DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) & DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DBA)

GSB offers two doctoral programmes: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) within the business and management topics such as Finance, Marketing, Management and other related areas. As a highly recognised Research University our doctoral candidates are supervised by some 100 experienced doctoral supervisors from GSB and UKM's Faculty of Economics and Management. Our academics are attached to one or more strategic centres and research groups.

Nature of the Doctoral Programmes in GSB-UKM

Our doctoral programmes are designed for both academics and practitioners. They are research-driven and aimed at generating scholarly researchers and thinkers that will significantly contribute to the theory, methodology and practice of the business and management disciplines. Hence, they are rigorous and demanding, assuring mastery of the discipline at an advanced level.

The breadth and depth of the knowledge expected for PhD and DBA graduates, for example, are reflective of our commitment to excellence and quality, as well as relevance and rigour, with a flexible curriculum offering options to pursue special interest areas within the business, management and finance fields.

The mandatory research methodology courses assure that vital relevant theories, conceptual frameworks, and research skills be equipped to groom our doctoral candidates for innovative research at the frontiers of knowledge, within the business and management disciplines of their choice.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Research Methodology classes (for both PhD and DBA) are held alternate weekends throughout the first year of the programme

DBA classes are held Monday to Friday during office hours throughout the first year of the programme

DURATION OF STUDIES

PhD & DBA

3 – 6 years of full-time study

TUITION & FEES

PhD

RM34,650.00 – Malaysians
RM46,800.00 – International

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DBA

RM48,400.00 – Malaysians
RM61,800.00 – International

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INTAKE

October and March

 

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Differences between PhD and DBA?

DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Type of programme

Coursework + Dissertation

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

– 2 courses on research methodology
– 1 core course in the area of specialization
– 1 core course on Innovation and Business Data Analytic
– 3 courses in the area of specialization
– DBA dissertation of 60,000 to 80,000 words

DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSESSMENT

– Present research idea/initial research proposal in Doctoral Colloquium I and II
– Pass Proposal Defense
– Pass Viva Voce (Oral Examination)

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT

1 article related to the doctoral research published in Scopus/WOS journal, OR 1 chapter in book published by local university press or publishers listed in Thomson Reuters WOS.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

– Bachelor’s degree with CGPA of at least 3.0 in business or other disciplines +
– Master’s degree with CGPA of at least 3.25 in business or other disciplines +
– An initial doctoral research proposal in the intended area of specialization. Click “DBA’s Admission Research Proposal” for the guideline +
– International applicants whose native language are not English shall fulfill the English language requirements by obtaining IELTS of at least band 6, or TOEFL of at least 550, or any examination that has been aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

DISSERTATION’S LANGUAGE

– The dissertation must be written in Bahasa Melayu. Approval to write in English is granted subject to the following requirements:
1. International student
2. Scholarship requirements
3. Employer needs
4. Supervisors/examiners from abroad
– For local students (Malaysians) who intend to write in English but do not fulfilled the second or third requirement above, UKM-GSB will assist by appointing the co-supervisor or/and external examiners from abroad.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Type of programme

Fully Research (by Thesis)

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

– 2 courses on research methodology
– 1 core course in area of specialization
– PhD thesis of 70,000 to 100,000 words

DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSESSMENT

– Present research idea/initial research proposal in Doctoral Colloquium I and II
– Pass Proposal Defense
– Pass Viva Voce (Oral Examination)

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT

2 articles related to the doctoral research published in Scopus/WOS journal, OR 1 article related to the doctoral research published in Scopus/WOS journal + 1 chapter in book published by local university press or publishers listed in Thomson Reuters WOS.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

– Bachelor’s degree with CGPA of at least 3.0 in business or other disciplines +
– Master’s degree with CGPA of at least 3.25 in business or other disciplines +
– At least one of the degree above (Bachelor or Master) should be related to the intended area of specialization or business-related disciplines +
– A good doctoral research proposal in the intended area of specialization. Click “PhD’s Admission Research Proposal” for the guideline +
– International applicants whose native language are not English shall fulfill the English language requirements by obtaining IELTS of at least band 6, or TOEFL of at least 550, or any examination that has been aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

THESIS’S LANGUAGE

– The thesis must be written in Bahasa Melayu. Approval to write in English is granted subject to the following requirements:
1. International student
2. Scholarship requirements
3. Employer needs
4. Supervisors/examiners from abroad
– For local students (Malaysians) who intend to write in English but do not fulfilled the second or third requirement above, UKM-GSB will assist by appointing the co-supervisor or/and external examiners from abroad.

Doctoral Research Fields

GSB draws expertise for research supervision focusing on, but not limited to, the following fields:-

Finance
Includes Money and Capital Markets, Banking, Corporate/ International Finance and Investment)

Management
Includes Leadership, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Organizational Behaviour, Human Resources Management, Operations Management, and Quality Management)

Marketing
Includes Services Marketing, Customer Behavior,  International Marketing, Product Innovation and Hospitality Marketing

Practical Tips for Doctoral Students

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syed Shah Alam
Research Fellow, UKM-GSB
Dr. Ngan Sue Lin
Senior Lecturer, UKM-GSB
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Hirwani
Associate Professor of Management, UKM-GSB

Research Competency (For PhD and DBA)

Our doctoral degrees signify an attainment of the greatest level of competence in specific field of study. The degree proves that the students have analytical skills to carry out rigorous research tasks. In order to gain this level of research competency, the doctoral programmes provide intensive training in research techniques and methods. The knowledge and competency gained in qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology are transferable and applicable to non-academic research environments including for industrial research.

