Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management

An advanced research degree for professionals ready to make an original contribution to knowledge.

Program details

Program code	PHD 2027-700
Recommended award title	Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management
Delivery	Online – Self paced
Duration	2 years
Course fee	$16,000
Teaching resources	Video recorded sessions, AI Teacher, Computer marked assessments

The specialisation may be recorded on the graduate's academic transcript, subject to institutional approval and applicable regulatory requirements.

Available research specialisations

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business Transformation — related MBA
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Global Business — related MBA
Healthcare and Community Services Leadership — related MBA

Program overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management is an advanced research degree designed for experienced professionals, academics, consultants, executives and organisational leaders who wish to undertake original research addressing significant business, technological, economic, organisational or community challenges.

The program extends the institution's existing MBA portfolio by providing qualified graduates with a structured pathway from postgraduate coursework into advanced independent research.

Candidates develop advanced expertise in research design, critical analysis, theory development, academic writing and evidence-based investigation. Each candidate completes a substantial doctoral thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge within their selected research specialisation.

Program purpose

The PhD program aims to:

Develop independent researchers capable of producing original and academically significant research.
Advance knowledge in business, management, technology, entrepreneurship, healthcare and community services.
Strengthen candidates' ability to critically evaluate theories, policies, systems and organisational practices.
Support research that addresses contemporary industry, economic and social challenges.
Develop future academics, research leaders, policy advisers, consultants and senior organisational decision-makers.
Encourage responsible, ethical and socially beneficial research.
Promote international, interdisciplinary and industry-engaged research.

Who this program is designed for

Graduates of the institution's MBA programs.
Business owners and entrepreneurs.
Senior managers and executives.
Technology and digital-transformation leaders.
Healthcare, aged-care, disability and community-services leaders.
Academics, trainers and education-sector professionals.
Government and policy professionals.
Consultants and organisational advisers.
Researchers seeking careers in universities, research institutes or industry.

Admission requirements

Applicants would normally be required to demonstrate:

Completion of a recognised master's degree in business, management or a related discipline.
Evidence of previous research-methodology study or completion of a substantial research project.
A preliminary doctoral research proposal.
Academic and professional experience relevant to the proposed research area.
Appropriate English-language proficiency.
Availability of suitably qualified supervisors within the proposed field.
Successful completion of an admission interview or research-proposal assessment.

Applicants holding a coursework-only master's degree without a significant research component may be required to complete additional research-methodology preparation before formal confirmation of doctoral candidature. Admission to the PhD is not automatic following completion of an MBA — each applicant must demonstrate adequate research capability, academic readiness and the feasibility of the proposed research project.

Program structure

Stage 1: Research preparation

Candidates complete advanced research training and refine their proposed research topic.

PHD 701 — Advanced Research DesignExamines the philosophical foundations of research, research paradigms, research questions, conceptual frameworks, research design and the alignment between research problems, methods and expected contributions.

PHD 702 — Qualitative and Quantitative Research MethodsDevelops advanced capability in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method research, including sampling, data collection, statistical analysis, interviews, surveys, case studies, thematic analysis, reliability, validity and research limitations.

PHD 703 — Literature Review and Theory DevelopmentDevelops the ability to undertake systematic and critical literature reviews, identify knowledge gaps, evaluate theoretical perspectives and construct an appropriate conceptual or theoretical framework.

PHD 704 — Research Ethics, Integrity and Data GovernanceExamines research ethics, informed consent, confidentiality, academic integrity, responsible authorship, intellectual property, data protection, research-risk management and ethical approval processes.

Stage 2: Specialisation research development

Candidates complete advanced seminars relevant to their selected research specialisation.

Specialisation A: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business Transformation

PHD-AI 711 — Advanced Research in AI and Digital TransformationExamines contemporary research relating to artificial intelligence adoption, digital transformation, organisational readiness, technology implementation, automation, digital platforms and data-driven business models.

PHD-AI 712 — Responsible AI, Governance and Digital RiskExplores algorithmic accountability, responsible AI, cybersecurity governance, data privacy, technological risk, regulatory development, ethical decision-making and organisational responsibility for AI-enabled systems.

Potential research themes: AI adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises; AI-enabled organisational transformation; responsible AI governance; artificial intelligence in education and training; business-process automation; digital platforms and e-commerce ecosystems; cybersecurity governance; FinTech and digital-payment innovation; AI-supported managerial decision-making; technology commercialisation and digital entrepreneurship.

Specialisation B: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Global Business

PHD-ENT 721 — Advanced Entrepreneurship and Innovation ResearchExamines contemporary theories of entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition, entrepreneurial behaviour, innovation systems, business-model development, venture creation and enterprise growth.

PHD-ENT 722 — Global Enterprise, Commercialisation and GrowthExplores internationalisation, global market entry, technology commercialisation, entrepreneurial finance, cross-border partnerships, export development and the growth of innovative enterprises.

