Doctor of Philosophy
Business - Practice Based Research
The PhD by Practice Based Research (PBR) provides you with an opportunity to conduct high-impact doctoral research. You’ll be flanked by high-calibre peers and expert guidance from academic supervisors. Our research offering means you can innovate with brilliant minds from sectors as diverse as Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Finance and many more.
A collegial, supportive environment
Our Community of Practice model develops enduring relationships within our communities, creating a rich environment to pursue PhD research informed by social and economic priorities.
The PhD by PBR is designed to support you at every stage of your research journey. You’ll stay connected to your peers throughout your research and gain ongoing support and feedback opportunities.
Your supervision panel is comprised of leading research academics based at Swinburne. The expert guidance of your supervisors complements your peer support and ensures you have the one-on-one attention you need to navigate each step of your PhD.Duration
6-8 years part time
Intakes
Hawthorn (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December)
Off-Campus (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December)
Study mode
- Part-time

This was the next natural step for me as a practitioner in my field. I really enjoy combining my practice and part-time PhD research. It’s the ultimate experience at Swinburne; they recognise the value that practice makes to research.
Helena, Career Transition Researcher
Doctor of Philosophy (Business – Practise Based Research)
Course information in detail
- Course detail and course structure.
Course description
You will undertake supervised research with the aim of making a significant and original contribution to your discipline or profession. Research areas are diverse and include Finance, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Consumer Neuroscience, Accounting, Advertising, Business Administration, Educational Practice, Executive Education, Human Resources, International Business, Management, Marketing, Public Relations, and Social Investment and Philanthropy.
Course structure
The PhD by PBR is a program run through the Faculty of Business and Law. It is generally completed over six years part-time (three years full-time).
In the first two years, you’ll undertake a custom training workshop program to ensure you have mastery over the foundations of doctoral research. This workshop is run four times a year on-campus by highly-experienced, internationally recognised researchers in their disciplines.
In the third and fourth years as you implement your research plan and collect and analyse data, we offer more tailored training and support.
In the final two years, we support you during the writing of your thesis. We offer writing workshops, presentation and peer-feedback opportunities as you prepare your thesis for examination.Careers and graduate outcomes
- Course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Aims and objectives

Graduate skills
- conduct independent research at a high level of originality and quality
- independently conceive of, design, conduct and complete a research project or program
- understand their given substantive area as well as the given methodological approach(es)
- communicate an argument convincingly, with clarity and relevance to appropriate audiences.
- Independent thinking
- Decision-making skills
- Good judgement
- Logical thought, rationality
- Communication skills
- Project management skills
- Data analysis
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
Pathways and scholarships
- Scholarships.

AACSB Accreditation
Swinburne business degrees are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors. Only five per cent of business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited.
Course fees and requirements
- Entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
If you are not granted a government subsidised place, the full course fee will apply. Check your eligibility now.
Entry requirements
A high level of achievement is defined as the equivalent of a four year Swinburne Honours degree that includes a significant research component in the fourth year, leading to an Honours degree class 1 (average grade between 80-100) or class 2A (average grade between 70-79) level.
Four years of tertiary studies can be demonstrated by the completion of any of the combinations of qualifications below, at the required standard of achievement:
- a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Research or
- a bachelor degree (three or four years) and an Honours year or
- a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a Masters by Coursework or
- a bachelor degree (three or four years) and a postgraduate diploma in Psychology or
- a bachelor degree (four years) in an approved discipline.