Postgraduate

Featured Course

Doctoral Programme DBA & PhD

Offered By: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) / The National University of Malaysia

GSB offers two academic programmes at the doctoral level: the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with options to major and minor within the four traditional business functional areas, and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with options for specialisations in accounting, finance, marketing or management (organizational behaviour, HRM, strategy, or operations).

• Doctor of Business Administration
Because our doctoral programmes are specially designed for the academic, research and consultancy professions, they are intensively research-driven, and aimed to generate scholarly research that will significantly contribute to the theory and methodology of the business and accounting discipline. Hence, they are rigorous and demanding, assuring mastery of the discipline at an advanced level. The breadth and depth of the knowledge expected for DBA graduates, for example, are refl ective of our commitment to excellence and quality, as well as for relevance and rigour, with a fl exible curriculum offering options to pursue special interest areas within the business, management and accounting fields.

• Doctor of Philosophy
(Accounting/Finance/ Marketing /Management) For our PhD (thesis) programmes, the mandatory coursework assures that vital relevant theories, conceptual frameworks, and research skills are equipped to groom our doctoral students for innovative research at the frontiers of knowledge, within the business specialised discipline(s) of their choice.

An Overview of DBA and PhD Programmes:

Name of Programme/Degree	Doctor of Business Administration (‘DBA’)	Doctor of Philosophy (Accounting) Doctor of Philosophy (Finance) Doctor of Philosophy (Management) Doctor of Philosophy (Marketing)
Type of programme	By Coursework + Dissertation	By Thesis (with coursework as pre-requisite)
Most suitable career prospects	Business Academic, Senior Researcher, Business Consultant, senior positions in corporate and public sectors	Business Academic, Senior Researcher, Accounting/ Finance/ Management/ Marketing Consultant
Priority Consideration for Admission	Applicants with the following qualifications:- MBA (general)/ with other qualifications in disciplines related to Economics, Business and Commerce who do not have any theses’ research experience.	Applicants with Master of Accountancy/ Finance / Marketing/Master’s in specific areas within Management (e.g. HRM, Operations Research, Strategy) and other specialized areas within Business and Management discipline. • Applicants with thesis research experience.
Expected duration up to thesis submission	3.5 to 4 years (10-12 semesters) of full-time study; 4 to 5 years (12-14 semesters) of part-time study	3 years (9 semesters) of full-time study 3.5 to 4.5 years (10-14 semesters) of part-time study
Competency level assessments/ Requirements for award of doctoral degree	Pass all coursework (with minimum ‘B’ grade for every course) & minimum of 3.0 CGPA every semester • Pass 2 Comprehensive Exam. Papers • Pass Dissertation Proposal Examination • Present Research-in-Progress at Doctoral Colloquium • Pass Dissertation Examination	Pass all coursework (with ‘Pass’ grade) • Pass Thesis Proposal Examination • Present Research-in-Progress at Doctoral Colloquium • Pass Thesis Examination
Coursework	38 units comprising :- • 2 Core courses • 5 ‘Research Skills’ courses • 5 courses in the ‘Major’ field • 2 courses in the ‘Minor’ field	5 ‘Research Skills’ courses • 3 courses in the ‘Specialization’ area
Coursework - Specialisation areas	Choose one Major field and one Minor field from the following:- • Accounting; • Finance; • Management (e.g. Organizational Behaviour, HRM, Strategy, Operations Management); • Marketing	Choose one of the following ‘Specialisation’ areas:- • Accounting; • Finance; • Management (e.g. Organizational Behaviour, HRM, Strategy, Operations Management); • Marketing
Admission Requirements	Excellent academic records with good Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees related to Economics, Business/ Commerce discipline • Recommendations from 2 Academic Referees • High proficiency in English	Excellent academic records with good Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees relevant to the specialized area of the thesis • PhD thesis research proposal in a specialized area within Business • Recommendations from 2 Academic Referees • High proficiency in English
Predominant language in class interactions	English. Thesis and assignments can be written in either English or the Malay language	English. Thesis and assignments can be written in either English or the Malay language
Class Schedule	Classes held during office hours, evenings/ weekends	Classes held during office hours, evenings/ weekends

Eligibility for Admission

• For admission into the DBA programme, applicants of advantage are those with proven excellent academic records with good master’s and bachelor’s degrees in fields related to economics, business and commerce, such as a general MBA, Master of Economics, M.A. Public Administration. (They are generally applicants without thesis experience in the Business discipline).
• For admission into the PhD (thesis) programme, mastery in the specialised area within business, management, or accounting
  at the master’s level that is relevant to the intended specialised field of study will be considered favourably (e.g. those with Master of Marketing applying to conduct PhD research in the marketing discipline will have an advantage).

Applicants need to write a PhD proposal (of 1,500-2,000 words) in the intended specialised area of thesis. This has to be furnished in the application package, as it is a key consideration in the selection process for admission into the PhD (thesis) programmes. This
research proposal brief should include the following sections: ‘problem statement’, ‘literature review and conceptual framework’, ‘proposed methodology’, ‘managerial implications’ and ‘key references’.

• Candidates with thesis research experience will have a special advantage to be considered for admission into the PhD (thesis) programme.
• Recommendations from at least two academic referees (persons who have taught the candidates) with their signatures on the prescribed forms are required.
• Recipients of scholarship awards and candidates with study leave and/or those working at educational institutions will be given
  priority in the consideration for admission.

English Language Requirement

• Foreign applicants whose native language is not English, and local applicants intending to write their theses in the English language, should demonstrate a strong command of the English language, with either TOEFL score of minimum 550 (paper based) or 213 (computer based), or IELTS - band 6.0.
• Applicants who in their Master’s education used English as the language of instruction should provide evidence of this in the application for admission.

