International Management, PhD Programme

Study programme code INTMGT-DR

ECTS credits 180

Admission requirements The procedure for in-coming PhD students in the programme follows the norm for business schools and management studies: The application for acceptance into the programme requires a plan of study including intended course work, and a four to six page preliminary proposal for a dissertation. The preliminary proposal should include a short presentation of a suggested dissertation topic, relevant theories and literature, research questions, and suggested research method. The proposal is informative in evaluating whether the student is qualified to write a dissertation in the area, and it is also useful in determining whether the host institution is able to offer a suitable programme, in terms of courses offered (by the institution itself and by collaborating institutions and networks) and in terms of advisory competence and capacity as well as relevant infrastructure. In addition to the plan and proposal, transcripts and evidence of financial support are also required. Applicants are required to have a master degree in a relevant area of study. Upon acceptance into the programme, a preliminary advisor is appointed. The first year of the programme is devoted to coursework. Course work include core courses in international management, courses in research methods, and specialisation courses. As part of the course work, all students are required to participate in a dissertation seminar. An important objective of the coursework, in particular the dissertation seminar, is to help students prepare his/her final dissertation proposal. A formal acceptance of the dissertation proposal by the PhD Programme Committee is required. This proposal is normally 30-40 pages long and contains detailed references to relevant theories and empirical investigations, a statement of research questions, propositions and/or hypotheses, and a choice of research methods and procedures. This procedure allows entering PhD students to have the full benefit of doctoral coursework, before committing themselves to a final dissertation proposal. The acceptance of the proposal by an advisory committee involves a commitment from both parties. The candidate and committee must jointly resolve additional research demands or deviations from the plan. If significant deviations are needed or desired by the candidate, formal approval is required. A new advisor or committee may be appointed.

General description and profile of the programme The programme consists of four components: core courses, methods course, specialisation courses, and a dissertation. Four courses are dedicated to the core area of international management (30 ECTS). Three courses are required for research methods plus dissertation seminar (20 ECTS), and two specialisation courses are required (10 ECTS). The dissertation is equivalent of 120 ECTS. In addition to the courses offered by University of Agder, students will be allowed to take, subject to approval, doctoral courses offered by other institutions. This is of particular interest for the methods and specialisation courses. The coursework is divided into three main areas: Core courses.Core courses are intended to give the students a thorough grounding in the main literature of international management. Four courses (30 ECTS) are dedicated to the core area reflecting the definition of international management given above: Theoretical Foundations for International Management, International Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, International Marketing, and International Strategy and Structure. Methods course. The purpose of the methods course is to provide students with a solid methodological foundation. A minimum of 20 ECTS are required in the methods area, including Research Methods in International Management, Theory of Science, and an advanced course in either Quantitative or Qualitative Methods. Students are required to follow a dissertation seminar, focusing mainly on the preparation of the final dissertation proposal. Specialisation courses. The specialisation courses (10 ECTS) go into depth in limited number of specific issues covered in the core courses. These courses will help the PhD student to achieve a sufficient knowledge within a narrow subfield of international management and to start producing research in this field. Currently we have outlined five such courses: Research Issues in International Strategy; Research Issues in Ethics in Multinational Organizations; Research Issues in International Marketing, Research Issues in International Corporate Governance, and Research Issues in International Entrepreneurship. These courses build on the strength of the current AUC faculty. The content of the core courses will be relatively stable over time, whereas the content of the specialisation courses, focusing on research issues, will have to be continuously updated to reflect ongoing research. The programme of course work ensures progression, in that the core courses provide broad overviews of research traditions and perspectives, whereas the specialisation courses focus on specific areas of ongoing research. The programme of course work ensures progression, in that the core courses provide broad overviews of research traditions and perspectives, whereas the specialisation courses focus on specific areas of ongoing research. Thus, IN-601 Research Issues in International Strategy builds on Core Course 1: Theoretical Foundations for International Management and Core Course 2: International Strategy and Structure. IN-602 Research Issues in Ethics in Multinational extends issues covered in Core Course 1: Theoretical Foundation for International Management IN-603 Research Issues in International Marketing extends Core Course 3: International Marketing. IN-604 Research Issues in International Corporate Governance builds on Core Course 2: International Strategy and Structure IN-605 Research Issues in International Entrepreneurship builds on Core Course 1: Theoretical Foundations for International Management Core Course 4: International Organisational Behaviour and HRM. It will be possible to arrange readings courses tailor-made for individual students in specialised areas of interest and competence. The course content of "directed reading" or "reading and conference" courses is subject to approval by the PhD Programme Committee. The completion of such a course will include a paper.

Learning outcomes The courses seek to give the students a) a thorough grounding in literature in international management, b) a solid methodological foundation, and c) an opportunity for in-depth focus in areas relevant to international management.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme Normally, students will first complete the coursework, then present and defend the final dissertation proposal (§ 4.3 in the Regulations and the Supplementary Regulations) as the basis for promotion to doctoral candidacy and dissertation work.

Other information Next intake will be in Spring 2010. Start-up in September 2010.