PhD in Business Administration (taught)

PhD in Business Administration (taught)

The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FoBMS) offers a taught PhDprogram in Business Administration.

The programme is currently designed to equip students with methods of generating knowledge through research. The main concepts in PhD program are: functional – where the issue is one of project management; enculturation – where the student is encouraged to become a member of the disciplinary community; critical thinking – where the student is encouraged to question and analyze their work; emancipation – where the student is encouraged to question and develop themselves; and developing a quality relationship – where the student is enthused, inspired and cared for. The uniqueness of the programme is through ‘critical friend is to enable students to be great thinkers and knowledge creators; solving problems in communities through research disseminations in local and international conferences. Thus fulfilling the goal of the University; of creating doctoral graduates who are creative, critical, autonomous, intellectual risk takers” and can act as drivers of their professional development. The PhD programme offered by the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences inculcate skills development which is the cornerstone of the modern doctorate, where the candidate is the central “product” and the thesis as supporting evidence. Doctoral studies are offered for a minimum period of six semesters and a maximum of ten semesters.

The PhD programme is in various business related disciplines including the following:

  1. Accounting
  2. Banking and Finance
  3. Business Management
  4. Human Resource Management
  5. Public Administration and Management
  6. Marketing
  7. Procurement
  8. Economics

In the first year, all PhD students are required to attend class, participate in research seminars and attend cross cutting courses in research methodology before coming up with research proposals. The remaining two years are for field research and writing up the thesis. Furthermore, each student is required to publish at least two articles in a recognized journal before submitting his or her thesis for final assessment.

Programme General objectives

  1. The programmed is designed to enable students make an original and significant contribution to knowledge applicable to problem solving in society.
  2. Enable students to learn methods and develop skills for conducting research
  3. Develop a critical and analytical approach for the collection and interpretation of data, and the analysis of texts and literature in the field of study;
  4. Acquire specialist knowledge in the students’ specific field, and general Knowledge in the area of study;
  5. Present the research findings and analysis clearly and in the correct scholarly form.
  6. Enable students develop creative thinking
  7. Develop skills and abilities to carry out thorough and independent investigation issues of both theoretical and practical nature
  8. Develop capacity in applying theory and good practice with the aim of finding Solutions to the problems in related disciplines.

Programme general learning outcomes

 The Doctor of philosophy is awarded to students who have demonstrated:

  • The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research and disseminate Knowledge through merit publication
  • Expected to have a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge; this is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice
  • The general ability to conceptualize, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge and its application in understanding the discipline;
  • A detailed thoughtful application of research techniques for advanced Academic enquiry.

Prerequisites

An applicant should meet the following selection criteria:

  1. Be in possession of a good Bachelors degree or its equivalent from a recognized University or institution of higher learning
  2. A Master’s degree from a recognized University in a field relevant to the area of further studies. Or the equivalent of a Master’s degree with evidence of published Educational material relevant to the field in line with National Qualification Framework
  3. Present an acceptable concept paper / synopsis of the intended research area;

Transfer Admission

An applicant can be admitted under transfer admission scheme upon meeting the following criteria:

  1. Be in possession of the academic requirements listed above;
  2. Having been duly admitted for a PhD programme in another recognized university or Institution of higher learning;

3. The candidate must produce a letter of admission and progress report from the previous university or institution;

4. The candidate must have spent at least one year in the previous university and must have had training in advanced research methods. A student admitted under this scheme must spend a minimum of two years and shall be guided by supervisors approved by Mbarara University of Science and technology

8.3 Pre-entry Examinations

As a requirement for admission, an applicant not under the transfer admission shall be subjected to Concept/Synopsis presentation to determine an applicant’s eligibility for the PhD Programme.

During the vetting exercise, the Higher Degrees Vetting Panel considers the following:-

(a) Whether the proposed work is researchable;

(b) Suitability and availability of the supervisors proposed by the student; where the

student has not proposed a supervisor the panel shall suggest two possible

supervisors;

(c) Candidate is qualified to do a PhD by research;

Where the Applicant has Passed

Where the applicant has passed, the Panel:

(a) Recommends proposed supervisors to the Higher Degrees Committee;

(b) Recommends the Applicant to the Higher Degrees Committee for admission;

(c) Advises the applicant to make initial contact with the proposed supervisors;

(d) Informs the applicant the expected date of the first PhD seminar;

(e) Advise the applicant to prepare to pay the university fees as soon as he/she receives a

letter of admission.

When an applicant has been formally accepted by the Higher Degrees’ Committee, he/she is given an admission letter specifying the course, fees payable, names of two supervisors, and other requirements of the programme.

Registration as PhD Student

For a PhD applicant to become a bona fide student of the University, he / she must register at the beginning of the first semester and thereafter renew registration every semester.

Duration of the Programme

The programme takes a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of five years. A PhD student is expected to complete his/her studies not later than five years from the date of registration. However, under special circumstances, permission may be granted by senate on recommendation by Higher Degree committee to extend the study period. If the extended period lapses without completing the study, the student will be de-registered.