Is it Possible to Get My PhD After My MBA?

MBA graduate contemplating PhD degree

In academia, numerous accomplishments can be achieved. You can earn a dual degree and have expertise in multiple fields, or further your career potential by going back to school . But what about progressing from an MBA to a PhD? 

In regards to higher education, many consider earning a PhD, or doctorate degree, the pinnacle of success. Usually, due to passion for a particular industry or subject, a PhD candidate will spend years of rigorous research to unpack its intricacies and become a leading expert in the field.  At the end of their studies, they are able to finally see their work come to fruition when they receive their doctorate and join alongside other scholars. However, is it typical for an MBA graduate to move onto pursuing their PhD? And is there a specific purpose? Are there different types of PhD programs? What is the difference between a PhD and DBA?

To answer the budding question: yes, you can pursue your PhD after earning your MBA, and choosing to earn a doctorate is entirely up to you and your aspirations. To help you better understand if getting a PhD is the right choice, we look at the path an MBA graduate can take to earn their PhD, one of the higher purposes of a doctorate, and the different types of academic programs. 

What is a PhD, and What is it Used For? 

By definition, a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy in a particular discipline, which is why it's also referred to as a doctorate. This focus is typically for individuals highly passionate about a specific subject matter, driven by the pursuit to understand it better through rigorous research. A majority of students seeking their PhD are eager researchers, although there are always exceptions, and each carries out years of highly intensive research to conclude their original thesis and earn their doctorate. 

In terms of translating your education into a career, a doctorate can be used in a plethora of fields, especially if one’s thesis is around a wider subject matter and can be a discipline applied to various industries (take organizational development, for example). For those who are passionate about a career in research, a doctoral degree is a perfect fit. Possibly the most popular field for those with a doctorate is a fruitful career in academia, teaching their subject matter to others interested in the same area. Many graduates become faculty members at business schools upon completing their PhD and provide their expertise to their students. Regardless of which industry you choose, you can be assured that a PhD will provide you with numerous opportunities. 

How Long Does it Take to Progress from an MBA to PhD?

The timeframe for earning your PhD can vary depending on program and location. Many countries have varying timelines of how long the completion of a doctoral program will take. In the United States, the average is around 4-5 years of completion after receiving your Master of Business Administration. 

Do You Need an MBA to Get a PhD?

To be accepted into a doctoral program, you must have a master’s degree. It does not have to be a Master of Business Administration, but it does need to be a master’s of some form. Depending on your area of specialization, it could be advantageous to earn your MBA in pursuit of a PhD if you are planning to embark on a career in business upon completion of your doctorate. Additionally, one important aspect to consider is the program itself. It is important to look into a program’s requirements before applying to meet the eligibility criteria. 

The Difference Between a DBA and a PhD 

For those specifically interested in a career in business, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a highly beneficial doctoral program. A DBA focuses on a broader spectrum of business disciplines, dedicating research toward multiple corporate facets, and practical implementation. On the contrary, a PhD narrows into a specific area of discipline and research, emphasizing theory, and it’s potential implications. While both are heavily centered around research and implementation, a DBA sets business executives and leaders on a path to discover new possibilities for their organizations and businesses. In a way, it allows established business professionals to “trailblaze” the way for new and innovative ideas that can disrupt the market and set a precedent for the future of business.

Get Your MBA or DBA at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School

At Pepperdine Graziadio, we proudly offer degrees to accommodate business professionals at any stage of their lives and careers. Our full and part-time MBA programs are designed to prepare candidates for a successful career in values-based business leadership. All of our MBA programs offer a personalized learning approach executed by our world-class faculty. Each program is characterized by its top-ranked business curriculum that can be coupled with an academic concentration. 

Our Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program has been carefully designed for the tenured business leader looking to drive groundbreaking innovations. This rigorous program allows candidates to gain in-depth knowledge and finetune their expertise through applied research. Also, executives enjoy learning alongside changemakers in various industries and participating in exclusive opportunities available only to DBA candidates.

Learn more about which programs fit your career aspirations and academic interests.

Learn more about how to achieve your career goals with a degree from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.

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When you study at the undergraduate level, you are introduced to a field and gradually become aware of its unexpected nuances and complexities. At the doctoral level, you acquire an intellectual framework that allows you to embrace and accommodate that complexity as you strive to make sense of the world. As you progress, your novel insights help others make sense of the world as well. When that occurs, you are contributing to knowledge. Doctoral study is rigorous and immersive—but it is rewarding.

In the Kellogg PhD program, you will master an academic discipline—economics, psychology, sociology, operations research, or data science—and apply that mastery to real world problems facing managers and policy makers. This discipline-based approach prepares you to challenge conventional wisdom with new ideas, models, and empirical findings that have enduring impact on businesses, organizations, and communities. After leaving Kellogg, you can look forward to a career leading and inspiring others through teaching and research.

  • Kellogg’s distinguished faculty includes trailblazing scholars whose research has redefined the study of management and has set a standard for new ideas and innovation. Currently there are 139 tenure-track, research-based faculty, of whom 68 hold endowed chairs. The faculty’s commitment to scholarly inquiry is evidenced by the school’s many research centers, as well as by sustained scholarly output. Their work is published in peer-reviewed journals , and many Kellogg professors serve in editorial positions at leading research journals.  The Kellogg faculty is deeply committed to PhD education. Within the past five years, over 60 different faculty have served on at least 3 PhD dissertation committees, and a phenomenal 26 faculty have chaired at least 2 committees!
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Welcome to UCLA Anderson’s Doctoral Program — the first step in pursuing an academic career in management.

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"On behalf of our faculty, thank you for visiting the UCLA Anderson Ph.D. program! If you're serious about advancing our understanding of business disciplines through rigorous research, I invite you to explore everything our Ph.D. program has to offer. You'll have the opportunity to train with world-renowned scholars and alongside the next generation of researchers. In that pursuit, you will have UCLA's resources and strengths as a world-class research institution available to you."

Join us as we expand the boundaries of business knowledge. Apply to become one of tomorrow's leading scholars today.

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PhD/MBA Program

The Wake Forest University PhD/MBA program is dedicated to training and research at the interface between science andbusiness to unleash the power and potential of technology for the benefit of society.

A large proportion of Ph.D. graduates work in the private sector in positions that use the skills acquired during their graduate training. But in addition to the scholarship and rigor that makes the Ph.D. a world model, there is a need for a broader range of skills for success in a changing employment climate. The Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, in conjunction with the  Schools of Business , has initiated an innovative course of study leading to the PhD/MBA. The Wake Forest PhD/MBA program is the first program of its kind in the nation, and the first to produce students with the joint degree (see testimonials from some of our graduates, below).

The World Can Change at the Intersection of Disciplines

Uniting science and management, the PhD/MBA program is preparing a new generation of leaders for the emerging fields of technology. Our mission is focused, providing education and research training leading to beneficial uses for the rapidly emerging discoveries in the sciences, and preparing students for industry or academic leadership. Multidisciplinary knowledge is indispensable in the development of new products and processes and in the translation of biomedical advances to patients and the global market. As the first graduate program in the nation offering management training with the Ph.D., we are dedicated to capturing the brightest minds and providing them with the scientific and management expertise needed to foster the technology infrastructure of the nation.

An Innovative and Efficient Curriculum

The PhD/MBA program is a synthesis of curricula from the Graduate School and the Evening MBA Program of the Schools of Business, with specialized course work and opportunities for industrial and business internships. The joint program is open to new and current students in all PhD-granting programs across all Wake Forest campuses. Students take from 4-6 years to complete the joint program, depending on the nature of the graduate research undertaken in the home program. The first year of the curriculum will provide students with a core base of knowledge in the core competencies of the home graduate program. At the end of the second year, and before beginning MBA course work, the student must take and pass examinations that will admit him/her to candidacy for the PhD. A student enrolling in the PhD/MBA program would have 5-6 semesters of evening MBA courses added to the graduate degree requirements. Opportunities for industrial projects and internships are possible after ascent to PhD candidacy and during the MBA coursework phase. The PhD and MBA degrees will be awarded simultaneously at the completion of all requirements for both degrees.

Apply Online

Students wishing to enroll in the combined program apply to and meet the respective admissions requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business. Admission to the MBA portion of the program occurs separately after gaining admission to the home graduate program, and after securing appropriate approval from the home program for participation in the joint program. In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the  Schools of Business  requires completion of the GMAT (General Management Aptitude Test). The Schools of Business will also accept the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) as a replacement for the GMAT for admissions.

