How to Select the Best Doctorate in Business Administration for You

Table of Contents (TOC):

• Introduction
• Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a DBA Program
  • Research Focus
  • Program Delivery
  • Accreditation & Rankings
  • Financial Considerations
  • Networking Opportunities
• Ticking all the Boxes: UniAthena’s DBA 
• Conclusion

Introduction 

While MBAs remain the most popular online degree program, the DBA is also growing in popularity. A DBA, or a Doctorate of Business Administration, is a terminal degree in the world of Management Education. Senior Professionals are increasingly opting for a DBA to supplement their extensive working experience with advanced business theory and research acumen. 

As more and more Business Schools offer the coveted DBA, Senior Professionals have access to a wider pool of options to choose from. In this blog, we will list all the deciding factors you must take into consideration when choosing a DBA Program. 

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a DBA Program:

1. Research Focus 

• Like an MBA, a DBA can be pursued by itself or with specialization areas. Whether you opt for the traditional DBA or a specialization DBA will depend entirely on your career goals, industry, and the skills you wish to develop. Some examples include a DBA in Leadership, a DBA in Healthcare Management, a DBA in Marketing, a DBA in Social Entrepreneurship, and so on. 
• When searching for DBA programs, don’t forget to understand the research methodologies offered by the programs. If you work in a primarily quantitative field, opt for a DBA that prioritizes quantitative research methodologies. Conversely, if your interests lie in qualitative arenas, opt for a similarly inclined DBA.  These criteria will help you choose the DBA offering the specific research skills most applicable to your field of work.

2. Program Delivery

• As most DBA aspirants are also busy Senior Professionals, balancing professional and personal commitments with learning is an inevitable challenge. This is why online-delivered and flexible DBA Programs are growing in popularity. 
• Online Delivery not only allows you to pursue a DBA from prestigious foreign universities without additional travel or living expenses but also empowers you to learn wherever you have a laptop and an internet connection. This is ideal for Professionals whose schedules demand frequent and spontaneous travelling.
• The importance of Flexible Learning cannot be overlooked either. Flexible DBA Programs master the art of giving Learners enough leeway to accommodate changes in their learning schedules while maintaining a sense of rigor, discipline, and structure. This is ideal for Professionals whose schedules are not only busy but prone to unforeseen changes.

3. Accreditation & Rankings

• When you begin shortlisting Universities, ensure that you check the accreditation status. Organizations like the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) are among the most reputable bodies to offer accreditation to universities and DBA programs.
• University rankings are another important factor to consider when exploring DBA programs. These rankings offer a more objective indicator of the University’s faculty, student experience, and academic excellence. Reliable annual world rankings are offered by Times Higher Education (THE) and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), among others. 

4. Financial Considerations

• Higher Education is expensive, a DBA even more so. Assuming that you have taken your own financial situation into account (i.e., debts, bills, student loans, and tuition budgets), it is important to find a University that offers financial aid. Prioritise Universities and providers offering competitive tuition, including a variety of scholarships and financial aid to students. These opportunities can help you save considerably on tuition charges. 
• A recent development in several Universities and Learning Platforms is the ‘Pay-Per-Module’ tuition system, where Students only pay for the Module they are going to register and begin. This installment-based system of payment removes the burden of heavy upfront payments and offers ease to Students going through financially trying times. You can opt for a platform that uses the same, or a similar installment-based payment system for financial flexibility. 

5. Networking Opportunities 

• A DBA can be a goldmine of Networking opportunities. Classrooms will be filled with experienced Professionals from across different disciplines and countries. By interacting with these peers, you can gain valuable expert insights, develop informed perspectives, and engage in meaningful and eye-opening discussions.
• This is not restricted to in-person programs. Online Doctorates also offer the opportunity to network through online events like webinars, conclaves, academic conferences, and classroom initiatives like group activities, discussion forums, debate sessions and guest speaker sessions. These interactions can profoundly impact your managerial worldviews, allowing you to explore new ideas and expand frontiers in your approach to leadership, strategy and critical thinking. 

Ticking All The Boxes: UniAthena’s DBA

UniAthena’s Online DBA Program, offered in association with the esteemed UCAM, Spain,  fulfills every busy but ambitious professional’s criteria. Going beyond the 100% Online Delivery, the Program offers Personal Tutor Support and Research Supervisors who will guide learners through the rigorous curriculum and research process.  

With UniAthena’s Global Classroom, DBA learners can experience different cultures, connect with fellow industry professionals and broaden their horizons from the comfort of their home. Financial Flexibility, in the form of our ‘Pay-Per-Module’ option, is also available for learners on a budget.

With an emphasis on critical thinking and research acumen, UniAthena’s DBA equips professionals with relevant and practical business insights that will help them navigate upcoming challenges and scale even greater heights. 

Conclusion

In this blog, we offered a non-exhaustive list of factors to take into account when choosing a DBA Program as a full-time Professional. We discussed the importance of finding a DBA program offering the research methodology you seek, along with learning flexibility, student support, networking opportunities, financial support, and university repute. You can give each factor the level of priority you believe it deserves and align it to your professional goals before deciding on the right program for you.