Doctor of Business Administration

Doctor of Business Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme offered by the School of Business of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) focuses on training students to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in selected management areas. With the training provided in this programme, entrepreneurs, senior management executives, and mid-career industrial practitioners are expected to develop rigorous and structural thinking processes, acquire deeper knowledge and advanced research methodologies, and cultivate analytical skills that enable them to investigate and solve complex management problems and support evidence-based strategy formulation.

The DBA curriculum offers exposure to knowledge relevant to the digital economy and provides students with a choice of management courses or a mix of multi-disciplinary courses to suit their applied research objectives. The programme is supported by a flexible learning environment that draws its benefits from SUSS's close linkage with industries.

The global economy is experiencing considerable uncertainty and challenges brought about by technological advancement and innovations, and changes in political landscapes and national demography. Managers and leaders need to develop a strategic mindset and global insights to address problems created by increasing economic volatility. The DBA programme is designed to produce graduates that are able to drive thought leadership in organisational change and organisational development, and effectively meet the challenges that disruptive technologies will bring to the economy.

Applicants to the DBA programme need to fulfil the following criteria for admission:

• AMBA or EMBA or a Master's degree in relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of five years of work experience.
• Applicants with relevant work experience but with other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
• Depending on the proposed research topic, specific relevant work experience will be an asset.
• A resume/CV
• A personal statement including:
  • How this programme supports the career aspirations of the applicant, and
  • Topics and areas you are keen for the DBA programme to include in its courses/field trips
• A research proposal, highlighting: Please follow the research proposal template.
  • research questions;
  • motivation;
  • how would society benefit from the findings;
  • how do you plan to conduct the research
• Two reference letters on the character of the applicant as well as the achievements and capabilities of the applicant. Referees are required to submit the reference letters directly to the Student Admissions department.
• Shortlisted applicants will be required to undergo one or more interviews.

Compulsory

• Contemporary Topics in Business and Management
• Applied Research in Business and Management
• Strategy
• Doctoral Dissertation

Electives

20cu total

• Strategic Leadership & Management for Excellence
• Corporate Governance, CSR and Change Management for Sustainability
• Managing Technology and Innovation
• Business Economics and Public Policy
• Inclusive FinTech
• Marketing for the Future Economy

DBA students are required to complete 40cu coursework (30cu disciplinary knowledge courses and 10cu research methodology courses) and submit a doctoral dissertation. Courses will mostly be held on 3 to 7 consecutive days including weekends from 9 am to 6 pm. Students are required to participate in overseas immersion courses that will be held over a period of a few days.

Upon the completion of 30cu coursework, students are awarded the Graduate Diploma in Business. After the completion of an additional 10cu coursework, students are required to successfully complete a qualifying examination (QE) in order to be granted DBA candidacy. DBA candidates are required to undertake an applied research project that culminates in a dissertation at the doctorate level. The dissertation should produce output via original applied research that is relevant to industry/professional practice and advances knowledge in these areas. Upon successfully defending their dissertations in the dissertation examination, candidates will be awarded DBA degree.

The minimum candidature period for DBA is 3 years and the maximum candidature period is 7 years.

Unique Features of the Programme

• The programme provides graduates with in-depth training to develop rigorous and structural thinking processes, cultivate analytical skills, and develop a strategic mindset and global insights.
• The programme enables graduates to investigate and solve complex management problems, support evidence-based strategisation, and drive thought leadership and innovation.
• The curriculum design emphasises sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical practices of business operations.
• It is an English Chinese bilingual programme. Students can benefit from SUSS's flexible teaching & learning environment, close industry linkages, and opportunities to participate in overseas immersion courses.
• SUSS DBA faculty and supervisors have outstanding and diverse backgrounds across various industries. The faculty holds extensive teaching and research experiences.

With in-depth training from DBA, graduates can look forward to advancing their careers in the following positions:

• Positions in consulting firms, think tanks, government agencies, etc., that require applied research skills
• Management positions that require critical and reflective thinking, application of theoretical knowledge to complex problems, and skills to drive thought leadership and innovation
• Teaching positions in the tertiary education industry