Contact Information

Questions regarding admissions: Mr. Kevin Bender Associate Director, Graduate Admissions School of Business (336) 758-3091 [email protected]

General questions: Dr. Dwayne Godwin Associate Dean Graduate School of Arts and Sciences [email protected]

A Small Program with Big Impact

PhD/MBA students completed an economic impact study of new in silico algorithms used in the drug discovery process. This study contributed to a $2 million grant awarded by the US government to develop computer simulation software designed to predict biological and toxicological effects of drugs, which will reduce the failure rate in the drug development process. Pictured from the left are Donald Debethizy, President and CEO of Targacept, Inc., Randy Jacinto, PhD/MBA graduate; Richard Alexander, PhD/MBA graduate; Dwayne W. Godwin, Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and Director of the PhD/MBA program; Adam Winseck, PhD/MBA graduate; and William S. Caldwell, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Discovery and Development, Targacept, Inc. Not pictured is Heather Peters, PhD/MBA student who also worked on the project.

For a list of academic programs and contact information please visit:

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What the Students Have to Say About the PhD/MBA Program :

“My new job is exactly what I have been looking for. I found that the dual degree is an attractive combination that will allow me to go further, faster.” DR. ADAM WINSECK MEDICAL MARKETING, SANOFI AVENTIS, INC. 2004 NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANATOMY MEDICAL EDUCATION MARKETING
“The fusion of biology and business has provided a unique perspective – like looking at the world from space, it’s easier to see the whole picture. As an aspiring entrepreneur I feel that the skills I learned will amplify my ability to make a difference.” DR. RANDY JACINTO BIORAD, INC. 2004 PHD/MBA GRADUATE MOLECULAR MEDICINE
“Incredible advances can occur where disciplines collide. The PhD/MBA program has given me the tools to pursue a broader career horizon without sacrificing my core scientific interests.” DR. RICHARD ALEXANDER 2004 PHD/MBA GRADUATE PHYSIOLOGY/PHARMACOLOGY
“The PhD/MBA program prepared me for a career, not just a job. Today I am conducting research with a deeper understanding of how my work supports my organization.” DR. HEATHER PETERS PHD/MBA GRADUATE CHEMISTRY
“Drawing from my management and scientific training in equal measure, I’ve enjoyed the increased level of responsibility and respect that has come with achieving the dual degree.” DR. FRANK WELDER PHD/MBA GRADUATE CHEMISTRY MECHNICAL AND QUALITY DIRECTOR MICROBAC LABORATORIES, INC.
  • WFU Schools of Business PhD/MBA page
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  • ” WFU Merges Science and Business in Curriculum “ – Article in the Business Journal of the Triad

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Pursuing a PhD After an MBA in the USA: What You Need to Know

May 15, 2023

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If you’re considering pursuing a PhD after completing an MBA in the USA, there are a number of factors to take into account. Not only will you need to choose the right program, but you’ll also need to balance work and study, secure funding, and explore career opportunities once you’ve completed your degree. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what you need to know when pursuing a PhD after an MBA in the USA.

The Advantages of Combining an MBA and a PhD in the USA

Top universities in the usa for mba-phd joint programs, how to choose the best mba-phd joint program in the usa, the application process for mba-phd joint programs in the usa, the importance of research experience for mba-phd joint programs in the usa, funding options for mba-phd joint programs in the usa, balancing work and study: tips for pursuing an mba-phd joint program in the usa, career opportunities after completing an mba-phd joint program in the usa, potential salary increase with an mba-phd combination in the usa, future trends and growth opportunities for phds with an mba in the usa.

One of the main advantages of pursuing both an MBA and a PhD is that it can give you a competitive edge in the job market. You’ll have the practical business skills offered by an MBA, as well as the research and analytical expertise provided by a PhD. This unique combination can be highly attractive to employers, particularly those in industries that require both business acumen and technical expertise, such as finance, healthcare, and technology.

Another advantage of combining an MBA and a PhD is that it can open up a wider range of career opportunities. With an MBA, you may be limited to certain roles within a company, such as management or consulting. However, with a PhD, you can pursue careers in academia, research, or even entrepreneurship. This versatility can be especially valuable in today’s rapidly changing job market.

Additionally, pursuing both degrees simultaneously can save time and money compared to pursuing them separately. Many universities offer joint MBA/PhD programs that allow students to complete both degrees in less time than it would take to complete them separately. This can also result in cost savings, as students may be eligible for scholarships or other financial aid that would not be available if they pursued the degrees separately.

If you’re interested in pursuing an MBA and a PhD, there are a number of top universities in the USA that offer joint programs designed for students like you. Some of the best schools to consider include the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Each school offers a slightly different focus, so it’s important to research each program carefully to determine which one is the best fit for your goals and interests.

One benefit of pursuing a joint MBA-PhD program is the opportunity to gain both practical and theoretical knowledge in your field of study. These programs often combine coursework with research opportunities, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world problems. Additionally, many joint programs offer funding and resources for students to conduct their own research, which can be a valuable experience for those interested in pursuing careers in academia or research.

Also read: Pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering in USA

When choosing an MBA-PhD joint program in the USA, there are a number of key factors to consider. These include the program format (e.g. full-time, part-time, online), the curriculum and course offerings, the faculty and research opportunities, and the program’s reputation and rankings. It’s also important to consider the program’s location and any networking or internship opportunities available, as these can be key to securing post-graduation employment.

Another important factor to consider when choosing an MBA-PhD joint program is the program’s focus and specialization. Some programs may have a specific focus, such as entrepreneurship or healthcare management, while others may offer a more general business education. It’s important to choose a program that aligns with your career goals and interests.

Additionally, it’s important to consider the program’s cost and financial aid options. MBA-PhD joint programs can be expensive, so it’s important to research the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses. Many programs offer financial aid, scholarships, and assistantships to help offset the cost, so be sure to explore these options as well.

The application process for MBA-PhD joint programs can be detailed and time-consuming. Typically, applicants must submit a range of materials, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and GRE or GMAT scores. It’s important to carefully review the application guidelines for each program you’re interested in and to meet all deadlines to ensure your application is considered.

In addition to the required materials, some MBA-PhD joint programs may also require applicants to complete additional essays or interviews. It’s important to research each program thoroughly to understand their specific requirements and expectations. Additionally, it’s recommended that applicants have relevant work experience and a strong academic background to increase their chances of being accepted into these highly competitive programs. Finally, it’s important to note that the application process for MBA-PhD joint programs can take several months, so it’s important to plan accordingly and stay organized throughout the process.

Research experience is highly valued in MBA-PhD joint programs because it helps prepare students for the rigorous research demands of a PhD program. Students with research experience are often better equipped to handle the complex research challenges they’ll face, and may be more likely to secure research assistantships and other funding opportunities.

Furthermore, research experience can also help MBA-PhD joint program students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in both academia and industry. Through research projects, students learn how to analyze data, identify patterns, and draw conclusions, skills that are highly valued in the business world. Additionally, research experience can help students build a strong network of contacts in their field, which can be invaluable when seeking job opportunities or collaborating on future research projects.

There are a number of funding options available to students pursuing MBA-PhD joint programs in the USA. These include scholarships, grants, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. It’s important to research each funding option carefully to determine which ones you are eligible for and to apply for as many as possible to help offset the cost of tuition and expenses.

One popular funding option for MBA-PhD joint programs is through employer sponsorship. Many companies offer tuition reimbursement or financial assistance for employees pursuing advanced degrees. This can be a great way to gain valuable work experience while also furthering your education.

Another funding option to consider is taking out student loans. While this should be a last resort, it can be a viable option for those who are unable to secure enough funding through scholarships or other means. It’s important to carefully consider the terms and interest rates of any loans before accepting them, and to have a solid plan for repayment after graduation.

One of the biggest challenges in pursuing an MBA-PhD joint program is balancing work and study. It’s important to prioritize your time and stay organized, setting aside dedicated time for both work and study. Consider taking advantage of flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or flexible hours, to help manage your workload. And don’t forget to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly.

Another important tip for balancing work and study in an MBA-PhD joint program is to build a support system. This can include family, friends, colleagues, and classmates who can offer encouragement, advice, and assistance when needed. It’s also helpful to connect with alumni and professionals in your field who have gone through similar experiences and can provide valuable insights and guidance. By building a strong support system, you can stay motivated and focused on your goals, even during the most challenging times.

Graduates of MBA-PhD joint programs are well-positioned for a variety of exciting career opportunities. Some go on to work in academia, conducting research and teaching courses related to business and management. Others may work in consulting, finance, or technology, using their unique blend of business and analytical skills to solve complex problems and drive innovation.

Additionally, graduates of MBA-PhD joint programs may also pursue careers in government or non-profit organizations, where they can apply their knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on society. They may work in areas such as public policy, international development, or social entrepreneurship. The interdisciplinary nature of the MBA-PhD joint program equips graduates with a diverse set of skills and perspectives, making them valuable assets in a wide range of industries and sectors.

Studies have shown that students who combine an MBA and a PhD can earn significantly higher salaries than those with just an MBA or just a PhD. This is because the combination of business and research skills is in high demand in a number of industries, including healthcare, finance, and technology. While salaries may vary depending on the industry and location, the potential for higher earnings is certainly a draw for many students considering this path.

