PhD After MBA: Top Universities, Eligibility, and Career Scope

Pursuing a PhD after completing an MBA is a great choice for students who are interested in deep research, academic careers, or advanced roles in business and management. Whether you are an Indian or an international student, a PhD can open doors to teaching at top universities, working in think tanks, or taking leadership roles in global companies. So, if you have recently completed your Master of Business Administration, choosing a PhD might require some thinking to finally arrive at the right decision. This blog will guide you through the top universities offering PhD programs after MBA, the eligibility criteria you must meet, and the many benefits of this advanced degree. With growing demand for research-based business knowledge, a PhD after MBA is becoming a smart and rewarding option for many students worldwide.

PhD After MBA in India

Doing a PhD after an MBA in India is a smart move for students who wish to enter the world of research, teaching, or high-level policy and consulting roles. It allows you to explore subjects like management, finance, marketing, human resources, or operations in much greater depth. Many top Indian institutions such as the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), IITs, and central universities offer PhD programs that are well-recognized in India and abroad.

Here’s what you need to know about PhD after MBA in India:

• Most institutes require a Master’s degree like MBA with at least 55% marks (sometimes 60%) or equivalent CGPA. Some may also ask for a valid score in entrance exams like CAT, UGC-NET, GATE, or GRE.
• A PhD typically takes 4 to 6 years to complete in India.
• Popular fields include Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, Strategy, Business Economics, Operations, and Human Resources.
• After completing a PhD, you can become a professor, researcher, policy advisor, or work in high-level corporate or government roles.
• Top PhD Programs After MBA in India:
  • PhD in Management
  • PhD in Organizational Behaviour/Management
  • PhD in Behavioural Finance
  • PhD in Applied Statistics
  • PhD in Information Technology/Data Analytics
  • PhD in Market Analysis and Research

Top PhD Colleges in India

College/University	Best For	Entrance/Eligibility
IISc Bangalore	Science, Engineering, Mathematics	GATE/NET/Institute Test
IIT Bombay / Delhi / Madras / Kanpur / Kharagpur	Engineering, Management, Sciences	Master’s + GATE/NET + Interview
IIM Ahmedabad / Bangalore / Calcutta / Lucknow / Indore	Management, Public Policy, Economics	MBA/PG + CAT/GMAT/GRE + Interview
TISS Mumbai	Social Work, Public Policy, Sociology	Master’s + TISS-RAT / NET + Interview
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)	Political Science, Economics, Humanities	Master’s + Entrance Test / UGC-NET
University of Delhi (DU)	Commerce, Management, Humanities, Sciences	DUET / UGC-NET + Interview
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)	Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, CS	Institute Test + Interview
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	Sciences, Arts, Sanskrit, Commerce	RET (Research Entrance Test) + Interview
Jadavpur University, Kolkata	Engineering, Arts, Literature, Education	University Test + Interview
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)	History, Law, Economics, Science	AMU Entrance / NET + Interview

Also Read: PhD Scholarships in India

Benefits of PhD After MBA

As the highest academic degree in theoretical disciplines, a PhD or Doctorate of Philosophy is perfect for those seeking a greater depth of knowledge in a specific area of interest. Going for a PhD after MBA can be beneficial for a plethora of reasons, some of which are given in a rundown below:

1. A PhD allows you to become a professor, lecturer, or academic researcher in top universities.
2. While MBA gives you a broad view of business, a PhD lets you specialize deeply in one subject like marketing, finance, HR, or strategy, making you an expert in that field.
3. You can conduct advanced research, publish papers, write books, and contribute to new theories in business, which helps in shaping future business practices and solving real-world problems.
4. A PhD after MBA opens doors to international teaching, consulting, or research jobs. Top global universities and think tanks often hire PhD scholars for high-level roles.
5. Academic and research roles, especially abroad, can offer competitive salaries.
6. With advanced knowledge, PhD holders often work as business consultants, analysts, or advisors to companies, governments, or NGOs.
7. Through teaching and research, you can influence policies, train future business leaders, and make a real impact on education, the economy, and society.

Also Read: Research Institutes in India

Top PhD Programs After MBA

The average duration of PhD after MBA is approximately 5-7 years where the 1st year is more theoretical but from the beginning of the second year, you can pick specializations as per your choice. In Business and Management, there is an array of specialised PhD courses that one can choose from. Here are the top specialisations to pursue PhD after MBA:

• PhD in Entrepreneurship
• PhD in Commerce
• PhD in Accounting
• PhD in Management
• PhD in Economics
• PhD in Commercial Law
• PhD in Human Resource Management
• PhD in Operational Research
• PhD in Marketing
• PhD in Healthcare and Management
• PhD in Organizational Behaviour
• PhD in Finance
• PhD in Chemistry
• PhD in Computer Science
• PhD in Law
• PhD in IT
• PhD in Engineering
• PhD in Political Science
• PhD in Education
• PhD in Statistics
• PhD in Psychology

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Programs After MBA

Though the specific prerequisites might vary from one university to another, there are some general criteria for PhD after MBA or any other postgraduate program that every candidate needs to fulfil.

The primary requirement is that of a master’s degree in the related discipline (from a recognised institution) in which one is applying for a doctoral degree, if you are applying for a PhD in Business Administration, you need to have completed a postgraduate course like, MBA, MIM, amongst others.

