Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, our PhD in Management program will turn you into an advanced researcher with both theoretical and practical understanding of the complex problems of business management. We offer five distinct fields, including:
Develop unparalleled research abilities.
Work alongside leading academics.
Apprentice-style approach to learning.
We understand that pursuing a doctoral degree is a big decision. We’re here to help you work through your options to choose the program that is right for you.
We offer information sessions and one-on-one consultations to help you make the best decision. The sooner we connect with each other, the closer you are to realizing: it’s what’s inside that sets us apart.
The program is structured to be completed in four years.
In the first two years, you will complete 11 half-credit courses and write the comprehensive exams. Comprehensive exams are typically completed at the end of your second year.
In the third and fourth years of the program, you will focus on completing your dissertation proposal and dissertation. In order to develop and refine your research skills, you are expected to engage in research throughout the program.
You will also complete a non-credit course on university teaching.
While we do not require you to have an approved faculty supervisor selected when you apply, we encourage prospective applicants to learn about the interests and ongoing research of our faculty members. If you'd like to connect with a professor about their research work, email lazaridisgradprograms@wlu.ca and we can connect you with them.
Challenge yourself and work with experts in your field as you write and defend your doctoral dissertation. You can pursue research in any of our five fields:
The Accounting field in Laurier’s PhD in Management program prepares you for an academic career. You will be encouraged to focus your learning and research in empirical financial accounting or behavioural accounting.
Our program provides students with a breadth of knowledge of accounting theory and research methodologies. Through teaching and research assistantships, coursework, seminars, and independent research, students develop analytical and interpretive skills as well as intellectual independence. We welcome applications from students in accounting or related fields, such as finance or economics.
We have one of the largest Accounting programs in Canada with 34 faculty and lecturers. Over the past 21 years, we have had 10 gold medallists on the Uniform Final Evaluation (now the Common Final Examination, administered by CPA Canada); this is more than any other university in Canada.
PhD in Management, Accounting Field Coordinator:
You will work independently and ethically in an advanced research program and will receive training in conducting original research, preparing scholarly publications, and communicating knowledge.
As a student in the Accounting field you will have access to:
Accounting students can focus their learning and research in empirical financial accounting or behavioural management accounting. Below are the course offerings for each respective focus.
Empirical Financial Accounting courses:
Behavioural Management Accounting courses:
Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Academic Placement |
| Yong Chen | Accounting | Tarleton State University |
| Huzaifa Faizan | Accounting | - |
| Abiodun Isiaka | Accounting | University of Regina |
| Yan Jin | Accounting | Dominican University |
| Tisha King | Accounting | University of Waterloo |
| Kelsey Matthews | Accounting | University of Waterloo |
| Justin Minddzak | Accounting | SUNY Fredonia |
| Sara Wick | Accounting | University of Guelph |
| Zhuoyi Zhao | Accounting | St. Norbert College |
The Finance field in Laurier’s PhD in Management program is designed for the brightest and hardest-working individuals who are seeking academic and research positions. We welcome applications from students in business and related fields, such as economics, accounting, statistics and mathematics.
Our invigorating research environment is supported by highly productive and internationally recognized scholars who publish in top journals. As well, many of our graduate students have won best paper awards at conferences and have published their work in high-ranked journals.
Building on finance theory, our PhD students undertake research in four key areas of financial management: financial markets, corporate finance and governance, options and futures, and market microstructure.
