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Attending Business School in Another Country

There are many universities that offer study abroad programs in business at the undergraduate and graduate level. From summer programs spent traveling with faculty and classmates to semester or year-long exchanges at other schools, there are a lot of options. 

Common Student Exchange Programs

The most common type of study abroad program is the student exchange. This option allows students to take several (the amount varies per program) courses in another country at another school. Most of these programs are pre-established through the universities involved. Meaning, the universities have developed agreements for student exchanges. This enables students to attend classes at the other institution knowing that their credits will transfer back to the home institution.

International Internships

Internships that are abroad are gaining popularity, particular among students that wish to begin their careers in other countries or regions. Many of these internships result in course credits at the home institution. For example, international business students may spend a summer working with a manufacturing company in another region and receive elective credits. Some of these internships are paid, some are not. It all depends on the home institution and the companies that are involved.

Research or Service Exchanges

Mostly at the graduate level, there are opportunities to travel abroad for research exchanges. This is fairly common among faculty members and doctoral students. There also are service exchanges. For instance, a group of MBA students may travel to a remote country to help start a new business, etc. Service exchanges provide great opportunities to learn business, help a developing community, and meet new people.

Studying business in more than one country can provide many learning experiences and opportunties. However, there are a lot of things to consider. For instance, what are the costs involved? And, what are the travel/legal requirments to participate in an international program? All schools that have an established exchange program should be able to help you with these items. With careful planning and help from the home institution, you can make the most of the time and avoid spending a fortune.

Helpful Resources

Find Scholarships to Study Abroad, U.S. News and World Report
StudyAbroad.com, List of scholarships 

Narrow Down Your List of Potential PhD Programs by Reviewing Academic Journals

In addition to examining a school's accreditation, exploring academic journals by discipline also can help narrow down a list of schools that likely have high-quality doctoral programs in your area of interest. For example, if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in management, look through top management journals. Take notes of article authors and the schools they are from. Then, explore their research backgrounds. Are these authors well-known in their fields? What kinds of topics have they researched? Are they recognized as specialists in any one area (such as organizational design, leadership, employee morale, etc.)? Are any of these specialized areas subjects that you are passionate about researching?

Once you have a list of authors and schools, find out if the institution offers a PhD program and if the researcher mentors doctoral students. Your goal is to learn from the best in your field. The better your doctoral mentor, the better your research skills will be when you graduate. 

Here are a list of well-known academic journals to get you started:

Accounting

• Accounting and Business Research
• Accounting Educators' Journal
• Journal of Accounting Research
• Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking
• Securities Regulation Law Journal

Decision Sciences

• Decision Sciences Journal
• Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education

Finance

• Journal of Finance
• Journal of Financial Economics
• Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking

Management

• Academy of Management Journal
• Academy of Management Perspectives
• Academy of Management Review
• American Behavioral Scientist
• Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences
• Journal of International Management
• Journal of Operations Management
• Organization Science
• Management Science
• Multivariate Behavior Research
• Strategic Management Journal
• Strategic Organization

Marketing

• Journal of Consumer Research
• Journal of Marketing
• Journal of Marketing Research
• Marketing Science

AACSB-Accredited DBAs and Executive Doctorates

There are a variety of AACSB-accredited schools that offer non-PhD doctorate degrees, such as the DBA or EDB/M (Executive Doctorate of Business or Management).

Based on 2009-10 AACSB data, below is a list of AACSB-accredited schools with links to their respective programs.

Also see archived blog article: "Differences Between a DBA and a PhD" and the Executive Doctorate Programs page on the AACSB student website for more helpful information.

AACSB-Accredited DBA, EDB, and EDM Programs (Worldwide)

Aston University (DBA)
Birmingham, UK
(PDF brochure available.) 

City University of Hong Kong (DBA)
Hong Kong, China 

Cleveland State University (DBA)
Cleveland, OH, USA

Cranfield University (Executive Doctorate)
Bedford, England 
(School has a page explaining the PhD versus the Executive Doctorate, good information.) 

Durham University (DBA)
Durham, UK 
(Durham also offers a DBA program in Fudan taught in Chinese. Learn more.)

Georgia State University (Executive Doctorate)
Atlanta, GA, USA
(Program videos available.)

Grenoble Ecole de Management (Joint DBA)
Grenoble, France
(Program is jointly offered with Newcastle University Business School.) 

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (DBA)
Hong Kong, China 

Kennesaw State University (DBA)
Kennesaw, GA, USA 
(Offers information sessions.) 

Louisiana Tech University (DBA)
Ruston, LA, USA
(Website has PDF brochure.)

Oklahoma State University (Executive PhD)
Stillwater, OK, USA 

Queensland University of Technology (DBA)
Brisbane, Australia  

University of Reading (DBA)
Reading, UK
(Offers information sessions and website has PDF brochure.) 

