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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a 3–5 year program designed to equip experienced professionals with the advanced research and leadership skills essential for tackling complex
business challenges in today’s competitive global landscape. The program emphasizes innovative strategies that enhance business performance, promote sustainability, and support ethical decision-making. It also empowers students to conduct impactful research that contributes to both academia and industry, positioning them as high-level leaders in their fields.

Program Structure

The program is designed to be completed within a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years. During the first two years, students focus on completing core and elective coursework. Upon earning 9 credit hours, students become eligible to register for a pre-dissertation course, during which they develop and submit their research proposal. Once the proposal is successfully defended, students may begin working on their final dissertation while continuing to fulfill any remaining course requirements.

All candidates pursuing the DBA must complete a minimum of 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The structure of DBA program is based on 7 core requirement courses and 2 elective courses, each of 3 credits, plus a research proposal course of 9 credits, and a final dissertation of 24 credits.

Who should apply?

The DBA program is ideal for professionals with a master’s degree seeking to enhance their leadership and research skills in business management. Candidates should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a strong commitment to completing a structured three-to-five-year program. This includes coursework, a pre-dissertation research proposal, and an extensive dissertation. The program suits ambitious individuals in managerial roles who are eager to contribute original insights to the field of business.

Proposal Template

Program Highlights

Graduates of the DBA program are expected to achieve the following knowledge, skills, and professional
competencies:

  1. Demonstrate extensive detailed and often leading knowledge and understanding of advanced theories,
    models, and practices across key business disciplines.
  2. Apply specialized theoretical knowledge to real-world business challenges through practical research projects
    and consultancy.
  3. Utilize advanced research methodologies and analytical skills to critically analyze, evaluate, and generate
    data-driven solutionsfor business problems.
  4. Communicate professionally in oral and written format to convey complex business and scholarly concepts to
    diverse audiences.
  5. Demonstrate expert-level leadership strategic, sustainable and ethical decision-making in complex and
    dynamic business situations

Program Requirements

Program Name

Total Number of Credits

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

60 Credits

Proposed Semestrial Plan

Tuition & Fees

DBA Tuition & Fees Due Total Amount - Full Program
Year 1 Fall: BHD 1,980
Spring: BHD 1,980
Summer: BHD 990
Total per Year: BHD 4,950 		BHD 19,800
Year 2 Fall: BHD 3,960
Spring: BHD 1,980
Summer: BHD 990
Total per Year: BHD 6,930
Year 3 Fall: BHD 2,970
Spring: BHD 2,970
Summer: BHD 1,980
Total per Year: BHD 7,920

Admissions Requirement

To be considered for admission to Doctorate degree programs, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Hold a Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 and above or equivalent. Applicants with a CGPA of 2.7 or above and relevant work experience of three years or more may also be considered for entry.
  3. English language proficiency score of 6.5 in the IELTS or equivalent with no less than 6 in the writing component. Applicants will be exempted from this requirement if they are citizens of a country where their first language is English (such as the UK, USA, or Canada); or hold a Master’s degree awarded from one of those countries.
  4. A personal interview may be conducted if necessary. 

Applicants who did not take any business-related courses in their previous studies and have less than three years of relevant work experience will be required to complete a non-credit bearing foundation course in Business and Management during the first semester.

Applicants will be required to submit an initial research proposal outlining their area of interest and participate in an interview with an academic representative from the college. While the university will make every effort to accept all eligible applicants, due to the broad scope of DBA research topics, admission will be based on the alignment between the applicant’s research focus and the available supervision expertise. This approach ensures that students receive the highest level of support throughout their studies.

Course Information

Career and Learning Progression

Career Progression 

  Graduates of the program can pursue careers in various fields, including:
·       Social Media Marketing Specialist
·       Digital Content Creator
·       Search Engine Optimization Specialist
·       Digital Marketing Analyst
·       E-commerce Manager
·       Creative Director
·       Email Marketing Specialist
They are also equipped with a strong foundation that can help them progress to graduate courses within their field of study.

 Learning Progression

 Graduates holding a BBA in Digital Marketing and Social Media degree at AUBH have the flexibility to navigate various learning pathways in Digital Marketing and Social Media, based on their learned skills, interests, and strengths.

·       Alongside holding the degree offered by the university, they will graduate with a professional degree (i.e., Certified Digital Marketing Associate) resulting from the university’s partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI).
·       Upon graduation, they have the opportunity to study further to achieve DMI’s next professional certificate, the Certified Digital Marketing Professional qualification.
·       They could also continue building their professional knowledge through a range of other qualifications from various awarding bodies such as the CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) and the IPA (The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), among others.
·       Students may also choose to pursue post-graduate academic degrees, including an MBA degree (like the one offered by AUBH).
·       They could pursue other master’s degrees in relevant areas of Digital Marketing including  Analytics, Communication, Advertising, and Marketing Intelligence, either locally, regionally, or internationally.