Doctor of Business Administration

A Dual-Degree Program In Applied Management for Senior Managers

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Monarch Switzerland is a professional doctoral program designed for experienced and senior-level managers who wish to transform their practical expertise into advanced leadership capacity. As one of Switzerland’s distinctive applied doctoral pathways, the program provides a structured scholarly journey that enables professionals to deepen their strategic influence, prepare for C-suite responsibilities, and contribute at a high level through evidence-based managerial insight. Driven by rigorous applied research and executive-level learning, the DBA equips candidates to strengthen judgment, refine analytical ability, and generate meaningful contributions to responsible organizational practice.

Delivered within a Swiss academic environment rooted in the European doctoral tradition, the DBA blends academic rigor with professional flexibility. Candidates advance through a staged research sequence—moving from foundational research skills and methodological proficiency to field inquiry, manuscript preparation, and formal presentation. This milestone-based design ensures that working managers can balance doctoral studies with ongoing professional obligations while maintaining strong academic progress.

Anchored in Monarch’s commitment to credible and evidence-based management practice, the DBA fosters reflection, disciplined inquiry, and a culture of principled leadership. Its curriculum equips candidates with the frameworks, tools, and actionable research methodologies required to address real-world challenges faced by organizations globally. The research process culminates in a doctoral manuscript that delivers hands-on solutions to senior-level business problems and strengthens the candidate’s contribution to practice.

As part of Monarch’s integrated academic framework, successful completion of the DBA qualifies candidates for the Master-in-Passing (MA in Business Research)—a recognition of advanced analytical competence and applied research capability. This dual-degree pathway strengthens the professional credibility of managers pursuing doctoral-level development.

The DBA serves as a flagship executive doctoral program at Monarch Switzerland—uniting applied scholarship, leadership development, and professional impact. It provides senior professionals with the academic depth and practical methodologies necessary to operate effectively in today’s complex global business landscape.

Program Structure of the Doctor of Business Administration

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Monarch Switzerland follows a clearly defined structure that mirrors the practical and developmental progression of advanced professional research. Each phase builds upon the last, guiding the candidate from the acquisition of applied research competencies to the formal presentation of the completed doctoral manuscript before the Review Committee. The sequence of phases aligns with the professional doctoral competencies recognized within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for advanced practice, supporting the development of high-level analytical capability, evidence-informed managerial judgment, and applied scholarly contribution within organizational settings.

This structured, milestone-based approach ensures both academic rigor and professional relevance. Candidates progress through a sequence of learning and research milestones designed to strengthen their methodological understanding, analytical precision, and capacity to generate actionable managerial outcomes. At each stage, faculty supervision and institutional review support the integration of theory and practice, ensuring that the candidate’s work meets the highest standards of applied doctoral outcomes.

The following phases outline the academic framework of the Doctor of Business Administration, detailing the pathway from initial preparation through to the culmination of the doctoral journey and the demonstration of professional impact.

Preparatory Phase

Candidates begin with the Research Skills I and II modules, developing competencies in applied research methods, academic writing, and the fundamentals of evidence-based management. The emphasis is on translating organizational challenges into researchable managerial questions that can yield practical solutions.

Proposal Phase

During this stage, candidates design and refine their doctoral research proposal. The proposal must define a significant managerial problem, outline the applied methodology, and demonstrate potential for direct organizational impact. Approval by the Administration marks formal entry into the doctoral research stage.

Fieldwork Phase

Candidates conduct applied research within their professional or sectoral context, often using action research, case study, or mixed methods. The purpose is to gather relevant data, evaluate managerial practices, and test conceptual frameworks in real-world environments.

Manuscript Phase

Candidates integrate their field findings into a doctoral manuscript that articulates applied models, management frameworks, and implementation strategies. The manuscript demonstrates how research insights translate into actionable recommendations for business practice and organizational development.

Presentation Stage

The program concludes with the candidate’s formal presentation before the Review Committee. This presentation synthesizes the research process, findings, and managerial implications, evidencing both academic mastery and professional contribution to responsible management practice.

The structured progression of the Doctor of Business Administration ensures that each candidate develops the full range of applied research, analytical, and leadership competencies expected of a doctoral-level professional. By the conclusion of the program, candidates demonstrate mastery in the design and execution of evidence-based inquiry, the capacity to transform organizational challenges into actionable frameworks, and the ability to deliver practical outcomes that enhance managerial effectiveness. Each graduate embodies Monarch Switzerland’s commitment to responsible leadership, ethical decision-making, and the advancement of sound, evidence-based management practice.

Key Program Features

• Applied doctoral program linking research to managerial practice and value creation.
• Milestone-based structure: proposal, inquiry, analysis, and executive synthesis.
• Scholar–practitioner orientation emphasizing actionable insights and implementation.
• Close supervision by senior faculty; tailored guidance for organizational impact.
• Designed for working executives; asynchronous progression with professional pacing.
• Ethics, stakeholder balance, and responsible leadership embedded throughout.
• Access to Monarch’s global research network and MRPS publication opportunities.

Program Features

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Monarch Switzerland is designed around the needs of working professionals who seek to engage in advanced applied research while maintaining full professional commitments. The program combines the intellectual depth of doctoral study with the practical focus required of senior managers and leaders.

