There are many things you need to know about does an MBA count towards a PhD, which PhD is best after MBA, can you get a PhD with an MBA, and so much more. Use this article to find out exactly what you need to know.  There is a large debate going on right now about whether or not an MBA from a top b-school will actually help someone get a PhD. I would argue that there are a number of schools that have a very close relationship with the surrounding research community, and so it makes sense to try and pursue both at the same time without too much difficulty. Read on to find out some MBA programs that have been known to accept applicants who have been accepted into a top PhD program at a leading research institution.

In order to understand why this is controversial, we first need to know who’s arguing what. Some experts believe that an MBA will not help anyone get into or through graduate school at all; others think it depends on where you go for your degree and what kind of job it will lead to afterwards; still others argue that any type of advanced degree

You will also discover related posts on PhD after MBA in UK, PhD after MBA salary on Collegelearners.

Schools That Accept MBA For Phd

If you’re looking to get into a PhD program, it’s time to start thinking about your application.

Approach your PhD application process like a job application. PhDs differ from other programs in that they are generally hiring you as a research assistant/PhD candidate rather than having you pay to study like you would for a medical degree or as you likely did for your MBA. A PhD candidate works as a teacher’s assistant or research assistant and often does not pay tuition; his job is to be a student. PhD students attend classes and contribute to the university through research, working as an assistant, and, of course, working on a thesis.

Focus on your research experience on your application. Your extracurriculars and hobbies are not as important for these applications as they are for other graduate school applications; PhD committees are almost exclusively interested in what you can do for them in terms of research.

Assemble letters of recommendation from academics that can attest to your researching and writing abilities. Seek letters from professors who have conducted research in your desired field of study.

Focus on your statement of purpose when you send your application. This is what the committee will be looking at the most. Remember to “show” rather than “tell” them how you have researched in the past and indicate what you can do in the future.

MBA PhD Joint Programs

Attend classes during your first one or two years as if you were in a standard program. The first couple years of a Ph.D. are actually a master’s degree. When you finish these classes, you will be awarded a master’s degree and move on to your doctoral work.

Use the first two years of studying to refine your reading and come up with a topic. Look for areas where gaps in the discourse exist that you could potentially fill.

Choose an adviser who specializes in the topic you choose. Choose carefully, as you will be working with this professor for the next few years.

Conduct research and write a thesis. This can take years, as the thesis is a well-researched piece of work.

PhD Programs For MBA Graduates

PhD after MBA may not be as advantageous as one may expect it to be. After getting done with an MBA, many prefer to increase their work experience rather than pursue a PhD; but if you are interested in doing research in the field of your interest, PhD may be the perfect course for you to take up.

Apart from the extensive knowledge which the course provides, PhD researchers also get a chance to do individual research and study which puts them apart from other managers. 

• PhD is a rigorous course that requires a lot of dedication and hard work.
• It can be tedious as there is a lot of time one needs to invest in a PhD
• The PhD course combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.
• There are many practical approaches and methods like field studies, experimental methods, econometrics, etc. which are used during PhDs. 
• It is a course for those who want to teach Management. 
• The profession of the Professor is most reputable and sought after.
• PhD researchers also work as consultants in the top firms.
• PhD trains researchers and increases their analytical skills.
• Positions in analytics are offered commonly to PhD researchers because of their skillset.
• The growth is considerably slow and one may not earn much before getting 

PhD Course Duration after MBA         

The duration for PhD after MBA may vary depending on the research topic, methodologies and investment of time and labour.

On average, the completion of PhD may take 4 to 5 years. The duration may also vary depending on the country and institution.

Country	Duration (Average)
India	3 years
USA	5-7 years
UK	3-4 years
Australia	4-6 years
Germany	3-5 Years

Eligibility for PhD after MBA

Eligibility for a PhD after MBA, as one may assume, must be an MBA degree. But that’s not so.

There are other eligibility criteria as well. To pursue a PhD after MBA, the following are the criteria one must fulfil to be eligible for a PhD after MBA.

• One must have a good IELTS or TOEFL exam score to prove their English language proficiency. 
• One must also have a respectable GRE/GMAT score, it may vary as per the university.
• Students must also submit their essays, SOP, and transcript.
• At least 2 to 3 Letters of Recommendation are required to be submitted by the student. 
• Often times, an interview is conducted either physically or online via video call to test student’s knowledge and eligibility.
• Students must have a dissertation ready and a thesis statement or an idea.
• It is important that the students are well versed with what they want to do and have a clear idea about their objectives.
• At top-rated Business Schools, the acceptance rate is around 3 to 5%.

PhD After MBA In USA

PhD after MBA in USA is the most popular place, it especially is a great place to pursue a PhD after MBA because of a highly research-friendly environment.

The USA is home to the top business schools and offers students with unlimited data and resources to facilitate their research. The amenities provided to PhD researchers are quite good here as well.

• University of Pennsylvania
• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• The University of California
• Columbia University
• Kellogg School of Management 
• The University of Chicago
• Washington University 
• Cornell University
• University of Michigan

Also Read: How to do PhD in the USA

PhD After MBA in Australia

PhD after MBA in Australia is a very pleasant place to be at and it is also home to many great universities.

There are many great B-schools that offer PhD programs after MBA. There is a lot of scope for applying practical methods here because of the way businesses and cor[orates are run here.

Students will have a lot of opportunities to conduct researches and collect primary as well as secondary data.

• University of Sydney
• University of Melbourne
• University of Queensland
• Australian National University
• UNSW Sydney
• University of Western Australia
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of Canberra
• Monash University
• University of Adelaide

PhD After MBA in Germany

PhD after MBA in Germany is probably the best place because of the many facilities like the grant which is available for students.

Germany boasts of some of the best universities in the world and has the best management programs as well. Many universities in Germany offer PhD in management and great guidance to students to help them in their research work.

• LMU Munich
• Technical University of Munich
• Heidelberg University
• University of Berlin
• University of Hamburg
• Humboldt University of Berlin
• University of Freiburg
• Bielefeld University
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• RWTH Aachen University

PhD After MBA Finance

PhD after MBA Finance is one of the topmost and popular specializations. The scope is vast and the opportunities endless.

Though the subject may seem challenging, for those interested, it has a plethora of opportunities and research ideas.

PhD in Finance requires expertise in subjects like Mathematics and Economics. The top universities offering this program are:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• University of Adelaide
• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
• IIT Delhi
• Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi
• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
• The Centurion University of Technology and Management
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science

benefits of phd after mba

Before we go into details of every PhD after MBA program, we shall look into the advantages and benefits of PhD after MBA and why is PhD after MBA a great career option.

• PhD after MBA provides the opportunity to conduct research, conduct in-field study of concepts and specializations that couldn’t have been possible during MBA.
• MBA Degree in itself provides lucrative career options, but after PhD, MBA degree becomes much more valuable.
• The research during PhD after MBA leads to awareness of the new business insights and trends worldwide, which helps in managing business more efficiently.
• A person with PhD degree after MBA can make lucrative compensations. A top MBA College professor makes millions than just an MBA degree holder.
• PhD after MBA allows working in the field of research in management, finance, or business which puts them apart from any other managers pursuing only an MBA.
• PhD after MBA in Management opens the door to become a professor in leading business schools, which is the most sought-after career.
• After doing PhD after MBA, candidates can work as consultants in top firms, because of their skill sets and research methodologies.
• PhD after MBA candidates can also work as analytics consultants as they are preferred over any other degree holders because of their skills and experience in research.