University of Surrey (DBA)
Guildford, Surrey, UK

The most current list of executive and DBA doctoral programs may be found on AACSB's student website at: www.bestbizschools.com/doctorate/professional_doctorate_degrees.asp

Salary Expectations for Jobs in Business Schools

Each year, AACSB International collects salary data from business schools. This year, worldwide, 463 AACSB-accredited institutions participated from Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Here's how the salaries stacked up for the most common disciplines:

Accounting

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 67,100 
New Doctorates: 136,300  
ABD: 106,900

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 78,500
New Doctorates: 138,600
ABD: 115,200

Behavioral Science/Org Behavior

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 65,800
New Doctorates: 127,300
ABD: None reported

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: None reported
New Doctorates: 137,800
ABD: None reported

Computer Information Systems/Management Information Systems

 New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 64,300
New Doctorates: 110,700
ABD: None reported

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: 63,700
New Doctorates: 119,900
ABD: None reported

Economics

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 55,700
New Doctorates: 87,300
ABD: 56,500

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: 54,900
New Doctorates: 97,100
ABD: None reported

Entrepreneurship/Small Business Administration

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 68,100
New Doctorates: 119,200
ABD: None reported

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

None reported.

Finance

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 76,500
New Doctorates: 131,800
ABD: 101,300

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: 91,700
New Doctorates: 159,000
ABD: None reported

Management

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 61,100
New Doctorates: 127,000
ABD: 84,400

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: 78,000
New Doctorates: 118,100
ABD: None reported

Marketing

New Hires at Public Institutions (Average in USD):

Instructors: 63,300
New Doctorates: 120,900
ABD: None reported

New Hires at Private Institutions (Average in USD): 

Instructors: 77,600
New Doctorates: 116,100
ABD: None reported

Differences Between a DBA and a PhD in Business

In general, as in other disciplines, a doctoral degree is a research-oriented degree, with a focus on developing advanced theoretical or practical research skills in a particular area.

The PhD is the most common doctoral degree for those who wish to pursue academic careers. However, the degree also is used as for advanced consulting, research, or business/public administration careers. Often, PhD students choose an area of specialization such as finance, marketing, or accounting.

The DBA (or Doctor of Business Administration) is designed to provide business executives with competencies needed to pursue business/public administration careers that require more advanced research skills and qualifications. Some DBA programs also can be pathways into careers in academia.

Primary Difference

The primary difference between the two is found in a program’s orientation and intended outcome. Often, the business PhD and the DBA are more similar than they are different. In general, the focus of a PhD program is to develop new theory, whereas the focus of a DBA program is to apply theoretical knowledge to the advancement of business practice. Both PhD and DBA programs require original research culminating in the creation and defense of a thesis or dissertation. Among DBA programs, there is a range of emphases—with some more oriented toward the application of knowledge and some more oriented toward the creation of knowledge. The same is true for other doctoral programs in business, such as the Doctor of Management or the Executive Doctor of Management.

Deciding Between the DBA and PhD

If you are interested in pursuing either a PhD or a DBA you should confirm the orientation of the program on a school-by-school basis, as institutions may have different approaches to each degree. The best way to determine whether a program is what you will need is to look at its structure, curriculum, and graduation requirements, as well as the career paths that the program’s alumni have pursued. You also want to explore the types of research that have been published by a program's graduates and its faculty. Keep your end goals in mind when making your decision. The career or job you want may prefer one over the other.

Which Degree AACSB-Accredited Schools Prefer?

In order to be considered “academically qualified” to teach at an AACSB-accredited business school, faculty members are normally expected to hold a doctoral degree from a “program intended to produce scholars capable of creating original scholarly contributions through advances in research or theory.” Graduates of doctoral programs without such a focus, or individuals without doctoral degrees, may be considered “professionally qualified” to teach, provided other expectations are met.

To learn more about business doctorate degrees and search AACSB-accredited programs, visit: www.bestbizschools.com/doctorate. 

Online PhD Programs and AACSB Accreditation

So, you’re looking for an online PhD program in business…but you want to be sure the school you choose will provide you with a job after graduation. Therefore, you’ve explored AACSB accreditation and the benefits it provides those that attend an AACSB-accredited school. However, you can’t seem to find an online version of an AACSB-accredited doctoral program. Why?

Currently, no AACSB-accredited school offers an online PhD program. The reason for this trend is not that AACSB’s accreditation standards prohibit online delivery methods. In fact, there are numerous AACSB-accredited schools that offer online masters and undergraduate degree programs in addition to their more traditional classroom models. So, why haven’t AACSB-accredited schools ventured into the online doctoral program market?