PhD in Management, Finance Field Coordinator:
We create a nurturing environment where you have access to:
Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Academic Placement |
| Vishaal Baulkaran | Finance | University of Lethbridge |
| Pan Jiang | Finance | - |
| Olga Kanj | Finance | University of Waterloo |
| Olaleye Morohunfolu | Finance | Huron College, Western University |
| Laszlo Nagy | Finance | - |
| Laleh Samarbakhsh | Finance | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Konstantin Sokolov | Finance | University of Memphis |
Non-Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Job Title (as of hiring) | Organization |
| Hoseini Nooriaan | Finance | Senior Analyst, Risk Management | RBC Group |
| Zhe (Judy) Peng | Finance | Research Associate, Business Analyst | Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation |
| Erfan Sadeghi | Finance | Quantitative Research Analyst | Optimize Wealth Management |
| Yunhua (Julie) Zhu | Finance | Senior Associate | PwC |
| Paulan van Nes | Finance | Quantitative Research Analyst | CC&L |
The Marketing field in Laurier’s PhD in Management program offers you the opportunity to conduct research on contemporary topics of theoretical and managerial significance. Our areas of specialization include consumer behaviour, innovation, marketing strategy, brand management, and services marketing. We welcome applications from those with education and/or experience in business and marketing or a relevant field such as psychology and economics.
Our program centres on theory development, empirical analysis, and developing managerially relevant knowledge. It builds on core theories from marketing and other disciplines (including psychology, economics, and decision sciences). You will have the opportunity to acquire a broad range of methodological skills including experimental design, surveys, qualitative research, and quantitative modelling. Our focus is to hone your research skills both through course work and by actively collaborating with you in new or ongoing research projects.
PhD in Management, Marketing Field Coordinator:
Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Academic Placement |
| Ali Anwar | Marketing | James Madison University |
| Yongjian Chen | Marketing | Trent University |
| Jonathan Kerr | Marketing | York University |
| David Lewis | Marketing | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Hamed Mehrabi | Marketing | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Mohammad Simjour | Marketing | - |
| Asfiya Taji | Marketing | UBC Okanagan |
Non-Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Job Title (as of hiring) |
Organization |
| Gregory Tanguay | Marketing | Marketing Director | Laborie |
The state-of-the-art Consumer Research Lab is equipped with 20 computer terminals, a projector, and software for controlled experimental studies and survey-based, online data collection. The lab also includes a small break-out room with a one-way mirror for focus groups, interviews, and other tasks relevant to research studies.
Our PhD in Management degree program with a concentration in Organizational Behaviour (OB) and Human Resource Management (HRM) is a four-year program. In the first two years, you will complete courses and your comprehensive exams. In years three and four, you will focus on research with your supervisor and other faculty members. Opportunities for teaching are also available. If you complete your MSc in Management with us, you will receive credit for those courses you have already completed, which can decrease the length of the time it takes to complete this degree. This program is designed for students who wish to become academics and researchers.
PhD in Management, OB/HRM Field Coordinator:
Why choose OB/HRM at Laurier?
You will have the opportunity to work closely with leading scholars in the field of OB/HRM and be involved with cutting-edge research throughout your studies. Building a strong research foundation (including exposure to different theories and methodologies) is important for success in your future career.
We only admit a small number of students each year to ensure that our students can receive the mentoring that they need to succeed in an academic career. You will receive personalized guidance and individualized attention as you develop your own research and prepare for your career.
Our faculty members devote an extensive amount of time and energy into developing our students’ research capabilities and skillsets. You will be encouraged to join projects that can build this foundation and provide you with opportunities to start building your résumé with conference presentations and publications.
You can expect coursework that is designed to provide a solid theoretical foundation in OB/HRM combined with exceptional statistical and methodological training, including research methods, research design, and quantitative analyses. You will also have the opportunity to delve deeper into topics with special topic courses, electives, and directed studies.
You will conduct your own research under the guidance of our faculty supervisors. You are expected to engage in research throughout the program, culminating in the completion of your dissertation.
You will have exposure to cutting-edge research from our faculty supervisors and guest speakers, as well as networking opportunities within the academic community.
Note: Students admitted into the PhD program from the Laurier MSc in Management will be exempt from some courses already completed at the master’s level.