Potential research themes: entrepreneurial intention and behaviour; start-up ecosystems; business-model innovation; technology commercialisation; international market-entry strategies; small-business and family-enterprise development; entrepreneurial finance and venture funding; construction and property entrepreneurship; global supply-chain resilience; sustainable and circular business models; social entrepreneurship; innovation capability in developing economies.

Specialisation C: Healthcare and Community Services Leadership

PHD-HCS 731 — Healthcare and Community Services ResearchExamines research approaches relevant to healthcare, aged care, disability support, community services and social-care organisations, addressing service systems, organisational performance, quality, accessibility and consumer outcomes.

PHD-HCS 732 — Policy, Workforce and Service InnovationExplores healthcare policy, workforce shortages, service reform, digital health, regulatory compliance, care-economy development and innovative models of healthcare and community-service delivery.

Potential research themes: healthcare and community-services leadership; aged-care and disability-service management; international healthcare workforce development; workforce shortages and skills development; quality assurance and regulatory compliance; digital health and AI-supported service delivery; sustainable models of care; healthcare entrepreneurship; social enterprise and community impact; consumer-directed care; safeguarding and organisational risk; health-service policy and reform.

Confirmation of candidature

Following completion of the research-preparation stage, each candidate must submit and defend a detailed research proposal. The confirmation process assesses:

The significance of the research problem.
The research questions or hypotheses.
The quality of the literature review.
The proposed theoretical or conceptual framework.
The suitability of the research methodology.
Ethical and data-management requirements.
Access to participants, organisations or research data.
The feasibility of completing the project within the approved timeframe.
The expected original contribution to knowledge.

Successful completion of the confirmation process allows the candidate to proceed to full doctoral candidature.

Doctoral research seminars & thesis

PHD 790 — Doctoral Research Seminar ICandidates present their developing research, receive peer and academic feedback, evaluate methodological challenges and demonstrate progress against their approved research plan.

PHD 791 — Doctoral Research Seminar IICandidates present preliminary findings, defend analytical decisions and demonstrate how their research contributes to theory, policy or professional knowledge.

PHD 792 — Research Publication and Academic ImpactDevelops capability in academic publishing, conference presentation, research communication, authorship, peer review and the translation of research findings for industry, government and community audiences.

PHD 799 — Doctoral Thesis in Business and ManagementEach candidate completes a substantial independent research thesis that investigates an important research problem, demonstrates advanced knowledge of the relevant literature, applies a rigorous methodology, presents critically analysed findings and makes an original contribution to knowledge. The thesis normally contains approximately 70,000 to 100,000 words, subject to institutional regulations and the approved research design.

Examination requirements

The final examination process includes:

Submission of the completed doctoral thesis.
Independent examination by appropriately qualified external examiners.
An oral defence or viva voce examination.
Completion of any corrections required by the examination panel.
Final approval by the relevant academic or research committee.

The candidate must demonstrate that the research represents an original, substantial and defensible contribution to the selected field.

Recommended progress milestones

First year

Appointment of supervisors.
Refinement of the research topic.
Completion of research-methodology units.
Literature review and theoretical-framework development.
Submission of ethics documentation.
Confirmation of candidature.

Second year

Data collection or primary research.
Participation in doctoral research seminars.
Presentation of research progress.
Preparation of an academic conference paper or journal manuscript.

Third year

Completion of data analysis.
Development of findings and discussion chapters.
Presentation of preliminary findings.
Preparation and submission of the thesis.

Fourth year, where required

Final thesis revisions.
Submission for external examination.
Oral defence.
Completion of examiner corrections.

Supervision & assessment

Each candidate is supported by one principal supervisor with doctoral qualifications and relevant research expertise, at least one associate or co-supervisor, and access to a broader doctoral research panel where interdisciplinary expertise is required, together with scheduled supervision meetings, formal progress reviews, and research-methodology and academic-writing support. Industry advisers may contribute specialist knowledge but do not replace academically qualified doctoral supervisors.

Assessment includes research-methodology assignments, critical literature review, research proposal, confirmation presentation and defence, ethics application, annual or six-monthly progress reviews, research seminar presentations, evidence of scholarly dissemination, the final doctoral thesis, and an oral defence or viva voce. The thesis and oral defence remain the principal forms of final assessment.

MBA-to-PhD progression pathway

Graduates from the following MBA programs may apply for admission:

An MBA capstone project may provide the initial foundation for a doctoral proposal. However, the proposed PhD research must be substantially expanded to demonstrate a clearly defined scholarly research gap, engagement with advanced academic literature, a defensible theoretical framework, a rigorous doctoral-level methodology, and the potential to make an original contribution to knowledge. MBA units do not normally provide direct credit towards the doctoral thesis.

Graduate outcomes

University academic or lecturer
Postdoctoral or industry researcher
Research director
Senior policy adviser
Business and management consultant
Digital-transformation research leader
Entrepreneurship and innovation adviser
Healthcare or community-services research leader
Government or industry policy specialist
Organisational strategy director
Research and development manager
Academic program leader
Think-tank or research-institute specialist

Career outcomes depend on each graduate's prior experience, location, industry, professional standing and individual performance.

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