Delivered through a flexible, milestone-based framework, the DBA enables candidates to integrate their research directly into their organizational or sectoral context. This approach ensures that academic inquiry remains grounded in practice and produces measurable managerial outcomes of immediate value to both the candidate and their organization.

Milestone-Based Structure Candidates progress through defined research milestones rather than fixed semesters, allowing individual pacing within a guided framework.
Applied Research Focus Each doctoral manuscript addresses a real-world managerial problem, producing implementable frameworks and strategic recommendations.
Professional Relevance Designed for working professionals seeking to advance their leadership capacity, strengthen analytical judgment, and expand career opportunities at the C-suite or board level.
Flexible Delivery Conducted in a distance-based format with faculty mentoring, enabling participation from anywhere in the world without interruption to professional obligations.
Ethical Leadership Emphasis The program is rooted in Monarch’s commitment to responsible management and evidence-based decision-making.
Integrated Recognition Successful completion of the program also confers the Master-in-Passing (MA in Business Research), acknowledging mastery of applied research design and analytical competence achieved within the doctoral journey.

Together, these features reflect Monarch Switzerland’s philosophy of professional doctoral education—one that unites reflective practice, analytical rigor, and managerial relevance. The DBA equips leaders not only to understand complex organizational dynamics but to transform them through evidence-based action, ethical judgment, and sustained strategic impact.

Master-in-Passing

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Monarch Switzerland incorporates a flexible and academically rigorous framework that recognizes both professional progression and scholarly achievement through the Master of Arts (MA) in Business Research. The MA serves as an integral milestone within the doctoral journey, affirming Monarch’s commitment to accessibility, progression, and academic integrity in applied management research.

Master-in-Passing (Default Award)

Candidates who successfully complete all doctoral requirements are automatically granted the MA in Business Research in passing upon conferral of the DBA. This recognizes mastery of applied research design, analytical synthesis, and managerial interpretation achieved throughout the doctoral program, and underscores the integrated nature of Monarch’s dual-degree structure.

Master-in-Exit (Terminal Award)

Candidates who choose to conclude their studies prior to completing the DBA may qualify for the MA in Business Research as a terminal award by submitting a completed five-chapter applied master’s manuscript. The MA in this form does not require an original contribution to theory but rather demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to conduct applied inquiry, evaluate business practice, and produce practical recommendations of professional value.

Through both the Master-in-Passing and Master-in-Exit pathways, Monarch Switzerland ensures that every candidate’s effort culminates in a meaningful qualification. This dual structure reflects Monarch’s applied philosophy of doctoral education—valuing evidence-based reflection, professional contribution, and the advancement of responsible management practice.

Applied Doctoral Philosophy

The Monarch DBA advances executive capability through rigorous inquiry that informs decision-making, governance, and sustainable performance. Candidates frame real managerial problems, synthesize evidence, and develop solutions that respect organizational complexity and stakeholder interests.

Scholarship is treated as disciplined practice: research designs are credible and transparent; interpretations are ethical and actionable; recommendations are communicated in executive language. The goal is responsible impact—ideas that can be implemented and measured in the real world.

A thesis-only Doctor of Business Administration for experienced managers focused on action research and evidence-based decision making.

Admission & Entry Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Monarch Switzerland is based on professional experience, demonstrated managerial competence, and the potential to conduct applied research. The program is designed for experienced managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and professionals who wish to extend their leadership capability through structured doctoral-level inquiry.

Applicants must normally hold a recognized bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Possession of a master’s degree and/or significant managerial experience strengthens an applicant’s eligibility but is not mandatory for admission. In certain cases, experienced managers who do not hold a formal academic degree may be admitted on the basis of substantial managerial achievement recognized as academic capital, at the discretion of the Dean.

Applications are reviewed by the Academic Board to ensure alignment between each candidate’s professional background, proposed research area, and available supervisory expertise. Candidates are expected to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, critical awareness, and a clear motivation to apply doctoral learning to real-world managerial challenges.

Tuition

All doctoral programs at Monarch Switzerland follow a milestone-based structure designed to accommodate the research and writing demands of advanced professional and academic inquiry. Tuition is assessed on a quarterly basis for the duration of the candidate’s active registration in the program.

The quarterly tuition fee is €3,250, payable at the beginning of each academic quarter. Candidates may alternatively request a monthly payment schedule to facilitate financial planning and continuity of study. This approach ensures ongoing access to supervisory guidance, academic resources, and institutional services throughout the research process.

The standard duration of the DBA program is 24 months. Candidates who require additional time beyond the standard duration may continue their registration on an annual extension basis at 50% of the regular tuition rate. This continuation rate applies for all subsequent 12-month periods, allowing candidates to complete their research and manuscript or dissertation at their own pace while maintaining full academic standing.

Detailed information regarding tuition fees, administrative charges, and payment procedures is provided within the Application and Information Package, available upon request.

Who Should Apply

The DBA is designed for senior managers, entrepreneurs, and advisors who seek to convert experience into evidence-based leadership and measurable organizational outcomes.

• Executives and senior managers leading strategic transformation or growth.
• Entrepreneurs and owners seeking disciplined methods for scaling responsibly.
• Consultants and advisors committed to evidence-based, ethical recommendations.
• Public- and social-sector leaders balancing performance with public value.
• Professionals pursuing thought leadership and implementation-oriented research.
Monarch Business School Switzerland crest – PhD in Business Research program