Overview

Telfer PhD in Management Program

Today’s changing world demands creative, resourceful and dedicated thinkers. Multidisciplinary and forward-looking, the Telfer PhD program is unique and challenging. Above all, it carries with it high expectations for students. Our PhD program is designed to shape visionary, influential thinkers who have a positive impact on the lives of people, organizations and communities through their research. Whatever our students’ goals, we are always close by to help them reach them.

At the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, we are committed to providing our students with all the means to make their mark. Our students work on their research in collaboration with internationally renowned professors. We share with our students the expertise of our researchers, their extensive networks, and their partnerships with organizations in local, national, and international business communities.  Our mission is to consistently maintain high-quality research networks – and to put our students at the centre of everything.

Located in the heart of Ottawa, our school is the proud academic home of some 4300 students, 80 full-time faculty members, and more than 25,000 alumni. Our accreditations from the three most demanding international organizations (AACSB, EQUIS & AMBA) underline that we are recognized as one of the world’s top business schools.

The Telfer PhD: Make Your Mark

The Telfer PhD in Management is unique and challenging. Our doctoral students:

• Work on their research under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty.
• Acquire the knowledge associated with leadership in research.
• Create and disseminate knowledge that makes an impact on management research, and that influences strategy and decision-making in industry, government and non-profit organizations.
• Develop the critical thinking and creative abilities and capabilities that will ensure readiness for a variety of careers.

Our unique approach surrounds our students with exceptional opportunities for learning and development – just one of the many reasons we are so proud of our PhD in Management program.

Doctoral Leadership Development Program

The Telfer School of Management doctoral program emphasizes doctoral candidates’ holistic development, with personal and professional needs discussed on an ongoing basis between the students and their supervisors, the Program Director and the students’ professional mentors.

In parallel with seminars, special workshops and activities focused on personal and professional development take place throughout the PhD program. Some of these workshops are delivered through the Doctoral Leadership Development Program and others are offered as part of the Altitude Program, developed by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Teaching and Learning Support Service (TLSS). Doctoral students develop the professional skills that prepare them for a variety of academic and applied research careers.

A few examples of our workshops are as follows: project (thesis) management, how to write a lot and overcome writers’ block, grant preparation, the publication process, effective networking at conferences, and how to prepare for the job market. Several workshops focus on teaching and pedagogy. Furthermore, we offer activities aimed at improving our students’ wellbeing and personal development, such as work-life balance, stress and time management, leadership, effective communication, and interpersonal skills.

Multidisciplinary Research

In response to the growing demand for multidisciplinary research encompassing traditional areas of management, we offer two multidisciplinary fields (Entrepreneurship and Health Systems), and all students, regardless of specialization, examine the multidisciplinary nature of management decision-making. In all fields, Telfer students push beyond the traditional knowledge boundaries and incorporate knowledge from other disciplines—within and outside of management—in their work. As such, it’s not uncommon for our students to develop interests in areas such as sociology, psychology, economics, and information technology, depending on their major topic of study.

The core doctoral curriculum embraces emerging and sometimes conflicting paradigms including sustainability, responsible management and the need to balance environmental, economic and social outcomes. Ethical management is highlighted across the program.

Management Research Seminar Series

The Telfer School of Management is lucky to host several research talks every year. We currently host the Management Research Seminar Series, and the Health Systems Research Seminar Series.

These seminar series allow us to host leading researchers from top universities and institutes across the world. These seminars give our students first-hand opportunity to learn from renowned international researchers and to develop their own academic network.

All doctoral students are invited to make at least one thesis-related presentation to the Telfer School of Management Research Seminar Series. They are also invited to present in the seminar series prior to giving talks at conferences. 

Teaching Practicum

We strongly recommend that all Telfer School of Management PhD students develop their teaching skills, regardless of their intended career. The ability to teach is an important skill for both academic and non-academic careers. As such, our students shadow their major professor and other faculty members through teaching assistantships and guest lectures. Second, our students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the University of Ottawa’s Certificate in University Teaching.