PhD Studies for Executives

Executive level employees but also those with existing work experience often aim for joining a PhD programme to capitalize on their expertise, improve earning potential or earn a doctorate degree. There are many potential reasons one wants to complete doctoral studies but may realize that becoming a PhD student is not something they are able to do.

PhD studies are quite specific in their nature in that they are often targeted to those who have just done their master’s degree and may not necessarily have professional experience. But what if you had a dream of getting a doctorate which had to be set aside to prioritize employment? Furthermore, what if you don’t want to leave employment but doctoral studies still play on your senses? Does an alternative to PhD in business exist? The short answer is yes, and it’s called a DBA.

Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is an equivalent of PhD studies in business for those who earned at least 5 years of work experience with at least 3 years in a managerial role. The part-time nature of this programme allows to complete studies in parallel to full-time employment and the structured approach for taught modules makes it easy to plan.

Munich Business School together with Sheffield Hallam University have years of experience delivering the DBA programme together. Our collaboration resulted in many outstanding research projects in areas such as technology, marketing, finance, HR or organizational behavior. Self-directed nature of these studies puts you in full control of your research area, supported throughout by our experienced faculty members.

Download Brochure Discover DBA Program

Why choose DBA at Munich Business School:

Full control over your research project, you can propose a research question in any topic related to business and direct your study as you wish
Flexibility to combine full-time employment with doctoral studies so that you don’t pause your career or put your financial stability at risk
Expert supervisors from two institutions provide you with latest industry knowledge and technical know-how on how to conduct research and write your thesis
Doctor title recognized in Germany and completed in two international institutions gives you opportunities for wider networking and access to a bigger pool of resources and expertise

This business-oriented alternative to PhD studies enables you to become an expert in your field of study, increasing employment opportunities and earning potential. Showing your future employer that you are willing to go the extra mile and stand out from the crowd will help you in increasing your salary and securing a leadership role.

Munich Business School has been named the best private specialist business university in Germany (WirtschaftsWoche ranking 2022).

The Munich-based private university was founded in 1991 and offers a range of programs at bachelor’s and master’s level as well as a doctoral program (DBA).

What do you need to join our research programme:

Minimum 5 years of work experience with at least 3 years in a managerial position i.e. budget or team responsibility, project management
Master degree in business, management or related area, alternatively an MBA degree
English proficiency
Research proposal indicating your topic of interest, motivation for completing the programme and insights as to how you wish to complete the degree

The application process is very simple and you need to upload all your files to our online portal, for more information you can visit our dedicated page.

Our DBA programme is a part-time opportunity and so it does not qualify for visa support or scholarships. However, if you contact us for more information, we can provide you some insights about interest-free payment plans to help spread out the cost according to your needs. Below you will find contact details to our DBA study advisor.

Our alternative to PhD Studies for Executives in a nutshell

No need for career breaks

Benefit from experienced partnership of two prestigious institutions who are here to support you along the way. You can complete our DBA programme in 4 years part-time without taking career breaks but having the flexibility to take a break from your research if required.

Become an expert in your field

The DBA is an open to any research that has business relevance. Unlike a PhD, we don’t impose a subject for your research, giving you the steering wheel and providing you with all that you need to succeed in mastering your field of study.

Capitalize on your investment into the programme

Committing to the programme is not easy both in terms of money and time – and we know that very well. However, think of it as a long-term investment. Your doctorate will open up new opportunities to you in the future and the Dr. title makes your salary negotiation position much stronger.

Download Brochure Discover DBA Program

Key Information

The DBA programme begins in mid-September with a module in Sheffield, two other modules take place in Munich
Minimum duration of the programme is 4 years, some doctorands complete it faster and some take a little longer – depends on your personal circumstances
The programme is part-time so you can continue with your professional career whilst researching for your DBA
DBA with Munich Business School costs €36,000 in total – we offer no scholarships but can discuss interest-free payment plans available
You can submit your application any time with three deadlines available – 31^st January, 31^st March and 31^st May – places are limited so you are encouraged to apply early.

Financing your PhD studies or DBA studies

Working in business, you have to see your PhD studies alternative as a long-term investment. We understand it’s not always easy and although we may not offer you a scholarship, by keeping the cost of our DBA programme low, we don’t artificially try to lure you in. The total cost of the programme is €36,000 for the 4 years. This cost does not include travel & accommodation for your 1-week intensive residential modules or additional years. Should you need more than 4 years, each additional one is charged at €3,600. We offer interest-free payment plans to help you manage the costs better with monthly, quarterly or half-year options.

First steps to your PhD studies or DBA studies

Your next step would be to join our information session or set-up a virtual consultation to discuss the programme in more detail. We want to ensure you have all the information you need before applying and then you can simply submit all your documents on our website. To make your first step, please check out our events and register for an MS Teams link.

Alternatively, please send a copy of your CV and availability to Maciej Kapron our study advisor who will be very happy to meet you for a personal consultation.