About the Programme
Our DBA is designed for experienced professionals, business leaders and entrepreneurs who seek to deepen their expertise, advance their careers, and contribute to business innovation and research.
The DBA degree programme offers a high-quality doctoral education that combines scholarly achievement with practical application, developing leadership and business competencies. It aims to equip students with advanced skills in business administration, enabling personal growth, economic productivity, and societal contribution.
The programme focuses on solving complex business problems, effective resource management, and ethical communication, while also promoting socio-economic transformation. The research focus aligns with Milpark Business School’s mission to promote ethical and sustainable business practices.
Programme Structure
The proposal phase is split into two parts, namely initial proposal (concept) and final proposal with defence.
Initial Proposal
Upon admission and registration for the initial proposal phase, students must submit an initial research proposal in academic language. This proposal, not exceeding 4,500 words (excluding references), is crucial for demonstrating doctoral-level research ability and evaluating the viability of the intended research. It must follow the prescribed template and will be assessed by the Doctoral Research Committee (DRC) to determine if the student can proceed to the final proposal. Failure to submit on time means waiting until the next intake, with only one application attempt allowed for the DBA at Milpark Education.
Applications for the initial proposal will be considered annually at the end of October for the January intake of the following year.
Final Proposal
Successful applicants will register for the final proposal phase, preparing and submitting a full research proposal using the prescribed template. They will defend this proposal before the Proposal Assessment Panel within one year of registration, with guidance from an allocated supervisor. Attendance at a compulsory Final Proposal workshop is required.
Students who successfully defend their final proposals can register for the candidacy phase, becoming doctoral candidates. Guided by a supervisor, they will write and submit a doctoral thesis and an article for publication. The candidacy phase lasts a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years. Students must attend at least two colloquia per year to present their progress. The phase ends with submitting a thesis, assessed by three examiners, and an oral defence (viva voce) before final endorsement.
Proposal Phase Modules
- DBA Initial Proposal
- DBA Final Proposal
Candidacy Phase Modules
- DBA Year 1
- DBA Year 2
- DBA Year 3/4 (if applicable)
- DBA Thesis for Examination
