Doctoral study in International Business

        Why study with us?
The University of Auckland consistently ranks in the top 100 globally and is New Zealand’s No. 1 university. (QS World University Rankings)

The Business School at The University of Auckland is part of the 1% of Business Schools worldwide with Triple Crown accreditation.(AACSB International, EFMD-EQUIS, and AMBA)

The university hosts more researchers in business and economics than any other New Zealand university. This expertise provides opportunities for original and significant contributions to knowledge in various disciplines.

Students have opportunities to connect with professionals from their discipline through networking event, fostering collaboration and industry connections.

The Business School offers state-of-the-art facilities, including dedicated workspaces for full-time PhD students.

Doctoral candidates receive annual Postgraduate Research Student Support (PReSS) funding to cover research expenses.

The Business School Careers Centre assists students with career planning through skills workshops, employer interactions and individual support.

Research opportunities

When you join us for your doctorate in International Business, you'll join a high-calibre research community and have the opportunity to publish papers, attend international conferences and develop your network in academia and industry.

We welcome research proposals in topics relating to our key research specialisations:

Accounting and Finance

Finance
Financial accounting
Management accounting

Commercial Law

Governance and financing of business enterprises
Intellectual property, innovation and information
Taxation and regulation
The legal environment of international business

Economics

Econometrics
Microeconomics and experimental economics
Industrial organisation, regulation, energy, transport and environmental economics
Labour markets, education, health and public policy
Macroeconomics and finance
International trade and development economics

Management and International Business

Entrepreneurship and innovation
Management, people and organisations
Strategy and international business

Marketing

Consumer behaviour
Contemporary issues in branding
Marketing, practice and service innovation
Sustainability and societal issues in marketing

Property

Commercial property markets
Housing markets and urban change

Our people

Pursue your topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from internationally recognised researchers.

Professor Kenneth Husted (Head of Department): corporate entrepreneurship, innovation and research management, knowledge management, management of R&D and research commercialisation

Associate Professor Maureen Benson-Rea: international business strategy, internationalisation, networks, international marketing, European business

Dr Jose Brache: international entrepreneurship, SMEs internationalisation, inter-firm cooperation, industrial clusters, networks, international business strategy

Dr Brent Burmester: political economy of foreign direct investment and the multinational enterprise (MNE), the political behaviour of international businesses, global regulation of foreign direct investment (FDI), MNEs and human rights

Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart: business government relations (especially in Southeast Asia), political economy approaches to institutions and collective action, financial regulation and capital mobility, with a focus on intra-Asia investment flows

Professor Snejina Michailova: (global) talent management, modern slavery, host country nationals, expatriation/repatriation, knowledge transfer across borders

Associate Professor Christina Stringer: international business (in particular Asia and Latin America), forced labour and human trafficking in the fishing industry, migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand; modern slavery and global value chains

Dr Dan Tisch: strategic management focusing on sustainability, climate change adaptation and resilience, corporate social responsibility in international business

Dr Joseph Yan: strategy and institutional studies focusing on international business context

Dr Peter Zamborsky: international business, strategy and innovation

Past research topics

"Making sense of foreign direct investment: Towards a strong structuration model of MNE decision-making” | Supervised by Associate Professor Maureen Benson-Rea and Dr Brent Burmester
"Competitor influences on internationalizing SMEs” | Supervised by Associate Professor Maureen Benson-Rea and Dr Peter Zamborsky
“International experience and cultural intelligence: The role of study abroad” | Supervised by Professor Snejina Michailova
"The MNE as a network of dynamic intra-organisational relationships: the temporality and multiplexity of subunit triads" | Supervised by Professor Snejina Michailova
“The role of religion in private governance acceptance in the Malaysian palm oil industry” | Supervised by Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart and Associate Professor Christina Stringer
“The role of government in Russian MNEs’ internationalisation” | Supervised by Professor Snejina Michailova and Associate Professor Christina Stringer
“HRM practices in subsidiaries of western MNEs in Ghana” | Supervised by Professor Snejina Michailova
“Academic repatriates: Adjustment, work engagement, and intention to leave” | Supervised by Professor Snejina Michailova