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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) - Graduate School of Business


  • OVERVIEW

    The DBA programme at GSB aims to achieve the following inter-related goals:

    • Produce business leaders who possess advanced knowledge from the core business disciplines and have the ability to integrate them to enhance their decision-making skills,
    • Produce business leaders with advanced and relevant skills in conducting scientific research, consultation and training for both public and private organisations,
    • Provide knowledge of the modern techniques and tools that can be utilised to enhance and develop innovative practices in their respective organizations,
    • Produce business leaders with the ability to view problems systematically, holistically and unravel complex business issues and subsequently provide practical and innovative solutions, and
    • Stimulate creativity, critical and ethical thinking and to equip business leaders with skills in managing change and transforming organisations within the dynamic global business environment.

    The DBA Programme is delivered in 3 parts through a series of lecture seminars, consultancy, training and independent study.

    Part I: Theoretical Updating (18 units)

    Seminar in:
    i. Management Control and Decision Making
    ii. Human Capital Transformation
    iii. Financial Decision Making
    iv. Managing Technology and Decision Making
    v. Marketing and Global Business
    vi. Trend and Foresights in Business Strategy

    Part II: Knowledge Dissemination and Generation (21 units)

    This part is divided into 2 components:
    i. Dissemination of knowledge: The Consultation and Training Course (15 units) requires the candidate to conduct consultancy and training in a chosen field. This course is completed in 2 semesters.
    ii. Generation of knowledge The Research Methodology course (6 units) requires the candidate to update knowledge in research methodology, statistical techniques and statistical software packages. The candidate needs to prepare a research proposal, which will serve as the basis for the dissertation in Part III. This course is completed in two semesters.

    Part III: Dissertation (42 units)

    This is the part where candidates are supervised through the process of a dissertation and upon completion, are examined viva voce. This course is completed in 3 semesters.

  • ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

    Applicants should possess the following:

    • A Master's degree in Business/Administration/Management or related fields from a university recognised by the University's Senate or an equivalent qualification.
    • A minimum CGPA of 3.00/4.00 or equivalent.
    • Degrees awarded by local private institutions of higher learning including those awarded under any collaborative/franchising schemes with local or foreign partner must be accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
    • A minimum of 5 years relevant working experience.
    • Candidates without a related qualification in the field/s or working experience in the relevant fields will need to pass an interview and undergo appropriate pre-requisite course determined by the University.
  • LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

    (Applicable for International Applicants Only)

    The minimum score for each programme can be vary from the below list, candidates are required to check for each programme requirements.

    • A minimum of Band 6 for IELTS; or
    • A minimum score of 60 for TOEFL (Internet-based); or
    • A minimum of Band 8.5 for TOEFL Essentials (Online); or
    • A minimum score of 169 for Cambridge English: Advance (CAE)/Proficiency (CPE) /Preliminary (PET) /First (FCE)/ Linguaskill Online min. score 169/ Occupational English Test (OET) min. score 250; or
    • A minimum score of 59 for Pearson Test of English (PTE); or
    • A minimum of Band 109 for CIEP Level (ELS); or
    • A minimum of Band 4 for Malaysian University English Test (MUET)

    Exemption is given to candidate if:

    • English is the candidate’s mother tongue or National Language; or
    • Candidate graduated from an Institution of Higher Learning in which the medium of instruction at Bachelor and/or Master degree level is English (statement of proof required)

    IMPORTANT: Candidates are required to provide any of the above English result upon application. Incomplete application will be rejected.

  • DURATION

    Full time: 7 semesters to 10 semesters

    Part time: 10 semesters to 14 semesters

  • SEMESTER INTAKE

    March & September

  • FEES

    Malaysian (MYR) International (USD)*
    • Registration Fee : 330.00
    • Tuition Fee : 525.00 X 81 Units = 42,525.00
    • Convocation Fee : 200.00
    • Registration Fees : 225.00
    • Personal Bond : 1000.00
    • Tuition Fees : 200 X 81 Units = 16,200.00
    • Convocation Fee : 50.00

    *NOT inclusive 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) imposed by Government of Malaysia

    ** Fees are subject to change 

     

     

Postgraduate

Institute of Postgraduate Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: +604-653 6309 / 6027 / 2606 / 2946 / 2958
Fax: +604-653 2931

Disclaimer

The institution shall not be held responsible for any discrepancies arising from the translations. Users are encouraged to refer to the official documents and seek clarification from the relevant authorities if necessary.In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the English, Bahasa Melayu, and Mandarin versions of this website, the English version shall prevail.

Last Update: Sunday 07 June 2026.

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