Frequently Asked Questions - Ph.D. in International Business

SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, which means that your degree carries with it international recognition.

This program is for individuals who want to earn a Ph.D. with a focus on doctoral-level scholarship in international business and research. Applicants are expected to hold a Master’s degree and may come from a variety of related fields. The campus-based program is designed for domestic and international students who wish to engage in learning alongside faculty as full-time students. Classes are typically held in the evenings and during the week.

The executive low-residency program is designed to support professionals who wish to further develop their ability to provide leadership within their organization or field while working full-time. At this time, the executive low-residency program is only available to domestic United States students. International students interested in the Ph.D. in International Business are encouraged to apply as an on campus student.

This program has one admittance date which is the Fall term. The application deadline for this is June 30. Applications received in full after the deadline may be considered for admission into the program on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are typically reviewed by a committee of faculty. If approved in this initial review, applicants may be invited to interview for acceptance into the program.

Domestic Students:

• Related master's degree from accredited university or college
• Transcripts from previous universities or colleges
• $40 non-refundable application fee (applicants may petition for a waiver)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• Résumé

International Students (in addition to domestic student requirements):

• Proof of English proficiency as evidenced by:
  • TOEFL score of 71 or higher
  • IELTS score of 6.0 or higher (sub scores: ≥ 5.5)
  • Duolingo score of 100
• Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by NACES or AICE approved evaluators

Test scores are required for immediate acceptance. Prospective students can be offered conditional acceptance without test scores, converting to full acceptance upon successful demonstration of academic ability.

Due to the nature of the program, transfer credits are not accepted.

Yes, financial aid is available if a student is taking three (3) credits or more per term. A graduate student must be accepted to our program to be eligible for financial aid.

Note: International applicants must provide documentation of their ability to meet the costs of the program. These costs are indicated on the I-20 form. The costs may appear to be somewhat higher than the total of tuition and room and board because they also include such general expenses as health insurance, textbooks, pocket money, etc.

Within the program, there are opportunities to focus on specific topics of personal and professional interest. Examples include fields such as Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Leadership, or Information Technology.

After successfully completing comprehensive exams, students enroll each term in the doctoral dissertation colloquium. The dissertation is based on a student's research and is expected to contribute to their area of study. Each student has a dissertation committee, normally consisting of a minimum of four faculty members.

Doctoral colloquiums provide a forum for students to discuss their dissertation research and help monitor their progress in completing their dissertations. Once a student completes the research and the final draft and receives approval, they will give an oral presentation. A student must receive approval from all members of their dissertation committee in order to successfully complete the doctoral program.

The program is designed to take approximately 4 years. You have eight years to complete your program from the time you begin the first course. This includes the completion of the required course of study, comprehensive exams, and the dissertation.

On campus: Classes typically meet at night but may be scheduled during daytime periods. All classes are structured to meet face-to-face with faculty members of Southern New Hampshire University who hold a terminal degree.

Executive Low residency: Students participate in class meetings held once a month on weekends during the Fall and Spring academic terms. These classes are facilitated on campus; and students located throughout the country are welcome to attend remotely. Students are required to attend a week-long summer residency each year they are in the program. These courses are also conducted by faculty members of SNHU who hold a terminal degree.

Low residency means on-site, face-to-face meeting times are kept to a minimum. This format is specifically designed to accommodate students who wish to earn their Ph.D. while they work full time. By emphasizing online coursework, it’s a perfect fit for students trying to balance professional or personal commitments.

Currently required doctoral courses include but are not limited to:
INT 800 - Foreign Direct Investment
INT 801 - Foundations for Advanced International Business Study
INT 810 - Privatization, Economic Reform and Growth in Emerging Markets
INT 820 - Seminar in Multinational Finance
INT 830 - Seminar in Globalization
INT 840 - Seminar in Multinational Marketing
INT 850 - Seminar in Global Business Strategy
INT 880 - Advanced Quantitative Methods/International Business I 
INT 881 - Advanced Quantitative Methods/ International Business II
INT 889 - Comprehensive Exams
INT 890 - Doctoral Colloquium
DOC 950 - Dissertation Status

9 credit(s) from subject(s): FIN IT, MKT, OL, BUS, INT, or MBA within the range of course numbers 500 - 999. Students and faculty mentors may design an area of specialization related to business fields such as Business Analytics, Finance, or Marketing to name a few. Upon successful completion of coursework, students must take a comprehensive exams and complete a dissertation. The time allotted for preparation for comprehensive exam and finalization of dissertation work vary from student to student, and may add some time to the overall duration of the program.

During most academic terms, students in this doctoral program will take two to three 3-credit courses. After the successful completion of comprehensive exams, students enroll in dissertation colloquium courses each term.

Applicants are encouraged to read articles about the field prior to applying for the program. Articles can be found in many journals including but not limited to the Journal of International Business Studies, available at the Academy of International Business website.

The answer depends on your interests and your career goals. Both degrees represent the highest level of academic achievement, and both degrees are highly respected in both the academic and business worlds. Additionally, both the PhD and DBA are advanced research degrees that involve conducting original research, analyzing data, and producing important findings.

But there are differences. The DBA is considered a professional doctorate, and the PhD is an academic doctorate.

PhD research is focused on developing theories, addressing a gap between theories, or addressing a gap in the general body of knowledge. The PhD may be more appropriate if you are focused on a faculty career in higher education or a career as a researcher in a research center.

In contrast, DBAs focus on real-world organizational and business problems and involve original and secondary research to explore, examine, and address those problems. The DBA is primarily for those focused on a career in business and consulting. However, many DBAs do teach in colleges and universities.

It’s important to note that students in either program can study real-world problems.  PhD students might use a different set of methodologies or look at the problem from a broader scope in contrast to DBA students who may focus their research on a particular industry or company with a narrower lens.  However, any topic of interest in the international business field including but not limited to, multinational companies or managers engaged in international business is likely to be a viable research area for a SNHU PhD student.

Many of SNHU PhD graduates are enjoying careers in both business and academia.  Make sure you give serious consideration to which degree best suits your needs and career aspirations.  SNHU does not currently offer a DBA.