PhD in Communication 48 months PHD Programme By BI Norwegian Business School |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

48 monthsProgramme duration

Application Deadline

01 Dec, 2026Application Deadline

Main Subject Area

Communication and Media StudiesMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The PhD Specialisation in Communication aims to train researchers to deepen their understanding of theoretical frameworks, historical contexts and contemporary issues within the field of communication, including media studies, interpersonal communication, organisational communication, computer-mediated communication, information sciences and more. Communication and communication technologies increasingly necessitate internal and external organisational boundary spanning, cooperation and deliberation - between business and society, between business and communities, and between business and (inter-) national organisations. The specialisation aims to train researchers to develop advanced research skills in qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate these interdependencies between business and society through the lens of communication theories, technologies, and practices. 

Upon successful completion of their Doctorate programme, our students will have obtained:

  • The capacity to discuss and analyse contemporary business issues within the fields of communication and media studies, organisational sociology and digital transformation research, as well as in-depth knowledge of a wide array of topic areas
  • The capacity to lead standalone or team-based research initiatives and possess focused knowledge at the frontier of their specialised field 
  • The ability to critically discuss, analyse, and evaluate business problems, as well as the ability to present the resulting opinions in front of researchers, students, and business executives
  • The capacity to critically evaluate methodologies in accordance with theoretical best practices and the application of methodological skills to the analysis of large quantitative and qualitative data sets
  • An international academic network that will facilitate their professional development on both a national and international scale

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

PhD

Study Level

PHD

Study Mode

On Campus

The PhD Specialisation in Communication aims to train researchers to deepen their understanding of theoretical frameworks, historical contexts and contemporary issues within the field of communication, including media studies, interpersonal communication, organisational communication, computer-mediated communication, information sciences and more. Communication and communication technologies increasingly necessitate internal and external organisational boundary spanning, cooperation and deliberation - between business and society, between business and communities, and between business and (inter-) national organisations. The specialisation aims to train researchers to develop advanced research skills in qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate these interdependencies between business and society through the lens of communication theories, technologies, and practices. 

Upon successful completion of their Doctorate programme, our students will have obtained:

  • The capacity to discuss and analyse contemporary business issues within the fields of communication and media studies, organisational sociology and digital transformation research, as well as in-depth knowledge of a wide array of topic areas
  • The capacity to lead standalone or team-based research initiatives and possess focused knowledge at the frontier of their specialised field 
  • The ability to critically discuss, analyse, and evaluate business problems, as well as the ability to present the resulting opinions in front of researchers, students, and business executives
  • The capacity to critically evaluate methodologies in accordance with theoretical best practices and the application of methodological skills to the analysis of large quantitative and qualitative data sets
  • An international academic network that will facilitate their professional development on both a national and international scale

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

Hold a Master of Science (MSc) or comparable degree within the fields of economics and business administration or an area in which BI offers a PhD specialisation.

Have minimum B (4) in Grade Point Average (GPA), five-point scale (A=five, =three, =one).

Hold a Master's degree that includes thesis work (15 to 30 ECTS).

Have an adequate level of academic and English language proficiency. This may require specific documentation by proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. Applicants will be informed if this is needed.

In particular cases, GMAT or GRE tests may be required. Applicants will be informed if this is needed.

An MBA degree does not fulfill the requirements for admission.

01 Dec 2026
4 Years
Aug

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