Management (doctoral)
Doctoral Programme in Management is organized by ISM University of Management and Economics in partnership with BI Norwegian Business School, Norway and University of Tartu, Estonia.
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Doctoral Programme in Management is organized by ISM University of Management and Economics in partnership with BI Norwegian Business School, Norway and University of Tartu, Estonia.
The purpose of doctoral studies is to develop researchers who are able to perform research aimed at solving relevant social and business problems and contribute to existing knowledge.
Doctoral students are taught and supervised by prominent scholars who perform relevant research, publish in high-level international journals, act as experts, and participate in research networks and projects, thus ensuring high quality of studies.
Part-time doctoral studies provide an opportunity to combine a professional career with a doctorate. The knowledge and research skills acquired in doctoral studies enable you to apply research-based solutions in professional activities.
Learn more about the program
Program values
Courses
Social Research Development and Methodology
The aim of the course is to disclose the nature of social research development and the main requirements for research and doctoral dissertation in social sciences. It also intends to discuss the scientific approach and the stages of the research process.
Qualitative Research Methods
The course provides an overview of qualitative methodology and allows learning and practicing qualitative
methodology as it is used in organizational studies.
Quantitative Research Methods
This course aims to provide students with the statistical knowledge to interpret quantitative research. The most common analysis techniques will be demonstrated with actual research data. Students will learn to identify the appropriate tests for a given research question and dataset and they will learn how to carry out these techniques in SPSS.
Introduction to Scholarship
This Doctoral Course aims to develop doctoral students’ teaching, research, and transferable competencies enabling them to pursue an academic career at a university or outside. The Course consists of Seminars and an Academic Internship. The seminars are aimed to provide knowledge and skills necessary for scholarship proficiency. The seminars cover research ethics, academic writing and publishing, academic presentation, teaching, research projects’ development, and management as well as specialized scholarly software mastery issues. The Academic Internship aims to develop the academic skills of doctoral students. Academic Internship shall be composed of academic activities listed in the appendices of ISM Faculty Workload Regulations.
Course at a University abroad
A doctoral student of ISM University of Management and Economics (hereinafter – ISM) have to complete and pass the examination (if applicable) of the selected study course or courses at a foreign university during the first half of the studies according to the approved programme of research and doctoral studies.
ISM may offer up to 725 EUR (seven hundred twenty-five Euros) to cover up the expenses for studying doctoral course at a foreign university (universities). These costs may include study fee, travel and accommodation expenses. If the doctoral student fails the examination, ISM will not cover the expenses related to re-examination of the course.A doctoral student shall study doctoral course and take the examination of the course (if applicable) at a foreign university according to the following procedure:
- Selected doctoral course have to comply with the topic of the doctoral student’s research i.e. must be a subject of his specialisation;
- The total scope of the selected doctoral course or courses (if a doctoral student attends several courses) must beat least 6 ECTS credits.
Publications of Doctoral Students
Admission
Qualification requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent higher education
- Scientific experience, participation in scientific activities
- English language knowledge
Online application
Applicants must submit an online application: https://my.ism.lt
Documents for application
- Completed application form (according to the form in English)
- Master’s degree diploma and its supplement (submit copies and show original).
- Applicants who have earned their degrees abroad must submit original notarised translations (into English) of the Master’s degree diploma and its supplement (Recognition of foreign qualifications).
- Recommendations from two scholars (according to the form in English). Recommendations must be sent by a scholar (from a personal e-mail) to this e-mail address phd@ism.lt
- Curriculum vitae (CV) (in English).
- Motivation letter explaining the reasons of applying to doctoral studies (in English).
- Research proposal (according to the form ) to be submitted in both hard and electronic (Word format, e-mail:phd@ism.lt) copies). phd@ism.lt) versions).
- Proved English language skills (for non-native speakers), which should meet the requirements of Upper Intermediate level or higher. Valid results of TOEFL, IELTS are accepted of the last 2 years. Minimum test scores are: TOEFL – a score of 70 points; IELTS academic – a score of 6.0. If none of these tests has been taken, a test will be organised at ISM.
