MPhil in Business Research
Develop research capability.
Build the foundation for independent scholarship.
A supervised research degree connecting methodological discipline, critical thinking and scholarly writing, with an embedded Licentiate in Research and a pathway towards doctoral study.
Program Facts
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Business Research at Monarch Switzerland is a fully online, part-time research master’s programme offered through Monarch Global Research Institute, with a standard duration of 24 months. Designed for professionals and aspiring researchers, it enables advanced research study alongside a career without the need to relocate.
- Institution
- Monarch Switzerland
- Department
- Monarch Global Research Institute
- Award
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Business Research
- Study Mode
- Fully Online
- Standard Duration
- 24 Months
- Study Format
- Part-Time
- Designed For
- Professionals and Aspiring Researchers
- Residency
- No Relocation Required
- Language
- English
- Institution Location
- Switzerland
An extended-duration pathway is available. Completion depends on research progress and fulfilment of the programme’s academic requirements.
Move from acquiring knowledge
to conducting disciplined inquiry.
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Business Research develops the methodological competence, conceptual clarity and scholarly independence needed for advanced research.
Candidates critically evaluate management and organisational theory, formulate researchable questions and conduct a supervised study. The programme connects academic reflection with professional experience while establishing the habits of rigorous, ethical inquiry.
A qualification in its own right.
A foundation for what comes next.
The MPhil serves both as a terminal research master’s degree and as preparation for doctoral study. It bridges structured master’s-level learning and independent research, developing an understanding of philosophical assumptions, research paradigms and appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods.
Monarch’s embedded Licentiate in Research (Lic.Res.) reflects its approach to progressive scholarly formation, drawing on European research traditions such as the Lizentiat and Diplôme d’Études Approfondies.
Develop the capability
to design, analyse and defend research.
Research competence
Formulate research questions and design coherent inquiry linking philosophical orientation, methodology and interpretation.
Critical and conceptual analysis
Evaluate management and organisational theories, identify conceptual gaps and synthesise competing perspectives.
Supervised research practice
Conduct an independent project with faculty guidance, maintaining a clear relationship between literature, evidence and argument.
Scholarly communication
Produce well-structured academic writing with disciplined argumentation, appropriate citation and clear communication of findings.
Ethics and reflexivity
Address confidentiality, researcher positionality and responsible interpretation, considering implications for people, organisations and society.
Doctoral preparation
Develop methodological readiness, confidence in supervisory dialogue and the ability to present and defend a sustained research argument.
Participation in Monarch’s research community and opportunities such as the Monarch Research Paper Series support the development of an emerging scholarly identity.
Four stages of scholarly development.
Structured milestones take candidates from research preparation to a completed thesis and formal defence. Faculty supervision supports academic coherence, methodological discipline and steady progress.
Build foundations
Study research philosophy, methodology, ethics and academic writing. Develop the conceptual grounding to frame an independent project.
Design the study
Prepare a formal research proposal setting out the question, conceptual framework and methods. Faculty review establishes coherence and feasibility before approval.
Develop the thesis
Conduct the approved study, analyse findings and produce the master’s thesis. Submission and approval lead to the MPhil award, subject to programme requirements.
Present your work
Following written thesis approval, present and defend the research before an academic committee. Successful defence leads to the Licentiate in Research.
Written scholarship.
Defended research competence.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
The MPhil in Business Research is conferred upon submission and approval of the thesis, recognising the candidate’s research capability, analytical reasoning and scholarly writing.
Licentiate in Research (Lic.Res.)
The embedded Lic.Res. follows successful presentation and defence before an academic committee, demonstrating the ability to explain, justify and critically discuss the completed research.
A pathway towards doctoral study.
Graduates who successfully complete the Lic.Res. are eligible to progress into the second year of Monarch’s PhD or Doctor of Social Science programmes, subject to administrative approval. Research developed during the MPhil provides a foundation for continued inquiry.
Progression to another institution is subject to that institution’s admission and recognition requirements.
Independent research.
Supported development.
Scholarly mentorship
Faculty supervision provides methodological guidance, feedback and support throughout preparation, proposal development and thesis work.
Flexible professional format
Remote, asynchronous study and structured milestones allow candidates to plan academic work around professional responsibilities.
Open research interests
Bring a relevant business, management or interdisciplinary question. Topic, scope and methods are refined with faculty for master’s-level study and supervisory fit.
Defence experience
Develop scholarly dialogue, critical justification and the ability to respond to academic questioning in a committee setting.
Research community
Engage with Monarch’s research culture. Master’s candidates are welcome at periodic doctoral workshops in Switzerland.
Progressive formation
The four-stage structure and dual-award framework recognise both written scholarship and the successful defence of research.
Study is fully remote, with no requirement to relocate. Workshops in Switzerland are optional opportunities for research support and scholarly exchange.
Academic potential.
Intellectual curiosity. Research ambition.
Applicants normally hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional qualification. Business, management and related disciplines provide relevant foundations; applicants from other fields with strong analytical or research potential are also encouraged to apply.
- Relevant professional or managerial experience is valued for the perspective it brings to research.
- The Admissions Committee considers academic record, research potential and professional experience, and may request additional documentation.
- Successful applicants enter as MPhil Candidates in Business Research and are assigned faculty supervision.
- Admissions are rolling, with programme starts on the first day of each month, subject to admission.
Who should apply?
Professionals seeking stronger analytical skills, graduates preparing for doctoral study, educators and consultants developing methodological foundations, and early-career researchers pursuing scholarly or policy-oriented work.
Choose a pace that fits your commitments.
Standard pathway
The standard duration is 24 months of part-time study, with progress dependent on research development and academic requirements.
Extended pathway
The 48-month pathway offers a longer schedule for candidates balancing research with professional and personal responsibilities.
Duration is not a guarantee of completion or a tuition cap. Current tuition, payment and continuation arrangements apply during active registration. Confirm the applicable conditions with Admissions before enrolling.
What question will shape
your scholarly journey?
Build the research skills, intellectual confidence and methodological foundations to take your inquiry further.