The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management at The British University in Dubai’s (BUiD) is tailored for professionals across commercial, public, and non-profit sectors. Our programme integrates the latest academic theories with practical applications in diverse organisational, business, and management settings. Emphasising both technical and academic expertise, BUiD’s PhD in Business Management encourages management practices rooted in research evidence, problem-solving, and rigorous investigation.

In line with international academic standards, the new structure of the PhD programme is based on the British model, where students are mainly trained in the first year on research skills before they begin work on their thesis from the second year onwards. This model ensures a strong foundation in research methodology, enabling students to undertake impactful doctoral research with confidence and clarity.

Graduates of BUiD’s PhD in Business Management programme are poised for exceptional career opportunities. With a doctorate from BUiD, you can aspire to top-level positions in corporate or public sector environments, becoming visionary leaders in your organisations. Alternatively, you may pursue a fulfilling career in academia, where you can inspire as a lecturer and contribute impactful research to the field of business management.

To enter the programme you need

• A recognised Master’s degree in a subject related to the programme with a cumulative grade point average of greater than 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale or its equivalent.
• A recognised Bachelor’s degree in a subject related to the programme.
• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a field related to Business Management. Those without sufficient background in the Business Management will need to complete additional master’s-level courses to build their foundation. These courses must be passed but will not incur extra tuition fees..
• A minimum TOEFL score of 580 (237 CBT, 92 iBT), IELTS academic score of 6.5 (6.0 on writing section), or their equivalents on another standardised nationally, or internationally, recognised test that is approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research UAE (MOHESR).
• The chosen area of Business Management study must be one, which can be supervised by staff within the University.
• An initial proposal for research, including motivation to study for a PhD, which will be discussed through an interview. Proposal Guidelines
• Submission of a certificate of equivalency issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research UAE (MOHESR) for all previous degree certificates awarded by institutions outside the UAE.
• A copy of the passport along with a copy of the Emirates ID (If available).
• Al Ethbara Number (for UAE nationals only).

Selection criteria:

• Work experience: Relevant work experience will be considered. Considerable experience (3 years or more) in a Management/Business or related area is desirable.
• Satisfactory admissions interview will be mandatory.
• Satisfactory supporting references will be required.

English Exam Registration

• Students are encouraged to register for their IELTS or TOEFL at The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
• Paper-based ITP TOEFL are accepted by the administering institution only. Only those administered by AMIDEAST Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah will be accepted if it is sent by Amideast to BUiD directly.
• While registering with ETS for iBT or with Amideast for ITP TOEFL, please quote BUiD’s TOEFL code 0168.
• Internet (iBT) – test scores should be sent to BUiD directly by ETS.

Stage 1

• Qualitative Research Methods and Paradigms
• Quantitative Methods

Stage 2

• Research Design and Planning 
• Proposal Defence 

Stage 3

• Thesis

On successful completion of this programme, graduates will be able to:

• Analyse applicable techniques for research and advanced academic inquiry in business management;
• Integrate knowledge from different business disciplines to assess complex organisational contexts, opportunities and threats; 
• Design and implement empirical research projects, generate new solutions/techniques and solve complex business problems to develop organisations;
• Create and interpret new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline of business management, and merit publication.

The achievement of these core-learning outcomes will ensure that holders of the PhD will be able to:

• Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches.  

The core learning outcomes will also translate into PhD holders having the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.