Monarch Switzerland / MGRI / PhD in Business Research
Monarch Global Research Institute · Academic Doctoral Study
PhD in Business Research
Develop rigorous, original research that advances knowledge and contributes meaningfully to organisations, professions and society.
Original researchDevelop a scholarly contribution
Remote & flexibleStudy alongside professional life
Faculty mentorshipIndividual guidance through research milestones
Flexible pathwaysExtended-duration study available
Research with purpose
A scholarly pathway from research question to contribution.
The PhD in Business Research is the foundational academic framework upon which all other PhD programmes at Monarch are built. Its broad and adaptable research architecture can accommodate a well-defined research question from any appropriate domain, while maintaining consistent standards of academic rigour, methodological discipline and sustained faculty supervision. Rather than limiting candidates to a narrow subject area, the programme enables each researcher to position an original inquiry within the relevant scholarly literature, apply an appropriate methodology and develop a meaningful contribution to knowledge. This foundation supports research across management, economics, leadership, finance, international relations, sustainability, neuroscience and other interdisciplinary domains approved by the Faculty.
Who the programme is for
Distinct ambitions. A shared commitment to research.
The research-led professional
For experienced practitioners seeking to examine a significant organisational or sectoral question with academic rigour.The institutional contributor
For leaders, advisers and policy professionals who want their research to inform institutions, professional fields or society.PhD or professional doctorate?
Choose the doctorate that matches your intended contribution.
The PhD is designed for candidates seeking to produce an original theoretical contribution to scholarly knowledge. It develops advanced research capability, academic writing and the intellectual independence required for sustained inquiry within a chosen domain.
A professional doctorate places greater emphasis on translating evidence into models, interventions and outcomes for practice. Both routes demand doctoral rigour; the distinction lies chiefly in the nature of the intended contribution. Admissions will help you identify the pathway that best aligns with your research question and ambitions.
What you will achieve
Develop the capabilities of an independent scholar.
Through structured progression and faculty supervision, candidates strengthen the intellectual maturity, methodological discipline and scholarly voice required to make an original contribution to knowledge.
Research mastery
Design and conduct rigorous inquiry using advanced qualitative, interpretive and other appropriate research methods.Original contribution
Develop a defensible theoretical contribution that advances understanding within the chosen research domain.Scholarly communication
Produce coherent, analytically rigorous and publication-ready academic work.Theory and practice
Connect professional experience and real-world questions with critical scholarly reflection.Critical inquiry
Examine complex organisational, ethical and societal questions through multiple analytical perspectives.Research leadership
Build the independence, confidence and scholarly identity needed for sustained academic and professional contribution.Flexible academic pathways
A doctoral journey designed to recognise progress and ambition.
Monarch provides structured options that support different circumstances without compromising academic standards or supervision.
M.Phil. recognition
The integrated Master of Philosophy in Business Research recognises substantial doctoral progress. It may be awarded in passing with the completed PhD, or as a terminal award where the applicable academic requirements are fulfilled.Extended-duration study
An optional part-time pathway distributes study over a longer period for candidates balancing research with professional responsibilities, while retaining the same supervision standards and degree outcomes. Current arrangements are detailed on the tuition page.Dual doctoral pathway
Eligible candidates may extend their PhD contribution through a subsequent applied doctoral manuscript. The sequential pathway connects theoretical knowledge with professional models and practice-oriented outcomes, subject to academic review.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.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.
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
Dr. Delaney entered doctoral study with more than twenty years of senior management experience in Ireland’s multinational technology sector. Her research examined leadership culture as a mediating influence on innovation, using phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences of leaders working in fast-moving organisations. The resulting framework connects scholarly insight with practical guidance for executives seeking to strengthen innovation readiness and organisational adaptability.
Supervision and flexibility
Serious scholarship designed around working professionals.
For two decades, Monarch has supported working professionals in 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.
Begin the conversation
What research question could define your scholarly contribution?
Speak with Admissions about your background, research interests and readiness for the PhD pathway.