Research areas
PhD candidates at the Sydney Islamic Business School may undertake supervised research with one of the following disciplines within the school:
- Discipline of Islamic Banking and Finance
Program Structure
The PhD program consists of two components– coursework and research. Candidates undertake the research component after successfully completing the required coursework.
PhD coursework component
In the coursework component, PhD candidates undertake a comprehensive set of courses designed to provide training in the theory and methods necessary to conduct high-quality business research. These courses are academically rigorous and will be examined. Candidates take up to 18 months to complete the coursework, a total of 36 units of credit (UOC). The 36UOC worth of coursework that you are required to complete has a core component consisting of 24UOC and a disciplinary component of 12UOC from a selection of units. Upon successful completion of the coursework, PhD candidates will progress to the research component.
The standard coursework structure for the PhD is as follows:
Core units – each unit is 6UOC. You will be required to complete all three units from this list:
- BUSN1131 Philosophy of Business Research
- BUSN1133 Research Methodology
- BUSN1154 Advanced Quantitative Methods or Advanced qualitative methods
- BUSN1167 Islamic Business Transactions
Disciplinary units – each unit is 6UOC.
For the Discipline of Islamic Banking and Finance, you will be required to complete two units from this list:
- FINS1101 Islamic Banking
- FINS1201 Islamic Capital Markets
- FINS1311 Contemporary Issues in Islamic Finance
- FINS2103 Contemporary Financial Transactions and Interest-free System
- FINS2115 Interest-Free Finance Standards and Auditing
- FINS2104 Risk Management in Islamic Finance
- ECON1311 Microeconomic Theory
- ECON1322 Macroeconomic Theory
- EMET1333 Advanced Econometrics
- EMET2333 Advanced Econometrics II
- ECON1011 Advanced Topics in Islamic and Sustainable Economy
- ECON1211 Fundamentals of Islamic Economics system
PhD research component
Following the successful completion of coursework, PhD candidates undertake research training and independent research. Research training begins in the second year with higher degree research seminars and workshops, where participants delve deeply into key current research papers to determine research approaches to take. At the same time, PhD candidates will commence research in their chosen topic. The year culminates with the defence of the first research proposal, known as the thesis Proposal Defence (PD). The PD is a major milestone towards the end of the second year. The purpose of the PD is to assess the originality, significance, adequacy, and achievability of the candidate’s thesis plan.
PhD candidates are required to submit a draft thesis proposal for their PD towards the end of Semester 1 in the second year of their candidature. The proposal includes a description of the research to be undertaken in the thesis, and a summary of the thesis structure and time plan. Candidates are required to give a presentation to the supervisory panel and others to provide constructive feedback about your progress.
Research supervisory panel
Sydney IBS uses a panel system of supervision. You will have a panel of at least two supervisors, one of whom is designated as principal supervisor, the other(s) as co-supervisor. The role of the supervisory panel is to assist, advise, and provide support and encouragement to the candidate for a timely and successful completion of the research thesis. You will work closely with them to define your research question and develop your thesis. You need to review the profiles of our faculty to look at the areas of research covered at the school. If you feel that you are interested in a particular research area and working with a specific faculty member, then you need to contact the faculty in advance of making your application and note this within your application.
HDR colloquium
The annual HDR Colloquium is an opportunity for PhD candidates to present and connect with other like minds from across the school. Share your thesis work, receive feedback, and develop your research networks. PhD candidates are expected to attend and actively participate in the colloquiums throughout their candidature.
Research integrity training
All PhD candidates must complete the Research Integrity Training and pass the exam within three to six months of enrolment. Completion of this course and exam is a compulsory milestone for all PhD candidates. For more information on research integrity training, please visit our page.
Annual progress reviews
It is Sydney IBS policy that each candidate’s progress be reviewed periodically. In each year of their program, PhD candidates are required to submit an annual plan and report as a basis for periodic progress review. This document provides details on work completed by the candidate since the previous review, current progress, and any problems that may impact their research. It also outlines the coursework and research the candidate intends to undertake in the following 12 months.
