• Ph.D. Programme (Doctor of Philosophy)
• DBA Programme (Doctor of Business Administration)

The Institute of Post Graduate Studies of Build Bright University offers Ph.D. program on several disciplines for the students those who have successfully completed their Master degree from any universities/Institutes recognized by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Kingdom of Cambodia.
 
The various broad disciplines in which a student can pursue research are as follows:

1. Business Administration
2. Economics
3. Rural Development and Social Work
4. Education
5. Tourism
6. Political Science
7. Law
8. Information technology

The Ph.D. program of the university comprises of three academic years and the program is of 54 credits. The total credit of the program is divided into several activities to be carried out by the research scholars for completing their research work including both classroom teaching and field research work. Each credit involves 15 hours of course work. In the first term of the first year, the scholar has to undertake course work on two subjects for a total of six credits, i.e., Research Methodology (3 credits) and Advanced Statistics (3 credits).

In the second term of the first year, the scholar has to develop the research proposal on the topic of his choice in his area of specialization in consultation with the guide, which carries three credits. The suggested outline below may be helpful for organizing the proposal by the scholar. Depending on the nature of the topic under consideration, the scholar may substitute or add other headings which best describe the proposal.

1. General introduction to the subject of proposal.
2. Statement of the specific issue or problem the proposal will consider.
3. Summarize any work already completed on the topic.
4. Methodology to be followed in implementing the work.
5. How necessary information and materials will be gathered?
6. Any special techniques that will be employed (statistical analysis, survey methodology, etc.).
7. Possible conclusions, generalizations or recommendations.
8. Partial bibliography.
9. Time schedule for completing of each activity.

After the finalization of the research proposal by the student, the same need to be submitted to the office. The Research Committee reviews the proposal and gives comment on it. As per the recommendations, the student has to finalize his proposal for presenting the same in a seminar to get three credits.

In the first term of the second year, the scholar has to review the related literatures on the research topic. For the successful review of literature, the scholar gets 6 credits. After that, the scholar has to prepare the questionnaires for the collection of data in the first half of the second term of second year. Before collecting data, the scholar has to make pilot survey in order to make improvement of questionnaire, if necessary. The development of the questionnaire and its finalization involve 6 credits. In the second half of the second term, he has to collect data through the questionnaire, and this carries 6 credits.

In the first term of the third year, the scholar has to process and analyze the data. For doing this, he acquires 9 credits. Then the scholar has to write the draft report in consultation with his research supervisor and submit the final one to the office of the Director, Post Graduate Studies, BBU. By undertaking such activities, he attains 15 credits.

(i) The Written Examination

Each scholar is required to appear for the written examination on Research Methodology and Advanced Statistics after the course work in the end of the first term of the first year. If for some reason or the other, the scholar fails to appear for the written examination, he/she should inform to the Office of the Director, Post Graduate Studies, seeking permission to appear for the examination in a date to be decided by the Office. Further, in case a scholar fails in the written examination, a final chance will be given to him to appear in another written examination. To qualify the examination, a scholar has to secure at least 50 per cent of marks in the examination and this will enable the scholar to undertake the research work thereafter.

(ii) Allocation of Ph. D. Supervisor/Guide

After the scholar will successfully qualify in the written examination, he/she can pursue the research work on the topic selected by him in his discipline in consultation with the supervisor. Both international and local professors are available for giving research guidance to the Ph.D. Scholars. As a normal rule, one supervisor is allocated to each scholar on the basis of his/her broad area of research study. In case of need, a co-supervisor can also be considered by the Director, Post Graduate Studies.

(iii) Examination and Evaluation of Dissertation

After the Ph.D. dissertation is completed in all respects, the scholar has to submit five copies of the dissertations along with Abstracts both in English and Khmer versions to the Office of the Director, Post Graduate Studies. The dissertation will be examined and evaluated by three experts, i.e., the Ph.D. supervisor, one examiner within the country and another foreign examiner. After receiving positive recommendations from all the three experts, the University will fix a date and intimate the scholar to defend his thesis before the Ph.D. Evaluation Committee. On successful completion of the same, the University will award the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the scholar.

The University reserves the right to modify any regulation governing the Ph.D. program, keeping in mind the best interest of students, University and the concerned Ministry.

Two options are available for the Ph.D. scholar to pay tuition fees to the University. These are given below:
        (j) One time payment at the time of admission - US $ 1500 per annum
   Each year Or
       (ii)  a. At the first installment - US $ 800
       (iii) b. At the second installment - US $ 700

The applicant for the local Ph.D. Program must possess a master degree in the respective discipline or related area in which he/she is interested to pursue the research from a duly accredited Institution/University.