Course Fees

Fee Structure (DBA)
Malaysian Students
Registration Fees	RM2,250.00
University Fees	RM4,720.00
Tuition Fees	(RM520 x 69 units) = RM35,880.00
Library Fees	RM900.00
Alumni Fees	RM100.00
Convocation Fees	RM150.00
Grand total	RM44,000.00
International Students
Registration Fees	RM2,700.00
University Fees	RM5,664.00
Tuition Fees	(RM624 x 69 units) = RM43,056.00
Library Fees	RM1080.00
Alumni Fees	RM120.00
Convocation Fees	RM180.00
Grand total	RM52,800.00
Fee Structure (PhD)
Malaysian Students
Registration Fees	RM2,250.00
University Fees	RM4,720.00
Tuition Fees	(RM520 x 69 units) = RM35,880.00
Library Fees	RM900.00
Alumni Fees	RM100.00
Convocation Fees	RM150.00
Grand total	RM44,000.00
International Students
Registration Fees	RM2,700.00
University Fees	RM5,664.00
Tuition Fees	(RM624 x 69 units) = RM43,056.00
Library Fees	RM1080.00
Alumni Fees	RM120.00
Convocation Fees	RM180.00
Grand total	RM52,800.00

SEQUENCE OF COURSES
Recommended Sequence of Courses to be Taken and Milestones in Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Programme for a Full-Time Study Session

DBA Programme Structure (Total: 69 units)
Coursework - 38 units:
- 2 core courses + 5 research skills courses (17 units)
- 5 courses in the major field - courses in either accounting, management, finance, or marketing areas (15 units)
- 2 courses in the minor field {from one of the other 3 areas not chosen for the major} (6 units)

Dissertation - 31 units

• 1st Semester
  - 2 ‘Core’ Courses (Advanced Organizational Management; Macroeconomics)
  - 2 ‘Research Skills’ courses (Literature Review; Conceptual Design)
  - 1 or 2 courses in the Major field
• 2nd Semester
  - 2 courses in the Major field
  - 2 ‘Research Skills’ courses (Qualitative Methodology; Research Methods for Business)
• 3rd semester
  - 1 course in the Major field
  - Complete course requirement in the Minor Field
  - Complete ‘Research Skills’ course requirement (Advanced Quantitative techniques)
• 4th semester
  - Independent Study Project in the Major area’*
  - Plan Formation of Dissertation Committee
• 5th semester
  - Take comprehensive exam Paper 1 (Major field)
  - Take comprehensive exam Paper 2 (Minor field)
  - Form of Dissertation Committee
  - Finalize Dissertation Proposal
• 6th semester
  - Presentation of Dissertation Proposal for Examination
  - Submit Student’s Dissertation Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 7th semester
  - Dissertation Research & Writing
  - Submit Student’s Dissertation Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 8th semester
  - Dissertation Research & Writing
  - Submit Student’s Dissertation Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 9th semester
  - Dissertation Research & Writing
  - Present “Research-in-Progress” at GSB Doctoral Colloquium
  - Submit Student’s Dissertation Progress Report at the end of this semester
  - Give notice (to submit dissertation) 3 months prior to submission
• 10th semester
  - Submit Dissertation for Examination

Recommended Sequence of Courses to be Taken and Milestones in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD by Thesis ) Programme for Full-Time Study
PhD Programme Structure (by thesis with pre-requisite courses)
- 5 research skills courses
- 3 courses in the specialisation area to be chosen from either accounting, management, finance, or marketing
- Thesis (69 units)

• 1st Semester
  - 2 ‘Research Skills’ courses (Literature Review; Conceptual Design)
  - 1 course in the Specialization area
  - Prepare proposal brief to suggest names of thesis supervisor committee members.
• 2nd Semester
  - 1 course in the Specialization area
  - Complete requirement of all ‘Research Skills’ courses (Qualitative Methodology; Research Methods for Business; Advanced
  Quantitative Techniques)
• 3rd semester
  - ‘Independent Study Project* in Accounting/ Management/ Finance/ Marketing’
  - Appointment of thesis committee.
• 4th semester
  - Finalize Thesis Proposal
  - Presentation of Thesis Proposal for Examination
  - Submit Student’s Thesis Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 5th semester
  - Thesis Research and Writing
  - Submit Student’s Thesis Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 6th semester
  - Thesis Research and Writing
  - Submit Student’s Thesis Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 7th semester
  - Thesis Research and Writing
  - Submit Student’s Thesis Progress Report at the end of this semester
• 8th semester
  - Thesis Research and Writing
  - Present “Research-in-progress” at GSB Doctoral Colloquium
  - Submit Student’s Thesis Progress Report at the end of this semester
  - Give notice (to submit) 3 months prior to thesis submission
• 9th semester
  - Submit Thesis for Examination

HOW TO APPLY / APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Online application is available at http://www.ukm.my/gsbukm/, (please read online Application Guide) or

Forms can be downloaded or

The application form of RM10.00 per set can be obtained directly from the Graduate School of Business, or

The application form can be requested in writing to the Dean, Graduate School of Business by enclosing a self-addressed envelope (25cm x 32cm) with RM0.50 stamp and a money order of RM10.00 made payable to the Bendahari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Incomplete application forms will not be processed.

Completed forms and certified supporting documents are to be submitted to:
Dean
Graduate School Of Business
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi
Selangor Darul Ehsan

CONTACT DETAILS
For general enquiries and application information: [email protected]
Tel : 603 - 89215782/4483
Fax : 603 - 8921 3161
For master’s programme enquiries: [email protected]
For doctoral programme enquiries: [email protected]
Tel : 603 - 8921 5761
For research expertise available for thesis/dissertation supervision, or to view individual academics’ profile/ CV from GSB’s homepage - http://www.ukm.my/gsbukm/