The purpose of the Doctorate in Business Economics is to train researchers in areas such as business so that, upon completion of their doctoral dissertation, they might become members of other universities and research centres or conduct applied research in the fields of economics and business at the different Public Administration departments, consulting firms or large companies. The term “economics” in this case refers to the efficient allocation of limited resources, and “business” refers to the sphere of organizations. The field of research is, therefore, the management, administration and control of companies and organizations.
This is an interuniversity doctoral degree whose implementation is born from the joint efforts of the different business sciences’ departments and research groups of the four public universities of Castile and León (Valladolid, Salamanca, León and Burgos).
It is mainly intended for students who have completed the Joint Master’s Degree in Research in Business Administration and Economics, which provides the required background to study this Doctorate. If this is not the case, students are required to hold degrees with similar contents and research profiles.
According to the profile set by the program of the Doctorate in Business Economics and the experience of former years, future students should be trained in business administration and in statistical and mathematical methods, and have sufficient language proficiency to be able to conduct competitive research that is adequate for publication in acknowledged international journals specialized in business. Students’ are also expected to acquire the status of “International Doctor” through the presentation and defence of a doctoral dissertation.
Students enrolled in the three-year full-time program are expected to begin by taking a course on advanced research techniques for business economics and, throughout the course, to attend six scheduled seminars within their area of expertise. Likewise, they are expected to attend project, research and results follow-up meetings. As far as possible, students shall have access to mobility grants for stays at other research centres.
By the end of the program, and based on their research, students should have been admitted to deliver at least one speech at a national or international conference, and at least one of the articles from their dissertation should have been accepted for publication in a prestigious journal (JCR-Thomson Reuters).
The program will involve 64 accredited teachers from the four organizing universities, organized into 10 research teams specialized in finances, business organization, accounting and marketing.