Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
DURATION
30 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2024
TUITION FEES
USD 99,000
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
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Introduction
Take your business skills to the top with a Hult DBA
The Doctorate in Business Administration is a terminal degree rooted in relevance and applied research. It is a professional doctorate for those made to do – our students come from various backgrounds, from executives in multinational companies, and lecturers at several universities to founders of their businesses. The program leverages Hult’s experience in teaching practical business education and conducting research in a global context to help experienced businesspeople driven to advance their own careers and shape the future of business.
Join your peers in weekly live online sessions and meet in-person, three times a year, on one of Hult’s global campuses. Graduate in 2.5 years with a US-accredited doctoral degree and the skills to improve business practice around the world.
Key program features
- Flexible, accelerated study
- Hybrid part-time / 2.5 years
- A community-based approach to learning
- Dedicated supervisor support
- Global residency rotation across UK, UAE, and US campuses
- Access to world-renowned, research-active faculty
Experts from the real world of business
Faculty at Hult teach and help students apply tools and theories to solve major, contemporary business problems. The faculty selected to teach the Doctorate in Business Administration are award-winning researchers in both academic- and practitioner-related channels.
Courses and structure
Begin your doctoral journey by identifying and exploring a major business challenge that's directly relevant to you and not currently addressed by contemporary theories. Your research will lead you to create rigorous tools to address that problem and improve the practice of management long-term. Candidates for the Doctor of Business Administration program will receive support to generate new knowledge and become scholar-practitioners who can enhance their organizations’ performance through evidence-based practice. In addition to learning statistical methods and learning how to write three publishable papers, which can be further published in academic or practitioner outlets, you’ll also conduct two practicums. These practicums will guide students, clients, and peers from your own company and industry in recognizing, and solving, the business problem.
Ideal Students
"We are looking for DBA candidates who are curious. People who want to develop research skills that can have an impact not just on the development of theory, but to help solve real problems. They also need an appetite for learning in a fast-paced, dynamic, and innovative business school."
Dr. Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organizational Behavior
Admissions
Curriculum
Challenge-focused doctoral curriculum
Our doctoral program is built on real-world business challenges faced by business professionals like you. Students are supported to design and develop organizational interventions grounded in empirical foundations and data, to subsequently analyze, evaluate, and test the efficacy of those interventions, and communicate the results for scholarly and practical applications.
Courses and structure
The Hult DBA is a flexible, accelerated 2.5 year program with a combination of structured online classes and on-campus residencies at our campuses around the world. Our unique educational approach takes you beyond business to study every topic through a global lens, master working cross-culturally, leverage disruptive technologies to shape the future, and develop the deep self-awareness needed to lead effectively and with confidence.
Year 1
Problem Formation
Explore a problem of business practice, complete a systematic review of academic literature, understand the components of business theories, and evaluate different research paths and outcomes. This course includes an in-person residency. Key program deliverable: Conceptual Paper
Quantitative Research Methods 1
Create novel testable hypotheses, understand and evaluate different quantitative methods for statistical analyses, apply these techniques to existing data sets, and identify original insights from data analysis. While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the second publishable paper (i.e., Quantitative Research Paper 1). This course includes an in-person residency.
Data Collection: Surveys
Create a reliable and valid survey instrument for data collection. Prepare and improve a data set for analysis, and critically evaluate data validity and reliability. While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the second publishable paper (i.e., Quantitative Research Paper 1). This course is delivered online only.
Visualizations & Communication
Apply different ways to present research data, create and deliver a workshop to teach others how to identify and solve business problems, and understand the methods and value of meta-analyses. This course includes an in-person residency. Key program deliverable: Practicum 1
Year 2
Academic Writing
Systematically evaluate multiple formal approaches to academic arguments, apply a single approach to create a publishable academic paper, and understand the process for academic publication. This course includes an in-person residency. Key program deliverable: Quantitative Research Paper 1
Quantitative Research Methods 2
Understand and evaluate alternative quantitative methods using structural equation modeling to further validate findings and apply at least one of the techniques for your own project. While this course does not have a key program deliverable, its outcomes are crucial for your progress toward the second publishable paper (i.e., Quantitative Research Paper 2). This course includes an in-person residency.
Data Interpretation
Unpack the conclusions from previous courses to move from wisdom to action and conduct a second workshop with non-DBA students, clients, and peers. This course is delivered online only. Key program deliverable: Practicum 2
Dissemination
Understand where and how academic research impacts business practice and analyze different non-traditional avenues to persuade business leaders to employ them. This course includes an in-person residency. Key program deliverable: Quantitative Research Paper 2
Year 3
Dissertation Construction
This course provides individualized support and feedback to students as they assemble all of their work into a single written dissertation. This includes a revision of the conceptual paper and its literature review to align with the student’s subsequent analyses and conclusions. In-person residency attendance is optional for this course.
Dissertation Defense
To conclude their research training, students will present their entire work to a panel of academic researchers who will evaluate the students’ contributions to academic theory. At the conclusion of this course, students will have completed all of the requirements of the program and will graduate with a Doctor of Business Administration degree. In-person residency attendance is optional for this course. Key program deliverable: Final Dissertation and Oral Defense (Viva)
Rankings
- #19 Overall Ranking, Financial Times, Masters in Management Ranking, 2023
- #37 The Economist, Full-Time MBA Ranking, 2022
- #3 for International Students, Financial Times, Masters in Management Ranking, 2023
- #2 for Student and Faculty Diversity, The Economist, Full-Time Global MBA Ranking, 2022
Program Tuition Fee
Program Leaders
Accreditations
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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