DBA in Strategic Management

Yes, you don’t need to finalize your research topic to start the course. You may need to finalize the broad subject area of interest and the program team will advise you about your chosen theme and assist you in finding a sustainable research topic. The final research topic should be approved prior to starting the final research.

Research topics should align with your chosen specialization if you opt for a DBA with a specialization.
If you choose to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a specialization, your research topic is expected to reflect and support that specific area of study. This alignment ensures that your research contributes meaningfully to your field of expertise and allows you to build deep knowledge in a focused domain.

However, if you choose a DBA without a specialization, you have the flexibility to select a research topic from any area within Business Management.

Yes, the program is structured to accommodate the busy schedules of full-time professionals with a strong support system which is highly flexible. Learners may opt to extend the standard 36-month DBA and Fastrack 24-month DBA by a maximum of 2 years (24 months). It depends on the time the learners have to invest in the research.

The maximum learning duration, including 24-month extensions, cannot exceed 60 months for a standard DBA and 48 months for a Fastrack DBA. 

Studying for the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is driven by a desire to ignite real change in companies through data-driven decision-making. The programme will be of particular benefit to experienced C-level Executives, Senior Managers, Department Heads, Consultants, Management Educators and Entrepreneurs..

During the DBA program, learners will be challenged to sharpen their critical and analytical thinking skills at every turn. They will build rigorous research acumen and elevate themselves to earn an ‘Expert’ status in their domain, with a proven track record of innovative, groundbreaking thinking. 

After enrolling in a particular program or receiving the admission letter, we are unable to offer refunds as per our policy. However, prior to enrollment, all learners have the option to utilize the free trial period, which lasts between 3 to 7 days.

Early Exit – MRes - Masters in Research

Exit request prior to registering for the second year: USD 3000.00

Exit after registering for the second year: 2nd year full fee (USD 4500) + USD 1500

MRes - Masters in Research Certification as Dual Certification (w/o exiting): USD 1500.00 (learners must complete 2nd-year fee payment to claim the MPhil as dual certification)

Extension Charges

Research Period Extension Charges (beyond year 3 for DBA & year 2 for Fastrack DBA): USD 2000.00 per year (Maximum 2 years)

Module Assessment Submission Extension Charge: USD 100.00 (Maximum 14 days from the original date)

Module Retake Charges (Year 1): USD 500.00

Re-registration Charges (To be paid if extensions are exceeded): USD 500.00

Module Referral Fee: USD 250.00

Extension Charges

Temporary withdrawal from the program: USD 500.00 (Current year fee to be settled incomplete)

Resumption Charges: USD 500.00 + Research Year fee applicable at the time of resumption

(Max within 2 years of withdrawal)

The Referral Policy is a UniAthena initiative to make our programs more affordable to the learners. Learners can share programs with friends, family or even peers. If the Invitee enrolls for the suggested program, the next module is made free of charge.

Learners will be eligible for the Master in Research (M.Res) certificate upon successful completion of the first 5 modules of the DBA program (excluding the thesis).

This is an optional award available to learners who wish to obtain it. A certificate fee of USD 1500 is applicable for the same. No separate thesis is required for this certification.

Yes. Students may request a course transfer by submitting an application to the Academic Department. Upon approval, the transfer will be processed. A USD 300 course transfer fee applies for programs such as MBA, Master’s, Bachelor’s, and DBA, while a USD 100 transfer fee applies for transfers between Microcredit courses. 

For GMU doctoral programs, course transfer requests should ideally be submitted before progressing to Module 3. If a transfer request is made after progressing beyond Module 3, learners will be required to retake Module 3 and all subsequent modules. Any exemptions granted based on a Master’s degree or MBA will be subject to re-evaluation. Exemptions will not remain valid if there is a change in specialization and the new specialization requirements do not align with the previously granted exemptions.

The DBA is an executive-level program designed for working professionals possessing extensive managerial experience as well as a master’s certification, who are looking to advance further in their career. DBA has both rigor and relevance as it contributes to theory, practice and research in business and management. The DBA program is a full-fledged Doctoral program, but unlike the Ph.D., it is geared towards honing capabilities in the professional sphere. PhD programs are usually meant for those interested in pursuing research-based careers in academia.

You will be assigned an Academic Advisor who will assist you with your coursework in year one. From year two onwards, you will be allocated a Research Supervisor to guide your research efforts. For non-academic assistance, you can always reach out to your Research Administrator at [email protected].

Following is the course structure for the DBA Program: 

Year 1 

The first year, encompassing 60 ECTS credits, will focus on foundational coursework, providing learners with essential skills in research methodology, problem identification, and literature review. This foundational year will also include a research feasibility study designed to test methodological choices, and culminate in a well-developed research proposal, ensuring learners are fully prepared for their final research leading to the applied research thesis. Additionally, an elective module dedicated to a specific specialization will provide domain knowledge in the chosen area of research.

Module 1: Applied Research in Management - 10 ECTS

Module 2: Foundations of Research Design - 10 ECTS

Module 3: Strategic Management - 10 ECTS

Module 4: Research Feasibility Study- 20 ECTS

Module 5: Applied Doctoral Research Proposal: 10 ECTS

Years 2 & 3 

Module 6: Applied Doctoral Research Thesis -  2 years

• Stage 1 - Proposal Presentation & Thesis Registration- 20 ECTS

• Stage 2 - Literature Review and Research Design- 20 ECTS

• Stage 3 - Data Collection and Analysis- 20 ECTS

• Stage 4 - Applied Doctoral Research Thesis Submission- 20 ECTS

• Stage 5 - VIVA VOCE Examination- 40 ECTS

A learner who successfully completes one year with 60 ECTS credits will be eligible for an Exit Award (MRes - Masters in Research by GMU, Italy) if he or she decides to exit the course without completing the final research. The exit award comes with an additional certification fee of USD 1500.00, in addition to the total Year 1 fee of $4800. The learner will be allowed to resume his research at a later stage if he wishes to continue his DBA not exceeding 5 years from the date of exit. The initial coursework of the first five modules  must be successfully completed to be eligible for an MRes Exit Award.

Our DBA programme has been meticulously designed to accommodate the busy schedules of working professionals. We acknowledge that unforeseen events may impede learners' ability to complete the DBA programme within the stipulated 3-year timeline. We offer the flexibility for learners to extend their research for up to 2 additional years. However, it's important to note that for every subsequent year a nominal fee of $2000 will be applicable.

You are expected to complete one full year of Research before submitting your thesis and attending your VIVA.

We do offer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) opportunities for learners who have previously completed a Level 8 doctoral program or an MPhil, provided the courses they’ve completed can be mapped to our modules.

However, it’s important to note that:

* RPL is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
* In most cases, only a few modules (typically 2–3) may be eligible for exemption.
* As a result, it is unlikely for a learner to receive an advanced entry where the entire Year 1 is exempted.

Each application will be carefully evaluated, and exemptions will not be be granted unless a clear module to module equivalency is established.

The Program is awarded by Guglielmo Marconi University, Italy. Guglielmo Marconi University, Italy is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Italy. Besides, GMU, Italy is part of the Bologna process of EU and is a NARIC approved university providing recognition to Programs across the European Union.