phd after mba in australia

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Combine a phd with an mba.

Cutting-edge research meets comprehensive business skills.

Explore your passion for research and prepare for a broad range of careers through comprehensive business and leadership skills. Undertaking this unique PhD and MBA program will prepare you for leadership roles in industry, not-for-profit organisations and government. In your PhD, you will conduct cutting edge research in any of the areas available at Flinders University. In the MBA Future Business program, you will cover topics such as strategy, leadership, finance, innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability and industries 4.0 and 5.0. With extensive research and technical skills, industry insight and future-focused topics, you will acquire and develop the skills and connections to hit the ground running in your career wherever it may take you.

Explore your passion for research and prepare for a broad range of careers through comprehensive business and leadership skills. Undertaking this unique PhD and MBA program will prepare you for leadership roles in industry, not-for-profit organisations and government. In your PhD, you will conduct cutting edge research in many of the areas available at Flinders University. In the MBA Future Business program, you will cover topics such as strategy, leadership, finance, innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability and industries 4.0 and 5.0. With extensive research and technical skills, industry insight and future-focused topics, you will acquire and develop the skills and connections to hit the ground running in your career wherever it may take you.

Duration:  4 years

Delivery mode:  In person Online

Availability: Full-time Part-time

Start dates: January - March May - July October

Annual indicative fees (2023): MBA: $42,825 (Alumni pricing after PhD completion). PhD: Domestic student tuition covered by a RTP Fee Offset .

PhD research areas: View here

Study program 

PhD research areas 

How to apply 

Enquire 

Duration:  5 years

Delivery mode:  In person

Availability: Full-time

Annual indicative fees (2024): MBA: $47,360 (includes 20% off fees for combined PhD-MBA students).

PhD scholarships and fee offsets are available.

Why undertake the PhD-MBA program at Flinders?

• Embark on cutting edge research in your area of interest, gain valuable know-how in management and make a first step into the real world of business.
• You’ll be supported and mentored by specialist research supervisors who are experts in their fields as you undertake your PhD research project.
• You’ll also receive personalised support in the MBA component. When it comes to student support, Flinders University is number one in South Australia – as well as the number one university for teaching quality and student to teacher ratio.*
• Boost your expertise, leadership skills and career prospects and become an expert in your area of specialisation.
• Access outstanding research facilities and training opportunities across several campuses. Flinders is currently building a leading edge campus in Festival Square which will be completed in 2023.
• Make a difference in the world – your research has the potential to change people’s lives.
• Apply your research to the real world with Flinders’ large network of industry and government partners. We’ll connect you with industry experts who will nurture your talent and challenge you to rise higher. Through the MBA program there are also opportunities to get up close with industry in meaningful ways – including specialised entrepreneurship programs, internships, projects and placements.
• Our MBA program is shaped and led by esteemed industry leaders who will bring industries 4.0 and 5.0 to life beyond just concepts.
• Be prepared for the future of work. Technology is rapidly evolving, and new skills are needed to solve the challenges of our world today and in the future. The MBA has been designed with the future in mind, and to prepare you with the knowledge and experience needed to thrive in tomorrow’s world.

*Good Universities Guide 2022

Your career.

The MBA Future Business prepares you for a wide range of career opportunities in areas including consulting, strategy, government and not-for-profit organisations.

A PhD will position you as an expert in your area of specialisation and is a stepping stone to professional research or as a highly sought-after expert in the private or public sector in Australia or internationally.

Potential occupations include:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Marketing Director
• Business Consultant
• Managing Director
• Chief Operating Officer
• Executive Director
• Human Resources Manager
• National Director
• Product Manager
• Chief Robotics Officer Artificial Intelligence Architect
• Loyalty Engineer
• Program Director
• Head of Research
• Head of Finance and Funding
• Professional Researcher.

Potential employers include:

• Multinational corporations
• Large private companies
• Public sector
• Market research consultancies
• Corporate agencies
• Not-for-profit organisations.

What you will study

This PhD and MBA program is available in all research areas offered at Flinders, from engineering to the life sciences, the physical sciences, the humanities and the social sciences.

This PhD and MBA program is available in many research areas offered at Flinders, from engineering to the life sciences, the physical sciences, the humanities and the social sciences.

The Doctor of Philosophy component involves a time-based research project, where you will undertake supervised research culminating in submission of your thesis.

The Master of Business (MBA) Future Business component contains 12 core topics, and you can choose an industry placement or entrepreneurship program instead of one core topic.

