About this Course

What Can SCU DBA Do For You?

• Develop superior levels of management skills.
  
• Uncover new information or insights within your professional area.
  
• Research an area you are interested in and passionate about.
  
• Contribute your knowledge to, and become an expert in your industry.
  
• Network with candidates from a range of backgrounds.
  
• Gain a globally recognised advanced business qualification.
  
• Enhance future employment, research and consultancy opportunities.
  

Career Opportunities

The DBA, with managerial relevance, allows top managers to deepen their expertise, contribute to the knowledge of their profession, and prepare themselves for the complex analyses and decision-making required of senior management.

The DBA is emerging globally as the pinnacle in business qualifications with graduates assuming ever more senior roles in corporations and governments.

Methods of Assessment 

• The business administration units are assessed through assignments completed during each trimester.
  
• Preparatory stage units are assessed through assignments and research outputs.
  
• Thesis units are not formally assessed during the thesis writing process. The completed DBA thesis is submitted for examination to internal and external examiners approved by the HRD Committee.
  

The business administration units and the preparatory stage units are awarded grades of High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (C) or Pass (P). In order to proceed beyond the preparatory stage to the thesis, candidates must achieve a credit average for the business administration and preparatory stage units.

Candidates who do not achieve a credit average may be offered advanced standing towards the Master of Business research degree.

The thesis is not awarded a grade but is examined by two examiners. A candidate receives the DBA award once their thesis is accepted by the SCU Higher Degrees Research Committee (HDRC). 

The Meredith Prize

The programme guides the candidate through three phases of progress towards the DBA award:

1. Business Administration Units (4 Units)

Candidates select four business administration units in consultation with the DBA Director. We recommend candidates to select units in their proposed area of research in order to build a solid knowledge of the topic.

Candidates entering the DBA programme with a credit average MBA equivalent to an Australian MBA will be granted advanced standing (credit or recognition of prior learning) for these four business administration units. Candidates with a Master's Degree equivalent to an Australian Master's Degree, but other than an MBA, may be granted some advanced standing on a case-by-case basis.

2. DBA Preparatory Stage (4 Units)

MNG03047 Qualitative Research Methods

MNG03048 Quantitive Research Methods

MNG03264 Doctor of Business Administration Research Proposal (Double weighted unit)

The preparatory stage introduces candidates to the methodologies, tools and techniques of research in business. It addresses both quantitative and qualitative aspects of research methods. After completing these units, the DBA candidate will have written the DBA thesis research proposal for their DBA thesis , gathered data and, if required sought ethics committee approval.

3. DBA Thesis Stage (16 Units Equivalent)

There is no formal syllabus for the thesis. Candidates are expected to proceed in accordance with an approved programme of supervised research agreed to by the DBA Director, approved supervisor, and the SCU Higher Degrees Research Committee (HDRC). The thesis will deliver a high degree of both scholarship and independent thought, presented in a format required by the HDRC.

The completed thesis reflects the research process undertaken by the candidate. In general, this comprises of a review of the relevant literature; presentation of the theoretical framework underpinning the research; specification of the methodology; description of data collection; analysis of data; interpretation of results; and discussion of conclusions and management implications.

The average lecturer/student ratio is 1 : 100 (lecture)

The average lecturer/student ratio is 1 : 10 (tutorial)

Entry Requirements

Admission criteria for the DBA programme include academic qualifications, management experience, an appropriate DBA research topic and proficiency in English. 

In terms of academic qualifications, candidates should hold: 

A recognised MBA

    OR

A recognised Masters degree in any discipline

    OR

An Australian Honours degree in any discipline at upper second level or better

    OR

A qualification equivalent to an Honours or Masters degree

In terms of management experience, you need a minimum of two years of appropriate business , public sector or professional practice experience.

The proposed DBA research topic should be business topic or topic with strong business relevance.

Applicants may also be required to undertake a phone interview with the Director, DBA programme.

International applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English by submitting an original IELTS test result showing a score of 7.0 or better (including a minimum score of 6.5 in the  sub-bands). Evidence should not be more than two years old at the date of application. Other tests of English  language proficiency or evidence of ability to study in English may be considered. Advice on this matter should be  sought from the University’s International Office.

To qualify for the DBA award, candidates are required to submit a thesis with a standard of English acceptable to the University. To achieve this standard, supervisors may direct candidates to seek language assistance. All candidates are also required to pay for final editing of their thesis.