Ph.D. in Business (General Management) (PhDGM)

Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and core abilities to analyse and conduct relevant and rigorous inquiries into the most complex problems facing businesses and to be empowered to transcend boundaries and reshape business models with a difference

The minimum duration for the programme is three years. Most students, however, are expected to take approximately four years to complete the programme. Students are required to apply for an extension of study at least 3 months before starting their Year 5 and additional tuition fees are chargeable to students. The maximum duration of the programme is five years unless special prior approval for a longer duration has been granted by SMU.

Total graduation requirement = 40 Credit Units (CUs). The curriculum consists of completion of the following:

Year 1

• Coursework (12 CUs)

Year 2 onward

• A qualifying examination that demonstrates competency over Year 1 coursework
• 4 Advance Research Techniques Workshops (3-half day seminars)
• Completion of dissertation (28CUs)

(A) Coursework (12 credit units):

The courses are designed to familiarise students with the various business domains, their evolution and the current state of research and theory in the domain. The Research Techniques Workshops are intended to equip the students with the additional skills and insight to conduct rigorous research.

The typical format of a course is generally comprised of three phases:

• Phase 1 (pre-work) Students are to complete an estimated 15 hours of work per course before each segment, in the form of preparatory readings and/or assignments.
• Phase 2 (Segment) Students are to attend 24 hours per course (total of 12 courses) in SMU during the intensive residential segments.
• Phase 3 (post-segment) Students may also complete up to 15 hours of work per course, during or after the course in the form of assignments, projects, or other additional course requirements.

List of Coursework Curriculum (subject to change):

• Marketing Strategy
• Theory Construction and Research Design
• Strategic Management
• Strategic Management II
• Organisational Behaviour
• Decision-Making & Leadership
• Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Political Economy: Global and Regional
• Basic Research Methodology & Statistics
• Research Methods And Multivariate Statistics
• Operations Management (0.50CU)
• Legal Knowledge & Strategy for Senior Management (0.5CU)

Coursework will be conducted in 6 week-long study blocks (segments) in Year 1. The segment schedule is subject to change.

(B) Qualifying Examination (QE):

After completing 12 credit units of coursework, students are required to pass the Qualifying Examination (QE). There are 4 exam areas in the QE (Finance, Marketing, OBHR and Strategy & Organisation). Students will choose 2 exam areas as their QE.

(C) Dissertation (28 credit units):

Upon completion of coursework, students will proceed to work on his / her dissertation. Students will be working on their dissertations under the supervision of his/her Dissertation Committee and are expected to meet regularly with their dissertation supervisor and committee members advisory for one week every 3 months until the successful completion of their PhD Dissertation.

It is expected that all dissertation work is to be performed by the student and that their report is to be 100% original unless properly cited.