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Ph.D. Program | The Hebrew University Business School

Ph.D. Program

Who is eligible to enroll in the program?

The Business School allows students who hold a Master’s Degree in either Social Sciences or Exact Sciences to enroll in our program.

The program is also relevant to students who have not completed a dissertation during their Masters studies (on the condition that they complete their thesis on the “Complementary to Research” track—more information is available in “Admission Requirements''.) LINK TO ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

I already have a Master’s Degree. Why should I begin a Doctorate?

1 It can be your entrance pass into Academia

Receiving your Ph.D. is the way to integrate into the academic world of scholars and researchers. Unlike other disciplines, there is an ongoing demand for faculty in Business Administration both in Israel and abroad.

2 It can open opportunities for senior roles at large companies

A PhD in Business Administration is extremely relevant in the job market. As opposed to the recent past, today a Master’s degree does not guarantee senior positions in leading companies such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. A Ph.D. grants alumni with the skills, mainly in the specialty of Business Analytics, that give them a meaningful advantage in relation to other candidates in the market. A Ph.D. in Business Administration combines a quantitative understanding with a deep business understanding, something that is not always true about Doctorate degrees in other fields.

3 Guidance from leading lecturers and creating a customized program for each student

Every doctoral student in Business Administration is paired with an advisor who specializes in a relevant field, and receives close guidance and supervision from them throughout the degree. With the exception of the 12 credits which comprise the core program courses; the supervisor and student build the learning content and program together. (LINK to LECTURERS)

4 Scholarships and research grants

research students receive scholarships, both from our school and research foundations.

Submitting a Scholarship Request

From time to time, scholarships offered to research students at the University and the School of Business Administration are published. The procedures for submitting the scholarship will be published in the advertisement. It is also possible to work in parallel while learning as a teaching assistant at the school.

Criteria for receiving a Scholarship:

  • In “Phase One” or “Phase Two” of their studies
  • In a progressive stage of their research project
  • Academic excellence and high grades
  • Participation in academic activities at the Business School.
  • Part-time employment outside the university
  • Recommendation from their Supervisor

5 International connections with the leading universities 

The Hebrew University and Business School researchers have connections with leading universities in North America, Europe and East Asia. These connections allow research students to attend conferences, develop their research network, and publish their research in leading journals. In addition, while completing their degree students may have the opportunity to study at leading universities around the world, or, upon completion of their doctorate, study abroad for a post-doctorate degree.

** It is important to note that there is not an option to combine full employment together with Doctorate studies. The studies require a lot of investment, and allow for part time employment alone.

 

Acceptance Requirements

Students who finished their Master's degree in Business Administration in the non-research track with a final grade of at least 85 and have found a doctoral supervisor, are eligible to apply for the "Complementary Research" track, where they will write their thesis. A student whose application is approved will write a concise research paper in which they must receive a grade of at least 85, and they will create a completion program in coordination with the doctoral supervisor.

Students who completed their MBA in the research track or M.A. in a different discipline with a grade of at least 85, earned at least an 85 on their final project, and received permission from their doctoral supervisor that they do not need to make up courses before enrolling, can submit their application to “Phase One” (See “Learning Program”) through the Research Students’ Authority.

The documents must be submitted one month for the relevant date on which the committee convenes.

Enrollment Process

The academic body in charge of research students at the Hebrew University is the Research Students' Authority. The registration process and regulations for research students at the Hebrew University are detailed on the website of the Research Students Authority. http://www.research-students.huji.ac.il

1. The postgraduate study track is a research track in one of the Business Administration Departments (LINK TO Departments). Registration will be done through the Research Students Authority. In some cases, a research student may be required to complete relevant courses prior to "Phase A" admission.

2. The Business School encourages applicants who have high achievements and special interests in research careers. Additionally, we encourage students from diverse academic backgrounds, including: Business Administration, Economics, Psychology, Statistics, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, Sociology, Computer Science, and Humanities.

3. The application will be submitted through the Business School’s Secretary (room 4120) to the hands of Maya Dagan-Ashkenazi (Phone: 02-5882698), and will be passed over for consideration by the Research Students Committee.

