The professional doctorate course in business administration seeks to provide opportunities for advanced study and reflection on practice in the professional fields of accountancy, business, management, cross-cultural management, diversity management, economics, finance, general management, human resource development, human resource management, international management, organisational behaviour, organisational theory, performance management, strategic management, and related fields. Such opportunities are to be provided for professionals of standing in a relevant profession who will be able to draw upon their professional experience and expertise, and to extend this experience and expertise.

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) course will allow students to develop relevant research skills through a carefully designed program supplemented by a dissertation and relevant choice of electives. The objectives of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) course are to enable practitioners to extend and build upon their professional experience through:
(a) Coursework that develops knowledge and skill in research methodology and research methods;
(b) Development of research, writing and analysis skills which enable students to produce a dissertation which constitutes an original and significant contribution to the relevant literature and/or to professional practice;
(c) Preparation of a either a single substantial dissertation, or two smaller but academically rigorous dissertations, which adds to existing knowledge and constitutes an in-depth investigation and analysis of a particular professional issue or set of issues; and
(d) Bridging the gap between theory and practice by developing closer links between the University and senior professionals in fields associated with business, economics and related disciplines.

Further Study

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission Requirements

Before a candidate is admitted to the Doctor of Business Administration course, the Faculty must be satisfied that it is able to supervise the candidate's proposed dissertation and that the candidate satisfies the following admission requirements:
(a) holds at minimum a Bachelor degree and a post-Bachelor Honours year by research, or a Master or Graduate Diploma degree of one to two years full-time equivalent duration in a relevant field with a credit or greater average and evidence of having performed in some subjects relevant to the proposed study at Distinction level or above;
(b) has five years of professional practice in a relevant area;
(c) provides evidence of capacity for independent research under the guidance of a supervisory panel at the doctoral level and relevant professional development; and
(d) provides evidence of superior professional performance both intellectually and technically.

A requirement for proceeding to the research component of the degree is completion of the coursework component of the degree and the acceptance and approval of a research proposal and research plan by the course convener.

Course Requirements

72 credit points comprising:

(a) Required units (18 credit points):

• 6647 Research Methodology and Research Design PG
• 6649 Qualitative Research Methods B PG
• 6648 Quantitative Research Methods B PG
• 6650 Literature Review Seminar
• 8610 Professional Doctorate Research Proposal B PG

In addition to enrolment in the above units, students are required to attend relevant Faculty research seminars or equivalent academic activity throughout the period of their enrolment.

Candidates are also required to complete a Research Education Program that will enable them to acquire the generic skills and attributes identified as appropriate for graduates of postgraduate research programs at the University of Canberra.

(b) Restricted choice (54 credit points)
Coursework units (6 credit points) chosen from the following:

• 6652 Applied Research Project PG (6cp) OR 6653 Advanced Research Skills Training A PG and
• 6654 Advanced Research Skills Training B PG OR 6 credit points at PG level selected from masters and graduate diploma courses as approved by the thesis supervisor and course convener after assessing relevance to proposed dissertation.

Research component (48 credit points) chosen from the following:
(a) A single Professional Project Thesis: 6656 Business Professional Project Thesis R F/T (48cp) OR
(b) Two thematically linked dissertations:

• 6795 Business Professional Project Dissertation C R F/T (15cp) and
• 7911 Business Professional Project Dissertation B R (33cp)

Typical Course Structure

Note: Information provided as a guide only. Consult the UC Handbook for the year of commencement for official course rules. Units are not offered in all semesters.