No nationality barrier
GAU states in print that citizens of all countries can enrol. The ALES examination requirement is written for Turkish citizens only, so Gulf-based applicants are outside it.
PhD · Doctorate
PhD in Business Management
Girne American University trains this doctorate on two destinations it names out loud: a university teaching post, or a senior seat in the public or private sector. Seven taught courses, a qualifying examination, then a thesis you cannot defend until a journal has accepted your work.
Quick Highlights
Girne American University
3 Years
7 courses, 21 credits
English
YÖK and YÖDAK
Available
Programme at a Glance
Degree AwardDoctoral Degree (PhD) in Business Management
Awarding UniversityGirne American University, Kyrenia, North Cyprus
DepartmentBusiness Management, Institute of Social Sciences
Head of DepartmentProf. Dr. Murat Akkaya
Specialisation optionsPublic Health Management or Public System Management, by thesis topic
Taught languageEnglish
Note: Duration will be based on your experience and it can be advanced bachelors too which differs from prospects to prospects
Programme Overview
About this Programme
A doctorate that lists its own exit routes is being unusually plain with you. GAU says this one produces teaching staff for higher education institutions and senior executives across public and private organisations, and it builds backwards from there. The Institute's stated goal is qualified academic staff and qualified manpower, in those words.
Seven courses carry twenty-one credits between them. Advanced Management opens the sequence beside Advanced Research Methods and Organizational Behavior; human resource management, strategic analysis and marketing theory follow in the spring. A departmental elective and a seminar close the taught stage, after which a written and oral comprehensive examination across six core subjects decides whether you progress.
The thesis stage carries a condition worth reading twice. Before you may sit your defence, GAU requires at least one article accepted by a journal indexed in SSCI, SCI-Expanded or AHCI. Research conducted in public health management or public system management earns a recorded specialisation.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Two destinations, stated plainly
GAU publishes exactly where this doctorate leads: teaching staff at universities, and senior executive roles in the public and private sector.
02
A named academic in charge
The department lists its head, Prof. Dr. Murat Akkaya. You know who oversees the programme before you apply.
03
Specialise through your thesis
Research in public health management or public system management is recorded as a specialisation rather than treated as a side interest.
04
Published before you defend
An article in an SSCI, SCI-Expanded or AHCI indexed journal is required ahead of the defence, so you graduate with a citable record.
05
Open to every nationality
GAU states that citizens of all countries can enrol. Applicants from outside Turkey are not asked for the ALES examination.
06
A bridge if your master's is elsewhere
Hold a postgraduate degree in another discipline and GAU can assign scientific preparation courses rather than turn the application down.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Analyse modern management theories and how organisations develop
Read the dynamics of organisational behaviour against effective administration
Work with models of communication, motivation and leadership
Apply scientific principles and processes that make research an applied science
Collect, interpret and present information that shapes objectives, policies and planning
Examine organisation design, change, reorganisation and inter-organisational relationships
Analyse competitive situations and strategic dilemmas using established frameworks
Trace marketing's growth from an economic to a behaviourally based discipline
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
Teaching staff at universities
Senior executive in the public and private sector
Programme Structure
Your Journey, Year by Year
A structured curriculum that builds from foundations through to advanced study.
Stage 1 — Taught courses
Seven courses, 21 credits in total. Each taught course is 3 credits and 10 ECTS.
- Year 1 Fall: Advanced Management (MGMT601)
- Advanced Research Methods (MGMT604)
- Organizational Behavior (MGMT606) Year 1 Spring: Advanced Human Resource Management (MGMT607)
- Strategic Management and Business Analysis (MGMT608)
- Advanced Marketing Theories (MARK601) Year 2 Fall: Departmental Elective (PTRME001)
- Seminar in Management (MGMT630, 20 ECTS)
Stage 2 — Qualifying and thesis
Qualifying examination 30 ECTS; each thesis semester 30 ECTS.
- Year 2 Spring: Qualifying examination (QUAL600) — a written and oral comprehensive examination across six core subjects Years 3 and 4: Thesis (THES600), itemised on the graduate school page as Thesis Preparation I, II and III followed by the Thesis itself
Your Learning Partner
Why Study Through Maverick?
Students receive:
Named head of department
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Thesis supervision
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Scientific preparation route
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Seminar presentation training
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Scholarship availability
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Institute admissions guidance
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Why GCC Professionals Choose This Programme
Built for the executive track
One of the two published destinations is a senior executive post in the public or private sector, which maps onto the career many Gulf professionals are already midway through.
A public-sector research angle
Public health management and public system management are recognised thesis specialisations, useful across the Gulf's health authorities and government bodies.
Your master's need not be in business
A postgraduate degree in another field is handled through scientific preparation courses rather than a refusal, which suits engineers and clinicians moving into management research.
