Program summary
Program overview
Admission requirements
Notes
Enquiries

Program summary

Award abbreviation: DBA
Degree type: higher degree by research program
Mode of study: internal / external
Duration: 1½ years minimum, 4 years maximum full-time; 3 years minimum, 8 years maximum part-time
Fee type: domestic fee-paying places, international fee-paying places
Commencement: students can apply and start throughout the year, subject to program requirements
Program code: BU921
CRICOS code: 033994B

Program overview

Popularity of the Doctor of Business Administration is growing for a number of reasons:

• the program provides an option for students with coursework Masters degrees to continue studying to doctoral level (previously this path was unavailable, as students typically did not meet the entry requirements for a PhD)
• entry to the program requires extensive management experience and builds on this experience and so is more suitable for students from a business background who intend to remain in business
• while the thesis is still a rigorous piece of research, it specifically caters for the needs of practising business managers with a clear focus on business applications

The Doctor of Business Administration aims to develop the applied research skills of managers in order to equip them for problem solving and decision-making in top management or consultancy. It differs from a PhD in that the research is invariably work-based. Like the PhD, however, the program involves a substantial thesis that is based on rigorous research within a sound conceptual framework drawing on an established literature. Note that this program is seen as an advanced research award building on a coursework Masters in Business Administration - it is not a PhD in Business Administration.

Admission requirements

Candidates for the DBA are required to:

• hold an MBA, MBus or equivalent degree from a recognised university at credit level or above, including a suitable research methodology course
• have at least five years work experience preferably at managerial level
• have a level of English satisfactory to complete postgraduate study including a substantial thesis
• be able to meet staff overseas or come to the campus on the Sunshine Coast at least twice per year
• provide a half to one page document commenting on your research area of interest for the degree

As there is no coursework involved, advanced standing does not apply.

Notes

1. Prospective applicants wishing to undertake a DBA will need to find a suitable supervisor by contacting the Faculty of Business.
2. For further information, refer to the Rules for the Degree Doctor of Business Administration.
3. Refer to the research areas for the Faculty of Business.

Enrolment and fees

1. In any semester, full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL.
2. In any semester, part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL.
3. The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date.
4. Candidates pay full tuition fees.

EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL

How to apply

Apply for a postgraduate program.

Enquiries

Faculty of Business
Associate Professor Don Kerr
Coordinator, Research
Tel: +61 7 5459 4860
Fax: +61 7 5430 1231
Email: Dkerr@usc.edu.au

Teaching and Research Services
Ashleigh Rees
Research Training Officer
Tel: +61 7 5459 4526
Fax: +61 7 5459 4727
Email: arees@usc.edu.au

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