Furthermore, the combination of an MBA and a PhD can also lead to more job opportunities and career advancement. Graduates with this dual degree are often sought after for leadership positions in their respective fields, as they possess a unique set of skills that allow them to effectively manage teams, conduct research, and make strategic business decisions. In addition, many companies offer tuition reimbursement or other incentives for employees who pursue advanced degrees, making it a financially feasible option for those looking to further their education and career.

The future looks bright for PhDs with an MBA in the USA. As technology continues to advance and industries become more complex, employers are increasingly looking for candidates with a unique blend of business and technical skills. This trend is expected to continue long into the future, meaning that graduates of MBA-PhD joint programs are well-positioned to take advantage of a wide range of exciting career opportunities and contribute to meaningful and impactful research.

One area where PhDs with an MBA are particularly in demand is in the field of healthcare. With the aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, there is a growing need for professionals who can navigate the complex healthcare landscape and develop innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes. Graduates of MBA-PhD programs with a focus on healthcare management are well-equipped to meet this demand and make a real difference in the lives of patients.

Another area where PhDs with an MBA can make a significant impact is in the field of sustainability. As concerns about climate change and environmental degradation continue to grow, businesses are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint. Graduates of MBA-PhD programs with a focus on sustainability can help companies develop and implement effective sustainability strategies, while also conducting research that advances our understanding of the complex environmental challenges we face.

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PhD studies at MIT Sloan are intense and individual in nature, demanding a great deal of time, initiative, and discipline from every candidate. But the rewards of such rigor are tremendous:  MIT Sloan PhD graduates go on to teach and conduct research at the world's most prestigious universities.

PhD Program curriculum at MIT Sloan is organized under the following three academic areas: Behavior & Policy Sciences; Economics, Finance & Accounting; and Management Science. Our nine research groups correspond with one of the academic areas, as noted below.

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The fourth annual Rising Scholars Conference on October 25 and 26 gathers diverse PhD students from across the country to present their research.

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The goal of the MIT Sloan PhD Program's admissions process is to select a small number of people who are most likely to successfully complete our rigorous and demanding program and then thrive in academic research careers. The admission selection process is highly competitive; we aim for a class size of nineteen students, admitted from a pool of hundreds of applicants.

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Admissions for 2024 is closed. The next opportunity to apply will be for 2025 admission. The 2025 application will open in September 2024. 

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Students in good academic standing in our program receive a funding package that includes tuition, medical insurance, and a fellowship stipend and/or TA/RA salary. We also provide a new laptop computer and a conference travel/research budget.

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Unlike formulaic approaches to training scholars, the PhD Program at MIT Sloan allows students to choose their own adventure and develop a unique scholarly identity. This can be daunting, but students are given a wide range of support along the way - most notably having access to world class faculty and coursework both at MIT and in the broader academic community around Boston.

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The PhD Program is integral to the research of MIT Sloan's world-class faculty. With a reputation as risk-takers who are unafraid to embrace the unconventional, they are engaged in exciting disciplinary and interdisciplinary research that often includes PhD students as key team members.

Research centers across MIT Sloan and MIT provide a rich setting for collaboration and exploration. In addition to exposure to the faculty, PhD students also learn from one another in a creative, supportive research community.

Throughout MIT Sloan's history, our professors have devised theories and fields of study that have had a profound impact on management theory and practice.

From Douglas McGregor's Theory X/Theory Y distinction to Nobel-recognized breakthroughs in finance by Franco Modigliani and in option pricing by Robert Merton and Myron Scholes, MIT Sloan's faculty have been unmatched innovators.

This legacy of innovative thinking and dedication to research impacts every faculty member and filters down to the students who work beside them.

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“MIT Sloan PhD training is a transformative experience. The heart of the process is the student’s transition from being a consumer of knowledge to being a producer of knowledge. This involves learning to ask precise, tractable questions and addressing them with creativity and rigor. Hard work is required, but the reward is the incomparable exhilaration one feels from having solved a puzzle that had bedeviled the sharpest minds in the world!” -Ezra Zuckerman Sivan Alvin J. Siteman (1948) Professor of Entrepreneurship

Sample Dissertation Abstracts - These sample Dissertation Abstracts provide examples of the work that our students have chosen to study while in the MIT Sloan PhD Program.

We believe that our doctoral program is the heart of MIT Sloan's research community and that it develops some of the best management researchers in the world. At our annual Doctoral Research Forum, we celebrate the great research that our doctoral students do, and the research community that supports that development process.

The videos of their presentations below showcase the work of our students and will give you insight into the topics they choose to research in the program.

Attention To Retention: The Informativeness of Insiders’ Decision to Retain Shares

2024 PhD Doctoral Research Forum Winner - Gabriel Voelcker

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Executive MBA (EMBA) Programs

If you’re looking for a master’s degree in management that aligns with your career goals and your busy schedule, look no further than an executive MBA. Designed for working professionals, the Johnson School’s innovative EMBA programs allow you to earn a graduate degree without putting your career on hold. In fact, you’ll see your investment in yourself pay off in real time as you apply what you learn as you learn.

Cornell Executive MBA Americas

It’s an Ivy League education that comes to you. This 17-month program allows you to learn alongside international classmates from one of 20 locations across North and South America—or online through synchronous instruction. The Johnson School’s EMBA Americas program pioneered the concept of distributed classrooms and remains the gold standard of distance education.

Degrees Awarded

An MBA from Cornell University and an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Select from cities across the Americas or online

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Classes every other Saturday and Sunday with four residential sessions

17 months of classes starting in late June, followed by a capstone project

EXPLORE EMBA AMERICAS

Cornell Executive MBA Metro NY

Built with tri-state business executives in mind, Cornell’s Executive MBA Metro NY allows you to earn an Ivy League graduate degree on alternating weekends at our Roosevelt Island campus while continuing to work full-time. Based in one of the world’s largest and most diverse cities, this part-time MBA program offers unparalleled access to networking and immersive learning opportunities.

An MBA from Cornell University

Tata Innovation Center on the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City

Classes every other weekend (Saturday and half-day Sunday); four weeklong residential sessions in Ithaca, NY; and one weeklong international immersion

22 months; classes begin in July

LEARN ABOUT EMBA METRO NY

Cornell Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership

Whether you’re a business executive, physician, or medical industry professional, our dual executive MBA/master’s program in healthcare leadership will prepare you to lead change and drive innovation in a rapidly expanding and evolving sector. Offered in collaboration with the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences , this program can be completed while you continue to work full-time.

An MBA and an MS from Cornell University

Roosevelt Island, New York City

Classes every other Saturday and half-day Sunday with residential sessions in Ithaca, NY, and New York City

22 months of classes starting in July

EXPLORE EMBA/MS IN HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP

Cornell-Tsinghua Finance MBA

The only management master’s degree of its kind, the Cornell-Tsinghua Finance MBA is delivered in English and Chinese (Mandarin). Based in Beijing, this part-time international finance program accommodates even the most demanding schedules. Over the course of 22 months, you’ll complete your MBA courses on the weekends, allowing you to balance life, work, and school. You’ll learn from leading finance experts and study alongside other high-quality candidates.

Cornell MBA/Tsinghua MBA

Classes on the weekends with residential sessions in Beijing and Ithaca, NY

LEARN ABOUT CORNELL-TSINGHUA FINANCE MBA

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Specialized Management Master’s Degrees

The Johnson School offers several specialized management graduate programs that can expand, advance, and enrich your career, including STEM-designated and accounting-focused master’s degrees.

Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)

As organizations increasingly rely on quality data to drive decision-making, demand has grown for business intelligence professionals. The Johnson School’s STEM-designated MSBA program not only trains you to understand data in the context of business, but also prepares you to translate findings into meaningful, actionable insights. These sought-after skills lead to lucrative data science careers in a wide range of industries including finance, marketing, consulting, manufacturing, HR, healthcare, and tech.

Online with two weeklong residencies

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Part-time, STEM-designated

EXPLORE THE MSBA PROGRAM

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Management

Ideal for students with an undergraduate degree in an area other than business, this flexible, 10-month management graduate program can be tailored to meet your career goals. With a rigorous business core, specialized electives, and practical learning experiences, you’ll be prepared for whatever professional endeavors come your way next.

Full-time residential  and STEM-designated

EXPLORE THE MPS IN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization

Prepare for the CPA exam—and accounting leadership roles—with our STEM-designated MPS in Management – Accounting Specialization degree. Whether preparing for your first job or looking to expand your accounting knowledge and credentials, this innovative, accelerated program will prime you for high-level roles in industries like public accounting, financial services, real estate, or consulting.

MORE ABOUT THE MPS IN MANAGEMENT – ACCOUNTING SPECIALIZATION

Additional Johnson Graduate Business Programs

Research-minded professionals interested in exploring management science at a deeper level may be interested in a doctoral-level program. Johnson students can also expand their opportunities by combining a management master’s degree with another Cornell graduate program.

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PhD in Management

Our fully funded, completely residential PhD in management is designed for ambitious students and business professionals interested in pursuing a career in university teaching and research. Based at the Johnson School in Ithaca, NY, this doctoral program combines Ivy League rigor and real-world relevance to prepare you for a successful career in academia or consulting.

