PhD in Management

Programme

The PhD in Management of Ca’ Foscari University – Department of Management is an international four-year PhD programme designed to train doctoral candidates in management studies and to prepare skilled researchers for career in the Academia, in public and private research institutions, consulting organizations, and in private companies.

file pdf PhD in Management Guide A.Y. 2024/2025 1 MB
file pdf Training activities 40th cycle [ITA] 113 KB

Programme content

PhD seminars are organized from September to December every year and they are held by the Faculty of the Department of Management.
The Phd seminars are especially thought for second-year students, but they are open to all cycles.
The aim of the seminars is to give PhD students the opportunity to meet the Faculty of the Department to know the Research topics developed and finally to choose the supervisor. 

First year
Second year
  • Research Idea presentation
  • Choice of supervisor
  • First paper hand-in
  • Participation to Summer programme
Third year
  • Participation to summer programme
  • Thesis development
Fourth year
  • Participation in international workshops and conferences
  • Final exam

A challenging learning environment

First year

The first year is characterized by an advanced learning programme of mandatory research oriented courses on research methods and key topics in management studies 

The academic year is structured in four terms. Courses begin in mid-September and end in May. Participation in courses and department international seminars occupies most of the students' time and activities from Monday to Friday.
Following the four terms, from mid-May to mid-June, PhD students are required to work on their summer paper, which is the final step of the first year.

Admission to the second year of the programme is decided by the PhD Faculty Board and is based on the first-year exam results, the evaluation of the summer paper, and the seminar attendance rate.

Master of research in Management studies

The Department of Management will award a Master of Research in Management Studies upon the fulfillment of the first-year requirements and Master’s thesis discussion.

Second year

Second-year students continue to develop their research project and plan international mobility (summer schools, conferences, research abroad) in a foreign institution, developing their research project with the support of their thesis supervisor.

Second-year students are also expected to actively participate, also as discussants, in management lectures and present their first paper at the Joint PhD Workshop, which is organised by the PhD programme and scheduled during the first semester of the second year.

Period abroad

The period abroad is an important moment for the PhD student. It contributes to the knowledge and experience of the student, helping him/her to work closely with other research groups and people. It is fundamental to build up the professional network of the future researcher.

The student together with the supervisor discusses the period abroad and the destination. Authorization to leave is given by the Teaching Committee and an increment of 50% of the scholarship is granted for the entire period abroad.

Third and fourth year

Third and fourth-year students are entirely dedicated to their doctoral theses, under the guidance of their supervisor, and to the participation in the department activities (lectures, seminars, presentations, workshops).

Participation in top international conferences and doctoral colloquium is recommended and financially supported.

Required qualifications

In order to enroll in the PhD program, students are expected to possess the math and statistics competences listed below.

Statistics

  • Arithmetic mean (e.g., how to find it in a sample)
  • Median (e.g., how to find it in a sample)
  • Standard deviation (e.g., how to calculate it)
  • Variance (e.g., how to calculate it)
  • Correlation (e.g., how to interpret a correlation coefficient)
  • Causation / causality (e.g., why it is different from correlation)
  • Regression (e.g., how to interpret a regression coefficient)
  • Common tests of significance (e.g., p-value, R-squared)
  • Types of variables (e.g., continuous, ordinal, categorical, dummy)
  • Growth rate (e.g., how to compute it)
  • Basic familiarity with computers and productivity software, like excel (e.g., how to use basic formula and plot graphs).

Suggested reference: OpenStax (2013). Introductory Statistics. Rice University (free download of the pdf "Introductory Statistics")

Mathematics

  • Number sets - Powers and their properties - Logarithms and their properties - Equations – Inequalities
  • The notion of real function - Graphs of functions – Linear and quadratic functions – Logarithmic and exponential functions
  • Derivatives - Rates of change - Increasing/decreasing functions – Convexity and concavity
  • Rules for differentiation - Maxima/Minima
  • Indefinite integrals - Definite integrals - Improper integrals

Suggested reference: K. Sydsaeter, P. Hammond and A. Strom (2016). Essential Mathematics for Economic Analysis (V edition), Pearson. Chapters 1-9

Optional qualifications

GMAT or GRE tests are highly recommended, even though they are not compulsory. 

In fact, the Admission Committee may consider the test within the selection criteria, by assigning the candidate a certain number of points, on the basis of the GMAT or GRE scores presented.