DBA is the Crown of All Business Degrees

The acceleration of change is the signature of the 21st century. Business is the place where opportunities have the potential to become reality. Hence, business transformation is at the heart of world transformation. Business School Lausanne (BSL) has shaped the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) to look beyond the success or innovation of a specific company. The BSL DBA is the right program for you if you are interested in research in the domain of business administration and seek to contribute to transforming your industry.

  • LENGTH Part-time, 3 years
  • FREQUENCY Two non-mandatory one-week seminars per year (DBA Acceleration Weeks – DAW)
  • LANGUAGE English
  • LOCATION
    • Lausanne, Switzerland
  • PRICE CHF 39.700
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DBA Degree from the ACBSP accredited Business School Lausanne

Established in 1987, Business School Lausanne (BSL) is a private business school located in western Switzerland and is part of the Lemania Group of Swiss Private Schools. Focusing on Entrepreneurial Mindset and Skills, Global Mega Trends, Sustainability and Business Knowledge Skills, BSL was the first European business school to receive ACBSP certification in 1996. Today, BSL’s ACBSP-accredited degree programs include BBA, Master, MBA, Executive MBA, and DBA programs. BSL ranked #2 for its Master in International Business and #4 for its MBA in the QS Global Business Masters and MBA Rankings 2019. BSL’s DBA program also ranked #2 in the Global DBA Euro Rankings in 2019 and was shortlisted by CEO Magazine as part of their premier programs. BSL is a member of EFMD and a champion of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (U.N. backed PRME) and is a member of the esteemed AACSB Business Education Alliance.

Professor & Director of the Doctoral School at Business School Lausanne

Prof. Dr. Dominique Bourqui is an experienced entrepreneur (founder of Swissmadprod and BFCC) as well as a consultant and a certified business coach. She holds a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Prof. Dr. Bourqui teaches in the framework of the Doctoral School Acceleration weeks of Business School Lausanne’s (BSL) DBA program as well as in the framework of BSL’s International Academic Partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Bourqui co-owns and runs Swissmadprod, which she co-founded in 2007; a cross-boarder media company producing television and radio programs for the French and Swiss markets. Swissmadprod is currently collaborating with France’s television channel France 2 and media company M6 Group (RTL Radio).

With her company BFCC founded in 2015, Prof. Dr. Bourqui devotes part of her time to those who want to develop their entrepreneurial mindset. She also acts as a mentor and judge in several start-up contests.

Her scope of research includes topics such as Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Business Administration. She is currently developing an innovative entrepreneurial framework for school organizations, together with Dr. David Claivaz, Acting Dean of Business School Lausanne.

Dr. Dominique Bourqui

Content and learning methodology differences between the DBA and the PhD in Business

DBA: is a research-based doctorate. Each DBA student is assigned a personal supervisor right after admission. Participants qualify into degree candidacy after two years of part-time study in workshops during which they are trained on how to conduct academic research and write research-based academic articles. At the end of this period, they are required to defend their proposed thesis topic of research. PhD students are required a minimum of two years of course work on campus and then sit for a Qualifying Examination before they become degree candidates. Choosing a Supervisory Committee and thesis topic starts only after this stage.

DBA students come into the program with an already-defined research problem because of their prior work experience.

"I am a proven business executive and already have an MBA, why would I need a DBA?"

A research community and global network

Over 60 nationalities are represented by BSL’s student body and faculty, allowing you to develop an important global network for life.

Personalized approach

Throughout the different phases of your Doctoral journey, you will not only receive personalized support from your appointed supervisor, but also from the BSL Doctoral School Team in helping you, at all stages of your research, identifying the right focus to keep.

New and complementary career goal as a part-time academic

DBA graduates tend to remain working with their current employers after completing their DBA studies; their added benefit now is that they are now qualified for research. Further opportunities may also arise with a Doctorate Title such as being a guest lecturer, invited as an adjunct professor, requested to publish in practitioner or academic journals, or perhaps even open new doors along management or consultancy hierarchies.

