Portsmouth Business School
Research degree options
Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
The DBA is the flagship business programme in Portsmouth Business School. It is doctoral level research in an applied setting. It involves a combination of text-based study and action research, assessed through coursework at different stages, culminating in assessment of a doctoral level, research-based report.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD is an advanced degree requiring considerable commitment and sustained hard work over a relatively long period of time. Normally this will be a minimum of three years for full-time study (six years part-time). Students on the PhD route will complete the MSc in Social Research Methods in their first year, submitting a progression report at the end of this year (after two years if studying part-time) in order to continue on the PhD programme. To be awarded the PhD, the student is required to submit a thesis not exceeding 80,000 words and to defend it in an oral examination.
NewRoute PhD
The NewRoute PhD programme is a national initiative provided by a network of collaborating UK universities. The University of Portsmouth is proud to be a part of this network as it seeks to widen participation within the research community. This particular four year scheme enables students to undertake a number of taught masters level units in year one before progressing onto their MPhil/PhD registration.
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil)
Students following the MPhil route are expected to complete the MSc in Social Research Methods and submit a thesis not exceeding 40,000 words and defend their work successfully in an oral examination (a viva). Ordinarily, full-time students would be excpected to complete the MPhil programme in 2 years (4 years if part-time).