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Dual-Degree Programs

A solid business acumen is helpful—if not essential—to executive-level roles in any industry. Earning an MBA in tandem with another graduate degree makes for a powerful combination. Offered in conjunction with other prestigious schools at Cornell, these three combinations have a solid record of success for our alumni:

  • MBA + Juris Doctor (JD)
  • MBA + Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (MILA)
  • MBA + Master of Public Administration (MPA)

With hundreds of academic disciplines across Cornell University, additional dual-degree options abound. We also offer a unique fifth-year MBA program that allows exceptional Cornell undergraduates to complement their major area of study with a master’s degree.

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Executive Education for Individuals and Organizations

The world is changing rapidly. No matter where you are in your career, we’ll help you keep up—and prepare for what’s next. Among our dozens of online and in-person executive education programs, you’ll find courses in fintech, servant leadership, persuasive communication, data privacy strategy, product marketing, and leading remote teams. We also offer customizable training and professional development programs for teams and organizations.

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Request Information: Learn More about Johnson’s Graduate Programs

Interested in learning more about one or more of the Johnson School’s executive MBA, master’s programs in management, business-related PhD, or dual-degree programs? Our admissions team is available to answer your questions and support you through the application process.

The Cornell Community: Life at the Johnson School

With the intense academics you’d expect from an Ivy League university and the close-knit atmosphere of a smaller college, the Johnson School is consistently ranked among the top graduate schools for business. In fact, the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management was rated No. 1 for Best Campus Environment in the Princeton Review’s 2023 B-School rankings. Even if you’re studying in one of our hybrid programs, you’ll get some quality on-campus time. And when you’re learning from afar, our high-caliber learning experience will keep you feeling connected to the Cornell community.

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Why Johnson?

When you choose the Johnson School, you join a community of ambitious learners, thinkers, and doers. Our management master’s degrees and other graduate business programs offer an innovative, immersive curriculum full of unique learning experiences. And our academic programs are designed with input from trusted industry partners and our expansive alumni network.

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Our Campus and Community

While our management programs vary in length and format, they all include a residential component. Whether you’re in Ithaca, NY, for a few weeks or a few years, you’ll experience academic life on one of the most iconic college campuses in the United States. Our learning spaces include the Gothic-style Sage Hall and the sleek and modern Breazzano Family Center for Business Education.

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Our Expertise

With hundreds of accomplished faculty members and more than 15,000 alumni making their mark across the globe, our Cornellians are innovating and leading the way in nearly every sector. The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is especially known for its deep industry expertise in consulting, technology, entrepreneurship, and investment banking.

Next Steps: Where Will Johnson Take You?

Ready to take your career to the next level with one of the Johnson School’s management graduate programs? We encourage you to start your application!

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Business Administration in United States

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Why Study Business Administration in United States

  • Studying Business Administration in United States is a great choice, as there are 74 universities that offer PhD degrees on our portal.
  • Over 957,000 international students choose United States for their studies, which suggests you’ll enjoy a vibrant and culturally diverse learning experience and make friends from all over the world.
  • We counted 120 affordable PhD degrees in United States , allowing you to access quality higher education without breaking the bank. Moreover, there are 293 available scholarships you can apply to.

96  Business Administration PhDs in United States

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Study in United States

The United States is home to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world. With over 150 universities featured in international rankings, the U.S. has some of the best business schools, medical schools, and engineering schools. Universities and colleges in the U.S. are well known for academic flexibility and ways to customize your study experience with optional studies and extracurricular activities. Depending on where you will be studying, you will be able to visit iconic places like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Goldengate Bridge, The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Disney's Magic Kingdom Park, and much more.

Is United States the right place for you?

Take the test and find out which country is your best fit.

Explore your Business Administration degree

Business Administration teaches you how to manage and lead businesses effectively. Specialisations include Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations Management, and Strategic Management. Programs cover market dynamics, resource management, and business decision-making. Graduates understand various organisational layers, from finance to marketing and HR to operations. Key courses encompass ethics, organisational behaviour, supply chain management, entrepreneurship, and international business. Business Administration skills are versatile and valuable in diverse sectors. Essential attributes include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, organisation, decisiveness, and leadership potential. Careers range from Business Consultant to Financial Analyst, Marketing Manager, Human Resources Director, and Operations Manager. A Business Administration degree opens doors to a wide range of opportunities.

Is Business Administration the best for you?

Take the test and find out if Business Administration is the right path for you.

Business Administration Scholarships and Financial Aid in United States

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Top Business School Rankings Press Release 2024

The princeton review's 2024 best business schools rankings are out.

Rankings in Multiple Categories Based on Surveys of Administrators at 409 B-Schools and of 32,200 Students Attending the Schools

NEW YORK, July 16, 2024 / — The Princeton Review ® —known for its education services and school rankings in dozens of categories—today released its rankings of the Best Business Schools for 2024 .

The company tallies its annual b-school rankings in two groups. One names the best on-campus MBA Programs in 18 categories, listing the top 10 schools in each. In this group, Stanford University is ranked #1 in three categories: Best Classroom Experience, Best Career Prospects, and Toughest to Get Into. 

The other group names the best 50 online MBA Programs on a single ranking list. Indiana University—Bloomington is #1 on this list.

A summary below reveals the schools ranked #1 in the 18 categories for on-campus MBA Programs and the top 10 schools on the list of the 50 best on-line MBA Programs.

The complete ranking lists are posted at www.princetonreview.com/best-business-schools along with The Princeton Review's in-depth profiles of the schools and its ratings (numerical scores on a scale of 60 to 99) of the schools on topics from Admissions Selectivity to Academic Experience.

The Princeton Review’s business school rankings are uniquely based on data the company gathers from its surveys of administrators at the schools as well as surveys of students attending the schools who rate and report on their experiences at them. The rankings for 2024 were based on data from surveys of administrators at 409 business schools and surveys of 32,200 students enrolled in the schools' MBA programs.

More than 60 data points are factored into the company's ranking list tallies. Most are based on data from both the administrator and student surveys. Some are based on data from just student surveys, and one is based just on data from the administrator surveys. The Princeton Review reports information about the basis for all of its Best Business Schools for 2024 lists as well as its survey methodology at https://www.princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings/ranking-methodology.

“Since we debuted our b-school rankings in 2004 in multiple categories as opposed to a single list, our goal has been to help b-school bound students identify the MBA program best for them," said Rob Franek , The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief. "The schools that made our list for 2024 all have impressive individual distinctions. What they share are three characteristics that broadly informed our criteria for these rankings: outstanding academics, robust experiential learning components, and excellent career services. Equally impressive to us—and probably to prospective applicants—is that every one of our best b-schools for 2024 garnered highly favorable ratings among its MBA students we surveyed."

The Princeton Review Best Business Schools On-Campus MBA Programs for 2024

THE 18 CATEGORIES AND #1 SCHOOLS ON THE LISTS are:

  • Best MBA for Consulting – Yale University (CT)
  • Best MBA for Finance – New York University
  • Best MBA for Human Resources – Brigham Young University (UT)
  • Best MBA for Management – Northwestern University (IL)
  • Best MBA for Marketing – University of Washington 
  • Best MBA for Nonprofit – Bard College (NY)
  • Best MBA for Operations – Arizona State University
  • Best Career Prospects – Stanford University (CA)
  • Best Classroom Experience – Stanford University
  • Greatest Resources for Minority Students – Howard University (DC)
  • Greatest Resources for Women – University of Washington

The lists above are based on student and administrator survey data.

  • Best Administered – Cornell University (NY)
  • Best Campus Environment – University of Virginia
  • Best Green MBA– Bard College
  • Best Professors – University of Virginia
  • Most Competitive Students – Drexel University (PA)
  • Most Family-Friendly – Cornell University

The lists above are based solely on student survey data. 

  • Toughest to Get Into – Stanford University

The list above is based solely on administrator survey data. 

About The Princeton Review On-Campus MBA Program Rankings

The rankings, reported in 18 categories, name the top 10 schools in each category. The rankings for 2024 are based on data from the company's surveys of administrators at 244 business schools in 2024 and its surveys of more than 21,500 students enrolled at the schools’ on-campus MBA programs (on average 88 students per program) during the previous three academic years. The administrator survey requested data on the MBA program academics, selectivity, faculty, technical platforms, career services, and other topics. The student survey asked students to rate and report on their b-school's academics, student body, and campus life, as well as their career plans. The Princeton Review has reported its On-Campus MBA program rankings since 2004.

