Overview
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Hospitality and Tourism doctoral programme offers a rigorous research pathway for individuals seeking to advance scholarly and professional knowledge in hospitality and tourism.
PhD candidates undertake Research Methods for Hospitality and Tourism and receive close supervision while developing an original thesis (minimum 50,000 words). Key milestones include a research proposal defence, viva voce, seminar presentations, and publication of research. Candidates must also complete training in research ethics and the CITI Programme, contribute to academic conferences, and submit a journal manuscript. Areas of research include Hospitality and Service Management, Food, Health and Well-being, Sustainability, Events and Destination Management, and Mobilities.
Graduates are prepared for careers in higher education, academic research, consultancy, and R&D leadership in tourism and service sectors.
- Higher Education
- Academia
- Research and development
- Consultancy
- RM59,980
for Malaysian students
- USD14,829
for international students
Programme Structure
Research Methodology
All PhD students will enroll in the ‘Research Methods for Hospitality and Tourism’ subject, which advances students’ understanding in and application of developing, conducting, and disseminating their own research.
Thesis
PhD candidates will be empowered to complete an in-depth study on a particular research topic in the form of a thesis, substantiated by a series of academic milestones including a proposal defense and a viva voce, where the research outcomes ultimately contribute to the knowledge base of hospitality and tourism and its scholarly and professional communities.
Professional Development Activities
Additional required academic activities are regular consultations with the supervisory team, regular progress reports, participation in research seminars, the completion of a research ethics workshop and training programme, a conference presentation, and the submission of a manuscript to an academic journal.
Areas of Research
We have a team of dedicated Supervisors with expertise in areas of research including (but not limited to):
Entry Requirements
- A Master’s Degree (Level 7, MQF) or its equivalent in hospitality, tourism, or related fields as accepted by the University’s Senate; OR
- Applicants who have a Master’s in a field that is not related to hospitality and tourism may be accepted if:
- the first Degree is in hospitality, tourism or related field; OR
- they have three (3) years of working experiences in the hospitality and tourism related industry.
- Candidates whose master’s or first degree is not related to the fields of hospitality/tourism and without working experiences in the relevant fields, must undergo appropriate prerequisite courses prior to registering the programme.
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose medium of instruction for their Bachelor’s / Master’s degree was not English will be required to provide evidence of language ability of:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.0 or equivalent; OR
- TOEFL: 100 (internet-based); OR
- PTE Academic: 70 overall
Application Procedure
Applicants are requested to send the completed application with the following supporting documents to @email:
- ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Postgraduate application form
- Research statement
- Scholarship application form (if applicable)
- Passport size photo (white background)
- Photocopy of Identification Card (applicable to Malaysian applicant)
- Photocopy of passport (full passport incl. cover and blank pages; International applicant)
- Official academic transcripts and completion certificates
- Curriculum vitae
- IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (if applicable)
Research Proposal
Applicants are required to submit a 1,000-word research statement (excl. references), which includes the following:
- A working title for proposed the research project
- Introduction and nature of research (incl. your motivation to study this topic), which includes
- Research background
- Problem statement
- Research objective(s)
- Research question(s)/hypothesis
- Literature review
- Research methodology
- Proposed research schedule
- List of references
The application documents will be evaluated by the PhD Committee which considers all applications based on the criteria approved by MQA. Shortlisted applicants are recommended to the University Research Degrees Committee for its consideration.
Contact Information
For more information and to apply, please email:
Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Eligibility Criteria for Bursary or Scholarship
Bursary*
Programme: PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:
- PhD: 50% tuition fee waiver
Criteria: ºìÐÓÊÓƵ graduates who are meeting the entry requirement for the PhD programmes
Scholarship**
Programme: PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:- PhD: 100% tuition fee waiver
Criteria: Graduates who are meeting the entry requirement for the PhD programmes. CGPA >= 3.5 or Merit (or equivalent)
*Bursary is only offered to ºìÐÓÊÓƵ graduates from ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Education Group higher education institutions.
**Scholarship is open to ºìÐÓÊÓƵ and non-ºìÐÓÊÓƵ graduates.* NOTE: All bursaries and scholarships are subject to terms & conditions.
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Programme: PhD
Mode of study: Full-time
Financial Support:- 100% tuition fee waiver including registration and resource fees
- Cost of living allowance of RM3,000 per month for 36 months
- Opportunity to join the Asia Pacific Centre for Hospitality Research (APCHR) of the School of Hospitality and Service Management
Eligibility Criteria:
- Master degree in Hospitality / Tourism or a related field
- Master degree with a CGPA >= 3.5 and above (or equivalent)
- One (1) published journal article indexed in WOS/Scopus as first or corresponding author (please include the link of your Scopus profile in your CV, if available)
Required Supporting Documents:
- Master degree certificate and official academic transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
- Detailed and updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research statement / proposal (2,000 words, excluding references)
Please note that ALL documents need to be complete prior to submission. Supplementary documents may be requested for further review. Eligible applicants will be interviewed, and Studentship awards will be given on a competitive basis
For more information about the scholarships and financial aid, please visit the .
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