Creative learning mode

The DBA program combines the wide spectrum and in-depth understanding of doctoral studies, with the realism and focus of field action.

Gaining recognition

The value of the DBA also depends on the reputation of the institution where it has been achieved. The DBA gives the graduate a new recognition because it represents the pinnacle of personal and academic recognition earned from an internationally recognised academic institution.

Financing DBA studies

DBA students very often pay for their own education because they keep on earning money during their studies and many have accumulated savings. Some companies fund DBA students when they use data from their employers and when their research is relevant to their companies.

Real business transformation

Our faculty consists exclusively of academics who are also seasoned and currently active business practitioners. As such, they are aware of the latest trends and business knowledge in terms of business transformation. They all teach the Mega Trends shaping the industry they are an expert of, be it in terms of innovations and entrepreneurship, sustainable development, digitalization or big data.

Differences between a PhD in business and the DBA

Both the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and the PhD in Business are doctoral degrees and so have similarities. But, they also have important differences:

DBA programs are strictly part-time spread over four years. A very large majority of PhD programs require full-time attendance for the completion of doctoral-level coursework. In some universities this period may be completed by attending evening courses.

The AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA all consider the two degrees to be academically equivalent. Universities at large also consider the two degrees equivalent. Those who place a special value on business professors with real/applied experience favor the DBA.

Who qualifies for admission to the DBA program?

Designed for mature professionals (min of 5 years’ work experience), the DBA program was designed to allow independent learning for those who do not want to interrupt their career during their doctorate studies. As business never stops, you won’t need to stop doing business while getting your DBA!

What is the typical age and accumulated experience of the DBA Cohort?

DBA: Most students cumulate more than 8 years of experience and ages vary mostly between 35 and 50.

PhD: Experience is not mandatory. A Masters in Management Sciences is compulsory (or must then be attended). Age: 25-30 years old.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

DBA Acceleration Weeks – BSL’s Signature Support

The goal of the DBA Acceleration Weeks (DAW) is to help students accelerate the process of their doctoral studies and work towards meeting the deadlines set regarding the completion of their DBA program.

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The objectives of the DBA Program

The DBA aims for graduates to discern the emergent orientations to be applied within a company: This doctorate will assist you in acquiring and mastering the methodology of research to apply to your job. The program is a research-based doctoral degree that offers participants the opportunity to obtain the highest level, unique, and issue-driven qualifications in business. The DBA is particularly focused on the management of technology, organizational change, and innovation. However, the program may also cover more traditional research topics in fields such as management, finance, marketing, and organizational behavior.

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Career Benefits

• Understand the content of the state-of-the-art research in your field of study;
• Acquire the necessary understanding and expertise in methods and techniques for research design, data collection, and data analysis;
• Conduct, write, and disseminate high-quality, doctoral-level research;
• Achieve a greater level of effectiveness as a professional practitioner in managing technology, innovation, and change;
• Gain legitimacy as a researchers and faculty member in both academic and non-academic environments.

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Program Curriculum

The BSL DBA program has four intakes per year: February, May, September and November.
In the first phase of the program; DBA participants start by learning methods and techniques for research design, data collection, and data analysis in order to conduct, analyze, author, and publish research that meets doctoral standards.
In the second phase of the program; DBA participants are required to show their ability to conduct original investigations; test, apply, and examine their own and others’ ideas ; and understand the relationship between their themes and wider fields of knowledge.

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Current Student Demographics

26+
Nationalities
40%
Female Participants
22+
Countries of Residence
Consulting, Education, Finance, IT, Medical/Healthcare
Sectors of our DBA candidates

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

DBA candidates are experienced managers from diverse sectors who display a high level of maturity and intellectual curiosity. Candidates should have proficiency in written and oral communication in English and should be open to cultural diversity.
Admission requirements:
◗Master’s degree in business, management or related field, such as MBA, MA, MSc or equivalent.
◗Preference will be given to candidates with a Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
◗ 8 years of management experience (pre- or post-master’s).

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

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