Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The DBA programme is designed for students who, having successfully completed a bachelor’s and master’s degree, wish to attain the highest academic qualification in management education. It is structured to be compatible with professional employment and is specifically tailored for managers and executives. Over the course of three years, you will explore an individual dissertation topic in depth and complete your studies with the doctoral degree.

Titelbild EMBA General Management HWZ in Zürich

Key facts

  • Title

    Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with entitlement to use the title Doctor (Dr.)

  • Start

    Each year in the first quarter (usually February)

  • Fees

    CHF 36,500

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Application deadline

    End of the year

  • Language of instruction

    English (parts may be in German or French)

Programme overview

Who is our DBA programme aimed at?

A DBA is aimed at experienced professionals who wish to further develop and deepen their expertise in practice-oriented research alongside their careers. Our DBA programme is specifically designed for experienced managers and specialists who seek to bridge the gap between applied, strategically focused research and the concrete, practical challenges of the business world.

Who is our partner for the DBA programme?

We deliver our DBA programme in partnership with the internationally renowned and triple-accredited Audencia Business School in Nantes and Paris (France).

The on-site courses (typically three block days per academic year) and presentations (Research Proposal Presentation after the first year and dissertation defence at the end of the third year) take place either towards the end or at the beginning of an academic year in Nantes or Paris. In line with HWZ’s identity as a campus-based university (where online courses also play a role), the HWZ-Audencia DBA programme is likewise designed to facilitate in-person interaction between doctoral candidates and professors within this framework. Nevertheless, if desired, it is possible to complete the programme entirely online. The supervisor is a recognised member of staff at HWZ who holds a doctorate. Supervision, a central and crucial element in every doctoral journey, is therefore provided by local HWZ experts.

The programme is fundamentally structured into three stages:

Research proposal submissionThesis DevelopmentThesis Completion
Appointment of spervisorsLiterature Review Theoretical Framework and MethodologySubmission of thesis
Research Proposal Development WorkshopThesis development under supervisionAppointments of examiners
Research proposals presentationExamination of thesis / "Viva Voc

Admission

  • Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (Master of Science, Master of Arts, EMBA, MBA). A MAS degree does not usually entitle the holder to admission to the DBA programme; this must be clarified on an individual basis.

  • 5 years of professional experience. Position with increased responsibility (i.e. managerial, leadership or specialist responsibility)

  • Minimum age: 25

  • Good command of English

Application: Required Documents

  • Curriculum Vitae in English (CV)

  • Provisional outline of the research idea, minimum 3 and maximum 5 pages

  • Copies of university diplomas from bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes

  • English language certificate, no more than 2 years old (TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo)

  • Copy of ID card or passport

Details and individual specifics can be clarified during the discussion.

Further information

Advice and application

Please contact the programme director before submitting your documents.

Portrait Claude Meier Hwz

Prof. Dr. Claude Meier

Information & Admission
Telephone EMail

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