Thesis submission and examination
The culmination of the PhD in Islamic Business is a written thesis which, upon completion, is submitted for examination. The thesis is assessed by examiners who are experts in the relevant field. For more information on the process, visit our page on submitting a thesis.
Admission Requirements
The admission requirements for the PhD program reflect the advanced knowledge that candidates will need to undertake the coursework component of the degree, and the research experience and skills needed to successfully undertake and complete the research thesis.
The minimum qualification requirement for admission to the PhD program is:
(i) an Australian bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A in finance, actuarial studies, economics, business, commerce, or a subject area with a substantial quantitative content, or
(ii) another qualification (e.g. a Master degree) with a substantial research thesis component that the Sydney IBS HDR committee is satisfied is equivalent or superior to a degree mentioned in (i), or
(iii) a combination of qualifications and professional experience that the Sydney IBS HDR committee is satisfied is equivalent or superior to a degree mentioned in (i).
Admission to the PhD program is competitive and we can only admit a limited number of applicants each year. Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee you a place in the program.
If you don’t have sufficient research experience for entry into the PhD program, you might consider applying to the MPhil program. If you’d like to consider this pathway, contact the Sydney IBS HDR Co-ordinator for more information.
English language requirements
All applicants must satisfy the Sydney IBS English language admission requirements. An international applicant who is not a native English speaker may satisfy these requirements by submitting evidence of an IELTS overall score of at least 6.0 and with no component less than 5.5 or a paper based TOEFL score of at least 570, with at least 4.5 in the essay component.
Application and supporting documentation
You must submit your application online via the Sydney IBS Application Portal.
In addition to the standard information required in the online application, you must submit the following supporting documents as part of your application:
- – a one-page statement of purpose outlining your motivation to undertake a PhD in Islamic Business at Sydney IBS
- – a research proposal – see details below, as well as these guidelines on how to prepare a persuasive research proposal
- – copies of written research work, e.g., honours or Master thesis, research project, or published works
- – certified copies of academic transcripts for Bachelor degree and Master degree
- – either GRE General Test or GMAT results completed within the last five years – some applicants are exempted from this requirement (visit our page for further information)
- – official TOEFL or IELTS results (where applicable) to demonstrate that you satisfy the University’s English language requirements.
Research proposal
The online application requires you to submit a research proposal. The proposal should set out an original research idea, provide an introduction or background to your research idea, clearly set out the research objectives, and explain why the research is important and the contribution it will make to the research discipline. Among other things, you will need to demonstrate an understanding of the key literature in your chosen topic area. As a guide, you should aim for between 1,500 and 2,000 words, including a list of key references.
If you don’t have a prior business degree, your research proposal should present a puzzling and interesting real-world phenomenon in the business world that could lead to an important research topic. You should aim to convince the Sydney IBS HDR committee that your proposal is relevant and interesting. The Sydney IBS HDR committee uses the research proposal as an indicator to assess the quality and originality of your ideas and your skills in critical thinking. Note that the research proposal does not restrict you to this field of study should you be admitted to the PhD program.
Course Outcome
Through the completion of the PhD in Islamic Business at Sydney IBS:
- Graduates will demonstrate a deeper understanding of a subject area in Islamic Business.
- Graduates will grasp the analytical, methodological and problem-solving skills needed to evaluate and conduct research in their areas of specialisation.
- Graduates will demonstrate their ability to design and conduct original research in their chosen fields of specialisation.
- Graduates will be able to communicate the results of their research in a clear and effective manner.
- Graduates will be able to pursue careers in industry, academia, and research organisations
Fees | Scholarships
For more information, visit our page on Fees | Scholarships.
Application Process
We will be accepting applications for 2024 entry.
To apply, please submit a complete application via our online application portal by Friday 24 November 2023, 23:59 (GMT).
We strongly recommend applying at least a few hours before the deadline, in case you experience unexpected technical issues. We cannot accept late applications.
Once we have received your application, a member of the admissions team will process your application and inform you whether anything is missing, or that your application is complete and ready to be reviewed. About five weeks after the deadline, you will be informed if you have been shortlisted for an interview. Interviews will take place in early February with final decisions being announced towards the middle-end of February.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any queries.
info@sydneyibs.com.au