The Princeton Review Best Business Schools Online MBA Program Rankings for 2024

THE TOP 10 SCHOOLS ON THE list of the TOP 50 SCHOOLS are:

  • Indiana University—Bloomington
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
  • Rice University (TX)
  • Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
  • Jack Welch Management Institute (VA)
  • University of Nebraska—Lincoln
  • University of Utah
  • Babson College (MA)
  • University of Denver (CO)

About The Princeton Review Online MBA Program Rankings

This ranking reports a single list that names the top 50 schools offering online MBAs (defined as where a majority of the program of study is online). The list for 2024 is based on data from the company's surveys in 2024 of administrators at 165 business schools. The survey requested data about the school’s online MBA program admissions, selectivity, faculty training and credentials, technological infrastructure, graduation rates, and career outcomes as well as other topics. The ranking also factored in data from the company's survey of more than 10,700 students enrolled in the online MBA programs (on average: 65 students per program). The student survey, conducted in 2024, asked students to rate their program's academics, faculty, technology platform and other topics as well as to report on their satisfaction with the program. More than 60 data points from the surveys were weighted to tally the list. The Princeton Review has reported its Online MBA Program rankings since 2015.

FAQs on The Princeton Review's Best Business Schools rankings are at https://www.princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings/faq .

Today, The Princeton Review also reported its Best Law Schools for 2024 rankings. The rankings, reported in 14 categories, each name the top 10 ranking schools. They are posted at www.princetonreview.com/law-school-rankings/best-law-schools . 

The Princeton Review reported its Top 50 Undergraduate and Top 50 Graduate Schools for Entrepreneurship Studies for 2024 at www.princetonreview.com/entrepreneur in November  2023.  These lists are also posted on the website of Entrepreneur , The Princeton Review’s longtime reporting partner for this project, at https://www.entrepreneur.com/topcolleges .

All schools that participate in The Princeton Review surveys for its rankings are considered for the ranking lists. Schools that do not participate in the surveys are not considered. 

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep, and college admissions services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school–bound students as well as working professionals achieve their education and career goals through its many education services and products. These include online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors; online resources; more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House; and dozens of categories of school rankings. Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review is now in its 43 rd year. The company’s Tutor.com brand, now in its 24 th year, is one of the largest online tutoring services in the U.S. It comprises a community of thousands of tutors who have delivered more than 26 million tutoring sessions. The Princeton Review is headquartered in New York, NY. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit PrincetonReview.com and the company's Media Center . Follow the company on X (formerly Twitter) ( @ThePrincetonRev ) and Instagram ( @theprincetonreview ).

Contact: Jeanne Krier, Publicist for The Princeton Review,  [email protected]

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Doing A PhD After MBA: Universities, Programs, Benefits

dulingo

  • Updated on  
  • Jun 3, 2024

PhD After MBA

Higher studies often encompass the decision of pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s and then, if you feel like delving deeper into your chosen field, a doctorate degree.

When it comes to the vast domain of commerce, a PhD is commonly chosen by those wanting to explore the academic arena. Working professionals don’t usually opt for a PhD given the extensive amount of time it demands and also because it has more academic use.

So, if you have recently completed your Master of Business Administration, choosing a PhD might require some thinking to finally arrive at the right decision. This blog aims to elaborate on what a PhD after MBA entails and how it can advance you further in your career journey.

This Blog Includes:

Phd after mba in india, benefits of phd after mba, top phd programs after mba, eligibility, phd after mba abroad – admission process & entrance exams , phd after distance mba, phd after mba in finance, top universities for phd after mba abroad, top countries to study phd after mba, career scope & employment sectors.

Want to pursue PhD after MBA in India? There are colossal benefits of PhD after an MBA that can equip you with a competitive edge in the management and business world as well as the research and professional exposure you need to aim for high-salary managerial profiles in India and abroad.

Here’s what you need to know about PhD after MBA in India:

  • Eligibility : You must have completed a 2-year MBA degree to apply for PhD in India along with qualifying for UGC-NET or GATE exam to gain admission at top business schools and universities in India.
  • Duration : In India, you can complete your PhD after MBA in 3-5 years depending upon the program and university.
  • Requirements : For PhD after MBA in India, you must have GATE/ UGC-NET / CSIR-NET scores, a research proposal ready along with letters of recommendation and optional work experience to increase your chances of admission.
  • PhD in Management
  • PhD in Organizational Behaviour/Management
  • PhD in Behavioural Finance
  • PhD in Applied Statistics
  • PhD in Information Technology/Data Analytics
  • PhD in Market Analysis and Research
  • Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi
  • Benaras Hindu University
  • Indian Institutes of Management Studies (IIMs)
  • Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
  • National Institute of Management, Calcutta

Also Read: PhD Scholarships in India

As the highest academic degree in theoretical disciplines, a PhD or Doctorate of Philosophy is perfect for those seeking a greater depth of knowledge in a specific area of interest. Going for a PhD after MBA can be beneficial for a plethora of reasons, some of which are given in a rundown below:

  • Get a Competitive Edge over MBA
  • Master Research Skills and Methodologies
  • Inclination Towards Academic Arena
  • Chance to Become a Professor
  • Become an Academician at Business School


Though many would tell you that with a PhD after MBA you can only ground yourself in the academic world, this is not the case in reality. If you don’t see yourself fitting the position of a lecturer or a professor, you can explore varied prospects in the corporate sector.

A doctoral degree in a business or management specialisation imparts you with a deep-embedded and insightful knowledge of the commercial world. An MBA also gives you a unique and practical glimpse of this domain.

The combination of these two can be potentially utilised by opting for the role of a consultant or analyst for entrepreneurial ventures, business giants or even hedge funds and investment-related firms.


To begin with, a PhD is research-extensive by nature and demands individuals to submit their original thesis to conclude this degree. It challenges scholars to break away from the limited amount of knowledge of their field and delve deeper into whichever specialization they have chosen to study.
So, a PhD after an MBA would importantly require you to be passionate about research, have an innate curiosity towards your field and be ready to devote yourself for a longer period of time to your thesis.


Another reason why many graduates aspire for a PhD after MBA is when they are planning to make a career as an . Since one needs to exhaust many years to this degree, you can pursue the profile of an assistant professor at the university itself while getting mentored for your research thesis.

Further, by completing a PhD, you would be deemed eligible for the position of a professor at an academic institution though some universities or colleges might demand you to qualify for a teaching exam.

Also Read: Research Institutes in India

The average duration of PhD after MBA is approximately 5-7 years where the 1st year is more theoretical but from the beginning of the second year, you can pick specializations as per your choice. In Business and Management, there is an array of specialised PhD courses that one can choose from. Here are the top specialisations to pursue PhD after MBA:

  • PhD in Entrepreneurship
  • PhD in Commerce
  • PhD in Accounting
  • PhD in Economics
  • PhD in Commercial Law
  • PhD in Human Resource Management
  • PhD in Operational Research
  • PhD in Marketing
  • PhD in Healthcare and Management
  • PhD in Organizational Behaviour
  • PhD in Finance
  • PhD in Chemistry
  • PhD in Computer Science
  • PhD in Engineering
  • PhD in Political Science
  • PhD in Education
  • PhD in Statistics
  • PhD in Psychology

Though the specific prerequisites might vary from one university to another, there are some general criteria for PhD after MBA or any other postgraduate program that every candidate needs to fulfil.

The primary requirement is that of a master’s degree in the related discipline (from a recognised institution) in which one is applying for a doctoral degree, if you are applying for a PhD in Business Administration, you need to have completed a postgraduate course like, MBA, MIM, amongst others.

Along with these, you will be required to submit the following documents:

  • GATE/CSIR-NET/UGC-NET Scores for Indian universities
  • Research Proposal
  • Letters of Recommendation (Academic and/or Professional)
  • GRE, English proficiency test scores such as IELTS , TOEFL , etc. and SOP and LOR s to apply for PhD after MBA abroad
  • An Updated Resume or CV
  • Academic Transcripts

Also Read: Part Time PhD

If you are planning to pursue PhD after MBA from abroad then the following points will guide you through the application process and entrance exams: 

  • The application process for global universities is very different from Indian universities. You don’t have to give any entrance exam to pursue a PhD after MBA from abroad, rather, you need to submit a GMAT / GRE score. 
  • LORs, SOPs and previous projects and research work matter a lot when you are looking to pursue PhD abroad. They make your profile strong and increase the chances of getting selected. 
  • Most universities have a 3-5% acceptance rate for PhD programs. Thus, it is essential to make your application strong, if you need any help regarding the same, get in touch with Leverage Edu experts.
  • The PhD curriculum more or less remains the same, you need to work on your thesis and submit it in the provided duration to complete your PhD after MBA.

Also Read: How to Get PhD Funding?

Yes, it is possible to apply for PhD after distance MBA but if you are aiming for a doctoral course, you must pursue your MBA from a UGC-accredited university or college. To apply for a PhD after a Distance MBA, you must be able to provide valid transcripts as well as mark sheets from your MBA thus it is essential to check the certification of the institution before studying for an MBA.