Academic Placements
|
Name |
Field of Study | Academic Placement |
|
Victoria Daniel |
OB/HRM | York University |
|
Peter Fisher |
OB/HRM | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Samantha Hancock | OB/HRM | Western University |
| Annika Hillebrandt | OB/HRM | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Sy Kyung (Irene) Kim | OB/HRM | University of British Columbia |
| Anja Krstic | OB/HRM | York University |
| Lisa Kuron | OB/HRM | Wilfrid Laurier University |
| Joel Marcus | OB/HRM | York University |
| Sara Murphy | OB/HRM | University of Winnipeg |
| Francisca de Saldanha Oliveira e Sousa | OB/HRM | Catolica University of Lisbon |
| Saba Sharih | OB/HRM | McMaster University |
Non-Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Job Title (as of hiring) |
Organization |
| David Whiteside | OB/HRM | Happiness Research Fellow | Plasticity Labs |
The disciplines of Supply Chain, Operations and Technology Management seek answers to fundamental questions about the design, production, and delivery of goods and services. We welcome applications from students with backgrounds in business, mathematics, engineering, economics and related fields. Graduates of our PhD are prepared for a career in academia or research.
PhD in Management, Supply Chain, Operations and Technology Management Field Coordinator:
We create a nurturing environment where you have access to:
Our faculty are leading researchers in fields such as sustainable and closed-loop supply chain management, logistics and transportation, operations management, management of innovation and technology, and stochastic modelling.
Over the past five years, faculty in Supply Chain, Operations and Technology Management have received more than $1 million in research grants from funding agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), as well as grants from industry, including $500,000 from CN Rail. Our faculty members have published their research in top-tiered academic journals, including Management Science, Production and Operations Management, Manufacturing & Services Operations Management, JOM, JORS, Annals of OR, EJOR, Financial Management and IIE Transactions, to name just a few.
Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Academic Placement |
| Tina Arabian | SCOTM | Mount Royal University |
| Alireza Azimian | SCOTM | University of Windsor |
| Sara Babaee | SCOTM | University of the Fraser Valley |
| Shervin Esbahbod | SCOTM | Cape Breton University |
| Hamidreza Faramarzi | SCOTM | Seneca College |
| Maryam Hafezi | SCOTM | Laurentian University |
| S.M. Mehdi Jourabchi | SCOTM | University of Lethbridge |
| Eman Nasr | SCOTM | Yorkville University |
| Adrian Tan | SCOTM | Penn State |
| Hossein Zolfagharinia | SCOTM | Toronto Metropolitan University |
Non-Academic Placements
| Name | Field of Study | Job Title (as of hiring) |
Organization |
| Sara Babaee | SCOTM | Software Developer in Optimization | NAVBLUE an Airbus Company |
| Amin Dehkordi | SCOTM | Data Scientist | Canada Post |
| Tannaz Mahootchi | SCOTM | Senior Methodologist, Operations Research | Cancer Care Ontario |
"We provide a supportive and personalized approach that enables our students to get involved in state-of-the-art research. Our candidates graduate with skills, knowledge and experience in demand by academia, industry and government organizations."
Madhu Kalimipalli, Professor
The AACSB accreditation is based on a portfolio of performance metrics and that includes high quality teaching, high quality research and a high quality environment that we provide for our students.
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until program is full or applications deadline passes.
Applications will be considered until the program is full.
After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, apply early.
An application for admission to our PhD program in Management must include:
Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
With the announcement of the Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises, special funding will be available to students concentrating on the application of innovation and technology management as it relates to their respective fields of interest.
The Lazaridis School is committed to providing PhD candidates with a solid foundation from which to build successful academic careers. Many of our graduates receive offers for assistant professor and tenure-track positions from universities around the world, including:
Not all of our graduates go on to pursue academic careers; some find success working for organizations in which they can apply their expertise in other ways. Graduates with non-academic positions include:
Brenda Burns
Graduate Program Recruiter
Victoria MacKenzie
Graduate Program Recruiter
Looking for more info? Contact the Lazaridis School.