You will enrol in the PhD degree and MBA degree individually and begin both degrees at the same time in one of three yearly intakes:

• Intake 1:  commences January to March
• Intake 2: commences May to July
• Intake 3: commences October.

If you are a full-time student, your program of study includes one MBA topic in each calendar of your PhD, selected from the following three topics:

• BUSN9147 Leading a Future Workforce
• BUSN8007 Ethics, Sustainability & Governance
• BUSN8008 Building Teams and Networks.

These topics will not interfere with your PhD milestones and an industry internship. After submitting your PhD, in the fourth year you will complete the remainder of the MBA topics:

• BUSN8009  Creating Resilient Supply Chain and Procurement
• BUSN9153  Emerging Business Models: Disruptions, Collaboration and Competition
• BUSN9152  Legal Signposts for Decision Makers
• BUSN9150  Business Analytics
• BUSN9149  Researching Markets 
• BUSN9151  Trends in Business Finance
• BUSN8006  Driving Financial Performance 
• BUSN9146  Economic Environments: Assessing Current and Future Markets 
• BUSN9148  Marketing in a Digital Age

If you are part-time student, please contact us for more information. Please consult the course rules that apply for the individual degrees, and have a look at the frequently asked questions (FAQs) .

PhD + one MBA topic

Nine MBA topics

Your MBA academics

Our research supervisors and academic staff are leaders in their field in both Australia and overseas. Our academic staff draw on their extensive knowledge and networks to help you deliver valuable research outcomes.

Associate Professor Angie Abdel Shafei MBA Director

Angie Shafei, MD DBA, is an interdisciplinary Associate Professor, Clinical Pathologist, Pracademic, Health Management Consultant and Researcher. Her main interests are innovation and transformation in health.  

Angie has more than two decades of experience in the medical, education, quality and accreditation sectors in Australia, North Africa and the Gulf. She is an Associate Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management and Co-founder of InnovateInn, a Technology start-up specializing in Medtech and AgriTech. She is a research commercialization expert with hands-on experience in Health Transformation, who uses her unique interdisciplinary expertise to engage in translational research and has published in peer-reviewed publications in ConsumerX, mHealth, Telehealth and patient-centred service delivery models.

Dr Afshin Tanouri MBA Deputy Director

Afshin’s main areas of interest include social marketing, digital marketing, gamification, and services marketing. His work mainly focuses on understanding how digital technologies - and specifically, gamification - can be used to bring about positive outcomes for individuals and society.   

Afshin has developed gamification services in domains such as mental wellbeing promotion and alcohol consumption reduction. He has also developed several educational game-based programs in areas such as digital marketing, sustainability, and business ethics, and has experience working in different industries such as publishing, automotive and pharmaceuticals in different sales and marketing roles.

PhD research areas

Get in touch with a supervisor of your choice today to discuss your area of interest.

Find a research supervisor

Biological Sciences

Chemical or Physical Sciences

Clinical Psychology

Clinical Translation

Computing, Information Technology or Mathematics

Creative and Performing Arts

Criminology

Digital Health

Engineering

Environmental Sciences

Government and International Relations

Health Emergencies and Health Security

Healthy Communities

History and Archaeology

Language, Literature and Culture

Molecular Biosciences

Palliative Care, Death and Dying

Self-care and Caring

Social Sciences

Social Work

Entry requirements

To be eligible for this PhD-MBA program you must meet the requirements below for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) component. Entry to the MBA component is then automatic. In your PhD application, select to enrol in the PhD-MBA program. Tick the box, and you're all set!

Doctor of Philosophy Component:

To be accepted for enrolment in the Doctor of Philosophy component, an applicant must have at least one of the following Australian qualifications (which must include studies relevant to the proposed field of research), or the equivalent qualification as approved by the relevant authorised delegate:

• A Bachelors degree with Honours class 1 or 2A;
• A Doctor of Medicine with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 5;
• A Graduate Diploma or Masters degree by coursework with a research component of at least 18 units, with an average GPA of at least 6 in the research component;
• A Masters by Research degree.

Applicants must also satisfy the University that they are reasonably likely to be able to complete the requirements of the award within the maximum duration.

Exceptions can be approved in accordance with the Higher Degrees by Research Policy.

How to apply

Review the course rule

Check your eligibility

Find out about scholarships and fees

Prepare your application  (and select to enrol in the PhD-MBA program)

Submit your application

All applicants must meet the required  English language proficiency requirements for HDR candidature .

