Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The DBA program at EU Business School is a flexible program that combines both coursework and research components and comprises an effective blend of mandatory coursework, professional residencies, trainings and seminars, research papers and a final dissertation.

The DBA program is divided into three stages:

• Coursework Stage
• Candidacy Stage
• Dissertation Stage

Coursework Stage

The coursework stage takes a minimum of one year. It provides students with the theoretical and practical foundations of the primary and supporting fields of study. The study plan defines how each student’s interests and objectives are pursued during the DBA program. It is unique since it bridges students’ educational activities with their personal, long-term career goals. Each course is given in seminar form. The DBA seminars listed below are the core portion of the curriculum. Student progress and participation is evaluated in each of the subjects through a research paper or an alternative assignment requested by faculty.

During the coursework stage, students must successfully complete three independent, stand-alone assignments to be eligible for the next stage. Each assessment component is due by a scheduled deadline announced during the particular academic year after the completion of each module. Students will undertake the following assignments during the first year of their study:

• A paper on research methods or literature review
• A business project
• A research paper

Candidacy Stage

After the successful completion of the coursework stage, students embark on the candidacy stage where they apply the knowledge and skills acquired in stage one to finalize their research interests, outlined in the research proposal.

At this stage the student should start developing their research idea(s), creating a research proposal on their planned academic investigation.

Once the research proposal has been submitted, a formal DBA colloquium evaluates the academic feasibility of the research proposal, and whether the research conducted will add value to the overall body of academic literature. The acceptance of the research proposal marks the completion of the candidacy stage, and the candidate embarks on the third and final stage, i.e., the dissertation stage.

Dissertation Stage

Once the research proposal is accepted and approved by the colloquium, the candidate enters the final research stage of the program. In this stage, the candidate will mostly work independently under the promoter’s guidance to execute the research which will culminate in the doctoral dissertation.

Course List

• Behavioral Science for Business Modeling
• Business & Ethics: Driving the Change
• Data Analysis
• Econometrics
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Global Finance & Managerial Accounting
• Leading Digital Transformation
• Value Based Strategy
• Research Methodology

Credits: 120 ECTS

Degree Awarded

Upon completion, students earn a DBA degree from EU Business School Switzerland which is internationally accredited by ACBSP, IACBE, IQA and certified by EduQua.

Learning Outcomes

The DBA program educates managers, business leaders, executives and scholar-practitioners so that they may:

• Apply new theoretical knowledge to contemporary business problems in an increasingly complex world through applied research, teaching and analysis.
• Demonstrate expertise in ethical standards and practices as well as responsibility and cultural/global diversity, to work collaboratively as a contributing leader within both business and society.
• Comprehend the nature and scope of behavior within small and large organizations in the global business environment and analyze the activities of leaders who have successfully managed change.