Top Reasons to Pursue a Doctoral Degree (DBA) at EU Business School
Why Earning a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration
If you’re considering a DBA, it’s likely because you seek to advance your career and establish yourself as a leader and expert in your industry. EU Business School emphasizes that a DBA is designed for professionals “aiming to reach the pinnacle of their business careers” .
Some key benefits of earning a doctoral degree in business include:
Enhanced Career Opportunities:
A DBA signals that you have achieved the highest level of expertise in business administration, opening doors to executive leadership roles and specialized consulting opportunities. Graduates are equipped to tackle complex business challenges and drive strategic decision-making, positioning them for C-suite positions and other senior roles.
Leadership Development:
The DBA journey helps refine advanced management and leadership skills. EU’s program is explicitly designed to “increase managerial [and] leadership competencies” . Through rigorous coursework and research, candidates sharpen their strategic thinking, decision-making, and people-management abilities – invaluable for leading organizations in a dynamic global market.
Academic Credibility and Expertise:
Holding a doctoral degree confers a high level of academic credibility. DBA candidates develop “independent and critical thinking skills” and master a specific field within business by conducting original research . This not only establishes you as a subject-matter expert in your chosen area, but also provides the credibility to publish research or teach at the university level.
Bridge Between Theory and Practice:
Unlike a traditional PhD in management, which is often purely research-focused, a DBA combines advanced theory with practical application. EU Business School’s curriculum emphasizes real-world business problems and applied research. As their site notes, the DBA uses practical business cases and focuses on applied research rather than purely theoretical inquiry .
In summary, a DBA offers the dual benefit of academic achievement and practical impact. You earn the prestigious title of “Doctor” while gaining insights that can immediately leverage your career and leadership capabilities.
EU Business School’s DBA Program Overview
EU Business School (EU) offers its Doctor of Business Administration program through its Swiss campus, providing a doctorate that is internationally recognized and tailored for working professionals. EU’s DBA is a highly selective, rigorous program known for its academic excellence.
Here are some key points that make EU Business School’s DBA program stand out:
Flexible Duration and Format:
The DBA at EU Business School is structured to accommodate busy professionals. It can be completed in approximately two to five years on a part-time basis , depending on each candidate’s pace and commitments. This flexible timeframe allows you to balance doctoral studies with work and personal responsibilities. Notably, EU Business School offers rolling admissions – “students may enroll throughout the academic year” – so you can start the program at a time that suits you best, without waiting for a single annual intake.
Location – Geneva, Switzerland:
The EU DBA is offered through EU Business School Switzerland (Geneva campus), immersing students in a vibrant international business hub. Studying a DBA in Geneva allows candidates to benefit from the Swiss capital’s remarkable concentration of multinational company headquarters, international organizations, and research institutions.
This setting provides an enriching backdrop for networking and applied research. You’ll be pursuing your doctorate in an environment where global business and policy converge – an advantage unique to the Geneva location.
Internationally Accredited Degree:
Upon completion, graduates earn a DBA degree from EU Business School Switzerland that is internationally accredited. EU Business School and its programs hold prestigious accreditations from organizations such as ACBSP and IACBE (both recognized by the CHEA in the U.S.), and also hold International Quality Accreditation (IQA) from CEEMAN and the Swiss quality certification eduQua . These accreditations affirm the high academic standards of EU’s DBA.
In practical terms, this means your doctorate carries global credibility. (EU Business School is also consistently recognized in rankings; for example, CEO Magazine has recognized EU’s Geneva DBA as a “Premier DBA Program” , underscoring its excellence among executive doctoral programs.)
Networking and Global Perspective:
As part of EU Business School’s community, DBA candidates join a diverse student body of 100+ nationalities and an extensive alumni network worldwide . The exposure to international classmates and faculty broadens your perspective and enables cross-cultural exchange of ideas. Many EU alumni attest to the “international colleagues” and networking opportunities at EU that enrich the learning experience .
