
Professional PhD
Professional business people have great skill-sets. We learn to manage limited resources, plan for continuous improvement and generally keep a results-oriented view point. At Monarch, the Professional PhD program has been designed as a thesis-only program that leverages what business people do best: create positive change. As a business school, we believe that business people are perfectly positioned to create real social change by leveraging the assets and resources at their disposal. One of the most important assets at your disposal is you and the energy you bring to your work. Through pointed and dedicated business research you can make change possible.
- Professional Research Orientation
- Research Skills Development
- Dissertation Based
- Multi-Disciplinary Focus
- Direct Entry To The Research Phase
- Model & Framework Development
Completion Requirements
The 3-year accelerated thesis-only Professional PhD program is designed for working professionals. The structure and knowledge gained is directed at returning professionals to the academic environment who wish to develop their research skills while maintaining a professional orientation. Candidates will cover research methods modules along with the preparation and approval of the Ph.D. research proposal. The program concludes with the completion of the dissertation and oral defense. Candidates may also follow the program on the standard 5 year study plan.
Program Modules
The program is designed around the completion of a series of modules that assist the candidate in developing the necessary academic research skills essential for the successful completion of the program.
Understanding where to obtain appropriate research information and establishing the quality of that information and data is critical to the successful completion the doctoral research. In this module candidates develop the necessary knowledge to be a skilled researcher that may quickly find and evaluate materials from a variety of sources.
The candidate is introduced to mixed methods research for social science. Both quantitative and qualitatives research methods are covered.
This module assist the candidate in fashioning and perfecting the 25-page research proposal that illustrates the focus, supporting reasoning and research methodology and steps that will be followed.
The final component of the program includes the development of the PhD dissertation.
Master-in-Passing - MPhil / PhD
Candidates completing the Professional PhD program will also be awarded the Master in Philosophy in Business Research as a Master-in-Passing award. The degree is automatically awarded upon successful completion of the PhD program and no additional work is required. A Master-in-Passing degree is also known as a Master degree earned en route and is considered equal to a terminal Master degree.
Dual Degree - PhD / DBA or PhD / DOL Combined Program
Candidates completing the Dual PhD / DBA or Dual PhD / DOL Combined programs will be awarded both the PhD and DBA or DOL as separate degrees. They will also receive the M.Phil. in Business Research (Master-in-Passing) degree at the time of successful completion of the program. The combined program requires that the Candidate address both theory development within the requirements of the PhD as well as Praxis application within the requirements of the DBA or DOL. Successful completion is considered when theory and praxis are integrated into a coherent whole and provide a deep and developed understanding of the research.

Aurelia Ravet, PhD Graduate, France
The program is open to professionals with more than 5 years of working experience at a managerial level along with a Bachelor or Master degree from a recognized institution.
Participant progress is assessed through the submission of various assignments per module. The program concludes with the completion of a doctoral manuscript. There are no exams within the program.
At the successful completion of the program the candidate will be issued both the Master of Philosophy in Business Research and the PhD in their study domain.
Participants demonstrate their mastery of critical thinking by developing theory and merging new ideas with practice. The manuscript is typically 200 to 250 pages in length.
Candidates complete the program via the Monarch Digital Campus (MDC). This enables completion of the program 24 x 7 from anywhere. Asynchronous completion means you are not required to be on the platform at any specific time. Complete the program to fit your schedule.
Please see the main tuition page for further information. Candidates from OECD developing nations are automatically provided a 20% discount on the standard tuition rate. Candidates may select the “Accelerated” 3 year duration or the “Standard” 5 year study program.
The program has rolling admission and may be started on the 1st of each month. Deferred start applications are also accepted.
