A practice-based doctorate for senior leaders — rigorous research, real organisational impact.
About this Programme
Why this Programme
Programme Overview
Career Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Scholarships
Locations
UBI Business School’s Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) is a doctorate designed for impact—with local relevance and global recognition. Delivered in partnership with Middlesex University London, it offers experienced professionals a globally respected credential that strengthens both academic standing and executive credibility. The programme combines the intellectual rigour of doctoral research with the practical demands of real organisational leadership, enabling candidates to generate insights that can be applied immediately to complex, high-stakes challenges. Now, through UBI’s HyFlex learning model, this transformative programme is accessible to candidates worldwide in three languages.
At UBI; Experience Meets Doctoral Excellence. Our DBA programme stands out for its innovative structure and real-world relevance. Anchored in academic excellence and executive insight, it empowers experienced professionals to drive transformation across industries. The programme is designed, delivered and assessed by UBI. Upon completion, the students will earn a British degree from Middlesex University London: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
Our DBA blends Doctoral Rigour with Boardroom Results. You build the strategic mindset and research discipline to tackle complex business problems with evidence—not opinion. The DBA helps you convert real organisational challenges into structured inquiry, produce defensible insights, and strengthen advanced leadership and consulting capabilities that improve decisions at the highest level.
UBI’s HyFlex model is built for senior executives: it delivers maximum flexibility without compromising academic rigour, so pursuing the DBA does not require disrupting professional or personal life. HyFlex is EOCCS‑certified by EFMD, providing an external quality benchmark for the consistency and design of UBI’s online/blended learning. This approach has been recognised internationally through AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026 receiving Highly Commended distinctions for Best Lifelong Learning Initiative.
Every DBA candidate receives personalised guidance from two senior mentors—one academic and one industry—so you never have to navigate the programme alone. This dual support blends doctoral rigour with executive insight, helping you strengthen your research, sharpen leadership judgement, and maintain momentum—while ensuring your work translates into meaningful organisational outcomes.
Our DBA develops leaders who drive organisational change with evidence, influence, and systems thinking. Through rigorous, practice‑grounded research, participants learn to diagnose complex challenges, reframe them at source, and translate insight into decisions that shift strategy, culture, and performance. Graduates emerge with the capability to mobilise stakeholders, design credible transformation, and build resilient organisations that create enduring value.
Join a high-calibre, cross-cultural cohort of senior professionals and gain a peer environment that sharpens judgement fast: you will stress-test ideas with leaders who face real constraints, broaden your strategic perspective through diverse executive experience, and build trusted relationships and a robust global network that continue to generate insight, opportunities, and collaboration long after the DBA ends. At the same time, you can benefit from optional targeted international residencies and partnerships with leading business schools, gaining first-hand insight into evolving global business contexts—so your research remains grounded in real-world international dynamics.
Complete the DBA in English, Spanish, or Mandarin, so you can work with precision and impact in the language that suits you best—without compromising academic excellence. You may also write your assignments and final thesis in your chosen language, while selected modules and readings in English keep you connected to the latest global thought leadership and business trends.
The DBA is powered and delivered in partnership with leading business schools across Latin America and Europe, strengthening the programme’s credibility and real-world relevance. Supported by UBI’s campuses in Brussels and Shanghai, you join an international ecosystem of senior professionals and researcher‑practitioners with both a global outlook and regional insight. This partnership network is the programme’s engine: a platform for exchange and transformation that expands your reach and ensures your doctoral work matters across markets and institutions.
At UBI; Experience Meets Doctoral Excellence .Our DBA programme stands out for its innovative structure and real-world relevance. Anchored in academic excellence and executive insight, it empowers experienced professionals to drive transformation across industries. The programme is designed, delivered and assessed by UBI. Upon completion, the students will earn a British degree from Middlesex University London: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
Our DBA blends Doctoral Rigour with Boardroom Results. You build the strategic mindset and research discipline to tackle complex business problems with evidence—not opinion. The DBA helps you convert real organisational challenges into structured inquiry, produce defensible insights, and strengthen advanced leadership and consulting capabilities that improve decisions at the highest level.
