Course Overview
The Ph.D. in Business Administration is a research-based degree designed for professionals seeking to advance knowledge in business strategy, management and organisational performance. It explores the complex dynamics shaping modern enterprises in a global economy.
Candidates examine areas such as strategic management, marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship and organisational behaviour. Research may also address innovation, globalisation, digital business models and sustainable business practices.
This programme develops advanced analytical and research capabilities. Through independent research, candidates contribute to improving business practices and decision-making in diverse organisational contexts.
Award:
Doctor of Philosophy
Duration:
Delivery:
Start Date:
Hybrid Online Learning
Entry in Jan, Apr, Jul and Oct​
Minimum 2 years (maximum 5 years)
Information
Why choose to study a doctorate with us?
At Premier Learning Institute, you're more than just a student number. You are a valued member of our community!
USA Awarded Degree
Earn a globally recognised US-awarded Ph.D. and subject to terms, obtain an apostille certification under the Hague Convention, enabling your degree to be formally legalised for use across many countries worldwide.
Exceptional support
Our doctoral supervisors are not just academics, they are trained mentors. With regular, one-on-one guidance, constructive feedback, and tailored research support, you’ll always have an expert by your side.
Complete Your Ph.D. Fast
Complete your Ph.D. fast; in as little as 24 months via a structured, professionally focused programme. You can highly specialise in your field while getting the direction of a structured programme.
Rigour, without overload
Our carefully designed modular programme ensures that you gain deep, research-driven knowledge without being overwhelmed. You learn one step at a time. We focus on high-impact learning!
Ease of access
With self-paced learning and no fixed schedules, you remain in control of your progress while maintaining a great work-life balance, fitting your education around your personal and professional commitments.
Affordable
As a social enterprise, we prioritise affordable education without compromising on quality. Our simple fee structure and payment plans ensure that financial constraints are not a barrier to your Ph.D..
Highlights
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Earn a globally recognised US-awarded Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
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Complete your Ph.D. fast; in as little as 24 months via a structured, professionally focused programme.
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Designed for working professionals, with programmes built around an industry-driven curriculum that integrates real-world applications, practical skills, and research-based learning.
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Study 100% online from anywhere in the world, guided by a dedicated and highly qualified Doctoral Supervisor.
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Graduates may, subject to terms, obtain an apostille certification under the Hague Convention, enabling their degree to be formally legalised for use across many countries worldwide, supporting international career mobility and academic progression.
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A cost-effective pathway to doctoral study, online delivery significantly reduces costs compared to traditional on-campus programmes.
Key Features
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Graduates earn the title ‘Dr.’ with a prestigious doctorate qualification.
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Emphasises contemporary research methods and in-depth exploration of industry challenges.
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Suitable for professionals across various sectors.
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Change your supervisor without penalty or disadvantage.
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Dedicated supervisor provides mentoring and coaching from research inception to final thesis defence.
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Encourages academic publication of research.
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Encourages students to bring their own challenges as the foundation for research and innovation.
Entry Requirements
Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme typically hold a master’s degree in a related field. However, we also welcome experienced professionals who may not hold a master’s degree but have a good standing bachelor’s degree and can demonstrate significant professional or industry experience in a related role.
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Academic Requirements: Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and/or a master’s-level professional qualification, or equivalent experience / certifications.
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Professional Setting: Although not mandatory, you should ideally be working in, or have access to a professional setting in an area related to your research topic, in order to conduct research.
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Interview/Portfolio: You will be required to attend an interview and/or submit a portfolio of work/CV for consideration.
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References: Satisfactory references may be required before enrolment on the course.
For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language qualification or proficiency test is required.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Ph.D. in Business Administration are prepared for senior roles in business, consulting and academia. The qualification demonstrates expertise in strategic decision-making and organisational leadership. Typical career paths include:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Senior Executive
Management or Strategy Consultant
Business Development Director
Entrepreneur or Business Founder
Policy or Economic Advisor
University Lecturer or Research Scholar
This doctorate equips graduates to lead organisations, drive innovation and shape business strategy in competitive global markets.
Fees & Funding
The tuition fee for this course is not charged annually. It is a fixed one-off payment for the full programme, which can be paid in full or via instalments.
The full programme fee for 2026 is:
€ 8,622.00 EUR
For example, a 2-year instalment plan would entail an initial deposit plus €255 EUR per month. Scholarships, grants and tuition fee waivers may be available for this programme. For a tailored quotation, please contact our admissions team.
Other costs:
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Application Fee: You will be required to pay a € 55 EUR application fee before we can proceed to interview. If you are not offered a place on the Ph.D. then this fee will be fully refunded.
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Extension Fee: If you complete this programme within 2 years (i.e. 24 months from the date of enrolment), no additional supervision fee will be charged. However, exceeding this timeframe will incur an additional supervision fee of € 1120 EUR per additional year, up-to a maximum of 5 years.
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Final Award Fee: A fee of € 190 EUR is payable upon the final thesis submission to cover the costs of organising the viva voce panel and the related administrative expenses for the doctoral award.
