Putra Business School

Overview of Doctor of Philosophy in Management in Putra Business School Malaysia

• PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

PHASE I – COURSEWORK 

The coursework is mandatory. Each student must attain an overall CGPA of 3.00 before he/she is allowed to proceed with his/her research in Phase II.

Three core courses (9 credit hours)

• Research Methodology
• Research Analysis
• Advanced Research Methodology

Exemption to certain courses may be given to a student who has taken the equivalent courses before his/her enrollment into the PhD programme.

PHASE II – PROPOSAL DEFENCE (PD)

Each student must publicly present and defend his/her PhD research proposal. The assessment at the PD stage involves evaluation of the student’s knowledge of the extant literature in his/her area of research, his ability to integrate the theories pertinent to the research in formulating the appropriate research framework and his/her ability to adopt the appropriate research design.
The student is only allowed to continue with his/her research to Phase III upon passing of the defence of his/her proposal.

PHASE III – THESIS PREPARATION

The student proceeds to continue with his/her data collection, data analysis and thesis writing.

PHASE IV – VIVA VOCE

After submission of the thesis, the student is required to attend a viva-voce to orally defend his/her thesis.
The assessment at the viva voce involves evaluation of the student’s knowledge and ability to complete his/her research study to the satisfaction of the panel of three independent examiners.

• ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

 Applicants must possess one of the following qualifications:

• A recognised Master’s Degree in Business or relevant field; or
• Other qualifications approved by the PBS Senate.

All international candidates graduated from degree programmes whereby English is not the medium of instruction must have obtained a minimum of 550 for the TOEFL Paper-based test or 80 for the Internet-based test, or IELTS Band 6.0, or MUET Band 5.0.