Ph.D PROGRAMS

Introduction

The PhD in Business Administration Program is a higher education opportunity for driven and passionate individuals who want to excel in the area of research and build an academic career. Through this program, prospective students can pursue this goal by getting enrolled in a PhD program in one of the many prestigious institutions in Canada.

Canadian Universities enjoy an enviable position in the rankings of higher education institutes around the world. They are known for their commitment to quality education while providing students with every prospect to learn, grow, and contribute. 

Benefits

As a PhD student in Canada, you will have the opportunity to study and work under the wings of a highly qualified faculty. With the right supervision and an environment that facilitates learning, you will develop refined research capabilities. The experience of studying in Canada is not just intellectually challenging, it is also exceptionally enriching. 

Specializations

You can choose to acquire a Business Administration doctoral degree in the following eight specializations:

1. Accounting
2. Finance
3. Marketing
4. Management Science
5. Urban Land Economics
6. Organizational Behavior 
7. Management Information Systems
8. Strategy and Business Economics

Other than the aforementioned areas of specialization, there is a possibility of a cross-field program based on thematically-related studies in multiple fields that lie within the same faculty. In rare and special cases, such a program can also be arranged even if the chosen fields do not lie within the same Faculty.

Requirements

The first and foremost requirement is the passion and the drive to pursue a research-oriented academic career. If you are an intelligent, creative, and educated individual with the desire to learn and explore more in your chosen field of study, you should see if you fulfill the eligibility criteria for PhD in business Administration program in Canada. 

Here are a few pre-requisites that make you a strong candidate for this PhD program.

Academic Qualification

Preliminary Degrees

• A Masters Degree is required to apply for this PhD program, expect for in rare cases; in case of exceptional academic record, admission can be granted on the basis of a Bachelors Degree.
• Since the research-oriented nature of this degree, candidates may have a previous degree in an area other than business e.g. Computer Science, Psychology, Economics. Operational Research, Math, Physics, and similar branches of science.

Standardized Tests

• A candidate must have official score sheet of GMAT or GRE. GMAT is preferred for all the areas of specialization expect Management Sciences, where GRE is favored.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) is mandatory for international students applying for the program. You should have a minimum overall band score of 7.0 with all the component score equal or above 5.

Academic Strengths

Preferably, a candidate applying for this program must have strong background in STEM subjects as well as social and physical sciences such as psychology. 

Program Duration

Completing your PhD in Business Administration in Canada requires a minimum of two years of course work.

On average, students in Canada take four years to successfully complete their PhD, which includes thesis preparation and defense. However, you can complete your program within six years, provided that the comprehensive examination is cleared and the thesis proposal is submitted by the end of the third year.

Financial Support 

With a belief that financial constraints should not prevent students from pursuing their dreams, universities offer financial support to deserving PhD students in Canada. 

Summary

Students will receive financial support that will cover the annual tuition fee for the first five years.

Students who are able to maintain a remarkable record in the program will also receive an additional annual sum of $30,000 for the first five years of the program to a total of CAD 150,000 for 5 years.

Here are the details of the $30,000 support and how it is arranged over the period of five years.

First Year

• $20,000 Fellowship
• $10,000 Summer research assistantship

Second Year

• $20,000 research assistantship
• $10,000 Summer research assistantship

Third Year –  Fifth Year

• $20,000 research assistantship/ teaching assistantship combined
• $10,000 Summer research assistantship

Course Work, Seminars and Examinations

Course Work

A PhD coursework combines the study of two types of courses.

Foundation courses – These are the courses related to basic study of business administration, including:

• Statistics
• Economics
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Mathematics
• Computer Science

Field courses – These are the courses that are relevant to your chosen area of specialization. There are eight areas of specialization, including:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Marketing
• Management Science 
• Organizational Behavior
• Management Information Systems
• Strategy and Business Economics
• Real Estate and Urban Economics

Seminar – Research methodology

In their first year of study, all students in the program must take a seminar in Research Methodology. The purpose of the seminar is to raise and discuss basic issues in the philosophy of science, and study research in the different areas and disciplines of management. The seminar provides the students an upfront view of the research methods and skills, prompting creative ideas for further improvement.

Examination

Study of each course is followed by a comprehensive examination to measure the level of learning and understanding of the basic concepts, their application, and other elements covered in the literature of the field. All students need to pass each exam in order to move forward with their program.

Dissertation

This PhD program requires all students to write a scholarly dissertation that displays their contribution to the area of research and study in their particular field. The dissertation proposal is prepared under the supervision of a dissertation committee, which then approves and assists the student in conducting their study. Once the dissertation is ready, the students need to present their findings and inferences to the committee and prepare to defend and justify it.  

Graduation Checklist

Here is a brief checklist of what you are required to do in order to be awarded your PhD in Business Administration:

• Complete coursework for your basic disciplines
• Satisfy the requirements of your area of specialization
• Clear preliminary exams for both the basic and specialization courses
• Submit an acceptable dissertation proposal to the relevant committee
• Complete your dissertation and defend it before an examining committee