Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Management

How to apply

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with the School of Management & Governance (UNSW Business), then you will need to receive an Invitation to Apply from the school’s Postgraduate Research Coordinator in charge of Admissions (Dr. Will Felps).

To receive an Invitation to Apply, you should 1) self-assess your eligibility, and 2) then submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Details of what to include in your EOI can be found here.

About our Higher Degree Research Programs

Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD)

UNSW’s Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Management & Governance (Program code 1605) will prepare you to become a globally focused and socially engaged research leader. You’ll be joining a cohort of high-achieving research students in tackling modern-day challenges at the forefront of Management & Governance, working alongside leaders in the field (ranked 44^th in the world, QS Subject Rankings, 2022). This is your opportunity to become integrated into the UNSW Business School’s community of scholars.

If you are invited to apply for Direct Entry into a PhD, then the minimum time commitment is 35-40 hours per week for 3-4 years (full time) or 15 hours a week (part time).

You’ll first undertake rigorous coursework covering relevant theories and research methods. As part of the program, you’ll also be involved in research projects from an early stage. This training will equip you with the skills required to identify, analyse, and solve problems in the field.

You’ll then pursue independent research under the supervision of high-profile UNSW academics, culminating in a doctoral thesis. Your PhD thesis will showcase your research skills and enable you to make an original contribution to the field of Management & Governance.

There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to interact with industry leaders, and to develop your teaching portfolio. The training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

The vast majority of our Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are supported through a tuition waiver and stipend of around A$35-45K per year.

Linked Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS) + PhD

Although a few students may be invited to apply for Direct Entry into our PhD program, most applicants are invited to first complete our Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS).

The MPDBS is a one-year pathway for students wanting to undertake a PhD in the UNSW Business School. The MPDBS is a fully funded program, which includes a tuition waiver and stipend (of ~A$35K) for all accepted applicants. This degree constitutes one year of advanced coursework including a research project. Upon completion of the MPDBS, the vast majority of students have historically gone on to our PhD with a scholarship covering tuition and a stipend (~ A$35-45K).

The MPDBS gives students an extra year to develop their research skills and to find a match with appropriate supervisors.

The application processes for both the PhD and the Linked MPDBS + PhD are identical. The first step in this process is to submit an Expression of Interest (see above).