Executive PhD Maastricht School of Management (MSM)

The part-time Executive PhD programme in Private Sector Development (preferably for Emerging Economies) allows working professionals and researchers with full-time or part-time jobs to combine their careers with obtaining a PhD. The programme provides advanced training in the theory and skills crucial to private sector development, design and research.

As the highest academic qualification, obtaining a PhD will improve your career prospects both in academia and in business. In addition, you will make an original contribution to your field of interest that will add to previous research.

During the programme, you will benefit from the extensive knowledge and expertise of the key lecturers and supervisors in the programme, who are leading scholars in the fields of the research themes.

By joining the programme, you will become part of the stimulating and challenging research community of Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE) and Maastricht School of Management (MSM).

Research focus
Within the Executive PhD programme, the PhD candidate’s research focus should lie on one of the MSM research themes. MSM’s research themes all relate to private sector development and local economic development. In addition, as part of the SAIL platform, we specifically (but not only) focus on issues related to management in the Global South including countries of different levels of development. SAIL is the platform in which internationally oriented organisations in the Netherlands, focusing on international higher education, organize their research and education.

Research themes:

• Private sector development (in general)
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Digitisation
• Educational Development
• Globalisation, Value Chains and Industrial Policy
• Inclusive and Sustainable Development
• Leadership, Change and Organisational Development

Entry requirements

• A Master’s degree from a relevant academic field; 
• Certified copies of bachelor’s and master’s diplomas and transcript;
• Proof of proficiency in English –  the minimum level accepted is 600 PBT, 100 ICT or 240 CBT (TOEFL) or 7.0 (IELTS). Native speakers and students who have received their bachelor’s or master’s education in English are exempted
• Basic understanding of mathematics and statistics;
• Basic knowledge of economics, business administration, social sciences, political science and/or law;
• Motivation letter (400- 500 words)
• Two reference letters by current or former professors or employers (a reference request can be sent directly via our application portal)
• Letter from current employer, including approval, a statement of support to the candidate and an indication of ways to support the candidate
• Provide your first research ideas in the form of a PhD research proposal, see “Expression of Interest”.
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of passport
• Passport size picture - guidelines digital passport photo