School Guide

Doctor of Business Administration

The degree of Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) is a research doctorate. The D.B.A. often requires coursework beyond the masters’ level in addition to research that results in a dissertation that contributes to business theory or practice.

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA Degree) & the Doctor of Philosophy in Business (PhD) graduate programs are generally intended for students who wish to pursue a career in academics, research or government. PhD business programs tend to focus more intensively with developing theory & is more appropriate for those wishing to become professional researchers. The DBA degree program research however focuses on the application of theory & addresses applied business issues with respect to the student’s business or profession.

The U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation recognize numerous research-oriented doctoral degrees such as the DBA as “equivalent” to the PhD.

The D.B.A. is usually identical to a Ph.D in Business Administration, except that it tends more towards applied research rather than theoretical research. Harvard Business School, Manchester Business School, Boston University School of Management, Copenhagen Business School, Cranfield School of Management, Durham Business School and Maastricht School of Management, among many others, offer the choice of D.B.A. or Ph.D as equally rigorous doctoral programs, the only difference being applied-research orientation of the DBA programs

Both doctorates involve the development of substantial original work. However, a professional doctorate such as the DBA requires a different type of research development from that of the PhD. For a PhD, research needs to make a significant contribution to an area of knowledge. For the DBA, research needs to make a significant contribution to practice, policy or strategy. The research involved in a DBA is applicable to a business issue (or issues) and is carried out in the context of professional practice.

The DBA is designed to enable a significant contribution to be made towards the enhancement of professional practice in the area of management. Thus, the research undertaken has to be rigorous to be worthy of a Doctorate and immediately relevant to the world of management through addressing real problems. It is a Practitioner Doctorate. The structure is to form a cohort for each intake of around seven to ten students.

The DBA is right for today’s business world. It is often better received in business than a narrow PhD Doctorate. This is because the approach is broader and the thesis takes a practical subject as its basis for the research study.

Typical entry requirements include MBA, MSc (Mgt) or similar Masters degrees, or equivalent qualifications in general management, or in a functional field by examination awarded by a professional body. Often Universities will also ask for significant experience in a managerial or professional supervisory position involving responsibility for strategic or professional development issues. The D.B.A. normally requires a significant thesis, dissertation or final comprehensive project including a formal defense and approval by nominated examiners or an officially sanctioned and qualified doctoral review committee. The degree is conferred when all coursework, testing, and written research is completed satisfactorily and when it has been examined, reviewed and approved by the awarding institution.

The D.B.A. degree may have a specialization such as management science, technology management, organizational behavior, economics, or finance. Many business schools offer both D.B.A. and Ph.D. programs in various fields. Curricula may be offered on a full-time or part-time basis. Under the Bologne Process it is stated that the normal duration of a doctorate should correspond to 3-4 years of full time study.

Acknowledging the diversity of structures and nomenclature used in different universities, it is expected that responsibility for the overall quality of a D.B.A. program within the University context will reside within the Research Degrees Committee (or equivalent), rather than any other structures which might regard it as a taught course. D.B.A. programs must have a specific set of university regulations and must be subject to appropriate quality approval processes. Regulations should include reference to protocols for treating ethical issues in research, including those involving researchers working within the organisation that employs them and/or having access to privileged information.

Colleges Offering DBA