A business PhD supervised from Durham
Online only
The PhD in business is research, not a taught conversion of the MBA. Supervision is from the business school. Online tuition is covered. The page makes no accreditation claim for the doctorate. PhD Business Administration is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3–5 years, and the credit total is 60. Students move from Advanced Research Methods through Advanced Research Methods; Seminar in Management Theory; Quantitative Methods for Business Research; Qualitative & Mixed Methods; Doctoral Candidacy Examination; Dissertation Research & Writing, and finish on Dissertation Research & Writing. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation. Reading is a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. The artefact a marker expects is a consulting brief a manager could use. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Frame a research question that can be answered with the evidence available Choose a method and say what it cannot show Write a literature review that argues, rather than lists Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.
The doctorate is supervised research plus the taught research modules on this page. Online tuition is covered. Examination or administrative fees may still apply. Campus study, where it is offered, is priced separately.
Faculty spotlight
The business school at Durham University appoints the supervisor. The page does not name an individual scholar.
Interactive modules, weekly readings, recorded and live seminars, and collaborative discussions with peers worldwide.
Module assignments, proctored examinations, and capstone projects designed to demonstrate mastery of the field.
Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.
The published duration is 3–5 years. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.
This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.
Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.
Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents, research). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.
Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.
Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Durham University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.
Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@durhm.co.uk.
Study online
Online tuition is free. Online examinations are free. There is no exam fee for online study. Collegiate campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately.
Accreditation & recognition
