PhD

PhD Business Administration

Original research at the frontier of management science

Online or on campus

3—5 years60 creditsEnglish

Overview

The PhD in Business Administration prepares scholars for careers in academia, think tanks, and senior policy roles. After completing doctoral coursework in research methods and advanced theory, you will develop an original dissertation contributing new knowledge to your field. Crownshire faculty specialise in sustainable finance, digital transformation, emerging-market strategy, and organisational resilience. You will present at our annual research symposium and publish in peer-reviewed outlets with supervisory support.

Doctoral students join a research community with monthly colloquia, methods workshops, and writing retreats (virtual and York). You may co-author with faculty before dissertation submission. Average time to candidacy: 18 months part-time.

Who This Program Is For

Aspiring academics in business schools worldwide
Senior consultants building thought-leadership credentials
Policy researchers in multilateral and government agencies

Faculty spotlight

Professor Elena Vasquez chairs the Sustainable Finance Research Centre; Dr. Marcus Chen publishes on digital transformation in emerging markets.

How you can study

Study options & delivery

Online pathway· Flexible remote

Complete your PhD Business Administration fully online from anywhere in the world with faculty-led modules and flexible scheduling.

On-campus pathway· £5,900 / $7,500/year

Attend seminars and access facilities in person at Crownshire University.

Apply online →Apply for campus →View fee schedule

What You Will Learn

Design rigorous quantitative and qualitative research studies
Contribute original findings to management science literature
Teach and mentor at undergraduate and graduate levels
Secure research funding and manage collaborative projects
Translate academic research into policy and practice recommendations
Defend a dissertation contributing novel theory or empirical evidence
Teach postgraduate seminars with observed teaching practice

Curriculum

Year 1 — Doctoral Coursework

Code	Course	Credits
PHD701	Advanced Research Methods Doctoral research design spanning experimental, survey, archival and field methods used in management science. Research paradigms in business scholarship Causal inference & identification strategies Survey design & measurement validity Field experiments & quasi-experiments Research ethics & integrity for human subjects	6
PHD702	Seminar in Management Theory Core theoretical traditions in strategy, organisational theory, OB and international business. Industrial organisation & competitive strategy Resource-based & dynamic capability views Institutional theory & organisational sociology Behavioural decision theory Theory construction & contribution claims	6
PHD703	Quantitative Methods for Business Research Econometric and multivariate methods for doctoral-level empirical work. OLS, panel data & fixed effects Maximum likelihood & limited dependent variables Structural equation modelling foundations Machine learning for prediction vs inference Replication, power and research transparency	6
PHD704	Qualitative & Mixed Methods Case studies, ethnography, grounded theory and mixed-methods designs for organisational research. Case study protocol & theoretical sampling Interviewing elites and organizational members Coding, themes and process models Mixed-methods integration strategies Writing qualitative findings for journals	6

Years 2—4 — Research & Dissertation

Code

Course

Credits

PHD801

Doctoral Candidacy Examination

Written and oral candidacy assessment confirming readiness for independent dissertation research.

Field exam in core and specialization areas
Dissertation proposal defence
Committee formation & supervision agreement
Ethics approval for empirical fieldwork

PHD802

Dissertation Research & Writing

Original doctoral research under supervision culminating in a defensible thesis and publication plan.

Literature synthesis & research contribution
Data collection / modelling / fieldwork
Manuscript drafting for peer review
Internal and external examinations
Viva voce and final thesis submission

Career Paths

University Professor or Lecturer
Research Director
Policy Advisor (government or NGO)
Chief Strategy Officer
Management Consultant (specialist practice)

Program Highlights

Dedicated doctoral supervisor from year one
Annual research symposium with international reviewers
Access to EBSCO, JSTOR, and ProQuest dissertation databases
Teaching assistant opportunities with stipend
Flexible part-time pathway for working executives
Flexible part-time enrolment for working professionals
Access to EBSCO, ProQuest, and doctoral writing support

Admission Requirements

Master's degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution
Research proposal (1,500—2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas
Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor
English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent for research writing
Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)
Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis, or professional reports) preferred

Recognized & Accredited

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Overview

Who This Program Is For

Aspiring academics in business schools worldwide

Senior consultants building thought-leadership credentials

Policy researchers in multilateral and government agencies

Faculty spotlight

Professor Elena Vasquez chairs the Sustainable Finance Research Centre; Dr. Marcus Chen publishes on digital transformation in emerging markets.

How you can study

Study options & delivery

Online pathway· Flexible remote

Complete your PhD Business Administration fully online from anywhere in the world with faculty-led modules and flexible scheduling.

On-campus pathway· £5,900 / $7,500/year

Attend seminars and access facilities in person at Crownshire University.

Apply online →Apply for campus →View fee schedule

What You Will Learn

Design rigorous quantitative and qualitative research studies

Contribute original findings to management science literature

Teach and mentor at undergraduate and graduate levels

Secure research funding and manage collaborative projects

Translate academic research into policy and practice recommendations

Defend a dissertation contributing novel theory or empirical evidence

Teach postgraduate seminars with observed teaching practice

Curriculum

Year 1 — Doctoral Coursework

Code	Course	Credits
PHD701	Advanced Research Methods Doctoral research design spanning experimental, survey, archival and field methods used in management science. Research paradigms in business scholarship Causal inference & identification strategies Survey design & measurement validity Field experiments & quasi-experiments Research ethics & integrity for human subjects	6
PHD702	Seminar in Management Theory Core theoretical traditions in strategy, organisational theory, OB and international business. Industrial organisation & competitive strategy Resource-based & dynamic capability views Institutional theory & organisational sociology Behavioural decision theory Theory construction & contribution claims	6
PHD703	Quantitative Methods for Business Research Econometric and multivariate methods for doctoral-level empirical work. OLS, panel data & fixed effects Maximum likelihood & limited dependent variables Structural equation modelling foundations Machine learning for prediction vs inference Replication, power and research transparency	6
PHD704	Qualitative & Mixed Methods Case studies, ethnography, grounded theory and mixed-methods designs for organisational research. Case study protocol & theoretical sampling Interviewing elites and organizational members Coding, themes and process models Mixed-methods integration strategies Writing qualitative findings for journals	6

Years 2—4 — Research & Dissertation

Code

Course

Credits

PHD801

Doctoral Candidacy Examination

Written and oral candidacy assessment confirming readiness for independent dissertation research.

Field exam in core and specialization areas
Dissertation proposal defence
Committee formation & supervision agreement
Ethics approval for empirical fieldwork

PHD802

Dissertation Research & Writing

Original doctoral research under supervision culminating in a defensible thesis and publication plan.

Literature synthesis & research contribution
Data collection / modelling / fieldwork
Manuscript drafting for peer review
Internal and external examinations
Viva voce and final thesis submission

Program Highlights

Dedicated doctoral supervisor from year one

Annual research symposium with international reviewers

Access to EBSCO, JSTOR, and ProQuest dissertation databases

Teaching assistant opportunities with stipend

Flexible part-time pathway for working executives

Flexible part-time enrolment for working professionals

Access to EBSCO, ProQuest, and doctoral writing support

Admission Requirements

Master's degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution

Research proposal (1,500—2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas

Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor

English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent for research writing

Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)

Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis, or professional reports) preferred

Recognized & Accredited