Doctor of Business Administration
DBA Studies are among the most challenging and rewarding levels of Higher Education. The Swiss School of Management has developed outstanding Doctor Programs. These programs have unique features which add significant value to Graduates beyond the rewarding Doctor Degree.
Multiple academic collaborations contribute to the exceptional program quality, starting with the involvement of highly renowned and recognized academics as Research Directors. Our Doctorate candidates are supported on an individual basis by both SSM Professors and visiting Professors from a wide variety of international Universities.
Today, academia has no more borders. Therefore, the knowledge and expertise of experienced academics influence the structure and content of our Doctor Programs, from which candidates can select the option that accommodates their necessity.
The Doctor of Business Administration will be awarded by the internationally recognized Swiss School of Management. The result is based on delivering studies of the highest quality and multiple benefits to SSM’s Doctorate candidates. Swiss School of Management is committed to impress and to express: impress through the value of the studies resulting in Degrees, which express the outstanding skills of those being awarded. This allows them to develop a top career in industries, administration, and academia.
The Swiss School of Management offers a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program based on blended and online learning principles. The program is highly structured and internationally accredited by IACBE. Due to the integrated learning aspects, there are no admissions deadlines. Individuals have flexibility in how they complete their courses.
Each DBA candidate receives much support from a dedicated supervisor and a mentor and access to digital libraries and live (digital) events. Joining the DBA program at SSM gets you access to our International Expert Group. The following paragraphs explain these reasons to start your DBA with SSM in detail.
Universities around the globe have extended doctoral studies to these professional doctorates for many good reasons. Industries are very interested in such graduates, and the results of their job applications demonstrate this, as DBA Degree skills and capabilities go beyond any Master’s graduate. At the same time, these doctoral graduates are practice-oriented. Consequentially, they are the first-choice candidates for top-management positions. On the other hand, and without any doubt, Ph.D. studies have not lost their reason and attractiveness.
The Doctor of Business Administration addresses business, economy, and management research. The dissertation can be oriented by the student’s personal interest and based on their personal work environment. At the end of these studies, students are awarded the title of “Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).”
Before the Degree awarding, the DBA dissertation has to be written and defended in a live defense known as the ‘viva voce.’ The dissertation argument is about applied sciences. It consists of 50,000 words, which fulfills independent research criteria on a superior level and consequentially demonstrates the internationally acknowledged standards of doctoral studies. The type and style of this research are source-oriented on applied sciences, in which a solid theoretical understanding must be evident.
The variety of topics is extensive, and candidates can make their own choice upon approval of the Academic Board. The only request is that the selected research relates to management, business, and/or economy. Theory and empirically consistent research, which the dissertation delivers, are expected on a superior level. An individual Director of Studies will support each student during the development and writing of the dissertation. Students will find personal support, but they are expected to work individually, accordingly to the individual nature of such studies on this high level. Therefore, strict limitations on the extent and length of such support are applied.
Intended Students Learning Outcomes (ISLOs):
GRADUATE LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:
Master’s degree or equivalent (60 ECTS POSTGRADUATE STUDIES)
Applicants for the Doctor of Business Administration program DBA are exempted from an English Exam provided they completed their schooling years and/or bachelor’s or master program at a recognized school where the medium of teaching is English.
In case this condition is unmet, then, the applicant needs to sit for one of the listed English Exams
– Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT) – minimum score: 60
– Internet Based Test (iBT) – minimum score: 71
– International English Language Test (IELTS) – minimum score: 6.5
– Pearson Test of English Academic Score Report – minimum score: 50
– Duolingo English Test – minimum score: 100
– 4-skill Michigan English Test (MET) – minimum score: 55
– Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) – minimum score: 650/LP
– Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) – minimum score: 650/LP
Upon applying to join the Swiss School of Management for any program level students, need to submit the following documents:
– Copy of personal identification (ID or passport)
– Scanned Educational Transcripts
– 1 recent photo: passport size
– Prior to any exam or oral presentation, students show the passport page including their personal information and photo close to the cameras for verification.
– Students are supposed to enable and open their cameras during class live lectures, project presentations and exams until the activity ends.
After the student has been enrolled, it is required that the student have their official academic transcripts sent from their previous school directly to the Swiss School of Management In Residence Program center of their convenience.
Documents presented in any language except English, Italian, German, Spanish, and French require translation from a legal sworn translator.
