PHD’s in Business, Management and Social Sciences

Validated by the University Vitez

Completing an blended PhD with Circle International is an exciting and rewarding experience and forms the foundation for your future career in academia or the worlds of business and industry.

It is the highest academic qualification in most fields and therefore it will challenge you to achieve the required high standards. However, at Circle, you will benefit from an exceptional level of support both from your assigned supervisor and from our wider academic community.

Professors in Circle are passionate about their subject and strive to share their knowledge and experience with you from the start of your time studying with us.

Research skills are developed during the first year of study when you will complete six taught modules and develop your research proposal. Unlike many other universities, you are not required to write a research proposal as part of the application process as we believe that students should be helped to make the transition to independent research as part of our course.

In the second year, you will also be mentored to produce an academic paper, based on your research, which will be published in one of our two journals and given the opportunity to deliver your paper at our annual Circle conference. Being able to publish your work is a huge advantage for Circle students over research students at other institutions who struggle to find suitable journals to accept their work.

As well as the support from your supervisor, you will have access to an extensive online library of presentations, journals,  articles and academic textbooks.

The course is delivered in English

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What you get ?

Research skills are developed during the first year of study when you will complete six taught modules and develop your research proposal. Unlike many other universities, you are not required to write a research proposal as part of the application process as we believe that students should be helped to make the transition to independent research as part of our course.

In the second year, you will also be mentored to produce an academic paper, based on your research, which will be published in one of our two journals and given the opportunity to deliver your paper at our annual Circle conference. Being able to publish your work is a huge advantage for Circle students over research students at other institutions who struggle to find suitable journals to accept their work.

Course Structure

There are 6 taught modules:

  • Literature Review
  • Methodology & Methods
  • Management of Information Systems
  • Reflective Journal
  • Action Research & Case Study
  • Management Science
  • Students also complete an outline of  their research proposal

Students finalize their research proposals and begin their research
They also start to develop an academic article which will be published in one of the two Circle journals. Once completed, the paper can be presented at the annual Circle conference.

Students complete their dissertation which will be approximately 40,000 words in length.
Students must attend the University for one week in each of the three years of the course.

Entry Requirements

In line with the requirements of the European Higher Education Area, you will need to have completed a masters at a recognized university and send us a copy of your final masters’ dissertation

Length of course

The length of the course is three years although it is possible to complete it by the beginning of the third year.

Tuition fees
£8,000 per year

Additional costs: £200 application fee which is passed on to the Ministry of Higher Education and £600 fees for the final viva.

Intake dates
Students can start their studies at any time.