Doctor of Business Administration

Business professionals looking to supercharge their specialist expertise and leadership in their field need look no further than a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA).

The 3 year DBA is a professional degree for business practitioners that will build on your experience in the sector and extend your critical thinking and applied research skills to the highest level. This course is specifically designed to allow you to initiate, develop and implement your own research project to have an impact on your sphere of practice.

Under the mentorship of an academic supervisor, you will consider appropriate research methodologies, develop a research proposal, undertake a critical literature review and prepare a thesis which will be considered by internationally recognized experts in the field.

Completion of the Doctorate of Business Administration is a compelling signifier of your achievement in applied research and important contribution to new knowledge in your area.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the DBA may work in a variety of high-level managerial and research positions in private and public sector organizations.

Major Areas of Study

While this course has no majors it does include postgraduate studies, notably in the critical literature review, introduction to research methods, qualitative or quantitative methods and research proposal development along with thesis research units relevant to the DBA.

Assessment methods

The coursework assignments incorporate progressive assessment. Candidates are assessed in each unit on the basis of written and oral assignments. These may be literature reviews, reports, presentations, case studies, research studies and/or plans. Full details of assignments are contained in the Unit Information Guide for each unit.

The candidate will undertake the Doctoral thesis over two blocks of eight thesis units. Once enrolled in the first thesis unit, the candidate will serve a confirmation period no longer than six months full-time equivalent. The confirmation of candidature includes a literature review with a detailed exposé of the research issues, as well as a proposed methodology.

The research project will be conducted in full over the 16 thesis units. Upon completion of the final thesis unit, the candidate is expected to submit the research thesis for examination by two independent and internationally recognized experts in the relevant field of research.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience face-to-face contact with supervisors and other Doctoral candidates. Some units offer online activities, classes, pre-recorded and/or live lectures. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

The online study option is interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive online pre-recorded and/or live lectures, electronic study materials, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

In both the on-campus and online study modes, a strong professional relationship between candidates and their supervisors will be fostered.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.