UBI’s HyFlex model is built for senior executives: it delivers maximum flexibility without compromising academic rigour, so pursuing the DBA does not require disrupting professional or personal life. HyFlex is EOCCS‑certified by EFMD, providing an external quality benchmark for the consistency and design of UBI’s online/blended learning. This approach has been recognised internationally through AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026 receiving Highly Commended distinctions for Best Lifelong Learning Initiative.
Every DBA candidate receives personalised guidance from two senior mentors—one academic and one industry—so you never have to navigate the programme alone. This dual support blends doctoral rigour with executive insight, helping you strengthen your research, sharpen leadership judgement, and maintain momentum—while ensuring your work translates into meaningful organisational outcomes.
Our DBA develops leaders who drive organisational change with evidence, influence, and systems thinking. Through rigorous, practice‑grounded research, participants learn to diagnose complex challenges, reframe them at source, and translate insight into decisions that shift strategy, culture, and performance. Graduates emerge with the capability to mobilise stakeholders, design credible transformation, and build resilient organisations that create enduring value.
Join a high-calibre, cross-cultural cohort of senior professionals and gain a peer environment that sharpens judgement fast: you will stress-test ideas with leaders who face real constraints, broaden your strategic perspective through diverse executive experience, and build trusted relationships and a robust global network that continue to generate insight, opportunities, and collaboration long after the DBA ends. At the same time, you can benefit from optional targeted international residencies and partnerships with leading business schools, gaining first-hand insight into evolving global business contexts—so your research remains grounded in real-world international dynamics.
Complete the DBA in English, Spanish, or Mandarin, so you can work with precision and impact in the language that suits you best—without compromising academic excellence. You may also write your assignments and final thesis in your chosen language, while selected modules and readings in English keep you connected to the latest global thought leadership and business trends.
The DBA is powered and delivered in partnership with leading business schools across Latin America and Europe, strengthening the programme’s credibility and real-world relevance. Supported by UBI’s campuses in Brussels and Shanghai, you join an international ecosystem of senior professionals and researcher‑practitioners with both a global outlook and regional insight. This partnership network is the programme’s engine: a platform for exchange and transformation that expands your reach and ensures your doctoral work matters across markets and institutions.
Senior leaders with established track records who want to elevate decisionmaking through rigorous, practice-based research—turning strategic
challenges into a doctoral thesis with real impact, without stepping away from
leadership responsibilities (enabled by flexible delivery).
Experienced professionals (directors, senior managers, entrepreneurs, consultants) ready for a genuine step-change—moving beyond short executive courses to a professional doctorate that strengthens analytical rigour, intellectual authority and evidence-based judgement. They want to structure what they already do in practice into defensible research, generate publishable and applicable insights and deepen their leadership impact as part of a longterm lifelong-learning journey
Seasoned practitioners who want to transition into higher education teaching (or strengthen an existing teaching role) and contribute credible applied research grounded in real practice. The DBA is attractive because it combines doctoral rigour with organisational relevance and doctoral/terminal qualifications (including DBA) are explicitly recognised in some business
school faculty qualification frameworks—particularly for postgraduate teaching.
The DBA programme is a part-time 3 years programme comprising of coursework, doctoral workshops and a thesis. The programme is taught in Mandarin, English, and Spanish.
Analyse complex organisational and market challenges using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods, grounded in strategic management theory and doctoral-level enquiry.
Evaluate real-world business problems through evidence-based research design, translating findings into strategic recommendations that create measurable value for organisations and society.
Navigate the leadership, governance and innovation challenges of organisational transformation, including how emerging technologies such as AI reshape strategy and decision-making.
Master the doctoral craft of producing and defending original research — dissertation, business artefact or publication — before a panel of international experts.
Graduates of this programme are prepared to pursue roles across across a variety of Industries in roles such as:
Leading organisations at the highest level, applying doctoral-level rigour and evidence to navigate complex, high-stakes strategic decisions.
Bringing evidence-based, doctoral-level insight to client organisations as an independent consultant, advisor, or partner in professional services.
Founding, scaling, or transforming ventures grounded in rigorous applied research rather than assumption or convention.
