Professional PhD Program (PPP)

Mission and Atmosphere

TiSEM’s core priorities are to Excel, Innovate and Connect to achieve its impactful educational mission. The eagerness of the top researchers at TiSEM to transfer their knowledge to the society at large is the cornerstone of the design of the Professional PhD Program (dubbed as PPP). The PPP is part of the CentER Graduate School for Economics and Business which also offers fulltime PhD programs at TiSEM.

The PPP mission is to offer top-level academic education in the fields of business and economics to professionals. The program is dedicated to prop up PhD candidate's interests in becoming scientifically vested players to the knowledge society.

The PPP proposes an academically sound and high quality program to professionals operating in the fields of economics and business. The PPP gives the opportunity to professionals to write their doctoral dissertation without interrupting their professional career.  TiSEM has confidence that the PPP offers to professional PhD candidates the best professional and intellectual match possible with their personal interest.

Profile PPP candidates: Excel, Innovate and Connect

The PPP builds on TiSEM’s priorities to provide education of quality rather than quantity (i.e., Excel) in the framework of an innovative teaching culture (i.e., Innovate) capitalizing on partnerships in research and education (i.e., Connect).

Candidatures will be assessed based on the criteria of Excel, Innovate, and Connect.

Excel: You have been awarded a Master’s degree from an accredited university and your point grade average for your Bachelor and Master diploma are excellent. As you will write your articles and thesis in English, you have excellent knowledge of written English. You have demonstrated the ability to perform independent research, and show commitment, perseverance and resilience in your professional trajectory. You are eager to learn and have gathered specific academic skills to your research field of interest during your education. You can structurally reserve time to work on your PhD. The norm is situated around 15 hours a week to complete the trajectory within 5 years.

Innovate: You would consider yourself or are considered by your environment as intellectually flexible, excelling at problem-solving, creative and interested to solve economic and societal issues.

Connect: You are well implemented in your professional career (at least a minimum of 5 years). You are well connected at the national and/or international level to other players in your field. You have access to the data, people, or case studies required to complete a doctoral dissertation. You have the support from your organization in terms of research time and resources.

Supervision

The Professional PhD Program team emphasizes the importance of the good "fit" between expectation of PhD candidates and supervisors. This is primarily based on common research interests and goals. This good “fit” increases the PhD candidate’s chance of successfully completing his/her degree within the five year trajectory.

Please consult the non-exhaustive list of full or part-time professors from TiSEM involved in the Professional PhD Program. 

Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator of the appropriate research field when you need recommendations regarding potential supervisors.

All PhD dissertations need to comply with the PhD regulations of Tilburg University.

For further information please see structure, application, admission and tuition fee, and FAQ