Executive Doctor of Business Administration
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is an advanced, research-intensive degree that emphasizes practical application of knowledge. This doctoral program in business administration focuses on expanding expertise across diverse industry domains by offering deep insights into business and management challenges.
A doctoral program with an emphasis on practicality
Approach business through a doctoral program that emphasizes practicality. Students will gain advanced research lenses to tackle complex problems, experience a transformative shift in decision-making, and strategically implement management solutions rooted in solid research. The Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program gives a distinct advantage in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.
This doctorate in business administration delves deeply into academic theories underpinning business concepts and emphasizes original research within a chosen area. Students will test and apply these theories in real-world scenarios and contribute to advancing academic knowledge. The knowledge and skills acquired throughout the 36-month, 6-semester program can be seamlessly integrated into ongoing professional responsibilities and require no interruption to the student’s professional trajectory.
Program Structure
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program spans 6 terms within 36 months with a pre-program orientation before the first term.
Total Units: 38
Coursework: 24
Research: 14
International Experience
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program offers international opportunities for qualified students.
Global Alliance Week
The Global Alliance Week is an annual research conference hosted by one of the partner schools. It is where students from across the consortium can come together to discuss and present their research topics to get insight from leading academics, industry leaders, and subject matter experts. Students will have the chance to network with one another and work alongside international research supervisors.
Top-tier research, collaboration, and guidance from partner institutions
Students will have access to research faculty from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), University of Houston (Bauer), LUISS Business School, Insper, and University of Miami (Miami Herbert Business School) as dissertation supervisors and mentors. Courses will be handled by faculty with international experience and active research portfolios in specialized domains.
Start Date and Class Schedule
Duration: 36 Months (6 Semesters)
Start Date: Every August
Class Schedule:
- 3 days in-person classes on week 1 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 9am to 5pm)
- Hybrid classes from week 2 to week 18
Class Type: Hybrid except during face-to-face residential
Number of units: 38
Minimum Requirements:
- MBA or other Master’s degree; 10+ years of senior-level business, management, or policy-making experience;
- Proposed research topic subject to review and approval and the availability of a research supervisor.
Application Deadline for the August 2027 Intake
21 July 2027
(For Non-Resident and Resident Applicants)
Program Learning Goals
These goals outline the knowledge, skills, and abilities that students are expected to develop by the time they graduate with a doctorate in business administration. They ensure that the programs of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) remain both challenging and aligned with the current business landscape.
Program Learning Goal 1:
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration students will acquire and utilize advanced knowledge in their specialized domain.
Program Learning Goal 2:
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration students will be practice-oriented business and management researchers.
Program Learning Goal 3:
The Executive Doctor of Business Administration students will be data-driven business decision-makers.
Get to know our global partners
Students of the Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program can enjoy new learning and networking opportunities not just in the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), but also through our international partner institutions and organizations: University of Houston (Bauer), LUISS Business School, Insper, and University of Miami (Miami Herbert Business School)
Difference between DBA and PhD
Differences:
- DBA has more applied orientation
- DBA requires no career interruption
- DBA may take advantage of own work environment
Similarities:
- Academically equivalent terminal degrees
- Rigorous study + research
- Write and defend thesis
- Strong support, serious preparation, and high expectations
Meet Our Executive DBA Cohorts
Get to know the business leaders redefining the future of managementDBA 2027 Cohort
Eugene Acevedo
Corporate Vice Chair
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
Bernadette Bernabe
General Manager
Multimedia Exponents, MME Connections
Rafael Camus
Academic Program Director, Master in Innovation and Business
Asian Institute of Management
Ronald Chua
Deputy Secretary
Office of the Ombudsman
Emilio De Villa, Jr.
Project Manager
MAX International Engineering Group LLC
Elena Lam
Country Director
Medtronic Philippines, Inc.
Dennis Leveriza, Jr.
President
Welmanville Development Corporation
Melissa Ortiz
Head of Investor Relations
Filinvest Land, Inc.
Brian Pereira
Group CEO and Managing Director
Dragon X Capital Pty Ltd
Jaideep Pradhan
Senior Vice President and Geo Lead Philippines & Colombia
EXL Service Philippines Inc.
Sameer Prasad
CEO, International and Group Business Development Director
Mitra Adiperkasa
Arnab Ray
SVP Asia Pacific
TTEC
Suzanne Sevilla
Team Head
Bank of the Philippine Islands
Melany Viajante
Research Director
Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, Inc. (CARD, Inc.)
DBA 2028 Cohort
Rajiv Bajaj
Advisor
GFG Alliance
Pat Beck
Assistant Professor
CamEd Business School
Betty Bontigao
Therapeutic Area Lead
Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc.
Carlos Centeno, Jr
Operations Manager
Corcen Builders Inc.
Celeste Chua
Associate Vice President
Golden Topper Investments Inc.
Danna Cordero
Branch Manager
St. Peter Life Plan, Inc.
Romeo Dela Cruz
Director of Business Development – Asia Pacific
HyperGuest
Abigael Felix
Curator/Director
Meme Contemporary Art Gallery and Young Artists’ Studio
Jose Edwin Fernandez III
Group Chief Finance Officer
Rayomar Management Inc.
Christopher John Legaspi
Chief Commercial Officer
PT Archipelago International Indonesia
Philip Ng
President / CEO
Ergo Contracts Phils Inc.
Carlo Sagun
President and CEO
Bayan Family of Foundations
Mary Ann Santos
Learning and Development Head (Senior Assistant Vice President)
Filinvest Development Corporation (Filinvest Group)
Evangelist Tingson
Group President
PAGEONE Group
Juan Gabriel Tomas IV
Operations Group Head
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
Steven Wu
Project Director
Powerchina Chengdu Engineering Corporation
Chen “Jenny” Xiaoyun
Retail Sales Director
Millennial Zeal Technology Corporation
DBA 2029 Cohort
Raquel Lim Baquiran
Vice President
Far Eastern University
Qaalfa Dibeehi
Partner
Human2Outcome
Gerardo Victoria Gutierrez
Head of Human Pharma Operations
Boehringer Ingelheim Korea
Dianne Elizabeth Mendia Laurel
In-House Counsel
Manila Endocrine Laboratory
Zandra Rhodora Mendia Laurel
Owner
Manila Endocrine Laboratory
Shenzei “Bruce” Li
Chief Executive Officer
Superfino Technology Construction & Trading, Inc.
Cherry May Moreno Lim
Senior High School Principal
Enderun Colleges, Inc.
Cenen Navarro Milan
Senior Manager
Ayala Foundation
Michael Rafales Nacional
Region Head
Eastwest Bank
Mar Lauren Anil Nicolas
Vice President – Logistics Finance Head
FAST Logistics Group
Rebecca Rodriguez Ricalde
Clinical Professor
Asian Institute of Management
Streisand Tuason
Chief Operating Officer
Carmelray Industrial Corporation
Zhong “Jade” Wang
Chief Financial Officer & Business Development Manager
Golden Subs Restaurant Chain Corp
Josephine Angela De Leon Yu
Department Head – International Relations
City Government of Makati
Go beyond business with our
Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for the Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program at the Asian Institute of Management
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