Taught wholly in English
The language of instruction is English, so no Turkish is needed for study, supervision or the defence.
Confirm the money before you commit
GAU publishes no doctoral tuition figure for this programme and shows scholarships as available. Request a written fee schedule and scholarship decision from the Institute first.
Our Network
Diverse Alumni
Join professionals across leading organizations worldwide
Graduates placing at world-class organisations across aviation, energy, finance and government
Join our growing global network of industry leaders
Faculty Voice
Insights From Industry Experts
Real-world perspectives from the minds shaping global business education
Germany
Faculty Insight • 01
Prof. Alexander Schmidt
Alexander is a leader in AI and cloud integration, specializing in ethical AI strategy and financial services. He develops courses on Machine Learning, NLP, and AI ethics, driving tech business growth.
British
Faculty Insight • 02
Prof. Dr. David Mark Holliman
Dr. David Holliman, an educator with 15+ years of experience, is Chairman of Holliman Holdings, managing business operations in tourism, trading, asset management, and education
Jordan
Faculty Insight • 03
Prof. Dr. Othman Abu Khurma
Dr. Othman Abu Khurma, a passionate science educator with 18 years' experience in Jordan and the GCC, excels in designing engaging teaching materials, fostering dynamic discussions, enhancing learning for educators and students.
Switzerland
Faculty Insight • 04
Prof. Steve Alban Tineo
Prof. Steve, a global leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience, delivers corporate training and academic courses on negotiation, conflict resolution, mediation, and cross-cultural communication.
slovakia
Faculty Insight • 05
Prof. Veronika Knight
Veronika Knight delivers practical, human-centered learning experiences for corporate teams across the UAE and GCC. Her approach focuses on developing soft skills and encouraging meaningful behavioural change, helping learners apply their knowledge with confidence in the workplace.
Canada
Faculty Insight • 06
Shyma Mohaisen
Shyma brings over 10 years of teaching experience and a background at Microsoft, combining academic expertise with practical industry insights to support learners’ professional growth.
India
Faculty Insight • 07
Prof. Dr. Shanmugan Joghee
Dr. Shanmugan brings over 26 years of experience in management education and research across India and the UAE, with expertise in marketing, international business, research methods, and digital transformation.
Ukrainian
Faculty Insight • 08
Prof. Yana Nikitina
Prof. Yana Nikitina is an accomplished economist, lecturer, and researcher with a PhD in Economics and a Master’s in Education Leadership. She brings extensive experience in teaching Economics, Finance, Accounting, and Business, with a strong commitment to student-centred learning, research excellence, and professional development.
01
/
08
Fees & Scholarships
Fees & Scholarships
Fee structure varies by intake and study mode. Select any option to receive the full details.
Admissions
Request the full fee structure
Speak to our admissions team for a personalised breakdown based on your intake and study mode.
Request Fee StructureNo commitment required. We'll connect you with an advisor.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to apply?
GAU asks for a master's degree in business or a related field. Applicants whose postgraduate study was in a different discipline can still be admitted and are given scientific preparation courses where the Institute judges them necessary. Documents listed are an undergraduate diploma and transcript, a postgraduate diploma and transcript, an English proficiency score and a copy of your identity document.
Is the ALES examination compulsory for me?
Only if you hold citizenship of the Republic of Turkey. GAU sets that group a threshold of at least 55 points of equal weight in ALES, the Turkish academic postgraduate entrance examination. The requirement is written for those citizens specifically, and the same page confirms that nationals of every country may enrol.
How long does the thesis take?
GAU gives two answers in two places. Its programme listing says a minimum of two semesters; its graduate school page for the same doctorate says three. Both are official. Treat the longer figure as your planning assumption and ask the Institute to confirm which applies to your intake before you arrange leave or funding.
Must I publish before graduating?
Yes, and this is firmer than most doctorates make it. GAU requires at least one article listed by SSCI, SCI-Expanded, AHCI or AHCI-Expanded before you make your thesis defence. A graduating grade of 3.00 out of 4.00 is also stated as a minimum.
What does the qualifying examination involve?
It sits at the end of the taught stage, in the spring of year two, and carries 30 ECTS. GAU describes it as a written and oral comprehensive examination drawn from six core subjects. Passing it is what releases you to begin thesis work.
Where can I find the tuition fee?
Nowhere on the programme page, which is worth knowing upfront. GAU renders the Fee field as a dash and marks Scholarship as available, so the figure is settled case by case with the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research. Ask for the full schedule and any scholarship award in writing before accepting a place.
Enquire
Enquire About This Programme
Share a few details and our admissions team will reach out to guide you through the next steps.
Personal eligibility review
Guidance on fees & instalments
Application & study-mode support
Flexible study
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Speak to our admissions team today and take the first step toward a globally recognised degree.