MBA in Finance professionals often opts for a PhD to pursue a career in research or academia. Finance is one of the most popular specialisations for PhD after MBA and students can choose from various subjects like Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Modelling, etc. To pursue PhD in Finance in India, you will have to qualify for UGC NET , NMIMS or NIPER JEE while you will have to qualify GRE for universities abroad. Let’s take a look at the universities for PhD after MBA in Finance:

  • Indian Institute of Foreign Trade , New Delhi
  • National Institute of Technology, Silchar
  • Department of Management Studies-IIT Madras
  • Alliance School of Business, Bangalore
  • Ahmedabad University
  • Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management

Here are the major careers for PhD after MBA in Finance:

  • Statistician
  • Financial Analyst
  • Chartered Financial Analyst
  • Stock Broker
  • Budget Analyst
  • Financial Researcher

Numerous renowned business schools and universities across the globe offer specialised PhD programs in varied fields of Business, Commerce and Management. To help you further in your research, we have listed down some of the major academic institutions that are internationally popular for their offered specialised courses for those aspiring to pursue a PhD after MBA:

, US
, Germany , France
, UK
, US
, Malaysia , Germany

Many study destinations like the UK, USA, Australia and Canada are renowned for their research doctoral courses so selecting the right country to study PhD is an important decision you must carefully take. Let’s take a look at the top countries to study PhD after MBA and their popular research universities:

PhD after MBA in the UK

Here are the major universities to study PhD in the UK:

  • University of Bradford
  • SOAS University of London
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University
  • University of Birmingham
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • University of Kent
  • Hult International Business School

Also Read: PhD Scholarships in the UK

PhD after MBA in the USA

Popular for its STEM courses as well as top-ranked business schools, the top universities for PhD in the USA are:

  • Harvard University
  • Stanford University
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of Columbia
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Cornell University
  • Kellogg School of Management

PhD after MBA in Canada

Canada is another renowned destination for PhD programs and offers a plethora of specialisations in business and management. Here are the popular universities for PhD in Canada :

  • University of Toronto
  • University of British Columbia
  • McGill University
  • McMaster University
  • University of Montreal
  • University of Alberta
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Calgary

Also Read: PhD in Canada with Scholarship

PhD after MBA in Australia

The land of Kiwis is internationally lauded for its focus on research education and high-ranked entrepreneurial programs. Check out the top universities for PhD in Australia :

  • The University of Queensland  
  • The University of Western Australia  
  • University of Wollongong 
  • Queensland University of Technology  
  • Swinburne University of Technology  
  • University of Tasmania 
  • University of Sydney

PhD after MBA in New Zealand

If you are looking for affordable PhD courses after completing MBA, New Zealand is the best place for you. Take a look at the popular universities for PhD in New Zealand :

  • The University of Otago
  • University of Canterbury
  • Lincoln University
  • The University of Auckland
  • Victoria University of Wellington

Adding the renowned academic degree of PhD to your list of qualifications, there are a plethora of career opportunities awaiting you. Since a doctoral degree in business-related disciplines provides you with an insightful acumen into the commercial arena, you will be equipped with the knowledge of data analysis and business trends and organisational problems.

Further, you will be skilled with research methods such as econometrics, experimental methods, field studies, modelling etc. So, with a PhD after MBA, you will not only be a perfect candidate for academic profiles but you can also explore plentiful prospects in the corporate world.

Here are the top job profiles you can explore after pursuing PhD after MBA:

  • Research Analyst
  • Business Analyst
  • Management Consultant
  • Business Development Consultant
  • Entrepreneur
  • Professor /Lecturer
  • Academician
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The salary of PhD after MBA in India is somewhere between INR 7 Lakhs to 17 Lakhs per annum depending upon whether you work in the corporate sector or explore the academic domain working as a lecturer or academician.

We have elucidated upon the major employment sector for graduates with a PhD in Management and Commerce-related specialisations below:



The most popular career path post a PhD is that of becoming a professor. Most PhDs in business or management pursue it in the first place to pursue a career in academics. Further, most of the research universities prefer to hire PhDs as business school professors.

If you are aiming to become a part of a prestigious academic institution or especially Ivy League school, you should definitely go for a PhD after MBA because this striking combination coupled with a few years of professional experience can make you an ideal candidate for the position of a university professor or lecturer at a business school.

To give a rough statistical description, nearly 80% of business ‘PhD after MBA’ graduates become faculty members at business schools, and roughly 20% take jobs in the industry. 


A PhD is quite a data-driven degree and involves extensive analysis and in-depth assessment as it constitutes submission of a research thesis as its incremental element.

If you have been planning to pursue a , an MBA is more of a professional route to take but combining it with a PhD might give you knowledge of both corporate as well as the research world.

Getting a taste of both these areas, you can further enter the research sector with a versatile skill set which will prove extremely useful in carrying out path-breaking case studies and contributions with the potential of bringing the commercial industry in a newer light.


As a common myth, you might be told that a doctorate degree is of no use in the professional world, but it is quite the opposite as a PhD after MBA can furnish you with the quintessential business acumen to fit the role of business consultant and analyst.

As many doctoral scholars move further to become professors or researchers, only a small proportion of their heads towards the industry. As this degree provides aspirants with the understanding of employing PhDs to derive wisdom from their theoretical and unique methodologies for analysis, which when combined with the pragmatic training obtained during the MBA, marks for a marvellous body of knowledge.

You can explore varied prospects in entrepreneurship ventures as well as companies like SEC, JP Morgan Chase, McKinsey and Morgan Stanley which are known to hire PhDs frequently. 

Also Read: Branches of Chemistry

Anyone with an MBA degree can pursue a PhD. In fact, it’s a good idea to do PhD after MBA if you are interested in exploring the arena of academics or research and you can also pursue opportunities in consulting firms in the corporate sector. Also, the top B-Schools such as Columbia University, Yale University, Harvard University, INSEAD, and London Business School have most professors with a PhD degree. So, if you aim to teach at top business schools in the world, pursuing PhD after MBA is indeed a good decision.

The exact duration of PhD depends on the specialization as well as the university, the fact whether it’s part-time or full-time, and other factors. Doing a PhD after MBA usually takes 4-5 years but relying upon varied factors, be it your chosen course or institution, it can take less than 3 years and as long as 7-8 years to complete.

Yes. You can do a PhD in Psychology after MBA. However, you will need 55% marks in your MBA discipline to qualify for a PhD in Psychology after MBA.

A PhD in Business is often referred to as a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) which is usually considered as the sequel of the MBA and is the highest form of management degree. Pursuing a doctorate in Business or its related specializations would provide you with an enhanced insight into the commercial arena after which you can target higher-level career profiles ranging from a business analyst to a consultant or you can pursue academic positions which is another beneficial route to take.

The essential prerequisite for a PhD is to have a master’s degree along with the minimum marks specified by the academic institution you are applying for. With an MBA, you are eligible to pursue a PhD in commerce-related disciplines while opting for a doctorate in other domains might depend on the criteria provided by the particular university.

The answer to this question is explained well in the points given below: 1. Yes, you can do PhD after a distance MBA 2. Your degree must be from a UGC-recognized institution 3. The application process remains the same as for the regular degree holders 4. Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements 5. Some universities prefer candidates with regular MBA degrees.

Related Reads


Going for a PhD after MBA will equip you with one of the best educational combinations in the world. It might not be the easiest of programs to pursue but the benefits are going to be fruitful for your professional journey.

If you are planning to pursue a doctoral degree and don’t know how to go about it, sign up for a 30-minute career counselling session with our experienced team of mentors and experts at Leverage Edu and we’ll guide through the process of choosing the right PhD program and university that fits your interests and aspirations and can provide you with extensive exposure and opportunities to soar ahead in your career.

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14 comments

I like your article great content. Thank you

Hi Akash, we are glad to know that you liked our blog. If you need any further assistance regarding the admission process to any PhD course abroad, get in touch with our experts and we will help you build an awesome career.

Great post.

We are glad to know that you liked our work! Don’t forget to share it with your friends who are looking for PhD courses after MBA.

I have done MBA. My specialization is marketing (major) & human resource(minor).I want to know which specialization should I choose for PhD or Can I choose other specialization like social work, political science,etc.

Hi Abhishek, to know which PhD specialization would suit you the best, reach out to our experts at – 88262 00293. You can also register for a free career counselling here – https://leverageedu.com/admissions/study-abroad-admission/ .

Nice blog thanks for sharing.

Hi Thomas, thanks for your feedback! Check out our blog on PhD entrance exams to know more about the ways for pursuing this course – https://leverageedu.com/blog/phd-entrance-exams/ .

Very good article. In my opinion, having a PhD will make you more likely to earn a higher salary over someone with just a Master’s degree. Nowadays more professionals are doing PhD research programs for a better career.

Thank you for the feedback and for sharing your opinion, Rohan!

Thank you very much for your elaboration on Ph.D. after MBA. I would like to know which specializations are available here in the USA.. Thank you.

Hi George, To know about the specializations of your choice, get in contact with our experts at 1800572000.

Hello I’m Amir I done MBA 3.5year and I want to study PhD directly after MBA can u guide me forther I continue which subjects

Hi Amir, To get our profile evaluated for pursuing a PhD after MBA, give us a call on 1800572000 and our experts will guide you about the same.