Enquire now

Have any questions about the PhD-MBA program? Reach out to our academic leads by filling in the form below.

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Management

How to apply.

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with the School of Management & Governance at UNSW Business School, the first step is obtaining an  Invitation to Apply. To do so, submit an  Expression of Interest (EOI) . Details of what to include in your EOI can be found here .

After reviewing your EOI, the School of Management & Governance will conduct a preliminary screening. If successful, you will receive an  Invitation to Apply , which allows you to formally submit your application through the  UNSW Apply Online portal. Instructions for the formal application process will be included in the Invitation to Apply email.

Key Deadlines

• Higher Degree Research students typically begin their studies in Term 1 (February) .
• Submit your EOI between May and mid-August to be considered for admission the following year. Decisions for Term 1 starts are usually announced in October of the prior year.
• Out-of-round EOIs : Late submissions will only be considered for applicants with substantial prior research experience (e.g., a research-based honours or Master's degree from a leading global institution).

About our Higher Degree Research Programs

Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Management & Governance (Program code 1605) prepares you to become a globally engaged research leader. You will join a high-achieving cohort tackling modern-day challenges alongside renowned academics in a School ranked 42nd globally (QS Subject Rankings, 2023).

The program begins with rigorous coursework in relevant theories and research methods. You will also engage in research projects from the outset, equipping you with the skills to identify, analyze, and solve intellectual problems.

Under the supervision of high-profile academics, you will conduct independent research leading to a doctoral thesis, where you will make an original contribution to the field of Management & Governance.

There will also be exciting opportunities throughout to engage with industry and develop your teaching portfolio . The training is geared toward preparing you for a career in academia, although other career paths (e.g., consulting, government, industry, non-profit) are also enabled.

The vast majority of our Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are supported through a tuition waiver and stipend of around A$38-48K per year.

Standard Path: Linked Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS) + PhD

While a few applicants gain Direct Entry into the PhD program, most candidates are first invited to complete the Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies (MPDBS) . The application process for both the Direct Entry and MPDBS+PhD programs is identical. Begin by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). See above for details.

The MPDBS is a fully funded one-year pathway program that includes:

• A tuition waiver and stipend (~A$38K).
• Advanced coursework and research assistantships.

Upon completion, most students progress into the PhD program with continued scholarship support (~A$48K stipend and tuition waiver).

The MPDBS program provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen research skills and secure appropriate PhD supervision.

For a full-time Higher Degree Research student, the minimum time commitment is 35-40 hours per week for 4 years.

The UNSW Business School ranks 34th worldwide for Business & Management Studies.

An increasing number of PhD graduates find employment in business, government, and the non-profit sector. Nineteen of the largest ASX companies have PhD graduates on their senior executive teams.

Your PhD thesis will set you on the path to a career in a premier research institution, anywhere in the world. Throughout your research degree, you’ll also have many opportunities to develop your teaching portfolio.

Beyond academia, there is also significant demand in the private and public sectors for people with deep knowledge and sound research and analytical skills*.

Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in academia, or take your research skills out to industry, a PhD in Management from UNSW will get you there.

* Source:  2019 Advancing Australia’s Knowledge Economy Report

Degree type

Postgraduate Research

4 years full-time, 5-8 years part-time

Commencing terms

Term 1 – February

Program code

Delivery mode, domestic / international.

International

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Graduate Research

Doctoral Program in Business Administration and Analytics

• Arrow-right #1 Business and Economics in Australia
• Arrow-right #8 Globally for graduate employability

Course overview

Offered in the  Department of Business Administration , the Faculty's Doctoral Program in Business Administration and Analytics comprises two direct-entry Doctor of Philosophy streams, each with specific pathway entry requirements:

• Business Administration (requires the equivalent of a 2-year Master of Commerce in the proposed specialisation or area of interest)
• Analytics (requires the equivalent of a 4-year Australian undergraduate Honours degree)

The department leverages its strong connections to industry, award-winning researchers and the expertise of its leadership team to support the studies and professional development of a small cohort of innovative graduate researchers to success. The program is specifically designed for high-achieving applicants with exceptional potential for generating cutting-edge research in  business administration or analytics.

For information on graduate research supervision areas and availability, please visit the Find an Expert site.

Register to attend an information session

Related study areas

• Business administration
• Business and economics
• Economics, econometrics and analytics

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