Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Canada at SMU

Program Overview for Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Canada:

For more than 20 years, Sobey School of Business Ph.D. has provided flexible, rigorous, and innovative doctoral programs designed specifically for working professionals. Sobey's doctoral program has an internationally recognized core faculty team and is highly praised for its effectiveness, innovative structure, and curriculum. Sobey is located in the largest and most comprehensive business school in Atlantic Canada and cultivates passionate, research-proficient, and well-published graduates who have excellent employability and can impact business research in Canada and other regions. 

We are now accepting applications for three Ph.D. streams:

• Management
• Accounting
• Finance

The Sobey doctoral program trains successful researchers in academia, the public sector, and private industry. The program focuses on the behavioral and structural aspects of organization and management, and research areas covered include:

• Organizational Behaviour
• Organizational Development
• Organizational Theory
• Human Resources

The plan is designed to be completed within 48 to 60 months. Coursework can be completed within 15 months after enrollment, and the comprehensive examination must be completed no later than 28 months of the project. The remaining time of the program will vary according to the nature of the thesis research.

Structure and Focus

External reviewers praised Sobey's Ph.D. program for its effectiveness and innovative structure and curriculum. It is ideal for those seeking senior research, management, consulting, and policy development positions. The courses are scheduled in May and June of each year for the plan's first two years. Students will be exposed to various management and organization methods and develop high-level methodological skills. The course is taught by internationally renowned teachers who cultivate and support a culture of inquiry and teaching excellence. Therefore, our graduates obtain academic positions in Canada and other regions.

Multi-paradigmatic Approach

The core part of the method of the plan is to cultivate professionals who have a deep understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods and have an appreciation for various philosophical methods of management and organization. This unique, multi-paradigm approach exposes students to debates in management and organizational research. In addition to scientific research (positivism) issues, students are also asked to consider the impact of other selected ideological systems (post-positivism) (for example, feminism and critical management research) on management research. This contributes to our goal of cultivating well-trained graduates who can understand various methodological issues and their relationship to research results.

Strong Research Culture

The Dr. Sobey project focuses on developing a strong research culture. This culture is derived from the interaction of students with the main professors. It is based on the assignments and research of the students that generally lead to international, national, and local academic conferences and publications. This helps us train graduates with enthusiasm, rich research experience, and published articles. These graduates have excellent employability and can have an impact on business research in Canada and other regions.

International Reach

The third element of the program's approach is developing a respected and internationally renowned Ph.D. program. This involves using a unique team of leading academics who work with students to develop their ideas for presentation and publication. Through the speaker invites program, students can get in touch with cutting-edge ideas from leading academics in management and organizational research.

The eligibility for Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

Decisions regarding admission to the doctoral program will be made based on the applicant's academic qualifications and achievements, fit with the program's areas of specialization, and the availability of an appropriate supervisor. To that end, all of the following will be taken into account: Qualifications: Students entering the doctoral program must have a Master's degree from a recognized university. Normal minimum requirements for admission are a grade/quality point average of 3.6 on a 4.0 scale (B+ to A-). Business Studies: At least a minimal breadth in business studies is expected.

Ideally, applicants should have an undergraduate and/or Master's degree, which includes a substantial business studies element (e.g., a Bachelor of Commerce, Masters in Business Administration). Students without previous degrees in management education may be admitted as "qualifying" students.

Still, they could be required to undertake selected management courses in addition to the normal requirements of the Ph.D. program. Supervisor: In admitting students to the program, the Ph.D. Program Council will take into account the availability of potential dissertation supervisors. Once accepted into the program, students in consultation with the Ph.D. The Program Coordinator will be designated an advisor who will assist in developing the student’s dissertation topic. The assignment of an advisor will occur no later than the successful completion of the student’s comprehensive examination.

The advisor will be appointed based on their expertise concerning the student’s dissertation. A student in the program has identified an appropriate supervisor. Every effort will be made to ensure that they are appointed as the advisor/supervisor.

Additional Documents Required:

• Supplemental Form
• Personal Statement: At the time of application, prospective students should submit a personal statement (Maximum 4 pages), including:
  • Potential research interests
  • Potential supervisors
  • Relevant research, volunteer, and work experience
  • Career objectives and long-range goals
  • Academic honors, awards, and/or scholarships.
  • A list of publications, conference papers, and/or technical reports
  • University committee work
  • Any other information that is relevant to your application.

Please note: You may wish to upload a separate research statement or research proposal document. This is optional.

• Supplementary Questions: Be specific in your answers and provide examples where possible.
  • Why do you wish to pursue a Ph.D.? What do you expect to achieve?
  • What draws you to Saint Mary’s Ph.D. Program?
  • To which other Ph.D. Programs have you applied or intend to apply to?
  • What are your main strengths, and in what areas do you think you need improvement?
  • Have you previously applied to Saint Mary’s University Ph.D. Program? If yes, when?
  • Please indicate whether your acceptance of a place on the Ph.D. program is contingent on a Fellowship.
• A current CV/Resume: Maximum of five pages, typed, detailing your academic and employment history and community activities (e.g., volunteer work and other activities in the community). Please list your most recent experience first.
• References: Three completed recommendation forms are required before applicants can be considered for the Ph.D. Program. All three references must be from university professors that have taught you and are familiar with your academic work, particularly at the Master’s degree level.
• Transcripts: We will accept uploaded unofficial transcripts for evaluation purposes. Applicants must upload a grading scale with their unofficial transcripts. Successful applicants will be required to submit official final transcripts. 
• A valid Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) with a score above 600.

These are the test eligibilities for the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration to qualify.

The scholarships available for the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration are:

The international student tuition fees and costs for Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration in Canada.

A limited number of fellowships are available to students who are not in full-time paid employment. Fellowships are for $15,000 per annum and are available for a three-year period. Tuition fees are deducted from the fellowship, with any remainder being paid out to students at their request. Request for a fellowship should be made at the time of application.

For further inquiries or to set up an appointment, please contact Director Natalia Kochetova:

Phone: 902-420-5800

Email: sobeyPHD@smu.ca or natalia.k@smu.ca 

You may also contact our Program Assistant at 902-491-6529