- Digital photo (3×4 cm).
- Copy of passport or ID card (copy of the page of passport with the photo and personal data) (submit copies and show original
- Applicants whose documents presented for admission are issued under different surnames must submit a copy of the document confirming the change (submit copies and show original).
- Bank statement confirming the payment of the application and English language test (if applicable) fee.
Research proposal
Admission deadlines
- Applicants who have earned their degrees abroad must submit original Master’s degree diploma and diploma supplement: till 2025 06 01
- Submission of applications: 2025 06 01 – 2025 08 19
- English language test (if required): 2025 08 22
- Individual motivation interviews at Admission Committee: 2025 08 27
- Informing applicants about the results of the competition: 2025 09 01
Admission rules and regulations
Admission fee
- Admission fee is 175 € (EU citizens), 175 € (non-EU citizens), English language test price is 80 €.
Payment details for the admission fee:
Payment code: 190 Study code: 140 Payer code: 11999998
Beneficiary: ISM University of Management and Economics
Adresas: Gedimino pr. 7, LT-01103 Vilnius
Company code / VAT code: 111963319 / LT119633113
Bank: Luminor Bank AS
Account No.: LT574010049500436891
SWIFT: AGBLLT2X
Amount
- 175 € (payment of admission fee only)
- 255 € (payment of admission fee and English language test fee)
Tuition fee
- 6224,5 EUR (full-time studies, 4 years);
- 4149,5 EUR (part-time studies, up to 6 years).
*Per semester
Scholarships, thesis defense and doctoral committee
State scholarships for full time studies (4 years)
The scholarships will be offered to full-time doctoral students in Management and Economics. A scholarship covers the tuition fee and provides a student grant (for first-year doctoral students – 1330 EUR/month; for second, third, and fourth year doctoral students – 1540 EUR/month). Candidates to the state doctoral study scholarships are selected by means of competition according to the results of the competitive entry score.
Tuition fees discounts
Doctoral students who are graduates of an ISM Bachelor’s, International Master’s, or Master’s degree in Management are granted an ISM graduate discount. The amount of the discount is 30% of the tuition fee paid for the entire study period. The discount is also given to doctoral students who have received a high competitive score.
Dissertation defence
Doctoral candidates may present their dissertation for defense when they:
- Pass all the examinations provided in the doctoral study program
- Present their most significant research results in at least 2 articles published (or accepted for publication) in scientific peer-reviewed journals, or scientific monography
- Present their research results during at least 2 international scientific gatherings (conferences, seminars)
Regulations of the Doctoral Studies in the Field of Management (who joined until 2017)
Regulations of the Doctoral Studies in the Field of Management (who joined since 2017)
Regulations of the Doctoral Studies in the Field of Management (who joined since 2020)
Regulations of the Doctoral Studies in the Field of Management (who joined since 2021)
Doctoral Committee
Doctoral Committee of Economics programme
Doctoral Committee: evaluates research topics of doctoral students, approves individual study programs, considers doctoral supervision issues, monitors doctoral student research progress, and assesses the quality of doctoral dissertations.
The Doctoral Committee is composed of researchers from all participating partner universities, co-ordinates, and assures the quality of doctoral studies and scientific research.
Doctoral Committee of Economics:
- Prof. dr. Ilona Bučiūnienė – ISM University of Management and Economics / Chairperson
- Prof. dr. Viltė Auruškevičienė – ISM University of Management and Economics
- Prof. dr. Valdonė Darškuvienė – ISM University of Management and Economics
- Prof. dr. Vita Akstinaitė – ISM University of Management and Economics
- Prof. dr. Rūta Kazlauskaitė – ISM University of Management and Economics
- Prof. dr. Rutger van Oest – BI Norwegian Business School (Norway)
- Prof. dr. Maaja Vadi – University of Tartu (Estonia)
- Prof. dr. Bernadeta Goštautaitė – ISM University of Management and Economics
Considering studies at ISM?
