Executive DBA
Doctoral research for executives.
Explore the advisor-led Executive DBA pathway, its tier structure and academic review requirements.
At a glance
- Credits
- 60 US credits
- Tuition
- $34,050 total
- Delivery
- Online · Washington, DC
- Average completion
- 2.5 years
Same doctorate tuition as the DBA, per the UBIS Academic Catalog 2026-2027. The catalog takes precedence and rates are subject to change.
About the Executive DBA
The Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA) Executive pathway meets the demands of experienced business executives and industry leaders. It is a highly flexible and well-structured program designed around advisor-led progress: instead of a traditional lecture-based delivery structure, you receive guidance on the core curriculum and doctoral learning requirements from your advisor.
The pathway provides a broad theoretical framework of current business issues, a strong foundation in applied research and analysis, and a supportive immersive dissertation track, so you can develop a dissertation topic that fits your professional and academic context.
An assigned research supervisor follows you from the end of Tier 1 through the rest of the program, providing continuity of research supervision across Tiers 2 and 3.
Program structure
| Tier | Credits | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (EDBA900) | 20 | Doctoral writing and research methods, literature review, advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, applied research, action research, corporate governance, dissertation proposal |
| Tier 2 (EDBA901) | 30 | Research development and progress review: mini defense, two to four chapters, IRB review |
| Tier 3 (EDBA902) | 10 | Thesis completion and viva voce examination: data analysis, conclusions, revisions |
Flexible duration of about one year per tier. Extensions are decided case by case and additional tuition applies.
Executive DBA questions
How is this different from the DBA?
The Executive DBA is the same doctorate delivered through advisor-led progress instead of scheduled lectures. You keep one research supervisor from Tier 2 onward, and the pathway is designed around the calendars of working executives.
Who is the pathway for?
Experienced business executives and industry leaders who want doctoral-level applied research without a traditional lecture-based delivery structure.
How long does it take?
The catalog describes the pathway as completed over 2.5 years on average, with a maximum of seven years allowed across all doctoral pathways.
Speak to someone who can explain the pathway.
Admissions can outline the tier structure and the review process for your background.