The NBS PhD programme is a full-time doctoral programme that is typically completed between 4 and 5 years.
The first 18 months is the Coursework Stage in which students take preparatory courses that are concentrated in their area of specialisation. The course requirement usually ranges from 8 to 11 courses and a minimum total of 24 academic units is required for graduation.
The lists below show the courses that are required for each specialisation. The lists may be subject to changes and they do not display electives and required non-NTU courses, if any. The course outlines can be viewed by clicking here.
- ACC
Accounting (Behavioural)
- AC8801 Seminar in Accounting Research
- AC9101 Seminar in Capital Markets Research in Accounting
- AC9102 Seminar in Behavioural Research in Accounting
- BR7402 Foundational and Advanced Topics in Regression Analysis: Applications for the Behavioural Sciences
- FN9103 Empirical Research I (Investment)
- GN7103 Writing for Research & Publication
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9003 Theory Construction and Experimental Methods in Behavioral Research
- MG9202 Organization Theory
Accounting (Capital Markets)
- AC8801 Seminar in Accounting Research
- AC9101 Seminar in Capital Markets Research in Accounting
- AC9102 Seminar in Behavioural Research in Accounting
- FN9103 Empirical Research I (Investment)
- FN9104 Empirical Research II (Corporate)
- GN7103 Writing for Research & Publication
- HE9002 Econometrics I (SSS)
- HE9003 Econometrics II (SSS)
- BF
Banking & Finance
- AC9101 Seminar in Capital Markets Research in Accounting
- BR7201 Corporate Governance and Control
- FN9103 Empirical Research I (Investment)
- FN9104 Empirical Research II (Corporate)
- GN7103 Writing for Research & Publication
- HE9002 Econometrics I (SSS)
- HE9003 Econometrics II (SSS)
- HE9101 Seminar in Microeconomics (SSS)
- IS
Information Systems
- BR7401 Longitudinal Research: Theory, Design, and Data Analysis
- BR7402 Foundational and Advanced Topics in Regression Analysis: Applications for the Behavioural Sciences
- IS9101 Seminar in Information Systems Research
- IS9201 Contemporary Issues in Information Systems
- IS9202 Information Systems – Theories and Methods
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9101 Theoretical Foundations of Organisational Behaviour
- MG9202 Organisational Theory
- OM9204 Game Theory and its Applications
- OM
Operations Management
- BR7402 Foundational and Advanced Topics in Regression Analysis: Applications for the Behavioural Sciences
- GN7103 Writing for Research & Publication
- HE9002 Econometrics I (SSS)
- HE9101 Seminar in Microeconomics (SSS)
- M6205 Systems Simulation & Modelling (MAE)
- OM9102 Inventory Theory
- OM9201 Contemporary Issues in Operations Mgt I & II
- MKT
Marketing (Consumer Behaviour)
- HP7001 Advanced Research Design and Data Analysis (SSS)
- HP7217 Applied Functional Neuroscience (SSS)
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9003 Theory Construction and Experimental Methods in Behavioral Research
- MK9101 Seminar in Consumer Behaviour
- MK9201 Seminar in Marketing Modelling
- NS9001 Management Neuroscience: Incorporating cognitive and neuroscience research to management science
Marketing (Quantitative Modelling)
- HE9002 Econometrics I (SSS)
- HE9003 Econometrics II (SSS)
- HE9101 Seminar in Microeconomics (SSS)
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9003 Theory Construction and Experimental Methods in Behavioral
Research
- MK9101 Seminar in Consumer Behaviour
- MK9201 Seminar in Marketing Modelling
- MK9105 Advanced Seminar in Quantitative Marketing
- LMO
Leadership, Management & Organisation
- BR7401 Longitudinal Research: Theory, Design, and Data Analysis
- BR7402 Foundational and Advanced Topics in Regression Analysis: Applications for the Behavioural Sciences
- GN7103 Writing for Research and Publication
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9003 Theory Construction and Experimental Methods in Behavioral Research
- MG9101 Theoretical Foundations of Organisational Behaviour
- MG9104 Theoretical Foundations of Strategic Management
- MG9105 Advanced Topics in Organisational Behaviour
- MG9202 Organization Theory
- MG9204 Seminar in Culture Science
- ST9007 Advanced Research Methods: Meta-Analysis
- SIE
Strategy, International Business and Entrepreneurship
- BR7701 Seminar in Entrepreneurship
- BR7401 Longitudinal Research: Theory, Design, and Data Analysis
- BR7402 Foundational and Advanced Topics in Regression Analysis: Applications for the Behavioural Sciences (contingent on student's research area)
- HP7001 Advanced Research Design and Data Analysis (SSS) (contingent on student's research area)
- MG9001 Research Methods
- MG9101 Theoretical Foundations of Organisational Behaviour
- MG9103 Advanced Topics in Strategic Management
- MG9104 Theoretical Foundations of Strategic Management
- MG9202 Organization Theory
Upon
completion (or near completion) of coursework requirements, students will
undergo PhD Qualifying Exam (QE) comprising written and confirmation hearing
components. The QE evaluates the knowledge and skills learned in the coursework
and serves as preliminary assessment of the candidate's capability to complete
a high-quality dissertation successfully in the remaining period of
candidature. After these requirements are satisfied, students become doctoral
candidate with adequate preparation to research and write a doctoral
dissertation on significant problems of academic and practical significance to
business communities. They are expected to work closely with their selected
supervisor and thesis advisory committee.
At the Dissertation
Stage, students are required to present their thesis in Proposal
Defence, submit thesis for examination and undergo Final Oral
Examination. The aim of proposal defence is to assess the academic rigour
and relevance of the proposed research and to ensure that it is adequately
defined and feasible to allow the student to receive feedback early in the
thesis process. When ready, the thesis is submitted to the University for
examination by the thesis examiners. The thesis must contain original work and
critical interpretation and analysis worthy of publication in the international
domain. After receiving the examiners' reports, the student is given adequate
time to address the examiners' comments and further improve the thesis.
Finally, the thesis is presented in the oral examination where the
committee examines the student's expertise on the field, advance the
candidate’s knowledge and discuss with the candidate potential publications and
future possibilities of their work.
Apart from the above, students are also expected to take supplementary courses (e.g. teaching course, research integrity module,
etc.), attend divisional seminars, write summer papers (if required by their division), and serve GAP hours (Graduate Assistantship Programme) comprising duties such as research assistance and teaching. It is common practice for the candidates to present their research
papers at top-tier conferences and publish journal papers prior to graduation.