and advanced scholarship.
• PS3 - Communicate and work effectively to persuade and influence others.

Transferable Skills

• TS1 -Written and oral communication and defence of ideas and arguments.
• TS2 -Interpersonal skills including teamwork and problem-solving.
• TS3 -Management and leadership skills including time management and project management conflict resolution.
• TS4 -The ability to work independently dealing with complex and unpredictable situations in professional or equivalent environments.
• TS5 -Research and analytical skills, including numerical and statistical skills where appropriate to manipulate and present data.
• TS6 – The ability to select, justify and apply appropriate research and decision-making techniques relevant to the research and programme of study.

You will need to submit the following documents to  [email protected]

• Research proposal (maximum of 3,000 words or 6 pages). The research area must be suitable for supervision by EAU faculty.
• A letter of interest.
• Master's qualifications and transcripts in English.
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable).
• A curriculum vitae (cv)
• Two supporting references are to be submitted by the referees, with at least one being academic.

Admission Interview

• After the initial application review, candidates will be interviewed to assess their suitability and academic potential.

*Non-refundable

**Tuition Fees inclusive of VAT 5%

How to apply

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Fees & payment

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Student life

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• Best Online Ph.D. In Management

Best Online Ph.D. In Management Of 2024

Published: Apr 16, 2024, 3:33pm

Key Takeaways

• A Ph.D. in management prepares students for advanced, research-based roles in business
• Concentrations for management Ph.D. programs vary widely, including areas like engineering management, project management and sport management
• The typical Ph.D. in management requires around 60 credits of coursework

A Ph.D. in management is one of the most advanced degrees you can attain in the business field. If you aspire to a high-level role in research, academia or consulting, you might consider pursuing a Ph.D. in management online.

Online Ph.D.s in management typically require a dissertation and delve into contemporary theories of leadership and management. However, many do not include in-person requirements. Rather than practical learning components, students complete theoretical coursework before turning their attention to their dissertations.

We’ve ranked the 10 best online Ph.D. programs in management. Read on to learn more.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
• 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
• All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
• Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
• Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Our Methodology

We ranked 13 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online management Ph.D. programs in the U.S. using 14 data points in the categories of student experience, credibility, student outcomes and affordability. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of February 2024. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Experience :

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• Proportion of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility :

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

Student Outcomes :

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability :

• In-state graduate student tuition and fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Student loan default rate

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 88% or higher.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

• Best Online Accounting Degrees
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Degree Finder

Best online ph.d. in management, should you enroll in a ph.d. in management online, accreditation for online ph.d.s in management, how to find the right online ph.d. in management for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about online ph.d.s in management, western new england university, capitol technology university, liberty university, university of the cumberlands, maharishi international university, bellevue university, troy university, indiana state university, national university, amridge university, featured online schools.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial credit and much more by clicking 'Visit Site'

Program Tuition Rate

$1,575/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University offers an online Ph.D. in engineering management comprising 10 classroom courses and a research-focused dissertation, which students must defend before faculty members. Notable courses in the 57-credit curriculum include operations research and project management.

WNE delivers most online coursework asynchronously through the Kodiak learning management system. Applicants need a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and must submit GRE scores. Students can enroll full time or part time.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $50
• Degree Credit Requirements: 57 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time, part-time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Operations research, project management
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: No

$950/credit

Located just outside of the nation’s capital city in South Laurel, Maryland, Capitol Technology University offers six online management Ph.D.s in engineering management, facilities management, occupational risk management, product management, project management and real estate management. All programs require 60 credits.

Learners don’t have to fulfill any on-campus courses or residencies, completing their Ph.D. entirely online.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• Application Fee: $100
• Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Product management future demands, engineering management research backgrounds
• Concentrations Available: Engineering management, facilities management, occupational risk management, product management, project management, real estate management

$565/credit

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University enrolls more than 135,000 students, most of whom take online courses. The university’s online Ph.D. program in organization and management – leadership provides a comprehensive study of leadership. The 60-credit curriculum includes courses like ethical leadership, leading effective teams, leading organizational change and leading theory. The program culminates with a dissertation.

Liberty delivers all program coursework asynchronously to maximize flexibility.

• Program Enrollment Options: Full time
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Ethical leadership, leading effective teams

$549/credit

Based out of Williamsburg, Kentucky, the University of the Cumberlands is a private, Christian-affiliated university that offers several online degrees, including a Ph.D. in business management.

The program’s 66-credit curriculum includes core courses in advanced managerial accounting, comparative economics, strategic marketing, and managerial ethics and social responsibility. All students also take courses in statistics and research methods, leading to a dissertation.

The curriculum offers seven focus areas, including entrepreneurship, finance and healthcare administration.

• Application Fee: $30
• Degree Credit Requirements: 66 credits
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Advanced managerial accounting, comparative economics
• Concentrations Available: Accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare administration, marketing, project management, strategic management

$6,000 to $10,800/year

Located in Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi International University offers an online Ph.D. in management that stands out for several reasons. The degree incorporates a distinct focus on sustainability, and students do not take finals at the end of their courses. The program runs on a block system, in which students immerse themselves in a single course at a time. All students at MIU practice transcendental meditation twice per day.

Online students can choose between synchronous and asynchronous course delivery, although synchronous attendance is encouraged.

• Application Fee: $20
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Assessing human development, performance management in strategy research

$799/credit

Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, Bellevue University offers many online programs, including a Ph.D. in human capital management. While most coursework takes place online, students must complete two on-campus residencies: one at the start of the program and another at the beginning of the dissertation process. The 51-credit curriculum includes seminars in performance management, qualitative methods, and leading and aligning human capital.

