Doctor of Business Administration

The degree of Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) is a research doctorate program that focuses upon business practice. The D.B.A. often requires significant research and coursework beyond that required at the masters level. Upon completion the title of "Doctor" is awarded and the post-nominals of DBA can be used.

Relationship to PhD

The Difference?

The choice of "D.B.A. or Ph.D.?" is always relevant for those considering a doctorate in business. The research focus of the typical D.B.A. addresses applied business issues, with the results providing professional outcomes that are of direct relevance to the student's business or profession. Hence many D.B.A programs are designed for experienced and well qualified managers, consultants, and management educators who wish to make a significant and original theoretically informed contribution to management practice through personal research at an advanced level.

D.B.A. research is both theoretical and practical, with the resulting thesis at the same level as a Ph.D. in terms of effort, rigour, contribution to knowledge, supervision and assessment. A Ph.D. in the meantime is more concerned with developing theory and is more appropriate for people who wish to become professional researchers, or who wish to pursue a career in academia.

The Recognition?

In the Americas, the D.B.A. is virtually identical to the Ph.D. in Business Administration. The U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation recognize numerous research-oriented doctoral degrees such as the D.B.A. as "equivalent" to the Ph.D. and do not discriminate between them. In the United Kingdom, the Economic and Social Research Council [1] only recognises PhD and DBA programmes at approved institutions.

Like the Ph.D. in business, the D.B.A. generally requires coursework followed by 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 committee or other appropriate body.

The Degree Provisions

The D.B.A. degree (just like a Ph.D. degree in business) may have a specialization such as accountancy, finance, management, marketing, and operations management. 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 Bologna Process [2] it is stated that the normal duration of a doctorate should correspond to 3-4 years of full time study. For some exceptional cases, students can complete the degrees in less than 3 years. 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.

EDAMBA is the European Network of Doctoral Programmes in Business Administrations [3], EDAMBA helps participating schools to improve the quality of their provision and also provides a Summer Research Academy to support students from participating schools.

Schools Offering DBA Degrees

Asia

• Aligarh Muslim University- Offers DBA program in association with All India Management Association.
• City University of Hong Kong DBA is offered.
• De La Salle Professional Schools - Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business.
• Hitotsubashi University - The Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy offers a DBA program in International Business Strategy.
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University DBA and Doctor in Management degrees delivered.
• Nagasaki University - The Graduate School of Economics offers a DBA program.
• National Institute of Development Administration or NIDA -The Graduate School of Business Administration, joint DBA program between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University offered
• Tongji University, joint DBA program offered.
• Universiti Utara Malaysia DBA is offered.

Americas

• Argosy University DBA offered in 18 locations across the US.
• Anderson University DBA offered in Anderson, IN. U.S.
• Alliant International University DBA and Joint DBA and PhD offered.
• Boston University School of Management DBA offered.
• Columbia Southern University DBA offered.
• Golden Gate University DBA offered.
• Harvard Business School - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs offered depending on curriculum.
• Louisiana Tech University DBA offered.
• University of Mississippi, joint DBA program.
• Northcentral University Both DBA and PhD Degree offered.
• Nova Southeastern University, H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship DBA offered.
• University of Phoenix DBA offered online.
• Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - The School of Management offers a DBA Program.
• Université de Sherbrooke Both DBA and PhD degrees offered in Canada.
• Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières DBA offered.
• Wilmington University DBA offered.

Europe

• Aston University Both DBA and PhD Degree offered, UK.
• University of Bath - DBA in Higher Education Management, UK.
• Bournemouth University - DBA part time program delivered, UK.
• Brunel University Offers both PhD and DBA, UK.
• Business School Lausanne, Switzerland Offers DBA Course.
• Cardiff University MSc, MBA and DBA Degrees offered, UK.
• Cranfield University Both DBA and PhD Degree offered, UK.
• Durham Business School, in UK.
• Instituto de Empresa - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs offered.
• Edinburgh Business School - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs in EU.
• Glamorgan Business School - Both DBA and PhD Degree offered, UK.
• Grenoble Ecole de Management DBA and Joint DBA offered with the University of Mississippi, USA, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Tongji University, China.
• Henley Management College - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs in UK.
• Heriot Watt University DBA Degree with distance learning option, UK.
• International University of Monaco - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs offered in Monte Carlo-Monaco.
• International School of Management - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs offered with completion options in Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Shanghai.
• Kingston Business School DBA part time program delivered, UK.
• University of Manchester Both DBA and PhD Degree offered, UK.
• University of Newcastle upon Tyne - Both DBA and PhD Programmes offered, UK.
• Northumbria University - Both DBA and PhD Programmes offered on a part and fulltime basis, UK.
• University of Portsmouth The Portsmouth Business School offers both MBA and DBA programs and other professional doctorates, UK.
• Sheffield Hallam University DBA Offered, UK.
• University of Strathclyde Offers both PhD and DBA, UK.
• University of Surrey The School of Management offers both PhD and DBA, UK.

Oceania

• Charles Sturt University- (CSU) DBA Offered, Australia.
• Curtin University of Technology- DBA Offered, Australia.
• Gibaran Business School - DBA Offered, Australia.
• Massey University - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs in New Zealand.
• Monash University- DBA Offered, Australia.
• Murdoch University- DBA Offered, Australia.
• RMIT University – (previously Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) DBA Offered, Australia.
• Southern Cross University- (SCU) DBA Offered, Australia.
• Swinburne University of Technology- DBA Offered, Australia.
• University of Newcastle - DBA offered, Australia.
• University of Western Australia - DBA Offered, Australia.
• Victoria University, Australia - DBA Offered, Australia.
• University of South Australia - DBA Offered, Australia.
• University of Wollongong - Both DBA and PhD Degree Programs in Australia.

Notable Persons with DBA Degrees

• Clayton M. Christensen - is the Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Technology & Operations Management and General Management faculty groups.
• Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries - is the The Raoul de Vitry d'Avaucourt Chaired Professor of Leadership Development at INSEAD and director of the INSEAD Global Leadership Centre.
• Michael E. Raynor - is a Canadian writer, a consultant with Deloitte Consulting LLP, the Distinguished Fellow with Deloitte Research, and an expert on business management practices.