Ph.D. in Business Administration
Programme Overview
The Ph.D. in Business Administration at the Ram Charan School of Leadership (RSoL), MIT World Peace University, is a rigorous doctoral programme for scholars who wish to investigate how organisations are led, managed and transformed. It has two core objectives: to provide rigorous training in contemporary and interdisciplinary management research, and to develop the next generation of scholars, educators and research-minded leaders. Rooted in the School's focus on leadership, the programme takes an integrative view of business. It encourages scholars to examine how strategy, people, markets, operations, finance, technology and other dimensions of management interact, and how leaders navigate complexity, uncertainty and change. The result is research that is conceptually rigorous and relevant to real organisational challenges.
Research-Led Doctoral Journey
The programme guides each scholar along a structured path from research idea to doctoral thesis. Scholars begin with prescribed coursework that builds a strong foundation in theory and research methodology, then develop and defend a research proposal before undertaking original research under the close guidance of a faculty supervisor. At every stage, scholars strengthen the capabilities that define an independent researcher, including, but not limited to, formulating meaningful research questions, designing robust studies, applying quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods, collecting and analysing data, writing for academic audiences, and upholding the highest standards of research ethics. Regular progress reviews and seminar presentations ensure steady momentum and constructive feedback. The journey culminates in a doctoral thesis that makes an original and meaningful contribution to knowledge in the scholar's chosen area of inquiry.
Mentorship and Academic Community
Doctoral scholars work closely with experienced faculty supervisors who provide sustained mentorship, from shaping the initial research question to refining the final thesis. This one-to-one guidance is complemented by a vibrant research culture of seminars, colloquia, methods workshops, peer discussions and other scholarly engagements, where ideas are presented, challenged and strengthened. Scholars become part of an intellectual community that values curiosity, rigour and collaboration, gaining exposure to diverse research approaches and the perspectives of fellow researchers, faculty, industry experts and practitioners.
Global and Practice-Oriented Perspective
The programme encourages scholars to engage with global business trends, cross-cultural leadership challenges, evolving financial markets, technological disruption and the changing role of business in society. Research is expected to be both academically rigorous and relevant to practice, addressing questions that matter to organisations, investors, policymakers, communities and other stakeholders. Scholars are supported in presenting their work at national and international conferences and in publishing in reputed peer-reviewed and indexed journals. These experiences help them build a strong scholarly profile, receive feedback from the wider academic community, and develop professional networks that extend well beyond the programme.
Who Should Apply
The programme is ideal for academics, aspiring researchers, industry professionals, finance practitioners, consultants, entrepreneurs, senior leaders and others who wish to pursue serious, sustained inquiry into business, finance and leadership. It particularly suits working professionals who want to transform years of practical experience into rigorous, publishable research, as well as early-career scholars preparing for careers in academia. Applicants should bring intellectual curiosity, analytical ability, and a genuine commitment to generating new knowledge.
Career Pathways
Graduates are well prepared for a range of rewarding careers, including, but not limited to:
- Faculty and research positions at universities and business schools
- Research roles in think tanks, policy institutions and research organisations
- Analytical and research roles in banks, financial institutions, investment firms and regulatory bodies
- Management and strategy consulting
- Senior leadership positions where evidence-based thinking, analytical depth and strategic insight are highly valued
- Entrepreneurial ventures, advisory roles and other knowledge-intensive careers
Why the Ph.D. in Business Administration at MIT-WPU
The Ph.D. in Business Administration at the Ram Charan School of Leadership offers a distinctive combination of strengths, including a leadership-focused school, an integrative view of business and finance, rigorous training in research methods, dedicated faculty mentorship, and an interdisciplinary outlook. MIT World Peace University's long-standing commitment to values-based education and holistic development underpins these strengths. Together, they create an environment where scholars grow into independent researchers and thoughtful leaders, producing work that advances knowledge and makes a lasting difference to organisations, markets, and society.
Diverse Areas of Research
Scholars may pursue doctoral research across a wide and evolving range of disciplines. The areas listed below are indicative and not exhaustive. Research proposals in allied, interdisciplinary and emerging fields are equally welcome.
- Finance, Accounting and Financial Management: Research including, but not limited to, asset pricing, corporate finance, behavioural finance, financial markets and institutions, banking, risk management, fintech, digital payments, decentralised finance, financial inclusion, sustainable and climate finance, financial reporting, auditing, forensic accounting, corporate governance, and other related areas.
- Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour: Inquiry into areas such as talent management, leadership, motivation, workplace culture, organisational change, hybrid and remote work, the gig and platform workforce, employee well-being and mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion, HR analytics, people and workforce analytics, HR technology and digital HRM, AI in recruitment and performance management, the impact of AI on jobs and skills, and allied themes.
- Marketing Management: Research on themes including, but not limited to, consumer behaviour, brand strategy, digital and social media marketing, influencer and creator economies, AI-driven personalisation, marketing analytics, web and digital analytics (such as Google Analytics), customer analytics, omnichannel retail, neuromarketing, sustainable consumption, rural and bottom-of-the-pyramid markets, and related fields.
- Economics, Public Policy and International Business: Study of economic policy, markets, trade, globalisation, cross-border strategy, the digital and platform economy, behavioural economics, development economics, geopolitics and supply-chain realignment, regulation, public policy and governance, and other allied areas.
- Operations, Supply Chain and Project Management: Research on process excellence, supply chain resilience, logistics, project delivery, circular and green supply chains, Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, digital twins, service operations, quality and sustainable performance, and related themes.
- Decision Sciences and Business Analytics: Inquiry into quantitative modelling, optimisation, forecasting, econometrics, machine learning applications, big data analytics, evidence-based decision-making across business functions, and other related areas.
- Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation: Research on generative AI and its organisational adoption, responsible and ethical AI, digital transformation, platform business models, cybersecurity and data privacy, blockchain, cloud and enterprise systems, human-AI collaboration, and other emerging technology domains.
- Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Integrative research on corporate strategy, competitive advantage, entrepreneurship, start-up ecosystems, family business, innovation management, emerging business models, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and allied themes.
- Leadership and General Management: Research on leadership development, board effectiveness, ethical and values-based leadership, cross-cultural leadership, leading in uncertainty and crisis, leadership in the age of AI, and related areas.
- Sustainability, ESG and Responsible Business: Study of corporate sustainability, ESG performance and disclosure, climate risk, the energy transition, the circular economy, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, social enterprise, the role of business in society, and other allied fields.
- Healthcare Management: Inquiry into healthcare delivery, hospital administration, health policy, digital health and telemedicine, health insurance, pharmaceutical management, patient-centred and accessible healthcare systems, and related themes.
- Emerging and Interdisciplinary Areas: Research in areas such as agribusiness and rural management, education management, media and entertainment, tourism and hospitality, the sports business, the creative economy, and any other domain where management thinking creates value.
The above list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Scholars are encouraged to propose research in any area of business, management, finance and leadership, including new, interdisciplinary and emerging fields, subject to the availability of suitable supervision.
Laboratories/List of Licensed Software
- Finance Laboratory
- Licensed Software: IBM SPSS Version 31.0
- Licensed Software: IBM SPSS AMOS
Duration & Fees
Duration
Minimum 3 Years
Ph.D. admissions are currently closed for the Spring Semester. The application window for AY 2026-27 (Autumn Semester) will open in mid-February 2026. You may leave your enquiry, and we will get in touch with you as soon as the application form is live.
I. Eligibility Criterion for admission to the Ph.D. Programme
The following candidates are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme
Candidates who have completed:
i) A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institutions accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognised or authorised by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institutions.
A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the commission from time to time.
Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.
ii) Candidates who have completed the M. Phil programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.
Reservation is applicable only to Maharashtra domicile candidates provided they submit the necessary documents for reservation before interview. Outside Maharashtra candidates will be considered in open category.
Required Undergraduate and Postgraduate degree specializations for admission:
| Name of the Ph.D. program | Relevant Undergraduate Degree (UG) (4 Year / 8-Semester) |
Relevant Postgraduate Degree (PG) |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Business Administration | 1.B.E./B.Tech./B.Arch./B.Pharm./ B.Des. or equivalent degree. 2.B.Com./BBA/BCA/BA/BSc/ LLB degree. From AICTE/UGC approved institutes. |
1. Full-time Master of Management / M.E. / M.Tech. / M.Pharm. / M.Phil. / M.Arch., 2-year MBA or 2-year PG Diploma in Management from any institute recognized by a Government body (AICTE / UGC / AIU). |
| 2. Executive MBA of at least one-year duration from IITs/IIMs or any institute recognized by a Government body (AICTE / UGC / AIU). | ||
| 3. M.Sc. / M.A. / M.Com. / LLM / MCA / MCM or equivalent degree. | ||
| 4. Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries. |
II. Selection Process for the admission to the Ph.D. program
1. Candidates satisfying eligibility criteria shall be called to appear for the Ph.D. entrance test conducted by MITWPU. The exemption will be given from Ph.D. entrance tests for those students who qualify UGC-NET /UGC-CSIR NET /GATE (valid score)/CEED/GPAT (valid score)and similar national tests.