Program Structure and Curriculum
The Doctor of Business Administration program at EU Business School is structured in two main phases: a coursework stage followed by a research (dissertation) stage.
The entire program comprises 120 ECTS credits, reflecting a substantial amount of advanced study and research. Here’s how the structure breaks down:
Coursework Phase:
In the initial stage (typically the first year of the program), DBA candidates complete intensive coursework covering advanced topics in business and research methodology. EU Business School’s DBA curriculum is very research-driven and uses practical case studies. During this phase, students build their theoretical foundation and prepare the tools needed for doctoral research.
The coursework is quite comprehensive; according to the program details, candidates must successfully complete a series of seminars/modules such as:
- Behavioral Science for Business Modeling – understanding human factors in business decision-making.
- Business & Ethics: Driving the Change – exploring ethical leadership and corporate responsibility in modern enterprises.
- Data Analysis – advanced data analytics techniques for business research.
- Econometrics – statistical methods for economic and financial data analysis.
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation – scholarly perspectives on launching ventures and driving innovation.
- Global Finance & Managerial Accounting – in-depth study of global financial management and accounting at an executive level.
- Leading Digital Transformation – strategies for leading organizations through digital change.
- Value-Based Strategy – approaches to formulating strategy that maximizes stakeholder value.
- Research Methodology – rigorous training in research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, preparing students to undertake their dissertation.
These courses ensure that DBA candidates gain a broad yet advanced understanding of key business disciplines as well as the methodological skills to perform doctoral-level research. The curriculum’s emphasis is on applied knowledge – for example, discussions revolve around real business cases, and assignments often require applying theory to practical scenarios.
Research/Dissertation Phase:
After completing the required coursework (and any comprehensive assessments that may accompany it), students progress to the dissertation stage. In this phase, you will focus on an original research project of your own choosing (developed from your research proposal).
Throughout both phases, the program is structured to be part-time, which allows students to continue working if they choose. The pre-dissertation coursework phase can be completed in a minimum of one year (depending on course scheduling and student pace), after which the dissertation phase begins.
Overall, EU Business School’s DBA program offers the flexibility to finish in as little as about 2 years or take up to 5 years to accommodate professional and personal obligations .
Flexible Format and Learning Experience
One of the major advantages of EU Business School’s DBA is its flexible learning format, which is tailored for working professionals. The program is delivered primarily on-campus in Geneva in a part-time format, with scheduling meant to fit around a full-time job. Here’s what to expect from the format and experience:
Part-Time, Executive Schedule:
The DBA is explicitly designed for executives and professionals. Courses and seminars are likely arranged in a way that minimizes disruption to a normal work schedule (for example, intensive week-long modules, weekend classes, or evening sessions). This setup allows you to pursue the doctorate without taking a career break. EU Business School notes that DBA programs are often structured so that professionals can “earn their doctoral degree while maintaining their career”, thanks to flexible timelines .
The 2-to-5 year duration is a testament to this flexibility – you can accelerate your studies if you have more time, or pace them out if you’re balancing work and family.
On-Campus in an International Environment:
While some universities offer online or hybrid doctorates, EU’s DBA is an on-site experience in Geneva. This in-person format provides rich face-to-face interactions with professors and peers. Given EU’s relatively small class sizes and boutique approach to education, DBA candidates benefit from an engaging classroom environment.
Continuous Enrollment and Personalized Pace:
The program’s rolling admission policy is very convenient. You do not have to wait for a specific yearly intake; you can start when you are ready, after meeting the entry requirements. This rolling start, combined with the part-time nature, means each student’s journey is somewhat personalized. Some may spread coursework over two years, while others might finish it in one intensive year.
EU’s administrative support and program structure allow you to craft a schedule that aligns with your personal timeline and goals, within the overall limit of five years.
Contact us for our special scholarship before you apply.
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