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.

General description and profile of the programme

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.

The programme consists of four components: core courses, methods courses, specialisation courses, and a dissertation. IN-600 Core courses in International Management is a joint course code and include four theoretical courses (30 ECTS credits). Three methods courses are incorporated in the research methods course ME-611, 15 ECTS credits), and in addition three specialisation courses are required (totally 15 ECTS credits), where one has to be a methods course. The dissertation is equivalent of 120 ECTS credits.

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. IN-600 Core courses in International Management (30 ECTS credits) is dedicated to the core areas 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 courses is to provide students with a solid methodological foundation. A minimum of 20 ECTS credits are required in the methods area. The mandatory methods course ME-611 Methods in International Management (15 ECTS credits) include Theory of Science, Qualitative Methods and Survey of Statistical Methods. In addition the students must take one specialisation course within the methods field, related to their dissertation work. This course can also be taken at other institutions.

Specialisation courses. The theoretical specialisation courses (10 ECTS) offered at UiA 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 faculty at the University, and it will vary from year to year which courses that are being taught.

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. Thus,

IN-601 Research Issues in International Strategy builds on

Theoretical Foundations for International Management and International Strategy and Structure.

IN-602 Research Issues in Ethics in Multinational extends issues covered in Theoretical Foundation for International Management

IN-603 Research Issues in International Marketing extends International Marketing.

IN-604 Research Issues in International Corporate Governance builds on International Strategy and Structure

IN-605 Research Issues in International Entrepreneurship builds on Theoretical Foundations for International Management and 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.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (formal, non-formal and informal) Arrangements for the recognition of prior learning are described in the information on the institution under "General arrangements for the recognition of prior learning (formal, informal and non-formal)".

Examination regulations and grading For a description of the examination regulations, see the Examination Regulations of the University of Agder.

For information about the Norwegian grading system, see ECTS credits and grades. Specific information on grading for each course is found in the individual course descriptions.

Graduation requirements The Examination Regulations of the University of Agder regulate the graduation requirements for each programme of study.

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 research methods and 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.

Contact person Programme coordinator Andreas Wyller Falkenberg