Rooted in a land that has been a centre of learning for over two thousand years.
A research-led PhD in Management for those who aspire to build new knowledge and theory, solve real-world management problems, and share insights that make a difference, whether your background is in management or in science, engineering, agriculture, computing or another field.
The three-year Doctor of Philosophy in Management develops independent researchers who ask important questions, investigate them rigorously and share findings that matter to academia, industry, government and society.
Our home in Mihintale sits beside Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage city whose reservoirs, institutions and great monasteries such as the Mahavihara reflect centuries of planning, stewardship and scholarship. We encourage research that links modern management thinking with these enduring lessons.
You are treated as a junior research colleague from day one. Your thesis is shaped through close supervision by a vibrant faculty with international research experience, across areas such as organisations, tourism, agriculture, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Every field, from the laboratory to the farm, the factory and the hospital, depends on how it is organised, led and managed. Designed for graduates in management, our PhD also welcomes scientists, engineers, agriculturists, computer scientists and other professionals who want to research the management side of the world they know.
Innovation, research commercialisation, and laboratory and environmental management.
Project and operations management, quality and safety, and technology adoption.
Agribusiness, value chains, farmer entrepreneurship and rural development.
Information systems, digital transformation, e-government and Industry 4.0.
Healthcare management, service quality and the organisation of health systems.
Education, tourism, the public sector and beyond. If it is organised and managed, it can be researched here.
These themes are examples only. Your research can take any direction that brings management thinking into your discipline.
Where needed, the Admission Committee may recommend supplementary courses from the Faculty’s MBA, with a separate certificate on completion.
The compulsory Research Methodology course prepares you for rigorous doctoral research, whatever your first discipline.
Our panel includes specialists in information systems, industrial management, environmental management and economics alongside management experts, so your supervisors can bring both perspectives together.
Not sure whether your idea fits? Share it with us before you apply and we will guide you.
Thank you for your interest in the Doctor of Philosophy in Management at the Faculty of Management Studies, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. A PhD is more than a qualification. It is a commitment to asking important questions, pursuing them with rigour and contributing knowledge that improves management practice, policy and society.
Our programme is designed to make that commitment achievable. It is a three-year PhD by thesis at SLQF Level 12, with a single compulsory Research Methodology course and no examinations, so your energy goes into your research. You will work with experienced supervisors from our Faculty and from leading national and international universities, supported by regular seminars, workshops and progress reviews at every stage.
We welcome academics, practitioners and policy makers who bring curiosity and commitment. I encourage you to explore the programme, share your research idea with a prospective supervisor and contact our office with any questions. We look forward to supporting you as you build knowledge with impact.
Prof. Chaminda Dassanayake
Coordinator, PhD Programme
Everything you need to begin, progress and complete your doctoral journey with confidence.
Learn from experienced academics of the Faculty of Management Studies, Rajarata University, and well-recognised PhD supervisors from other national and international universities.
Browse supervisor profiles on our Supervisory Panel and contact potential supervisors directly to shape your research idea and strengthen your synopsis.
Regular supervision, feedback at every milestone and ongoing methodology guidance keep you supported and on track from your first idea to your final defence.
Our programme office and the University's student support services help with administrative, academic and personal matters throughout your candidature.
Your PhD is earned mainly through your thesis. The only compulsory course is Research Methodology, and it has no examinations, so your time goes into your research along a clear, staged path to completion.
If you need to strengthen your subject knowledge, the Admission Committee may recommend supplementary courses from the Faculty's MBA, one of the country's well-known management programmes. A separate certificate is issued on completion.
Detailed guidelines and handbooks set out exactly what is expected at every step of your doctoral journey.
A competitive fee structure, payable in annual instalments, makes doctoral study affordable and manageable.
Academics and professionals from many fields, such as engineering, health, agriculture, education, information technology and the social sciences, can pursue a PhD that brings management thinking into their own area of interest. You build on the expertise you already have and develop research that matters both to your discipline and to the way it is managed.
A continuous programme of online and in-person seminars and workshops builds your research skills and supports each stage of your study.
Gain valuable experience by taking part in faculty research projects, co-authoring publications and teaching.
Present your research at local and international conferences and connect with scholars around the world.
Join a growing community of doctoral researchers, supervisors and alumni to share ideas and build lasting networks.
Step away from daily routines to learn, write and network alongside fellow candidates and supervisors. Residential research workshops, doctoral gatherings and field visits give you focused time to advance your thesis and experience research beyond the classroom.
Applications are open all year. Apply by 31 December 2026 to join the next intake, beginning in the third week of January 2027.
Review the entry requirements, including your qualifications and English proficiency, in the Application Guideline.
Prepare a research synopsis. We recommend discussing your idea with a prospective supervisor from our Supervisory Panel.
Pay the Rs. 5,000 application fee, then apply online, by email or by post with your synopsis, two referee letters, proof of payment and supporting documents. If you apply online, email your documents to phd@mgt.rjt.ac.lk.
Eligible applicants attend a selection test and/or interview, bringing the originals of their documents. On Senate approval, you register and your supervisors are appointed.
Ready to create knowledge that makes a difference? Explore the programme structure and graduation requirements, discuss your research idea with a prospective supervisor and take the first step toward your PhD.
For enquiries about admission, supervision or your research proposal, please contact the PhD Programme Office. We will be glad to help.