2. Ph.D. entrance test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50% provided that relaxation from 50% to 45% shall be allowed for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (Non creamy layer)/Differently abled category, Economically Weaker section (EWS) and other category of candidates. The syllabus of the entrance test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.
3. The interview/viva-voce will be conducted by the university for test qualifying candidates. For selection of candidates a weightage of 70% to the entrance test and 30% to the performance in the interview/Viva-voce shall be given. For GATE/NET/JRF /SET/GPAT/CEED qualified students, the selection will be based on Interview/Viva Voce
4. The recommended candidates will be intimated through email about their selection and the candidates will be offered Ph.D. provisional admission.
5. The eligibility of a candidate is provisional as per information provided by the candidate in his/her application form and is subject to verification of minimum eligibility conditions for admission to the programme, educational documents and reservation documents (if any).
6. University keep rights to cancel admission of the Ph.D. scholars in the case of misconduct by the scholar, unsatisfactory progress/absent for consecutive two progress seminars, failure in any examination related to Ph.D., fabrication found in educational and reservation documents, candidate is found ineligible, involved in plagiarism in paper publications and thesis.
7. Provisional eligibility to appear in the selection process is no guarantee for admission to the programme.
8. Candidates who will join Ph.D. programme full time, they will be provided with the stipend as per MITWPU norms.
9. Ph.D. admission will be confirmed after successful completion of the coursework with 55% or more as per UGC norms. Ph.D. programme should be minimum of three years including coursework and maximum of six years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.
10. A maximum of an additional two years (2) years can be given through the process of re-registration provided, however, that the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme should not exceed eight (8) years from the date of admission in the Ph.D. programme.
11. Provided further that, female Ph.D. scholars and persons with Disabilities (having more than 40% disability) may be allowed an additional relaxation of two years (2) ; however, the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme in such cases should not exceed ten (10) years from the date of admission of the programme.
12. Female candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave for up to 240 days in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme.
Research Scholar
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Anurag Varshney |
Dr. Mangesh Vilas Bedekar |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
2 |
Abhijit Shamkant Atale |
Dr. Milind Sudhakar Pande |
Ph.D. in Human Resource Management |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sumana Bose |
Dr. Sachin Ratnakar Deshmukh |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
2 |
Priya Vijayendra Desai |
Dr. Dhanashree Umesh Tharkude |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
3 |
Alina George Sutari |
Dr. Prasad Jeevan Pathak |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alok Anshu |
Dr. Umesh Shrivastava |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
2 |
Charudutta Purushottam Bhide |
Dr. Sunil Adhav |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
3 |
Pankaj Vijay Jadhav |
Dr. Ramkrishna Manatkar |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ajitkumar Balkrishna Kumbhar |
Dr. Vijaykumar Santukrao Bilolikar |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
2 |
Girish Arun Gokhale |
Dr. Rahul Vishwanath Dandage |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
|
3 |
Preeti Girish Mehendale |
Dr. Vijaykumar Santukrao Bilolikar |
Ph.D. in Business Administration |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Abhijeet Jayant Wairagade |
Dr. Abhishek Bratindranath Mukherjee |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
2 |
Ganesh Narayan Mahajan |
Dr. Girish Shamraoji Mude |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
3 |
Shwetali Sawant |
Dr. Rajashri Amit Kadam |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
4 |
Utpal Nishikant Saikhedkar |
Dr. Girish Shamraoji Mude |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
5 |
Dikshit Hemant Kothari |
Dr. Varsha Shriram Nerlekar |
Ph.D. in Financial Management |
|
6 |
Sangjukta Atanu Halder |
Dr. Renuka Snehal Nifadkar |
Ph.D. in Financial Management |
|
7 |
Aseem Tamboli |
Dr. |