The application must include the following documents:

● Research Student application form. Press here to download the form.

● Grade Transcript from all academic studies

● Two letters of recommendation from members of an academic faculty. At least one letter must be from the supervisor who instructed the student in research or seminar work. The letters must include an explicit reference to the candidate's ability and motivation to conduct research. The recommendations will be sent to the members of the Research Students Committee (through the committee coordinator, Ms. Maya Dagan-Ashkenazi) directly from recommenders and not by the candidate.

● Professional CV, detailing of all the jobs in which the candidate was employed, and including a description of their employment within these positions. The CV must also contain a list of publications, including articles submitted for publication, unpublished scientific reports, presentations at conferences and any other scientific activity.

● Statement of intent, a one-page statement detailing the reasons for applying to the research track and in which direction they wish to focus their research.

● Candidates who are in contact with their supervisor may attach a letter written by the faculty member indicating their desire to mentor the candidate.

4. The Research Students Committee convenes three times a year (usually around December, April, and July) to discuss applications of new Research Studies candidates. The committee will accept the candidates with the best chances of succeeding in their Research Studies. If necessary, the committee may invite some candidates in for an interview.

5. The candidate will be obligated in the learning program that will be determined by the accompanying committee and in accordance with the curriculum required by the supervisor.

Courses of Study

The study program is comprised of three main phases:

● Complementary Research: completion of a thesis and relevant courses, in order to meet the application requirements for the research track in the doctoral studies program.

● Phase One: Those who have been accepted to Phase One will begin preparing their research proposal, which will be submitted to the Research Students Authority within two years of registration.

● Phase Two: After approval of the research proposal, the student will move on to Phase II

Over the course of studies, students must fulfill all of the following criteria:

a. The "Complementary Research" and “Phase One” studies must be completed in no longer than two years each. “Phase Two” must be completed in no longer than two and a half years. The Student Research Committee may require a candidate who has earned their Master’s Degree with a thesis to complete relevant courses prior to admission to “Phase Two”.

b. Once a year, a candidate must turn in a progress report, to which the doctoral supervisor’s opinion will be added. Low feedback or failure to turn in three progress reports are reasons for ending the students study program. The report must be completed and forwarded to Ms. Maya Dagan-Ashkenazi every year in April.

c. At the end of “Phase One” and in the middle of “Phase Two”, a seminar will be held in the presence of department members, research candidates of the department, and researchers with knowledge in the field. The head of the department will submit to the committee an opinion on the quality of the candidate’s presented research.

d. Research candidates will participate in the seminars of their departments, and the head of the department will submit a participation report on each candidate.

e. From time to time, the committee will interview research students with missing data, in order to gain a deeper understanding as to how their research is progressing.

f. A doctoral supervisor who is displeased with the progress of their research candidate will give their detailed opinion to the committee where they will recommend either passing the student on to another supervisor or stopping the studies altogether.

g. Research candidates must keep a grade point average in their courses and seminars of at least an 85.

Ending the studies

In order to preserve the high level of our research students, the Students Research Committee will monitor the progress of the research students in the school. If necessary, when the research student's progress is idle, their studies will be discontinued. The process will include the following steps:

a. Progress discussion: A meeting of the committee members with the supervisor and the head of the department in which the student studies will be discussed. At the conclusion of this meeting, it will be decided whether to continue the studies without change or to begin the process of examining the student's status.

b. Letter to the student: If it becomes clear at the meeting that the student's academic situation does not meet the school standards, a letter will be sent to the student in which the committee's reservations about its progress are detailed.

c. Conditions for further studies: This letter will specify the conditions for continuing the studies as agreed with the supervisor. Failure to comply with these conditions will allow the committee to terminate the student's studies without further warnings. These conditions will include advanced lectures, courses to be studied, or even writing an internal scientific essay.

d. A decision to drop out of school requires a two-thirds majority of committee members. A reasoned letter of this decision will be sent to the Research Students Authority.