Doctorate of Business Administration
Kloten, Switzerland
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Jul 2025
TUITION FEES
CHF 40,150
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
The DBA differs from a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) through its focus on practice, policy or strategy, within the context of the individual’s workplace. Both doctorates involve the development of substantial original work. However, a profes sional 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 the DBA applies to business issue(s) and is carried out in the context of professional practice.
Focus
The world of business and management is undergoing rapid and profound changes. Theories, practices and strategies, which seemingly worked yesterday, are failing today. Institutional leaders, policymakers and managers everywhere are increasingly confronted by novel situations without historical precedent, precipitating the need for new knowledge.
The SBS DBA program takes place on Saturdays and Sundays, every three months. The DBA comprises a total of 180 SBS Credits and can be completed in a minimum of 3 years of part-time / next-to-the-job study. The program is taught in a classroom format based on the use of intensive workshops. It includes the following two components.
Features of the SBS DBA
- Program adopted to serve the needs of capable students, regardless of their field of experience
- Designed to meet the special requirements of working academic and business professionals who have the motivation to expand their knowledge and skills
- Doctoral studies are adopted to permit busy professionals to balance the demands of career and family
- Help institutions adapt to change and lay the foundations for sustainability
- Bring theory and practice to bear on decision-making in complex organizations
- We teach academic professionals how to build upon the master’s level core skills and knowledge to develop a higher level of competence in conducting applied research.
Key Reasons for the DBA
- Personal development and career advancement
- World-class doctorate program
- Time flexibility is a vital feature that busy professionals truly appreciate
- SBS AAA Standard
- Accredited
- Applicable
- Affordable
- Contribute to the world of knowledge and professional practice
- Reputation of excellence in management and business education
- International faculty of leaders in research and practice
- Strong links with diverse industries
- Effective Learning Resources
- Access to Online Libraries
The result of going through this rigorous DBA means you develop not only cutting-edge knowledge and expertise but establish sound capabilities in management consulting, in-company action research as well as, academic research leading to the publication of work in internationally acclaimed peer-reviewed journals. Candidates are assessed thought 50% coursework and 50% research work.
Accreditation
- SBS Swiss Business School has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), located in Olathe, Kansas
- The educational programs offered by SBS Swiss Business School have received accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, located in Overland Park, Kansas
- Accredited by the British Accreditation Council as an Independent Higher Education Institution
- Accredited by a CHEA-Recognized Accrediting Organization Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
- EDUQUA is a Swiss Quality Assurance Certificate for providers in the field of adult learning. SBS Swiss Business School Holds a certifi cation by EDUQUA
- SBS is a certified member of Swiss Label. The trademark of the Swiss label is the cross bow a protected symbol in Switzerland. Certification is granted to members with genuine Swiss highquality services and products.
Admissions
Curriculum
Program Structure
- The Doctor of Business Administration is an integrated coursework and research program that may be completed in a minimum of three years
- The coursework component takes place during the first year. Courses are conducted in the classroom in an intensive workshop model with facetoface seminars. All courses are asses sed by written assignments
- The transition from the coursework phase to the research phase is by the candidate satisfactorily completing the set of assessed Research Proposals (one for each research project)
- On satisfactory completion of the coursework, candidates enter the research phase where they undertake individual, supervised research projects. The output of each research project is a research paper of publishable style and quality
- The dissertation is submitted for external examination.
Notes
- A dissertation may be submitted in place of Papers 1 and 2 or other forms of scholarly writing may be accepted subject to the approval of the Program Director
- The examination process is dependent on the mode of submis sion of final work. Where a paper-based submission has been chosen, successful completion of the DBA is by both papers being accepted for publication by an International peerrevie wed journal that has been approved by the Doctoral Panel. The se journals are found on an approved list which may be changed from time to time
- Where dissertationbased submission (or other than by publication) has been chosen, successful completion of the DBA is by external examination by two independent experts in the area of the research study. These examiners must be approved by the Doctoral Panel at least 3 months before submission
- The maximum completion time is 4 years. An extension may be applied for between the minimum time of one and a half years (11⁄2) and the maximum time of four years (4) subject to approval by the Doctoral Panel but extension fees apply. Extension beyond four years will only be granted in special circumstances and by written application to the Doctoral Panel
- The DBA is a full feepaying program. Students must have ready access to a modern computer (with appropriate software), electronic mail, Internet and use of microphone/speakers or headset for the duration of the program.
- Continuing enrolment in the program is subject to satisfactory progress which is reviewed every six months by supervisors and the Doctoral Panel
- The program is scheduled and timetabled so that it is suitable for candidates who maintain their fulltime professional work
- Candidates must satisfactorily complete each phase before proceeding to the next phase
- Candidates who satisfactorily complete the coursework pha se only may exit the program with a Master of Applied Business Research
- During the research phase, there will be structured meetings between candidates and supervisors based on agreements between the parties.
First Year Course
Semester 1
- MGT600 Management Research Perspectives
- BUS600 Information Technologies for Business Research
- GLO600 Global Environments and Management Trends
- CRI600 Critical Analysis of Research
Semester 2
- MGT650 Contemporary Management
- REM650 Research Methods in Business & Management
- MGT651 Management Research Design and Methodologies
- PRE650 Preparation and Presentation of a Research Proposal
Note: For successful candidates, the Master of Applied Business Research is awarded.
Second Year Course
Semester 1
- PRO650 Doctoral Research Project Proposal
- LIT650 Proposal Literature Review
Semester 2
- DOC651 Doctoral Research Paper 1
Third Year Course
- DOC700 Doctoral Research Paper 2
Note: Instead of papers, candidates may write a dissertation of 40,000 words.
Program Outcome
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of the student’s research
- Students will demonstrate a high level of global-mindedness
- Students will exhibit strong civic engagement and behave ethically in their community.