PhD or DBA?
The discipline of Business Sciences knows two types of doctorate: the “classic” PhD and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
In terms of career path, the PhD has a more academic orientation. However, there are companies where a doctorate is required for certain positions. Typically, PhD candidates strive to close research gaps and develop new theories.
The Doctor of Business Administration might be for you if wish to engage in a research-based exploration of management topics of practical relevance and, potentially, if your previous academic degrees are from disciplines other than Business Sciences and you now work in a business environment.
Requirements
Each university and faculty independently define the formal requirements for a doctorate in their doctoral regulations. Make sure to consult the regulations of your preferred institution. If you have a consecutive Master’s degree from a university, you generally meet the requirements. Candidates with Master’s degree from a university of applied sciences often need to fulfil additional admission criteria. DBA programmes have their own regulations.
Form of the PhD dissertation
The doctoral regulations of certain universities and faculties stipulate that a dissertation can be delivered as a monograph or as a series of scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals.
Finding a topic
Think deeply about the kind of research question you wish to explore in the framework of your dissertation. You absolutely have to be passionate about the topic: you will be spending a substantial portion of your life with it. Our lecturers will be happy to discuss and find relevant topics with you. You may be able to harness synergies with one of the Institutes’ ongoing projects (e.g. innosuisse projects or job positions specifically created for one of the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF’s projects).
Supervisor and enrolment
Persons wishing to enrol at a university as a doctoral candidate must have a confirmed supervisor who is a professor at the university in question. Find a lecturer in your field of interest and pitch your dissertation project to them—ideally, before drafting your written proposal. The network of lecturers at the Lucerne School of Business might assist you in identifying a suitable person. Generally, you will then co-sign an agreement with them regarding objectives, milestones, duration, etc.
Support from the Lucerne School of Business
If you apply for a doctoral position with us, make sure to mention this early on in the application process. If you already work for us, we recommend you consult your superior. Learn more under “Financing”.
