PhD

PhD Business Administration

A business PhD on a cross-border question

Online only

3–5 years60 creditsEnglish

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Overview

The PhD in business is supervised research. A typical question involves organisations that operate in more than one jurisdiction. There is no campus and no United Nations affiliation. Online tuition is covered. A proposal precedes the thesis.

The doctorate is supervised research plus the taught research modules on this page. The university is fully online and online tuition is covered. Examination or administrative fees may still apply. Campus study, where it is offered, is priced separately.

Who This Programme Is For

Applicants with a master's or equivalent research preparation
Practitioners with a question from their own field
Candidates who can work independently for several years
Applicants who want a doctorate, not a taught master's

Faculty spotlight

The school of business at FollowLap University appoints the supervisor. The page does not name an individual scholar.

How you can study

Digital only

Study online

100% tuition-free online

Every programme can be completed fully online with zero tuition fees — study from anywhere in the world.

✦ Tuition: £0 / $0
✦ Course exams from $80 — 95% sponsorship rate
✦ Learn from anywhere · Live online seminars

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What You Will Learn

Frame a research question that can be answered with the evidence available
Choose a method and say what it cannot show
Write a literature review that argues, rather than lists
Defend the thesis to examiners
State the limit of the finding

Curriculum

Research training

Code	Course	Credits
PHD-701	Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations Students diagnose one organisation's position and the choice in front of it. The central problem in Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations A worked case drawn from Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-702	Money and operations: Cases Students connect a financial result to an operational cause. The central problem in Money and operations: Cases A worked case drawn from Money and operations: Cases Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Money and operations: Cases that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-703	People and change: Practice Students plan how a decision would be carried through a team. The central problem in People and change: Practice A worked case drawn from People and change: Practice Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in People and change: Practice that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-704	Capstone brief: Inquiry Students write a consulting brief for a live problem and defend the recommendation. The central problem in Capstone brief: Inquiry A worked case drawn from Capstone brief: Inquiry Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Capstone brief: Inquiry that a reviewer can mark	3

Advanced seminars

Code	Course	Credits
PHD-705	Strategy for a real organisation: Seminar Students diagnose one organisation's position and the choice in front of it. The central problem in Strategy for a real organisation: Seminar A worked case drawn from Strategy for a real organisation: Seminar Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Strategy for a real organisation: Seminar that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-706	Money and operations: Field work Students connect a financial result to an operational cause. The central problem in Money and operations: Field work A worked case drawn from Money and operations: Field work Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Money and operations: Field work that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-707	People and change: Studio Students plan how a decision would be carried through a team. The central problem in People and change: Studio A worked case drawn from People and change: Studio Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in People and change: Studio that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-708	Capstone brief: Synthesis Students write a consulting brief for a live problem and defend the recommendation. The central problem in Capstone brief: Synthesis A worked case drawn from Capstone brief: Synthesis Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Capstone brief: Synthesis that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-709	Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations Students diagnose one organisation's position and the choice in front of it. The central problem in Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations A worked case drawn from Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Strategy for a real organisation: Foundations that a reviewer can mark	3
PHD-710	Money and operations: Cases Students connect a financial result to an operational cause. The central problem in Money and operations: Cases A worked case drawn from Money and operations: Cases Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Money and operations: Cases that a reviewer can mark	3

Confirmation and thesis

Code	Course	Credits
PHD-801	Confirmation of the research design A formal check that the question, method, and ethics review are ready. The central problem in Confirmation of the research design A worked case drawn from Confirmation of the research design Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Confirmation of the research design that a reviewer can mark	6
PHD-802	Doctoral thesis An original research thesis, examined on its question, method, and evidence. The central problem in Doctoral thesis A worked case drawn from Doctoral thesis Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Doctoral thesis that a reviewer can mark	24
PHD-803	Oral examination The viva on the thesis. No separate credit is attached. The central problem in Oral examination A worked case drawn from Oral examination Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim An assessed task in Oral examination that a reviewer can mark	0

Code

Course

Credits

PHD-801

Confirmation of the research design

A formal check that the question, method, and ethics review are ready.

The central problem in Confirmation of the research design
A worked case drawn from Confirmation of the research design
Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim
An assessed task in Confirmation of the research design that a reviewer can mark

PHD-802

Doctoral thesis

An original research thesis, examined on its question, method, and evidence.

The central problem in Doctoral thesis
A worked case drawn from Doctoral thesis
Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim
An assessed task in Doctoral thesis that a reviewer can mark

PHD-803

Oral examination

The viva on the thesis. No separate credit is attached.

The central problem in Oral examination
A worked case drawn from Oral examination
Evidence, sources, and the limits of the claim
An assessed task in Oral examination that a reviewer can mark

Career Paths

Researcher
Policy analyst
Teaching pathway with a separate qualification

Programme Highlights

A named supervisor from the school
A proposal before the long thesis
Online supervision, with campus study only where the university offers it
A transcript of the taught research modules

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.

Admission requirements

Academic entry

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

English language

English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent for research writing

Documents

Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor

Research & interview

Research proposal (1,500–2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas
Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)
Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis, or professional reports) preferred

Programme questions

How long is the PhD Business Administration?

The published duration is 3–5 years. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.

Can I study this from my country?

This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.

What does it cost?

Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.

What are the entry requirements?

Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents, research). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.

Will this award be recognised where I live?

Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. FollowLap University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.

How do I apply?

Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@followlap.com.

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