Program Overview

PhD Program

The University of Basel's Graduate School of Business and Economics offers excellent doctoral education to outstanding students from all over the world. The PhD program starts with advanced courses that equip students with the necessary theoretical knowledge and research methods to successfully write a doctoral thesis. The program is taught entirely in English both by members of our faculty and by international professors from outside. The program leads to a «Doctor rerum politicarum» (Dr. rer. pol., in English PhD).

Program Structure

The program consists of:

• the research proposal, to be submitted at the end of the first year,
• min. 18 CP of coursework in the modules below,
• the dissertation,
• and the doctoral examination.

The coursework can be taken in the following four modules:

Modules

• Advanced theories and methods: 9 credit points
• Internal presentation of own research: 3 credit points
• External presentation of own research: 3 credit points
• Didactics and other training: optional

Minimum one internal and external presentation of your own research are compulsory, additional presentations are encouraged and can be used to earn additional credits.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Our PhD students can also take courses in the following external programs:

• Swiss Network of PhD Courses in Economics and Finance
• Swiss Program for Beginning Doctoral Students in Economics at the Study Center Gerzensee
• Advanced Courses in Economics at the Study Center Gerzensee
• Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) PhD Program
• Swiss Doctoral Program Network in Accounting Research (DAR)
• PhD Program in Public Health Sciences (SSPH)

Faculty and Research Areas

PhD students at the Graduate School of Business and Economics are supervised by a member of the Faculty and guided by a PhD Advisory Committee with members both from our faculty and from outside. Our professors and their research groups are active in a variety of research areas.

Admission Requirements

A master's degree from the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Basel with a grade of 5 or higher fulfils the admission requirements for our PhD program. Other degrees from the university of Basel, other Swiss universities or universities abroad may be recognised as equivalent and also be considered to fulfil the admission requirements. If the admission requirements are only partially fulfilled, the Doctoral Board may ask for additional requirements (usually master level courses) to be taken at the beginning of the program.

Start and Duration

It is possible to start in fall or spring, individual start dates may be negotiated. The PhD program usually takes 4 years. Doing it in a shorter period of time may be possible. A longer duration may also be possible, though individual solutions will have to be found for the funding.

Fees and Funding

Fees

• Application fee: none
• Tuition fees per year: CHF 700

Funding

Participants of our PhD program may be offered a competitive funding package covering the costs of living in Basel over four years. It is also possible to do a PhD part-time and fund yourself through work external to the University of Basel.

Application

The Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE) opens a call for PhD applications twice a year, contingent on openings. For the GSBE application, you will need the following documents:

• Completed application form
• CV
• Master's and bachelor's degree diploma and mark sheet
• Scientific writing example (master's thesis, term paper, bachelor's thesis or journal article)

In the application process, you will be asked to supply two reference persons. Please ensure you inform them before giving us their contact information to ensure that they are ready and willing to submit a reference letter on your behalf.

Deadlines for GSBE applications:

• Start of PhD in spring 2027: July 31, 2026
• Start of PhD in fall 2027: January 31, 2027