Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)

“We're 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. You'll also need an appetite for learning in a fast-paced, dynamic, and innovative business school.”

Dr. Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organizational Behavior

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 3 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

Program Immersion (September-October)

Acquire the tools needed to prepare for the program and elevate your readiness for a doctoral research journey. Start developing skills in self-reflection, listening, and empathetic inquiry. Additionally, learn to overcome biases to ensure impartial analysis and embrace curiosity and openness in research, which will lay the foundation for success in the program.

Introduction to Business & Management Research (October-December)

Every research journey begins with the exploration of research fundamentals to guide students in developing an individual research philosophical stance and help refine their problem of business practice. Embedded in this exploration is a comprehensive understanding of research philosophy, and how prior researchers and practitioners have described the problem and solution. At the end of this course, students will have developed an individual research philosophical stance and formulated and refined their applied research problem based on a critical review of the literature.

Qualitative Research I (January-March)

This course introduces students to the value of qualitative research in understanding phenomena within business administration. Become familiar with qualitative approaches to design, research validity, framework development, data collection, and analysis. Further review the use of qualitative research to support quantitative studies. At the end of the course, students will have built upon their work in the previous course and drafted sections of their proposal, as it relates to qualitative research, including research background, problem statement, purpose statement, research questions, conceptual framework, as well as the nature and significance of your study.

Quantitative Research I (April-June)

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles, methods, and ethical considerations inherent in quantitative research. Consider parametric and non-parametric tests using contemporary software tools, including a primer on machine learning and data analysis using SPSS and Python. At the end of the course, students will have built upon their work in the previous courses and drafted sections of their proposal, as it relates to quantitative research, including research background, problem statement, purpose statement, hypotheses, and theoretical framework, as well as the nature and significance of your study.

Academic Writing (July-September)

Explore advanced writing techniques essential for producing high-quality scholarly output. Through a combination of theoretical study, practical exercises, and peer critique, students will examine the intricacies of crafting cohesive arguments and presenting findings effectively. Emphasis is placed on developing a nuanced understanding of critical aspects of academic publication processes, including manuscript preparation, peer review, and strategies for engaging with scholarly communities. At the course's end, you'll have honed your ability to produce sophisticated, original research that contributes meaningfully to your area of study and positions you as effective and ethical scholarly communicators. You'll also have produced a draft research proposal and received relevant feedback in preparation for your final research proposal and proposal defense.

Year 2

Qualitative Research II (October-December)

This course builds upon the foundational knowledge in Qualitative Research I by moving from theory to practice. Students will address methodological challenges at various stages of the qualitative research process and develop self-awareness. The major segment of the course will involve data collection and data analysis, with a focus on in-depth interviewing, focus groups, and case study research. Learn advanced interviewing techniques, develop interview/focus group protocols/guides, and perform content analysis and thematic analysis. At the end of this course, students will demonstrate their capacity for presenting and communicating research in a persuasive manner through a detailed report based on the analysis of pre-packaged data or their own primary data.

Quantitative Research II (January-March)

This course builds upon foundational knowledge in Quantitative Research I and introduces alternative data collection methods such as experiments, longitudinal research, panel data, and meta-analyses. Students will be exposed to several quantitative research and visualization techniques and learn the application of these methods to real-world business problems. At the end of the course, you'll develop a detailed report based on the statistical analysis of pre-packaged data or your own primary data set.

Dissemination (April-June)

This course enables students to increase the business and societal impact of their research, given the importance of attracting impact-based funding, facilitating data collection, and developing personal researcher exposure. Learn how to engage with salient stakeholders (such as policymakers) in the research process. Additionally, equip yourself with the requisite tools to disseminate your findings to both academic and non-academic audiences, as well as non-traditional avenues such as social media. At the end of the course, you'll be expected to craft your personal dissemination strategy and discuss how you would disseminate your findings to achieve business and/or societal impact.

Year 3

DBA Workshops

Upon completion of all core coursework and proposal defense, DBA candidates will participate in dynamic, expert-led forums designed to foster intellectual exchange, scholarly growth, and collaborative learning. During these sessions, candidates will participate in lectures and engage in interactive discussions tailored to the unique needs and interests of executive doctoral candidates. Candidates will be able to engage in workshops from the end of Q4 of their second year in the DBA program to their program completion in Year 3.

Dissertation Construction & Defense

This two-part sequence consisting of both Dissertation Construction and Defense (Viva Voce) will begin in Year 2 and last till the candidate's program completion in Year 3. The dissertation phase involves DBA candidates collaborating with supervisors to compile empirical findings and integrate pertinent sections of their prior research proposal into their dissertation. Students may choose to create a series of papers that will be consolidated into a multi-paper dissertation for their committee, or they may opt to produce a monograph. The monograph must contain sufficient content to generate no less than two papers of the caliber required for publication in the Academy of Management (AOM) journals.

• #39 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

Key outcomes

• Create new tools for business management
• Unearth seminal insights specific to your life and career
• Solve real-world problems pertinent to you
• Take your skills and mindset right to the top of business education
• Gain practical expertise and academic recognition
• Advance your career or transition into teaching or consulting