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[Optional] English Language Support: If you are not a native language speaker of English, we can provide an Academic Writing Tutor at a discounted rate of € 45 EUR per session. Our academic tutors are Cambridge-certified, hold a doctorate degree, are published academics and have an excellent understanding of this Ph.D. programme.
Please note that you are able to pay fees in various currencies, however all fees are converted to, and charged in Euros.
Teaching & Assessment
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programme is delivered through our hybrid learning model, blending interactive face-to-face sessions with comprehensive virtual support, enabling candidates to balance their professional commitments alongside their doctoral studies.
The programme spans 21 modules across 96 scheduled weeks, designed to be completed within two academic years, and carries a total of 60 US credit hours. Modules are delivered in 12 blocks of 8 weeks each.
Core Modules (CM) are the main research-focused modules that directly build and develop your doctoral thesis, taken sequentially throughout the programme. Value-added Modules (VM), on the other hand, run alongside these and are designed to enhance your professional, analytical, and leadership skills, making you a more well-rounded and industry-ready doctorate holder.
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Phase 1 | Foundation (Weeks 1–32)
During the first phase, candidates develop the research literacy and professional context required for doctoral-level inquiry. They will undertake the following modules:
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SEM 7600, Project Seminar 1, CM
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ITM 813, Information Data Management, CM
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ECO 7800, Resource Economics, VM
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RES 7700, Preparing a Literature Review, CM
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SUS 7820, Sustainable Business Practices, VM
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RES 7710, Research Methods I, CM
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FIN 7810, Project Valuation, VM
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This stage orients candidates within the doctoral research journey, building skills in scholarly inquiry, literature searching, research ethics, and foundational methodology. The concurrent Value-Added Modules establish a broader professional and commercial framework that complements the candidate's research development throughout the programme.
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Phase 2 | Proposal (Weeks 33–52)
This phase focuses on the development and formal submission of the dissertation proposal. Candidates will complete:
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SEM 7610, Project Seminar 2, CM
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DAT 8800, Data Analytics, VM
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SEM 7620, Project Seminar 3, CM
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RSK 7830, Predictive & Risk Modeling, VM
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Across this phase, candidates refine their research problem, develop their conceptual and theoretical framework, and align their chosen methodology with their research objectives. Faculty feedback, peer review sessions, and concurrent analytical training in data analytics and risk modeling directly inform and strengthen the emerging dissertation proposal. By the end of Phase 2, candidates produce a finalised dissertation proposal ready for formal submission.
Phase 3 | Research (Weeks 49–80)
This phase constitutes the execution of the doctoral research, encompassing advanced methods training, full dissertation chapter development, data collection, and analysis. Candidates will complete:
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RES 8700, Research Methods II, CM
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LDR 8900, Strategic Leadership, VM
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SEM 7630, Project Seminar 4, CM
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PMP 8910, International Project Management, VM
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SEM 9600, Project Seminar 5, CM
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INT 9700, Global Management & Organisational Theory, VM
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DIS 9840, Doctoral Data Analysis, CM
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INT 9710, International Immersion, VM
Throughout this phase, candidates conduct live data collection, apply advanced analytical tools including SPSS, R, and NVivo, and complete the introduction, literature review, methodology, and results chapters of their dissertation. Value-Added Modules in strategic leadership, international management, and global organisational theory enrich the candidate's professional perspective and academic depth. Individualised faculty mentoring and peer review sessions ensure ongoing alignment with doctoral standards.
Phase 4 | Defense (Weeks 81–96)
The final phase is dedicated entirely to dissertation completion and the formal doctoral defense. Candidates will complete:
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SEM 9610, Project Seminar 6, CM
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DIS 9850, Doctoral Defense, CM
These are solo blocks with no concurrent modules, allowing candidates full focus on finalising every chapter of their dissertation, incorporating feedback, and preparing for the viva. Mock defense sessions, scholarly writing workshops, clarity-building reviews, and faculty sign-off culminate in the formal Doctoral Defense before the academic committee in Week 96, where candidates present their research findings and demonstrate doctoral mastery.
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Assessment
Assessment is continuous and cumulative across all four phases. Taught modules are assessed through a combination of quizzes, written assignments, case study analyses, and class participation, with a minimum pass mark of 60% required in each course. The dissertation strand; developed progressively through all six Project Seminars and completed through Doctoral Data Analysis and the Doctoral Defense, is assessed on originality, methodological rigour, theoretical depth, quality of analysis, and the coherence and scholarly quality of the final written thesis and oral defense.
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Every candidate is supported by Doctoral Supervisor(s) who provide individualised guidance at each stage of the doctoral journey, from initial research conceptualisation through to the final defense. The programme's concurrent module design ensures that candidates simultaneously build a broader professional and commercial skill set alongside their research expertise, producing graduates who are not only capable doctoral researchers but credible, commercially aware leaders in their field.
Programme Accreditation
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This programme is accredited by Birchwood University, a state-licensed institution based in Florida, USA. All doctoral degrees awarded under this programme are conferred by Birchwood University. Upon successful completion, you will receive an official degree certificate issued by the University.
Subject to application and applicable requirements, Birchwood University facilitates the apostille and legalisation of its degree certificates, enabling formal recognition for use in a wide range of international jurisdictions.