Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management
Join a world-class institutional environment designed for the digital age. This programme offers a direct pathway to global career outcomes through technology-enabled learning.
Academic overview
Expected outcomes
- PLO1: Demonstrate Leadership Qualities and Strategic Thinking Capabilities within the Industry
- PLO2: Evaluate Advanced Theories, Frameworks, and Methodologies in Business Management
- PLO3: Develop Expertise in Analytical Research Methods in Business Management
- PLO4: Integrate a Global Perspective and Ethical Responsibility in Professional Practice
Entry requirements
- Be a holder of a Masters Degree of OUK or any other University recognized by Open University of Kenya senate in any of the following disciplines: Business Management, Business Administration, Public Administration and Economics.
- Be a holder of a Master's degree recognized by OUK senate as equivalent to the status of the qualifications above.
- Hold a Master degree in Business Administration or Management from recognized universities.
- Hold a master degree in other disciplines with a minimum of five (5) years' experience in respective practice or any other professional practice.
- Fill out an online application form available on the University's website and attach relevant documents as proof of eligibility such as academic transcripts and professional experience records.
- Pay an application fee as periodically determined by the University Senate.
- Additional qualifications may be considered by the Senate, recognizing prior learning, relevant experience, or other competencies that meet the criteria for admission.
Credit and Entry pathways
Programme structure
The DBM programme is designed to take a period of three (3) academic years of full time study. Each academic year consists of two (2) semesters of fifteen (15) weeks each, totalling six (6) semesters. The programme shall be offered in 6 semesters with a total of 8 course units, 54 credit hours translating into 810 instruction hours, which is above the CUE minimum of 640.
Assessment methods
All courses undertaken by students are assessed through both formative and summative assessment methods, including Continuous Assessment Tasks (CATs), practical components (Practicum), and University Ordinary Examinations.
To ensure academic integrity, all examinations are monitored through proctoring, including webcam surveillance, and plagiarism detection software is used to verify the originality of students' work.
Continuous assessment and final examinations contribute to 70% and 30% respectively to the total marks of the paper; the duration of each examination paper is four (4) hours.
The pass mark in any course is 50%.
Grading system: 70%-100% (A, Excellent), 60%-69% (B, V.
Good), 50%-59% (C, Good), below 50% (F, Reattempt).
The Research Thesis is examined as stipulated in the Rules Governing Postgraduate Studies of Open University of Kenya as approved by Senate; the final thesis defense includes a written assessment (80%) and an oral examination (20%).
Graduation requires completion of a minimum of 54 credit hours (810 instruction hours) of graduate coursework with a grade of 50% or above in all courses, a research thesis of a minimum of 50,000 words with a similarity index not exceeding 15%, successful writing and defense of the research thesis, and publication of at least two articles in peer-reviewed impact-factor journals.
Global careers
Application hub
Typical duration
Delivery mode
Online
Accreditation info
Fully accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and recognised globally for digital-first excellence.
School of Business & Economics