Along with these, you will be required to submit the following documents:

• GATE/CSIR-NET/UGC-NET Scores for Indian universities
• Research Proposal
• Letters of Recommendation (Academic and/or Professional)
• GRE, English proficiency test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc. and SOP and LORs to apply for PhD after MBA abroad
• An Updated Resume or CV
• Academic Transcripts

Also Read: Part Time PhD

Admission Process for PhD After MBA Abroad 

If you are planning to pursue PhD after MBA from abroad then the following points will guide you through the application process and entrance exams: 

1. The application process for global universities is very different from Indian universities. You don’t have to give any entrance exam to pursue a PhD after MBA from abroad, rather, you need to submit a GMAT / GRE score. 
2. LORs, SOPs and previous projects and research work matter a lot when you are looking to pursue PhD abroad. They make your profile strong and increase the chances of getting selected. 
3. Most universities have a 3-5% acceptance rate for PhD programs. Thus, it is essential to make your application strong.
4. The PhD curriculum more or less remains the same, you need to work on your thesis and submit it in the provided duration to complete your PhD after MBA.

Also Read: How to Get PhD Funding?

PhD After Distance MBA

Yes, pursuing a PhD after a Distance MBA is feasible, but crucial factors like the recognition and accreditation of your Distance MBA (especially by UGC in India) are paramount. While a Distance MBA provides foundational business knowledge, a PhD demands rigorous research aptitude, requiring you to demonstrate strong analytical skills and a clear research proposal. For Indian universities, qualifying exams like UGC-NET are often essential, and it’s vital to note that UGC regulations do not permit PhD programs purely through distance mode, though part-time PhDs are allowed.

For international universities, competitive exams like GMAT/GRE and English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL) are typically required, alongside a compelling Statement of Purpose and strong letters of recommendation, making it achievable with careful planning and a robust application.

PhD After MBA in Finance

MBA in Finance professionals often opts for a PhD to pursue a career in research or academia. Finance is one of the most popular specialisations for PhD after MBA and students can choose from various subjects like Financial Management, Financial Analysis, Financial Modelling, etc. To pursue PhD in Finance in India, you will have to qualify for UGC NET, NMIMS or NIPER JEE while you will have to qualify GRE for universities abroad. Let’s take a look at the universities for PhD after MBA in Finance:

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi
• National Institute of Technology, Silchar
• Department of Management Studies-IIT Madras
• Alliance School of Business, Bangalore
• Ahmedabad University
• Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management
• Ahmedabad University

Here are the major careers for PhD after MBA in Finance:

• Professor
• Statistician
• Financial Analyst
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Stock Broker
• Budget Analyst
• Financial Researcher

Top Universities for PhD after MBA Abroad

Numerous renowned business schools and universities across the globe offer specialised PhD programs in varied fields of Business, Commerce and Management. To help you further in your research, we have listed down some of the major academic institutions that are internationally popular for their offered specialised courses for those aspiring to pursue a PhD after MBA:

Harvard University, US	Pacific States University, US
Technical University of Munich, Germany	INSEAD, France
Robert Gordon University, UK	University of Wales, UK
Southern Illinois University, US	ISEG, Portugal
Taylor’s University, Malaysia	Heidelberg University, Germany
Alliant International University	University of California- Berkeley

Top Countries to Study PhD after MBA

Many study destinations like the UK, USA, Australia and Canada are renowned for their research doctoral courses so selecting the right country to study PhD is an important decision you must carefully take. Let’s take a look at the top countries to study PhD after MBA and their popular research universities:

PhD after MBA in the UK

Here are the major universities to study PhD in the UK:

• University of Bradford
• SOAS University of London
• Cardiff Metropolitan University
• University of Birmingham
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Kent
• Hult International Business School

Also Read: PhD Scholarships in the UK

PhD after MBA in the USA

Popular for its STEM courses as well as top-ranked business schools, the top universities for PhD in the USA are:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Columbia
• University of Wisconsin
• Cornell University
• Kellogg School of Management

PhD after MBA in Canada

Canada is another renowned destination for PhD programs and offers a plethora of specialisations in business and management. Here are the popular universities for PhD in Canada:

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• McGill University
• McMaster University
• University of Montreal
• University of Alberta
• University of Ottawa
• University of Calgary

Also Read: PhD in Canada with Scholarship

PhD after MBA in Australia

The land of Kiwis is internationally lauded for its focus on research education and high-ranked entrepreneurial programs. Check out the top universities for PhD in Australia:

• The University of Queensland 
• The University of Western Australia 
• University of Wollongong 
• Queensland University of Technology 
• Swinburne University of Technology 
• University of Tasmania 
• University of Sydney

PhD after MBA in New Zealand

If you are looking for affordable PhD courses after completing MBA, New Zealand is the best place for you. Take a look at the popular universities for PhD in New Zealand:

• The University of Otago
• University of Canterbury
• Lincoln University
• The University of Auckland
• Victoria University of Wellington

Career Scope & Employment Sectors for PhD after MBA

Adding the renowned academic degree of PhD to your list of qualifications, there are a plethora of career opportunities awaiting you. Since a doctoral degree in business-related disciplines provides you with an insightful acumen into the commercial arena, you will be equipped with the knowledge of data analysis and business trends and organisational problems.

Further, you will be skilled with research methods such as econometrics, experimental methods, field studies, modelling etc. So, with a PhD after MBA, you will not only be a perfect candidate for academic profiles but you can also explore plentiful prospects in the corporate world.

Here are the top job profiles you can explore after pursuing PhD after MBA:

• Research Analyst
• Business Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Business Development Consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Professor/Lecturer
• Academician
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Also Read: Branches of Chemistry

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