Doctoral · DBAApplied Research Doctorate3–5 Years

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The highest level of professional qualification in business. The DBA bridges academic rigour with real-world business practice — designed for senior executives and practitioners who want to address complex organisational challenges through original doctoral research.

🔬

Doctoral

Level

📅

3–5 Years

Duration

👥

Full Supervision

Support Model

🏆

Applied Research

Focus

Programme Overview

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at TNEDU is the highest level of professional qualification in business. Unlike a traditional academic PhD, the DBA is practitioner-oriented — designed for senior professionals who want to use doctoral-level research to solve real business problems. Candidates undertake original research addressing contemporary organisational challenges, producing a doctoral thesis of international standing. Full supervisory support is provided by TNEDU's faculty and Advisory Board members.

Who Should Apply

Senior managers, directors, and C-suite executives
Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking evidence-based strategies
Consultants and advisors who want to ground practice in rigorous research
Professionals who aspire to academic positions or thought leadership roles

Entry Requirements

Master's degree in Business or related field (or NCC Level 7 Diploma equivalent)
Minimum 5 years senior-level professional experience
Research proposal outlining the intended area of study
Strong command of English (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, if applicable)

Programme Structure

Research Design & Methodology

Philosophical frameworks, qualitative/quantitative methods, and research ethics

Literature Review & Knowledge Synthesis

Critical analysis of existing business research and identification of knowledge gaps

Data Collection & Analysis

Primary data collection, statistical analysis, and qualitative coding and interpretation

Doctoral Thesis Writing

Academic writing, argument construction, and producing a thesis of international standard

Viva Voce Examination

Defence of the doctoral thesis before an independent examination panel

Publication & Dissemination

Support for publishing research findings in international academic journals and conferences

TNEDU's DBA candidates benefit from the expertise of our internationally distinguished Advisory Board — including academics from Harvard, MIT, and Imperial College London — who bring global research perspectives and professional networks to the supervision process.

Outcomes

Chief Executive Officer

Board Director

Strategy Consultant (Partner)

Academic / Professor

Policy Advisor

Thought Leader / Author