Programme Structure & Curriculum
Students are encouraged to complete the programme in 4 years.
The minimum duration of the programme is three years. Most students, however, are expected to take about four years to complete the programme. The maximum registration duration of the programme is five years, unless special approval for a longer duration is given by SMU.
The curriculum consists of
- 6 Foundation courses (6 course units)
- 2 Electives (2 course units)
- 4 Advanced Research Topics (ART) courses (4 course units)
The programme also requires the preparation and completion of a PhD Dissertation (28 course units).
Programme Schedule (Sample)
| Year | Term 1 (Aug - Nov) | Term 2 (Jan - Apr) | Term 3 (May - Aug) |
| 1 | Foundation courses Elective courses | Foundation courses Elective courses | Research |
| 2 | ART courses Research Prepare Dissertation Proposal | ART courses Research Pass PhD Qualifying Exam Form Dissertation Committee | Research |
| 3 | Submit Written Dissertation Proposal Oral Defence of Dissertation Proposal Dissertation Research | Dissertation Research | Dissertation Research |
| 4 | Dissertation Research | Dissertation Research (i) Submit written report of completed Dissertation Research (ii) Oral defence of completed Dissertation | (i) Revise and/or re-submit Dissertation Report (ii) Submit Approved Dissertation Report to LKCSB PGR Office (iii) Dissertation Report from LKCSB PGR Office to GSO for approval |
Year 1 & 21
Six research foundation courses including:
- Introduction to Business Research
- Econometrics (I)
- Multivariate Statistics
- Marketing Strategy
- Consumer Behavior
- Marketing Models
Two electives out of the following (PhD level seminars in disciplines outside Marketing -
Electives to be taken after Year 1):
- Econometrics (II)
- Microeconomics (I)
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Panel Data Econometrics
- Financial Econometrics
- Psychological Measurement
Four Advanced Research Topics (ART) courses including:
- Theory Construction (0.5 Credits)
- Time Series Research in Marketing (0.5 Credits)
- Special Topics in Consumer Behaviour (II)
- Special Topics in Marketing Strategy (II)
- Independent Study (I)
- Independent Study (II)
Years 3-4
Completion of PhD Dissertation
Students are expected to form the PhD Committee in Year 2, including selection of a PhD Supervisor. Then, under the
supervision of the PhD Supervisor, students will prepare and defend their dissertation proposal, conduct dissertation research, and conduct a final defence of the dissertation.
Graduation Requirements
PhD in Business (Marketing)
- Research Foundation Courses (6 course units)
- Electives (2 course units)
- Advanced Research Topics (ART) courses (4 course units)
- PhD Qualifying Examination
- Oral Defence of Dissertation Proposal
- PhD Dissertation (28 course units)
- Oral Defence of completed Dissertation
1The list of courses is subject to change depending upon the availability of courses.
Each course meets three hours per week during the Term.