Core Courses (for DBA)

Advanced Organisational Management

This course explores organizational management based on theoretical and empirical perspectives. Topics covered include strategic management, entrepreneurship, human resource management, organizational behavior, knowledge management, international business and research issues in management field.

Financial Theory

This is an elective course for students who major in finance. Students will be introduced to original articles that contribute to the development of major theories in finance. Students are required to evaluate and write a review report on these articles, based on the list given to the students. The report should include:

+ Purpose of the paper.
+ Model or methodology employed.
+ Discussion of the empirical results (if any)).
+ Conclusions of the paper.
+ Brief evaluation of the work as to its contribution to the field of finance.

Marketing Theory And Thought

This course trains the students in terms of critical thinking and synthesizing literatures related to marketing field. It provides opportunities for students to expose to theoretical and applied frameworks. Students must critically analyze and discusses theories and issues faced by marketeers and researchers within and across marketing areas. This course also discusses theoretical structures and its underlying assumptions to encourage in-depth discussion and reasoning.

Major Courses (For DBA)

Courses offered within the Major/ Minor fields for DBA and specialization area courses for Ph.D., grouped under Finance, Management and Marketing, are as follows:-

MANAGEMENT

Managing Employee Attitude and Behaviour

This course provides a micro-level overview of theory and research in organizational behavior. Topics covered include individual differences (with regard to personality, perceptions, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors), employee motivation, leadership, and research issues in organizational behavior. Students are expected to follow the developments of selected streams of research and evaluate empirical studies in these areas.

Managing Human Resource

This course will place students at the forefront in understanding how organizations can gain sustainable competitive advantage through people. Students will also understand that the role of human resource manager is no more to service functions but also play active role in strategic planning and decision making. Students will be exposed to different research issues related to the different functions mentioned.

Strategies in Management

This course will take students through a review of journal papers on strategic management. Students will acquaint themselves with the latest theories, published research findings and applications of strategic management in business and non-profit organization.

FINANCE

Money and Capital Markets

This course is designed to hone skills and conceptual thinking doctoral able to translate these skills in writing and criticism in the area of money and capital markets. At the end of this course, students will be able to identify issues and problems in mediation theory, the theory of the structure of financial development, the adoption of the theory of monetary policy and interest rates country. Students are able to evaluate monetary policy towards overseas markets and capital.

Advanced Investment

This course is a continuation of the investment course at the master’s level. Students will be introduced to investment environment as well as aspects of investment planning, investment decision making, and investment evaluation based on a certain technique or analysis. Technical analysis and fundamental analysis will be given special attention. This class will be conducted as a combination of lectures and discussions. Discussions will normally focus on academic articles, either empirical or theoretical in nature.

Doctoral Seminar in Finance

MARKETING

Buyer Behaviour Theory and Research

This course aims at getting students to appreciate consumer behavior theories and be able to do a critical review of research on consumer behavior, which will provide students with ideas in developing theoretical framework in their research proposal. The main topics include perception, motivation, learning, personality and attitude theories and other relevant theories that will help students to understand deeply the process that individuals and organizations go through in making purchase decisions.

Product Policy and Strategy

This course takes a multi-functional, multi-disciplinary and global approach on issues face by marketing and product managers, where product/service innovation and product performance become their main focus. Both the process and product perspectives of performance measures will be considered in the contexts of both manufacturing and service products. There will be a balance between theory and practitioner perspectives. Doctoral candidates will be exposed to product management issues at the micro - as well as macro-levels.

Services Theory and Strategy

This course takes an interdisciplinary, global, macro/micro-approach on Service Science. The learning approach uses reviewing landmark research and relevant empirical literatures and best company practices. Priority research areas in this field include those concerning - fostering service infusion/growth, improving well-beingthrough transformative service, creating a service culture, stimulating service innovation, effectively branding/selling services, enhancing the service experience, measuring and optimizing the value of service and leveraging technology to advance service.

ADMISSION

Admission Procedure

All applications must be made using the online application forms. All applications including candidates’ credentials are assessed based on individual merit by GSB’s Graduate Committee.

Admission Requirement

+ Master Degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia or any institution of higher learning recognized by the Senate with

+ Master with CGPA 3.25 and above
+ Degree with CGPA 3.00
Thesis research proposal in a specialized area
Recommendations from 2 Academic Referees

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may be called for an interview to assess their complementary strengths and merits

Admission Research Proposal – PhD 

Admission Research Proposal – DBA

 

English Language Requirement

International applicants whose native language is not English should demonstrate good command of English, either:

– IELTS band 6.0, or

– TOEFL score of minimum 550 (paper based); 213 (computer based); 79 (internet based).

Interview: Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may be called for an interview to assess their complementary competencies and merits.