Program Overview

Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research)

The Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research) is designed for business professionals seeking to extend their expertise and progress their careers. This program provides opportunities for advanced study and reflection on practice across various professional fields, including accountancy, business management, economics, human resource development, international management, organisational behaviour, and more.

About this Course

This carefully designed program allows students to explore a research subject of their choosing in the form of a dissertation and tailor the course content to suit their professional interests through their choice of suitable electives. As a Higher Degree by Research (HDR), this course is covered under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP) funding model, which provides a fee offset for domestic students for the standard duration of the course.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research) program, applicants must:

• Hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree and a post-bachelor honours year by research, or a master’s or graduate diploma degree of one to two years’ full-time equivalent duration in a relevant field with a Credit or greater average.
• Have five years of professional practice in a relevant area.
• Provide evidence of capacity for independent research under the guidance of a supervisory panel at the doctoral level and relevant professional development.
• Provide evidence of superior professional performance, both intellectually and technically.
• Meet the University's minimum English proficiency requirements for entry into higher degree by research courses.

Course Requirements

The Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research) requires students to complete 96 credit points, including:

• 72 credit points of research, which involves the preparation of a doctoral thesis.
• 24 credit points of coursework units, which include:
  • Professional Doctorate Research Proposal B PG
  • Research Fundamentals PG
  • Reading and Critiquing Literature PG
  • Research Design PG
  • Current Research Issues in Business PG

Typical Study Pattern

The typical study pattern for this course involves:

• Completing the coursework units in the first year.
• Undertaking the research component over the next three years.
• Students can enroll full-time or part-time, with the option to switch between the two.

Course Information

• The course duration is four years full-time or eight years part-time.
• The course is available on campus at the University of Canberra, Bruce.
• The course is designed to provide students with advanced research skills and knowledge in business administration.
• The course includes a range of learning outcomes, including the ability to evaluate and apply specialised knowledge and research skills, demonstrate trans-disciplinary higher order research, analytical and problem-solving skills, and illustrate specialised research skills, knowledge and expertise applicable to professional practice or the production and/or application of knowledge in a field of business.

Awards

The award for this course is the Doctor of Business Administration (DBusAdmin).

Alternative Exits

Students may be eligible to exit the course with a:

• Graduate Certificate in Research Skills
• Graduate Diploma in Research Design
• Master of Research Development

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research) will be able to:

• Evaluate and apply specialised knowledge and research skills in planning, demonstrating and justifying a research project in the context of professional practice in a business field.
• Demonstrate trans-disciplinary higher order research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Illustrate specialised research skills, knowledge and expertise applicable to professional practice or the production and/or application of knowledge in a field of business.
• Demonstrate a systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of an area of professional practice in a field of business.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (Research) may pursue careers in:

• Academia
• Research
• Senior management
• Consulting
• Entrepreneurship
• Public policy
• International diplomacy

Fees

The fees for this course are:

• $27,500 per year (2026)
• $26,900 per year (2025)
• The fees are subject to change, and students should check the University's website for the most up-to-date information.

English Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the University's minimum English proficiency requirements, which include:

• An IELTS Academic score of 6.5 overall, with no band score below 6.0.
• Equivalent scores in other English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.