Key Differences between Academic Research PhD and
Professional Doctorate Programmes
| SMU Academic Research PhD Programmes | SMU Professional Doctorate Programme |
|---|---|
|
Incoming students are typically fresh or recent graduates with strong quantitative ability and methodological interests. |
Most participants are working professionals or senior managers with deep professional experience. |
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Scholarship support and stipends are provided. |
Self-funded programmes. Participants may apply for external scholarships/sponsorships to defray programme costs. |
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Students are on campus full-time. Curriculum comprises classes over SMU's regular academic terms. |
Participants are on campus when they are doing their modules. |
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Courses are more oriented towards creating new methods & theories, and the application of these methods & theories. Courses are being taught by faculty members who are actually publishing in top-tier disciplinary journals & conferences. |
Courses are more practice- & application-oriented, including how to apply the existing body of methods & theories. Courses are taught by a mix of faculty members, and current or former industry practitioners. |
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Research publication targets gaps in top-tier academic literature. |
Research publication targets real-world stakeholders and more applied/practitioner-oriented literature. |
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Dissertation committee comprises SMU faculty members who actively publish in top-tier academic disciplinary literature. |
Dissertation committee comprises SMU practice-oriented senior professors, SMU-affiliated faculty members & industry practitioners. |
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Dissertation is usually a single monograph. |
Dissertation may be a portfolio of policies, programmes, case studies and methodologies — all organised into a discourse of the generalised knowledge derived. |
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Graduates are trained for university faculty or R&D positions in top-tier institutions & organisations. |
Graduates are trained to bring applied scholarship to professional practice, or for practice and teaching-oriented university faculty positions. |
Which programme is suitable for me?
| SMU Academic Research PhD Programmes | SMU Professional Doctorate Programmes |
|---|---|
|
Graduated with a Bachelor's degree. |
Graduated with a Bachelor's degree. |
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Strong passion for deep academic research. |
Strong passion for applied research. |
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Desire careers as faculty members or research specialists in leading universities, institutions & organisations. |
Desire to expand their careers as practice-oriented faculty members, consultants & senior management leaders in academia & industry. |
Unsure if you would like to pursue a Doctoral Programme? You could start with a Research Masters.
If you are considering a career in academia at either an academic institution or industry but have not decided that you would like to pursue a doctoral programme right after your Bachelor’s degree, SMU’s Master by Research programmes will provide you a head start on research work. It will allow you to ascertain if research is what you would like to pursue as a career. See all our Master by Research programmes.
