The cohort based Doctorate Programs are a collaboration between Plymouth University and the International Institute in Geneva and are specifically designed so that participants can study while continuing to work full-time.

The DBA degree is awarded by Plymouth University, one of the UK’s most prominent and dynamic universities with an educational history dating back to 1862. The Sunday Times Guide 2011 has named Plymouth as one of the top three modern universities in the UK. IIG is an accredited academic institution specializing in business education and is ranked among the top ten best business schools  in Switzerland by Eduniversal.The program starts in October of each year.

Why DBA and DPA?

DBA and DPAs are part-time research based programs in business and public administration with the aim to prepare business managers and future leaders. These degrees are academically rigorous and provide practical professional qualification. They are designed to enable participants to synthesize and develop professional practice, theoretical understanding and reflexive capability.

Furthermore, participants will enhance their personal and professional development by fueling their research curiosity, learn the importance of critical thinking and decision making and prepare themselves to address the unique challenges and opportunities of today’s business and public policy environment.

Many of the students work full time while pursuing the DBA or DPA. These degrees whilst being equivalent in status and challenge to a PhD, are more appropriate to advance professional practice.

Key Benefits

• The Doctorate of Business Administration are run in Geneva with industry leading professors from Plymouth University and the International Institute in Geneva.
• The Doctorate of Business Administration program provides the basis for candidates to undertake an individual research project through the synthesis of practical experience and theoretical framework.

Program Details

The Program has two phases:

Phase 1: Theory and Research techniques (18-24 months)

Students will complete 6 compulsory modules, along with 6 assignments. Each module is delivered through a seminar. Five of these are held at IIG and one at Plymouth University. These seminars cover interaction between theory and practice, reflexive and reflective methodological approaches, data collection methods, competing paradigms of inquiry and data analysis techniques to conducting, writing up and publishing research to doctoral standards.

Phase 2: DBA/DPA research and thesis completion (24 months)

Participants who successfully complete Phase 1 will be to promoted to candidacy status and continue with their research, finally producing a thesis. This will be done under the guidance of assigned supervisors at Plymouth University. Attendance of conferences and doctoral symposia, where students can present their work and findings and receive support from faculty and fellow DBA candidates, will be encouraged.