COURSE NUMBER | COURSE TITLE | COURSE TYPE | TOTAL COURSE CREDIT/ CLOCK HOURS |
| REM-710 | INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH | Core/Required | 10 |
| RQT-725 | QUANTITATIVE METHODS & TECHNIQUES | Core/Required | 10 |
| RQL-725 | QUALITATIVE METHODS & TECHNIQUES | Core/Required | 10 |
| RTL-730 | GUIDE TO DOCTORAL DISSERTATION WRITING | Core/Required | 10 |
| RPR-750 | ADVANCED EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN | Core/Required | 10 |
| RSM-770 | SEMINAR- THE FUNDAMENTALS OF APA CITATION | Core/Required | 3 |
| RSM-780 | SEMINAR- HOW TO PUBLISH SCHOLARLY WORK | Core/Required | 3 |
| RSM-790 | SEMINAR – COLLABORATION: THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH | Core/Required | 3 |
| RTH-800 | RESEARCH PROPOSAL: PART I: SUBMISSION 1-3 | Core/Required | 10 |
| RSM-740 | DOCTORATE DEGREE HOLDERS: A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY | Core/Required | 3 |
| RTH-810 | DISSERTATION WRITING PART II: SUBMISSION CHAPTER 4-6 | Core/Required | 20 |
| RTH-820 | VIVA VOCE DEFENSE | Core/Required | 10 |
| RIC-820 | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION | Core/Required | 4 |
| RIC-830 | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION | Core/Required | 4 |
| RIC-860 | INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: ACADEMIC COLLOQUIUM | Core/Required | 10 |
DOCTORATE LEVEL COURSE DESCRIPTION:
DBA – Doctor in Business Administration
Professional and academic research are vital necessities for modern leaders to forge ahead. Research is the process of asking the right and relevant questions and of gathering and analyzing the necessary data in a systematic and methodologically sound manner.
An important aspect of sound professional and academic research is to embed the research within the body of exiting knowledge (applied research) and to add to it (generating new knowledge).This module will guide you to the research process. From the formulation of the topic to critically directing and reviewing relevant literature, designing the research project and choosing appropriate methodologies, collecting and analyzing the data and writing the actual research.
Numbers play an important role in research. Statistical skills are critical to understanding a lot of what goes on in society. The students will be exposed to the different statistical programs used in academic research.
The students will be introduced to statistics to be used in more intuitive ways. Students will be familiar with statistical concepts which they can easily recognise leading to the exploration of more advanced statistical use. In the end, the lectures will cover important topics in survey design, sampling techniques, validity and reliability and statistical data treatment.
The core part of this module is on different qualitative research methods such as action research, ethnographic research, case study, grounded theory, interviews (Focus), participant observation, document analysis, focus group discussion etc.
All these techniques will be examined to discuss various approaches to come up with the best technique to gather data and choose the tool to best evaluate research results. All techniques will discuss the various approaches of that technique, along with strengths and weaknesses, and examples.
Guide to Doctoral Dissertation Writing
DBA- RET
The challenge of transforming professional experience into academic writing has always been a concern for doctoral students. The academic community is faced with how to make academic writing more appealing to the general public.
This module will be delivered as a seminar/workshop, where students will be trained to write academically utilising story telling techniques. While still strictly adhering to the universally accepted dissertation writing and following the standards of the Swiss School of Management, students will upgrade their writing skills.
As students of higher education, plagiarism must be avoided at all costs. This can only happen if the students have all the resources properly cited and acknowledge the work of others.
Through this seminar, the students will master the science of academic citation, as this will complement the course that they have already taken in Module 4 (Guide to Dissertation Writing). All Swiss School of Management dissertations are required to be in APA format.
This seminar guides the student on how to publish their academic work. They will be exposed to different types of academic journals that encourage submission from researchers. They will be guided on what are the requirements and processes of academic reviews etc. Most importantly, the students will fully understand that their excellent work will add to their knowledge which in the end, will have a significant impact on society.
As doctorate students, they are expected to publish their work as part of helping them build their academic reputation, develop linkages with people and institutions from the same industry, develop connections with other researchers, and contribute to the advancement of the industry and society in general and to further their career as academic and researcher.
This seminar will teach the student how to do collaborative research that would provide them with diverse perspectives, share resources, increase productivity, widen their network, and encourage learning opportunities. The main purpose of this seminar is to develop new interdisciplinary research areas which students can explore and have better outcomes than working independently.
In this seminar, students will hear from former DBA students to share best practices and research tools. This seminar is structured as a Q&A to encourage collaboration between current and future doctorates.
Cost of the program
| Application fee | € 200 – due immediately |
| Enrollment fee | € 10,000 – due immediately after acceptance |
| First Installment | € 10,000 – at the beginning of the second academic year |
| Second Installment | € 9,800 – on the second-half of the second year |
| Total Tuition Fees | € 30,000 |
The above tuition fees are for the SSM in Residence Programs in Rome, Barcelona and Brescia. At Swiss School of Management we firmly believe in equity by giving people around the globe the same opportunities to earn an SSM degree. For students applying from areas of the planet with unequal social or economic conditions, we offer different rates. Please contact our in Residence Programs Directors in UAE, GCC, & Cairo as tuition fees vary.
Learn more about our Refund Policy.