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USF’s Executive MBA program among top 10 best in the nation, says Fortune

  • Elizabeth L Brown
  • July 17, 2024
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TAMPA – The University of South Florida’s Executive MBA program has broken into the top 10 on the Best Executive MBA Programs for 2024 national rankings released today by Fortune .

USF’s Executive MBA program in the Muma College of Business clinched the No. 10 spot, climbing 19 positions from last year. Among public universities, the program ranks No. 6 in the nation and overall No. 1 in the state.

“This is a phenomenal achievement, and we are thrilled to be included among the country’s best in Fortune’s rankings,” said David W. Blackwell , the Lynn Pippenger Dean at the Muma College of Business. “Breaking into the top 10 illustrates the strength of our program and underscores the commitment of our faculty to continuous improvements.”

The 2024 rankings place USF’s program first in the state, ahead of the University of Florida (No. 33), Florida Atlantic University (No. 39), and the University of Miami (No. 49).

In its methodology , Fortune derived a holistic assessment of the executive MBA programs based on a combination of factors, including where the leaders of America’s 1,000 biggest companies pursued their MBAs (25%), online search volume (15%), a school’s previous ranking (5%), and eight other school-provided data points (55%).

Among the school-provided statistics, reviewers considered factors such as the size of a graduating class, tuition costs, graduation rates, one-year retention rates, acceptance rates, years of work experience and years of management experience.

“This is a significant jump from last year,” said Eric Douthirt , director of the MBA programs. “With our 100% retention and 100% graduation rates, coupled with the low tuition, our high-quality program stands out among the competition.”

In fact, USF’s $47,500 price tag is the lowest among colleges and universities ranked in the top 25.

Of the schools ranked by Fortune , the average number of years of work experience for 2023-2024 entrants was a little less than 15 years; entrants also had about eight years of management experience. 

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US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: Firearm Violence Is a Public Health Crisis

  • 1 Director, Medical News & Perspectives, JAMA
  • 2 Associate Editor, JAMA
  • Editorial The Unrelenting Epidemic of Firearm Violence Phil B. Fontanarosa, MD, MBA; Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS JAMA
  • Medical News in Brief New US Surgeon General Advisory on Gun Violence Emily Harris JAMA

Consider these grim statistics: there were more than 48 000 firearms-related deaths in the US in 2022, equating to 132 adults and children dying every day. And firearms are now the leading cause of death among US children and teens.

What can public health leaders, medical professionals, and health systems do to mitigate gun violence and protect the health and safety of communities?

They can do a lot, says the US Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, who in June took the step of declaring firearm violence a public health crisis. A new advisory from Murthy highlights the impact of gun violence and, in particular, its toll on mental health and community safety. It also offers a public health approach to addressing the issue, with several specific recommendations.

In the first of a 2-part interview with JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, Murthy discussed the collective trauma from firearm injuries and deaths in US society, explained why the crisis of gun violence must not be considered intractable, and outlined the part clinicians can play in safeguarding bodies and minds from the high price of firearm-related suicides, homicides, and unintentional deaths.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Dr Bibbins-Domingo: What is it that makes you as the surgeon general now issue an advisory declaring firearm violence a public health crisis?

Dr Murthy: I think many clinicians and folks in the world of public health understand that gun violence is a public health issue. My belief has always been that when you have large numbers of people who are dying and being injured for preventable reasons, that constitutes a health issue and one that we all have a role in addressing as clinicians and public health leaders. While we know that, I worry that the way gun violence has been framed over the years has been as a political issue, not a public health issue. The goal of my advisory is to do a few things. Number one, to shift how we think about this issue as a public health concern. Second, to lay out the extent of the problem, which I think we profoundly underestimate. The greatest price we pay with firearm violence are the lives lost, nearly 50 000 a year. But there are other costs as well. The ripple effects that we see of gun violence extend to people who are shot but who survive, people who witness the incidents, family members who lose loved ones, communities that deal with the trauma of an incident that took place in their neighborhoods, and of course, in millions of people, including our children, who are watching and hearing about these episodes of gun violence every day. It’s for that reason that 6 in 10 adults in America are now saying that they’re worried about losing a loved one to gun violence. It’s why more than 50% of our kids are saying that they are scared about a school shooting happening in their school. These profound numbers, they’re just not normal, and we shouldn’t accept this as just the way things are. We are really an outlier when it comes to other countries in terms of the toll of gun violence, and we can do better. My goal with my advisory was to reframe this issue as a public health issue, lay out the full cost of gun violence but also lay out strategies that I firmly believe can help us because they follow a public health approach to addressing the problem and focus essentially on prevention and on treating the aftermath of these episodes, which includes the mental health aftermath. It’s high time for us as a country to rally together around these strategies. Perhaps one last thing, which has really weighed heavily on me as a parent: when you understand the fact that gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents age 1 through 19—that, by the way, was not true 10 years ago or 20 years ago—then you start to realize that this is really a kid’s issue as well. If there’s one thing that should bring us together to take action, to break with the status quo, with the old way of doing things, it should be when our kids’ health and well-being is at risk.

Dr Bibbins-Domingo: I think one of the things that the report lays out so nicely is just the full toll. Obviously, the people who die from violence are part of that, but I think you tie it so nicely to the mental health issues, as well as the overwhelming burden in children, and we should rally around that. JAMA has published quite a bit on this because the numbers are so stark. What does it mean to take a public health approach to this? To reframe gun violence as a public health issue?

Dr Murthy: It means that we can do a few things. One is that we can think and talk differently about this issue. Health is something that historically has brought us together. Not always, but historically, often, and because we all realize that our health is something that we all care about. It’s a shared concern. When it comes to gun violence, I have traveled around our country to big cities and small towns, and I have had town halls and small group meetings with thousands and thousands of Americans. Whether people are young or old, whether they’re gun owners or not gun owners, everybody wants their kids to be able to go to school safely. Nobody wants to worry that going to the theater or going to work or going to church or synagogue means putting your life at risk. Yet so many people are feeling that way. We do have a shared desire to create healthier, safer environments and giving us a way to rethink and talk differently about gun violence is an advantage of a public health approach. The other thing it does is it gives us a tried-and-true playbook to work from when it comes to addressing gun violence. This is a playbook we’ve used with tobacco and with car accident–related deaths over the years. What we typically do in a public health approach is we gather data, we analyze that data to understand which populations are most at risk, and we design interventions thoughtfully. We implement those. We study the implementation, we scale interventions that work. These are part of the tried-and-true approaches that public health has taken over the years. Lastly, this is really important: people will sometimes look at this issue and say, “Gosh, this feels intractable because it’s really impossible to make progress on this.” Listen, I get that. I have been watching the same situation play out that other people have in terms of the politics and polarization around this issue. But a couple of things give me hope. One is that in the last few years, we have seen Congress put a modest amount of funding toward gun violence research. I want to emphasize modest. There’s a lot more that has to be provided here. But that was the first time in decades they had actually done that and done so in a bipartisan way. Two years ago, we saw Congress pass a bipartisan Safer Communities Act , the first federal legislation in 30 years to start addressing gun violence. These were really important shifts, I believe, in how Congress has operated. But finally, just think about our history in public health. There was a time half a century ago where people said, “Smoking? Gosh, that’s an intractable issue in the country.” In 1964, when my predecessor, Luther Terry, issued the first surgeon general’s report on tobacco , 42% of the country smoked. There were ads for tobacco everywhere. Kids were seeing them. Doctors were smoking. This was just part of the fabric of America—or so it seemed. But that report combined with all of the efforts it helped catalyze—education programs in communities; advocacy movements among youth and parents; policies from local, state, and federal lawmakers—they all helped to reduce smoking rates from 42% to under 12% today. We can make progress on these seemingly intractable issues, and this is one where I feel we’ve got to do a lot more because, again, it’s our kids who are at stake, but it’s also the mental health and well-being of the country that’s really in the balance.

Dr Bibbins-Domingo: I think that frames it well, and tobacco is obviously a great example. But also, the issue that you raised with automobile safety, where because we studied it, because we took several discreet steps along the way, driving is much safer than it was in the past….The cars that we use are much safer than they were in the past because we focused on the issues of safety and made a lot of incremental steps along the way. Framing it around health and safety, I think, seems to be a way forward that hopefully people can rally around.

