APPLIED AND
EXPERIMENTAL TRACK

There are two different “routes” within the track. You can either apply for a research fellow position or be admitted as an individual doctoral student. EBS also accepts visiting PhD students from similar focus areas.

The Applied and Experimental Track aims to dramatically bridge the gap between academic and business activities, increase the relevance of research in real world settings as well as provide students with a practical „beyond research“ tool-box for implementing their ideas in practice. The academic and business journeys of candidates under this track are highly individualised and tailored to the research subjects and professional backgrounds of individual applicants.

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Depending on the candidate's background there are two possible focusing methods of study:

For established enterprises and organisations:

Developing and implementing live changes (organisational and new business models) in the context of your real living and breathing company, and the individual challenges you are facing.

Is suited for a candidate who:

Is a senior, middle manager or specialist in an established private or public organisation.

Wishes to continue daily work in their organisation and target a particular challenge in the named organisation.

For up and coming entrepreneurs and start-ups:

Exploring, testing, building, developing and implementing either new or early-stage business ideas or start-ups.

Is suited for a candidate who:

Is a key individual in a promising start-up or has an established idea for one.

Wishes to conceive, develop and launch an innovative business or societal idea and is positioned to use the necessary knowledge, networks, human resources and capital provided by their studies.

Both programmes will include an individual study plan that is tailored to the candidate's aspirations and background. Online and blended learning options are made available based on the individual circumstances, geographical location and mobility options of each student.


Important information:

Nominal duration

4 years


Volume of studies

240 ECTS


Language

English


Study format

Session based


Diploma

PhD in Management


Thesis

Independent thesis, a series of publications, a published monograph or the development of an original prototype, design, regulation etc.


Tuition Fee

Doctoral students enrolling as individual PhD students have to pay a tuition fee. The tuition fee is €600/month (€7200/year), which provides PhD candidates with full and unlimited access to all EBS resources. The tuition fee is payable either directly or through in-kind means (such as participation in teaching, involvement in external projects, involvement in spin-off companies etc.). In addition, for the applied track, separate pricing applies to the validation/acceleration module depending on the direction chosen by individual students.

The programme focuses on applied and experimental research, seeking to create a two-way interaction between business and academia within a comprehensive support ecosystem. A significant proportion of work conducted by candidates in the academic setting is directly linked and practically relevant to “real life” business settings, different economic sectors and specific organisations.



Programme structure ECTS volumes for graduating:

Applied track:

Core subjects

12 ECTS


Special subjects

21 ECTS


Doctoral seminars

9 ECTS


Pedagogical internship

3 ECTS


Doctoral Thesis and related research                      

180 ECTS             


Applied concept preparation/validation/testing/feedback or adaptation

15 ECTS



The programme strives to establish a clear real-life goal/ problem definition, which is then followed by actual implementation. Being a business and management-focused programme, it aims to go beyond technical-engineering solutions and enable the development and execution of innovative solutions and fundamental changes in organisations and society as a whole.

Course subjects overview:

Applied track:

Supervision of Doctoral Thesis

Compulsory


Doctoral Seminars 

Compulsory


Research Design

Compulsory


Philosophy and Methodology of Science

Compulsory


Management Theories

Compulsory                


Pedagogical Internship

Compulsory    


Foundations of Teaching 

Elective   


Institutional Economic

Elective   


Organization Theories: Meta-theoretical Perspectives of Traditional Theories and Alternative Views to Organizational Reality 

Elective  
      


Contemporary Paradigms of Social Science

Elective


Qualitative Research Methods

Compulsory   


Quantitative Research Methods

Compulsory    


Applied Concept Preparation/Testing/Validation                              

Compulsory


Doctoral Thesis Compulsory    

Compulsory    


Other electives

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Elective              


Systems Science  

Elective   


Research Design

Elective   


Logic

Elective   


Multicriteria Decision Making Methods  

Elective                


Research in Strategy and Innovation

Elective      


Theories of Management of 
Organisational Changes
    

Elective    


Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA)    

Elective   


Structural Equation Modeling

Elective   


Cultural Psychology

Elective


Ethics and Responsibility in Management

Elective        


Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital    

Elective   
   


* One of the research methods courses is compulsory.                             


All doctoral students also have an opportunity to go on an exchange with the goal to pass part of their studies or conduct research in an overseas university. This opportunity is highly encouraged and EBS has over 60 top-tier partner universities worldwide.

Admissions process and checklist:

 

Application deadline:

Non-EU: May 1st, 2024

EU & et*: August 1st, 2024

*inc. USA, Canada, Japan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and countries who do not need a visa to enter Estonia

Research Proposal presentation dates:

Non-EU: June 11th, 2024

EU & et*: August 22nd, 2024

*inc. USA, Canada, Japan, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and countries who do not need a visa to enter Estonia

Online application in DreamApply here

The applicant has to submit the application in DreamApply and upload all relevant documents. In order to submit the application account in DreamApply has to be created.


Master's degree or equivalent

Bachelor’s and Master’s degree diplomas and academic transcripts.


Research proposal for the doctoral thesis

The Research Proposal must be presented by May 1st (non-EU), or by August 1st. Download the template for the research proposal here.


English language proficiency certificate (B2)    

FCE, CAE, IELTS 5.5+ or TOEFL 69+ or a previous level of education obtained in English.


Reference letter

By at least one individual, for example    


Motivation letter



Describe your motivation by thinking through the following topics: expectations to the programme and EBS, eligibility to the programme and previous experience, goals during your studies and future professional plans. When applying to the research fellow position please state your interest in the motivation letter, describe your academic background in relation to the position or the topic area and specify what added value would you bring to the academic body of EBS.  


Curriculum Vitae

Including education, professional development and research- and development activities. 


Application fee

The application fee is 120€. Application and relevant documents will be processed only after the application fee is received. The application fee invoice will be sent via DreamApply after your application has been received. Please keep in mind that the invoice is not generated automatically. Candidates from EU/EAA countries and from Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan are exempted from the application fee payment. The application fee is non-refundable.


The application fee is 120€. Application and relevant documents will be processed only after the application fee is received. The application fee invoice will be sent via DreamApply after your application has been received. Please keep in mind that the invoice is not generated automatically. Candidates from EU/EAA countries and from Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan are exempted from the application fee payment. The application fee is non-refundable.


Not sure how and where to get started?

Please contact us: doctoral@ebs.ee