The university delivers most online coursework asynchronously to promote flexibility.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 51 credits
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Seminar in performance management, seminar in qualitative methods
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for two residencies

$550/credit

Based in Troy, Alabama, Troy University is a state school that offers several online programs, including a Ph.D. in sport management. The 60-credit curriculum delves into topics like sport management pedagogy and the legal aspects of sport. The program culminates with a dissertation that involves original research and scholarship. Students never need to visit campus.

Troy delivers all online coursework asynchronously through Canvas. Each online course typically lasts for nine weeks.

• School Type: Public
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Sport management pedagogy, seminar in legal aspects of sport

$450/credit

Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, Indiana State University offers several online programs, including a Ph.D. in technology management. The 66-credit curriculum includes five specialization options, among them construction management, manufacturing systems, and human resource development and industrial training. In addition to a specialization, all students must complete a research-focused dissertation requirement.

Notable courses in the curriculum include technology project management and advanced economic analysis. ISU offers its Ph.D. program in technology management along with a consortium of three other universities.

• Application Fee: $45
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Technology project management, advanced economic analysis
• Concentrations Available: Manufacturing systems, construction management, quality systems, digital communications, human resource development and industrial training

$442/quarter credit

Headquartered in San Diego, California, National University primarily focuses on online programs, offering distance degrees to students around the nation. The university’s Ph.D. in technology management requires 60 credits and includes courses in statistics with technology applications and principles of technology innovation management.

Students can choose from six concentrations, including computer science, information systems and data science. NU delivers most online coursework asynchronously. New students can begin the program each Monday.

• Application Fee: Free
• Example Major-Specific Courses: Statistics with technology applications, principles of technology innovation management
• Concentrations Available: Computer science, IT project management, information systems, engineering management, data science, cybersecurity

$700/credit

Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Amridge University maintains an affiliation with the Churches of Christ. Amridge has recently expanded its distance learning presence to include an online Ph.D. in organizational leadership and management.

The program’s 51-credit curriculum includes foundational courses in legal aspects of management, research methodology, and leading innovation and change. All students must also complete a qualifying examination, after which they tackle a research-focused dissertation in organizational leadership.

• Example Major-Specific Courses: Legal aspects of management, research methodology

Though distance learning is widely appealing, not all students thrive in online learning environments. To determine whether you should pursue your doctorate online, ask yourself the following:

• What are your other obligations? If you are a parent or if you plan to keep a full-time job while enrolled, asynchronous online learning might provide a good fit. Asynchronous course delivery eliminates scheduled class sessions, allowing you to complete assignments on your schedule so you can better manage your commitments.
• What’s your budget? Online learning is often more affordable than on-campus learning. Distance learners generally avoid campus-related costs like housing and transportation. Moreover, some public universities—which typically charge higher rates to out-of-state learners —allow online students to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates , regardless of their state residency status.
• What’s your learning style? While online learning offers flexibility and affordability, it is not for everyone. Distance learners need a great deal of discipline, organization and time management skills. If you need additional structure to do your best, you might prefer a synchronous, hybrid or on-campus program.

There are two important types of college accreditation : institutional and programmatic.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the third-party agencies that handle the institutional accreditation process. Accrediting agencies evaluate schools for the quality of their academics, finances and faculty, among other areas. You must be enrolled at an institutionally accredited college to qualify for federal student aid.

To check a school’s accreditation status, you can look at its website or visit the database on CHEA’s website .

Programmatic accreditation provides a similar vetting service, but for specific degree programs and departments. The importance of programmatic accreditation varies by field, but it is fairly relevant in business.

For management programs, you should keep an eye out for accreditation from one of three organizations:

• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
• The International Accreditation Council for Business Education

AACSB is not recognized by the ED or CHEA, but it is still widely respected in the business field and among the best-known business degree accreditors.

Consider Your Future Goals

An online Ph.D. in management can lead to high-level positions in academia or research. You may also be able to find work as an economist or a consultant.

In general, advanced business these positions involve analysis, research and scholarship. If you want to work as a C-level executive or entrepreneur, you might be better off getting an M.B.A. degree in your preferred business subfield. M.B.A. programs focus more on applied, practical business skills as opposed to theory.

If you know you want to work in research or academia, you should choose a Ph.D. in management that requires a dissertation. A dissertation will give you a chance to try out research and scholarship and perhaps even contribute to the field by publishing your findings in a journal. This work can help you land a job as a professor or researcher once you graduate.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Per-credit tuition rates for the 10 qualifying Ph.D. programs in our guide range from $450 to $1,575. Over the course of a typical 60-credit Ph.D. program, this translates to between $27,000 and $94,500 in total tuition. That’s no small investment.

To defray the cost of your graduate education, you should first fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is the gateway to federal student aid opportunities like loans, grants and scholarships. Universities and other aid providers may also use FAFSA data to determine their awards. Additionally, you can pursue financial aid through private lenders and third-party organizations.

What does a Ph.D. in management do?

A Ph.D. in management prepares graduates for careers in research, scholarship and academia. To that end, most management Ph.D. programs include a course in research methods and require students to complete a dissertation before they graduate.

How long is a Ph.D. in management?

Our top-ranked Ph.D. in management programs take between three and five years to finish, but completion times vary depending on program requirements and student enrollment status.

Which Ph.D. is best after an M.B.A.?

The best Ph.D. for an M.B.A. holder depends on their individual goals and circumstances. A Ph.D. in management generally builds on the managerial and business skills gained through an M.B.A. program.

Is a Ph.D. in management worth it?

The value of a Ph.D. in management depends on your career goals. This degree is a good fit for students who want to become business professors , researchers and consultants. If you want to become an executive or entrepreneur, an M.B.A. program is likely a better fit.

Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.