Program Overview

University of Business and Technology PhD Programs

The University of Business and Technology (UBT) in Saudi Arabia offers advanced PhD programs designed to foster research excellence and innovation. These programs aim to develop future leaders in academia, industry, and public service. With a strong emphasis on quality, UBT supports cutting-edge research aligned with national and global priorities.

PhD in Business Administration

Program Overview/Philosophy

The proposed PhD in Business Administration at UBT will equip doctoral students with knowledge of contemporary business issues, analytical tools for solving business problems, and state-of-the-art research methodologies for researching and understanding business problems. The program will offer students the opportunity to pursue research interests in one of five areas of specialization – Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain and Operations Management, Business Management, and Human Resources Management. This rigorous part-time program will train graduates to tackle complex business problems in their chosen areas of specialization.

Program Objectives

The Program is Designed to Achieve the Following Specific Objectives:

• To equip students with advanced knowledge and skills to critically analyze complex business problems and propose innovative solutions.
• To equip students with knowledge and skills to critically evaluate the extant research, design and conduct original, high-quality research, and contribute new knowledge to their chosen areas of specialization.
• To develop students' ability to effectively disseminate research findings through written publications and oral presentations.
• To develop students' ability to apply research findings to real-world business challenges and contribute to informed decision-making.
• To enhance students' teamwork abilities, enabling them to effectively collaborate with researchers within and outside their chosen areas of specialization.
• To foster students' commitment and concern for high ethical standards in business research, teaching, and service.

Program Design

Duration

The proposed PhD in Business Administration will require 48 credit hours of academic work and about 3 years to complete.

Specializations

The program will offer students the opportunity to specialize in one of the following:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Supply Chain & Operations Management
• Human Resources Management
• Business Management

Program Structure

The program's design and pedagogy emphasize combining theoretical knowledge and methodological rigor to develop graduates' ability to conduct original theoretical or applied research in their chosen areas of specialization. Coursework is designed to provide detailed knowledge of essential theories in the field, advanced research methods and approaches to empirical research. The program's course offering will be distributed as follows:

• Core courses – 12 credit hours
• Specialization courses – 12 credit hours
• Methodology courses – 12 credit hours
• Dissertation – 12 credit hours

Program Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

Upon completion of the UBT PhD program, students will be able to:

• Explain contemporary industry, academic and public policy challenges in their chosen areas of specialization.
• Explain conceptual and theoretical frameworks for understanding and synthesizing those challenges.
• Explain epistemological foundations of, and methods for conducting research in their chosen areas of specialization.

Skills

Upon completion of the UBT PhD program, students will be able to:

• Evaluate the extant literature in their chosen areas of specialization and construct literature reviews to identify avenues for contributing to the body of knowledge in the specialization.
• Design and conduct original, high-quality research within their chosen areas of specialization.
• Disseminate research findings through journal publications and conference presentations.
• Apply research findings to real-world business challenges and contribute to informed decision-making.

Values

Upon completion of the UBT PhD program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate commitment to intellectual curiosity, with a deep desire to explore and expand knowledge in their chosen areas of specialization.
• Demonstrate commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and service as applicable.
• Demonstrate commitment to high ethical standards in conducting research, teaching, and service as applicable.
• Demonstrate commitment to social responsibility, by recognizing the impact of business on society and the need to promote sustainable and socially responsible business practices.
• Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning by valuing continuous learning and staying up to date on emerging trends and developments in their chosen areas of specialization.

Admission Requirements

The following are requirements for admission to the PhD in Business Administration program:

• The applicant must hold a master's degree in business administration or a related subject from a Saudi university or a foreign recognized college or university with a grade of "very good" or GPA = 4.5/5 or equivalent.
• In case a student has a master's degree that is not in business administration, the committee may select some pre-courses that the student must take before enrolling in the PhD program. If the degree is not from a Saudi university, the student must obtain an attestation of certificate from the Saudi embassy in the issuing country.
• The Deanship of Graduate Studies may accept "high good" and "good" grades, but the student average grade should not be less than very good in major field courses which the student intends to enroll in it.
• If the student's master's degree was conducted in a language other than English, the student must pass one of the following English language tests: TOEFL with a score of 65 or IELTS with a score of 6.
• The student must pass the admission committee interview and submit two scientific recommendations from university professors who have previously taught him.
• The university and/or the college may add any other conditions that it deems necessary for admission.