Dr Murthy: That is my hope. I know it won’t be easy. These major changes on monumental issues that we face as a country require a lot of effort, persistence, determination, and a lot of conversations. But I think they’re well worth having because we’ve lived the alternative, which is to operate on this issue as if it’s a political and polarizing issue. That has not helped us save lives. It has in fact led to a circumstance where we are worried about our basic functions and day-to-day activities and we’re questioning and we’re living in fear. When you look at the data, when you hear the stories as I’ve heard all across the country, you start to realize that the fear of gun violence has really infiltrated the psyche of our country. I talked to a grandmother who told me that her grandchild has stopped wearing light-up shoes, the shoes that flash when you step on them that are popular among kids. He stopped wearing them because he didn’t want to be a target for a shooter in case there was a shooting in his school. I’ve talked to middle school students who have told me that they’re worried about shootings taking place in their school. There was a mother I spoke to who was actually at a public event where a mass shooting took place a couple of years ago, and she happened to be in her flip-flops at the time and had a hard time running away from the shooter and trying to protect her family. To this day, whenever she goes out, she worries about wearing flip-flops because she doesn’t know if she’s going to be in another situation where there’s an active shooter where she’s going to have to flee. You hear these stories and you start to realize this is coloring our day-to-day existence. But this is a choice. It does not have to be this way, and I do not want us to accept this as a reality. We can certainly do better.

Dr Bibbins-Domingo: How can clinicians in speaking with their patients or family members give practical advice about reducing firearm violence?

Dr Murthy: I think clinicians have a really important role here. You could say perhaps I’m biased. My first and foremost professional identity is that of a clinician, and I just have great respect for our colleagues across the country who, not just for what they do in clinic and in hospitals every day, but really for the mindset and the values that they’re trying to bring to our public conversations on health issues like gun violence. A few concrete things I have laid out in our advisory for clinicians: number one, having conversations with patients about safe [firearm] storage can actually be immensely helpful. As clinicians, we’re not strangers to safety conversations. Pediatricians talk to parents all the time about kids in pools—we don’t want kids to unintentionally fall into a pool and drown. We talk to them about safety with regard to driving. We talk about drinking and driving. It turns out that we lose far too many children in particular every year to incidents that often happen in the home with unlocked loaded weapons. The simple act of taking more care to store weapons carefully, unloaded and locked, can literally save lives and prevent injuries. That kind of education can be powerful. It’s also important for clinicians, when they recognize a mental health impact of gun violence, to keep that in mind as they see patients and as they’re getting their history. If there is a history of gun violence that a patient has experienced, [clinicians should] be mindful of the mental health consequences that it may lead to. Sometimes that can last for years. It’s worth keeping in mind that 54% of Americans have either directly or through a family member experienced gun violence. That could be losing a loved one, being threatened with a firearm, or being shot and injured by a firearm. That means it’s unquestionable that if you’re a clinician out there, that you’re going to be seeing patients who have experienced the mental or physical harms of firearm violence. Those are some things that clinicians can do. More broadly, there are community violence intervention programs, which can use many similar principles as hospital violence intervention programs—which seek powerful evidence-based methods of using human beings and relationships and dialogue and engagement to actually interrupt a cycle of violence that too often propagates in our communities. This is a place where I think health systems, both directly through what are called HVIPs, Hospital Violence Intervention Programs, and through their support of the community-based programs, can do a lot to help address gun violence. Most importantly, I think the health systems need to support clinicians in doing this work and having these conversations with patients. Having trained in primary care myself, I’m aware that the easiest thing to do in health care is to add more to the list for primary care doctors to do. We’ve got to be mindful of that and make sure that when we’re making additional asks, we’re providing not just material resources, but the kind of technology and added support for clinicians to be able to have these important conversations with patients.

Published Online: July 19, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.2485

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Murthy has had numerous financial relationships with academic, nonprofit, commercial, and governmental entities. His financial disclosure report and ethics agreement can be requested online .

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Abbasi J , Hswen Y. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: Firearm Violence Is a Public Health Crisis. JAMA. Published online July 19, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.2485

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Lindner changes designation from Master of Arts to Master of Science in human resources

Analytics-based, quantitative-driven curriculum fuels change to a master of science.

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After a multi-year process, the master’s degree program in human resources at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business has received the Master of Science designation, as approved by the University of Cincinnati Graduate College and the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Originally housed as a Master of Arts program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the human resources (HR) graduate degree program migrated to the Lindner College of Business after a recommendation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) recognizing HR as a vital business function akin to accounting or information systems. The new master of science designation is the latest evolution in the program.

“One of the most important factors we weighed was the feedback we received from our alumni and employers. Many expressed that to be more competitive in the job market, an MS designation was needed,” said Michael Wagner , PhD, assistant professor-educator of management and director of the MS in human resources program. “The change to MS puts the program in line with our peer schools and with other master's programs at Lindner.”

Michael Wagner, PhD, assistant professor-educator of management and director of the MS in human resources program.

The MS designation represents an analytical and quantitative evolution in the content focus of the program.  

To align with the move to a more analytical degree, the program introduced new required coursework with a focus on HR analytics and economics of HR. Additionally, students can take electives such as statistical computing and decision modeling as part of their curriculum. Other courses have also been revised to highlight the more quantitative side of HR work, such as the programs compensation course, which uses quantitative methods like market benchmarking and pay-for-performance analyses.

Students put the skills they’ve developed to the test via their capstone projects. These frequently have a quantitative focus as well, using tools such as survey analysis and employee assessment to uncover insights and apply key concepts while fueling real-world change.

The move brings the degree program in line with Lindner’s seven other specialized master’s degree programs and peers at comparable universities. 

“I do think that this will help us be more competitive,” said Wagner. “Students who apply to a graduate school of business are expecting an MS. We do expect that students will be more competitive in the business job market as well.”

Featured image: Exterior of Lindner Hall. Photo by Alex Fradkin.

Earn a Master of Science in Human Resources

Taught by leading research faculty and experienced industry professionals, the Master of Science in Human Resources at the Lindner College of Business prepares future HR leaders for the constantly shifting demands of the industry. Infused with courses from across business functions with a foundation in quantitative HR best practices, students graduate ready to tackle complex business problems.

  • Lindner College of Business
  • Graduate-Programs

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After a multi-year process, the master’s degree program in human resources at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business has received the Master of Science designation as approved by the University of Cincinnati Graduate College and the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

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    Equally impressive to us—and probably to prospective applicants—is that every one of our best b-schools for 2024 garnered highly favorable ratings among its MBA students we surveyed." The Princeton Review Best Business Schools On-Campus MBA Programs for 2024. THE 18 CATEGORIES AND #1 SCHOOLS ON THE LISTS are:

  21. Doing A PhD After MBA: Universities, Programs, Benefits

    Professor /Lecturer. Academician. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) The salary of PhD after MBA in India is somewhere between INR 7 Lakhs to 17 Lakhs per annum depending upon whether you work in the corporate sector or explore the academic domain working as a lecturer or academician.

  22. Miami University (Farmer) Full-Time MBA Program

    The Farmer School of Business at Miami University (Farmer) offers these departments and concentrations: accounting, business analytics, economics, finance, general management, human resources ...

  23. MBA Admission Session

    Contact Us School of Business [email protected] 425.352.3306 Box 358533 18807 Beardslee Blvd, Suite 210 Bothell, WA 98011

  24. MBA

    MBA. →. Harvard Business School offers a two-year, full-time MBA program with a general management curriculum focused on real-world practice. Becoming a student at HBS means joining a global community that propels lifelong learning and career support alongside peers, faculty, and staff who will both challenge you and cheer you on as you find ...

  25. USF's Executive MBA program among top 10 best in the nation, says

    TAMPA - The University of South Florida's Executive MBA program has broken into the top 10 on the Best Executive MBA Programs for 2024 national rankings released today by Fortune. USF's Executive MBA program in the Muma College of Business clinched the No. 10 spot, climbing 19 positions from last year.

  26. Stanford MBA Program

    Stanford GSB, with our campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, is a one-of-a-kind MBA program that has redefined the business school experience. Here, you'll be pushed and challenged by best-in-class faculty and supported by your classmates in an environment unlike anywhere else. Collaboration, not competition, is key in a Stanford classroom.

  27. Gartner Announces Rankings of the Top 25 North American Supply Chain

    Source: Gartner (July 2024) Gartner clients can read more in: Top 25 North American Supply Chain Undergraduate University Programs, 2024 and Top 25 North American Supply Chain Graduate University Programs, 2024.Nonclients can view the webinar "Gartner 2024 Supply Chain University Top 25: Best Talent Sources" to learn more. About the Gartner North American Supply Chain University Program ...

  28. US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: Firearm Violence Is a Public Health

    This is a 2-part Q&A series with the US Surgeon General. In part 1, JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, interviews Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, to discuss the issue of gun violence as a pressing public health crisis and the critical role of public health leadership in combating this issue.

  29. Lindner changes designation from Master of Arts to Master of Science in

    Originally housed as a Master of Arts program in the College of Arts and Sciences, the human resources (HR) graduate degree program migrated to the Lindner College of Business after a recommendation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) recognizing HR as a vital business function akin to accounting or information systems.

  30. U.S. Graduate Fair 2024 in Jakarta

    MBA Two-year program for leaders in all industries.; MBA for Executives Rigorous executive MBA for accomplished professionals.; Master of Advanced Management MBA graduates of top business schools around the world spend a year at Yale.; Master's in Asset Management Intensive introduction to investing with leading faculty and practitioners.; Master's in Global Business & Society A year of ...