Ph.D. in General Management |
|
8 |
Saurabh Vilas Kane |
Dr. Prasad Jeevan Pathak |
Ph.D. in General Management |
|
9 |
Krupali Waghela |
Dr. Deepali D Shahane |
Ph.D. in General Management |
|
10 |
Ireni Akoijam |
Dr. Deepali D Shahane |
Ph.D. in Computer Application |
|
11 |
Jyotish Dinkar Werulkar |
Dr. Milind Sudhakar Pande |
Ph.D. in General Management |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Pradnya Madhav Gaikwad |
Pradnya Madhav Gaikwad |
Ph.D. in Human Resource Management |
|
2 |
Meghasham Chaudhari |
Meghasham Chaudhari |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
3 |
Neeraj Raghav Kumar |
Neeraj Raghav Kumar |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
4 |
Sushil Ganpatrao Nirbhavane |
Sushil Ganpatrao Nirbhavane |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
5 |
Ashwinchandra Chandanlal Jaiswal |
Ashwinchandra Chandanlal Jaiswal |
Ph.D. in Human Resource Management |
|
6 |
Rekha Ratna Isaac Kapoor |
Rekha Ratna Isaac Kapoor |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
|
7 |
Shradha Tanmay Dhingra |
Shradha Tanmay Dhingra |
Ph.D. in Marketing Management |
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Supervisor | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mukund Pate |
Dr. Dhanashree Umesh Tharkude |
Ph.D. in Human Resource Management |
List of Ph.D. Degree Completed Scholars
| Sr. No. | Name of Research Scholar | Name of Research Supervisor | Title of Thesis |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ajay Damodar Nagre |
Dr. Girish Shamraoji Mude |
A Study of Employer Branding with respect to Gen Z Employees |
|
2 |
Amol Subhash Neve |
Dr. Prasad Jeevan Pathak |
To study impact & assessment of Dasbodh philosophy to develop positive thinking & mindset with inner peace in an individual to establish peace loving holistic global society |
|
3 |
Anjali Shriniwas Mote |
Dr. Swati Deepak Bankar |
Impact of Social Media Networking on the Lifestyle of Youth |
|
4 |
Banerjee Sudeepta |
Dr. Joseph Vidyasagar Tandhara |
A study on Perceived Risk Dimensions and its Impact on Online Shopping Behavior amongst Indian Youth |
|
5 |
Gautam Bapat |
Dr. Ravikumar Chitnis |
Web-based marketing strategies for student recruitments in private universities. |
|
6 |
Geetika Rohit Parmar |
Dr. Joseph Vidyasagar Tandhara |
Study of Effectiveness of Big Data Analytics tool in transformation of Talent Management in Service and Manufacturing Industry |
|
7 |
Piyushchandra Vishnu Kolhe |
Dr. Joseph Vidyasagar Tandhara |
A Study of Tax Incentive Policy of Government of India and its effect on In-bound Investment and Employment |
|
8 |
Rajani Banmali Lal Chaubey |
Dr. Joseph Vidyasagar Tandhara |
Study of Organisational Citizenship Behaviour and its impact on employee working in software companies |
|
9 |
Renu Shashank Jahagirdar |
Dr. Swati Deepak Bankar |
Study of Organisational Citizenship Behaviour and its impact on employees working in software companies |
|
10 |
Pooja Darda |
Dr. Ravikumar Chitnis |
A Study on the Adoption of Voice Assistant Technology |
Research Supervisor
| Sl. No. | Name of the Research Supervisor | Research areas of the Supervisor | Scopus / Web of Science / Google Scholar / Researcher ID profile / Research Gate profile link |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Dr. Rahul Roy |
Asset pricing, Human capital modeling, Economic growth, Energy economics, Artificial Intelligence, Financial Econometrics, FinTech, Machine Learning Models |
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57195611631 |
|
2. |
Dr. Milind Pande |
AI, Telecom, IT, Education, Research |
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55480860000 |
|
3. |
Dr. Ramkrishna Manatkar |
Circular Economy, Closed-Loop Supply Chain, Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics |
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57016780400 |
|
4. |
Dr. Girish Mude |
Marketing |
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=yRtGG1YAAAAJ&hl=en |
|
5. |
Dr. Varsha Nerlekar |
Behavioral and Sustainable Finance, ESG investing, financial market volatility, banking digitalization, and emerging technology applications in finance. |
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57768978200
|
|
6. |
Dr. Rahul V. Dandage |
Project Risk Management, International projects BPR, OSCM & Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering |
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194626842 |
|
7 |
Dr. Swapnil Undale |
Sales & Marketing, AI, Technology Adoption, Pharmaceutical Marketing |
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4533-7953 https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57113731900 Web of Science Researcher ID: G-5024-2015 |
admissions@mitwpu.edu.in