Importance of First-Hand Learning and Rigor

High-quality PhD programs, both in business and other fields, have traditionally been characterized by strong interpersonal interactions between doctoral students and faculty. These characteristics hold strong to the important fact that mentoring and hands-on research training are essential to a program’s ability to effectively prepare its doctoral candidates. Because a student’s relationship with his/her mentoring faculty member is so critical to the learning process, it is virtually impossible for a doctoral candidate to fully benefit without being completely immersed in the discipline on a daily basis. This type of interaction allows a student to successfully move through their courses and assignments, as well as provides a foundation for the development of high-level research and teaching skills. Therefore, when this type of one-on-one, intensive-learning environment is absent, a student may not be exposed to the necessary daily communication and guidance of faculty or the immediate accountability of being “in residence.” All of which are things that create the rigorous environment that doctoral programs in business are known for. At this point in time, leaders of doctoral programs at AACSB-accredited schools have not accepted that such an environment can be created and sustained in an online context.

Risks Associated with a Program’s Image

There also are reputational risks that are behind some of the reasons why schools may choose not to offer online PhD programs. For instance, most AACSB-accredited schools with doctoral programs in business have been around for a long time. These schools have produced PhD graduates that have led business research, management education, and more. Because their degree programs are so prestigious, schools sometimes choose to steer away from online offerings at the doctoral level due to the negative images that have been associated with some online educational programs—particularly at the PhD level. The last thing a high-quality business school wants is to damage the reputation of its prize PhD program.

Potential of Increasing PhD Program Enrollments Behind Capacity

Because of the intense education that doctoral candidates at AACSB-accredited schools receive, there are concerns that surround the increasing number of applicants and corresponding enrollments that an online PhD program would bring. Because Web-based degree programs have become so popular, an online PhD program at a high-quality business school would likely become highly demanded. If this were to happen, it could be problematic for a school to manage a large number of doctoral students at one time. For example, a business school could risk weakening the one-on-one mentoring and instruction that doctoral students receive due to a lack of faculty and resources.

Overall, PhD programs require significant learning, mentoring, hands-on instruction, research, teaching, and more. These are altogether characteristics that make earning a PhD so prestigious. And, all of which are attributes that have yet to be embraced in an online setting at AACSB-accredited schools. 

Learn more about PhD programs in business on AACSB's student website: www.bestbizschools.com/doctorate. 

Considering a Doctorate in Business? Here's What You Can Expect.

Pursuing a Ph.D. isn't a walk in the park. Unless you are extremely passionate about the area you are studying, it is going to be very challenging for you to spend hours on end reading and analyzing data. However, if you are passionate about doing in-depth research, reporting your findings, and teaching students, a Ph.D. might be the perfect fit for you. 

 

A doctoral program is a full-time commitment. There are not many opportunities to earn your Ph.D. on a part-time basis. Why is this? Due to the rigor of the courses, need to working closely with faculty, and teaching obligations, it is merely impossible to fully immerse yourself in academia unless you are there on a full-time basis. The objective of a doctoral program is to challenge you to your thinking limits. After all, it is the highest-level degree you can earn.

So, what is a typical day like for a business Ph.D. student? AACSB interviewed Mikael Bergrant, a doctoral student in finance at the University of South Florida (USA) and here is what he had to say:

What is the hardest thing about being a Ph.D. student?

I really enjoy being a Ph.D. student. However, the hardest part is to balance being a Ph.D. student with other aspects of life. Ph.D. studies require a lot of time and dedication, which often makes having a social life (outside of school) hard or impossible.

How many hours do you spend reading or collecting data per day?

Before starting a new paper, it is important to read all relevant literature and make sure that the idea is in fact unique. Depending on the idea (and the area of research) this can take several weeks. After it has been confirmed that there is a gap in the literature (and your idea is unique) the data collection process can take anywhere from a few days to several months. I am currently working on a paper for which I have collected data over more than two months. It is difficult to generalize, but on average I might spend 4 hours a day reading and 4 hours a day collecting data (not including the time spent on data analysis).

What is the toughest class you have taken? Why?

I have enjoyed almost all classes I have taken. The toughest classes are probably those in which I am only moderately interested. Not pointing out any specific class, I would say that all of them have been in areas outside of my focus (finance).

As far as your teaching obligations, how many students do you teach? And, what subjects?

I currently teach approximately 60 students in a class titled Money and Banking.

On average, how many hours a day would you say you spend devoted to your Ph.D. program between teaching, research, class attendance, etc.?

That’s a very good question. On average, I would say about 12 hours per day.

 What are your plans for after graduation?

To get a job as an Assistant Professor at a major research University.

 Search for AACSB-Accredited Ph.D. Programs