Program Overview
The Doctor of Business Administration is a professional executive doctorate designed for senior leaders seeking to transform their organisations through applied research, strategic innovation, and measurable enterprise impact.
The Executive Doctorate for Impact-Driven Leaders
Originally launched in May 2015 in affiliation with SBS Swiss Business School and now awarded by NiBS University following the grant of a University Charter, the NiBS DBA has evolved into one of Africa’s leading executive doctoral platforms.
The programme is designed exclusively for accomplished senior executives, board-level leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy influencers who seek to move beyond operational success toward intellectual leadership and transformational enterprise impact.
At NiBS, the DBA is not merely an academic qualification. It is a platform for:
- Strategic reinvention
- Organisational transformation
- Intellectual authority
- Legacy leadership
Our doctoral community brings together influential leaders from Ghana, Nigeria, and across Africa, creating a powerful network of peer-level collaboration and strategic exchange.
Strategic Purpose
The NiBS DBA develops practitioner-scholars — leaders who combine strategic execution with research-driven insight. The programme is designed to:
- Deepen mastery of contemporary management theory and advanced research
- Equip executives to solve complex, high-level organisational challenges
- Generate publishable applied research with measurable enterprise impact.
- Cultivate thought leaders capable of influencing industries, institutions, and public policy.
- Prepare qualified leaders for tertiary-level teaching and executive education (in alignment with requirements of the Ghana Tertiary Education Council)
Admission Requirements
The NiBS DBA is designed for accomplished professionals with demonstrated leadership experience.
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Master’s degree in business or management (e.g., MBA) with a minimum of 5 years of management experience;
- Recognised professional qualification (e.g., ACCA, ICA) with 5 years of management experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in business or management at least Upper Second Class, with at least 10 years of senior leadership experience;
- Master’s degree in a non-business discipline (completion of the doctoral foundation programme required).
Additional requirements include:
- Successful admission interview
- Full résumé/CV
- Completed application form
- Required documentation and application fee
International applicants are welcome. Qualifications must meet equivalency standards established by the Ghana Tertiary Education Council. Proof of English proficiency is required for applicants from non- English-speaking countries.
Duration & Courses
Stage I: Strategic & Research Foundations (Year 1)
This stage establishes intellectual depth and methodological rigour. Executives develop advanced competencies in:
- Research design and methodology
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Critical research evaluation
- Global management trends and strategic environments
Delivery is executive-friendly and hybrid, combining:
- Structured residencies
- High-level doctoral seminars
- Online engagement
- Peer collaboration and executive networking
This stage culminates in comprehensive examinations and a formal research proposal.
Stage II: Applied Doctoral Research (Years 2–3)
The thesis stage transforms insight into impact. Each candidate undertakes an original applied research project addressing a significant organisational or industry-level challenge. The objective is not theoretical abstraction, but practical, evidence-based transformation.
Key components include:
- Critical literature review
- Empirical research
- Case-based or field-based investigation
- External examination
- Formal doctoral defence
A defining feature of the NiBS Executive Doctoral School is structured mentorship. Candidates work closely with senior faculty supervisors who provide:
- Research guidance
- Publication strategy support
- Professional positioning advice
- Progress monitoring and milestone alignment
Executive Leaning Outcomes
Graduates of the NiBS DBA demonstrate the ability to:
- Diagnose and resolve complex, interdisciplinary organisational challenges.
- Apply advanced analytical and research frameworks to strategic decision-making.
- Produce publishable research that advances management practice.
- Influence enterprise performance, governance, and policy.
- Operate as intellectual leaders within their industries
Program Structure
- Duration: 3–4 Years
- Structure: Two Integrated Stages
- Credit Load: 180 ECTS (90 Credits)
