MONARCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
PhD in
Business
Research
INQUIRY · SCHOLARSHIP · CONTRIBUTION
A flexible, faculty-guided doctorate for researchers and experienced professionals ready to develop an original theoretical contribution to knowledge.
PROGRAMME BROCHURE · MONARCH SWITZERLAND
PhD
Research with purpose
PhD in Business Research
A scholarly pathway from research question to contribution.
Develop rigorous, original research that advances knowledge and contributes meaningfully to organisations, professions and society.
A foundation for advanced inquiry
The PhD in Business Research is the foundational academic framework upon which Monarch’s other PhD programmes are built. Its adaptable architecture supports a well-defined research question from an appropriate domain while maintaining academic rigour, methodological discipline and sustained faculty supervision.
Bring your question into a wider scholarly conversation.
Research may span management, economics, leadership, finance, international relations, sustainability, neuroscience and other interdisciplinary domains approved by the Faculty. Each candidate positions an original inquiry within the literature, applies an appropriate methodology and develops a meaningful contribution to knowledge.
Who the programme is for
Distinct ambitions. A shared commitment to research.
The academic researcher
Preparing for university teaching, publication and sustained scholarly inquiry.
The research-led professional
Examining a significant organisational or sectoral question with academic rigour.
The institutional contributor
Bringing research insight to institutions, professional fields and society.
PhD
What you will achieve
Develop the capabilities of an independent scholar.
Structured progression and faculty supervision strengthen intellectual maturity, methodological discipline and the scholarly voice required for original research.
Research mastery
Design and conduct rigorous inquiry using advanced qualitative, interpretive and other appropriate research methods.
Original theoretical contribution
Develop a defensible contribution that advances understanding within your chosen research domain.
Scholarly communication
Produce coherent, analytically rigorous and publication-ready academic work.
Theory–practice integration
Connect lived professional experience and real-world questions with critical scholarly reflection.
Critical interpretation and inquiry
Examine complex organisational, ethical and human challenges through multiple interpretive frameworks.
Scholarly identity and research leadership
Build the independence, confidence and reflective leadership required for sustained academic and professional contribution.
A global research community
Engage with Monarch’s scholarly community and opportunities for participation in the Monarch Research Paper Series, strengthening your identity as an independent researcher.
PhD or professional doctorate?
The PhD centres on an original theoretical contribution to knowledge. A professional doctorate places greater emphasis on translating evidence into models, interventions and outcomes for practice. Both demand doctoral rigour; Admissions can help you choose the route that matches your intended contribution.
PhD
Your doctoral journey
Progress through clear research milestones.
01 · Prepare — Build the foundations
Develop advanced research and academic-writing capabilities.
02 · Frame — Shape the proposal
Develop and refine your proposal during the programme with faculty guidance.
03 · Investigate — Conduct the research
Gather and analyse evidence using an appropriate, rigorous research design.
04 · Synthesise — Develop the thesis
Connect findings to theory and articulate the original contribution.
05 · Defend — Present the contribution
Complete the thesis and defend the research before the examination committee.
Throughout — Work with faculty
Progress through sustained supervision, structured feedback and scholarly review.
Faculty-supported proposal development
Candidates are not expected to arrive with a finished research proposal. It is developed during the programme in conjunction with the Faculty.
Supervision and flexibility
Serious scholarship designed around working professionals.
For two decades, Monarch has supported doctoral study through a time-tested, distance-based model. Asynchronous study and individual faculty mentoring enable candidates to work from anywhere, at any time, while maintaining steady progress and scholarly accountability.
PhD
Flexible academic pathways
Recognising progress, circumstances and ambition.
M.Phil. in Business Research — in passing
Candidates who successfully complete all doctoral requirements are automatically granted the Master of Philosophy in Business Research in passing upon conferral of the PhD. The award recognises research design, theoretical framing and analytical competence developed during the doctoral journey.
M.Phil. — an approved exit pathway
Candidates who conclude their studies before completing the PhD may qualify for the M.Phil. as a terminal award by submitting a completed five-chapter master’s thesis and meeting the applicable academic requirements. Unlike the PhD, this award does not require an original contribution to knowledge.
Optional dual doctoral pathway
Following academic review, eligible candidates may build upon their PhD with a second, applied doctoral manuscript, such as the DBA, Doctor of Leadership or Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management. The pathway is sequential: the PhD establishes original theoretical knowledge, which then supports applied translation and practice-oriented outcomes.
Planning your study
The standard pathway is 36 months. An optional extended-duration, part-time pathway distributes study over 60 months, reducing periodic tuition payments while retaining the same supervision standards, institutional services and degree outcomes.
Begin with a conversation.
Speak with Admissions about your academic background, professional experience, research interests and readiness for the PhD pathway. Confirm current admission requirements and supervisory fit before applying.
Programme arrangements and fees remain subject to current institutional requirements. Consult the programme webpage and Admissions Office before applying.
PhD
Research in action
Doctoral journeys. Meaningful contributions.
Monarch graduates bring rigorous research to complex questions across industries, institutions and societies.
Dr. Louise Delaney
Ireland · PhD in Business Research / Doctor of Leadership
With more than twenty years of senior management experience in Ireland’s multinational technology sector, Dr. Delaney examined how leadership culture influences innovation. Her phenomenological inquiry drew on leaders’ lived experiences to develop a framework connecting innovation readiness, organisational adaptability and leadership practice.
Dr. Renier Krige
South Africa · PhD in Organisational Dynamics
Drawing on more than two decades of executive and consulting experience, Dr. Krige investigated how human capital and organisational dynamics shape brand loyalty in multinational agricultural settings. His mixed-methods research connected leadership behaviour, capability development and strategic alignment with the realities of organisational practice.
Dr. Samrat Sisodia
United States / India · PhD in Business Research
An experienced pharmaceutical regulatory leader, Dr. Sisodia explored the managerial and strategic dimensions of global regulatory affairs. His doctoral research examined submission complexity and coordination across scientific, operational and commercial teams, offering insight into regulatory efficiency and organisational capability.
Dr. Benjamin Rutimirwa
Rwanda · PhD in Business Research
With more than two decades of public-sector regulatory experience, Dr. Rutimirwa investigated the governance and economic dimensions of utility regulation in emerging markets. His research examined tariff frameworks and institutional arrangements, offering insight into regulatory transparency, pricing efficiency and citizen protections in essential services.
YOUR QUESTION. YOUR SCHOLARLY CONTRIBUTION.
Advance knowledge.
Strengthen your scholarly voice.
Make a meaningful contribution.
Monarch Switzerland brings together education, research and professional learning to help individuals develop the knowledge, judgement and capabilities required to create meaningful impact. For two decades, Monarch has supported working professionals through flexible, faculty-guided doctoral study.
Start a conversation →MONARCH SWITZERLAND
Vorderbergstrasse 34 · Walchwil, Zug · Switzerland CH-6318
UMonarch.ch · administration@umonarch.ch
PhD IN BUSINESS RESEARCH · PROGRAMME BROCHURE · 07 / 07
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