Teaching, publishing, and shaping future business leaders as faculty, guest lecturer, or researcher at universities worldwide.
Contributing doctoral-level strategic and governance expertise to boards, advisory panels, and industry bodies across sectors.
Guiding organisations through the strategic governance of AI and agentic systems, ensuring responsible, auditable, and value-creating adoption.
Applicants to the DBA can apply online through the UBI Business School platform. The process assesses each candidate’s academic background and motivation to ensure their readiness for a global, tech-driven learning environment.
Please attach a detailed transcript including a breakdown of subjects and grades (in English or French).
Valid passport copy and recent passport-sized ID photograph.
Typically through IELTS (6.5) or TOEFL iBT (72) results.
Approximately 400 words analysing how the programme will contribute to the applicant’s personal and professional growth.
UBI DBA is intended for professionals with a minimum of seven years of professional experience, ideally 10, with at least five in a senior position in industry and/or academia.
Application Deadlines for Fall 2026:
Autumn 2026
EEA & Online: 21 Sep 2026
Visa Students: 30 June 2026
If you are an international student already residing in Belgium, you can follow the EEA application deadlines.
Once the application is submitted, the admissions team reviews each file to assess eligibility and overall suitability. Selected candidates are invited to a 30-minute online interview with the Programme Director, typically conducted via Zoom, before receiving their final admission decision.
UBI Business School provides a range of scholarships and tuition support programs to make its education accessible for local and international students. Prospective students can apply for several entry scholarships, including:
With the successful completion of the DBA programme, graduates are awarded the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) by Middlesex University London — a British degree.
UBI has taught in Brussels since 1992; its programmes have been validated and awarded by Middlesex University London since 2012. Middlesex is a top-six UK university (THE Young University Rankings, 2024) and holds a Silver Award for Teaching Excellence (TEF, Office for Students, 2023). It ranks 1st in the UK for Employability (Uni Compare, 2026) and 21st globally for International Outlook (THE Young University Rankings, 2024).
UBI complies in all its campuses with the requirements of the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and of the European Higher Education Area.
The DBA is available in two study modes: fully in-person at our Brussels and Shanghai campus, or fully online.
EU citizens may also opt for HyFlex – UBI’s hybrid model – which allows you to freely switch between attending on campus and joining online session by session.
Applicants must hold a secondary school or high school diploma, including a breakdown of subjects and grades submitted in English or French. You will also need to provide two letters of recommendation, a copy of your passport or national identity card, and a 500-word personal statement explaining how the programme aligns with your personal and professional development goals. All applicants are assessed holistically — academic results matter, but so does your motivation, outlook and fit with UBI’s international learning environment.
Applications are submitted online at no cost. Once your complete application is received, the admissions team reviews your documents and academic background. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 30-minute interview with the Programme Director, conducted online or on campus, where your motivations, communication skills and programme fit are assessed. Successful candidates receive a formal offer within 30 days of their interview.
Applicants are invited to apply directly online. Along with an application form, applicants need to submit a:
Note: All students enrolled in UBI programmes are expected to bring their personal laptops for all academic activities.
Yes. UBI offers two intakes per year: September (autumn) and March (spring). This gives you flexibility to begin at the point that best suits your academic calendar and personal circumstances.
No. All BSc programmes are taught entirely in English, and no prior knowledge of French is required to apply or study. That said, students are required to study a foreign language at introductory level in Year 1 and intermediate level in Year 2 as part of the curriculum — a deliberate choice to strengthen your professional profile in an international environment.
Yes, on both counts. In Year 3, you can choose to complete an optional professional internship — in Brussels, Luxembourg or abroad — in place of elective modules. International mobility options include a semester exchange at one of UBI’s partner institutions and an optional International Business Trip to destinations such as LSE, Babson College or Boston University. UBI’s student community represents more than 40 nationalities, making every day on campus an exercise in international collaboration.
Transfer applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have completed at least one semester at an accredited higher education institution and are in good academic standing, you may be eligible to apply for advanced entry. Transfer applicants follow the same admissions process as standard applicants and are required to submit the same documentation. Recognition of prior learning and credit transfer is assessed by the admissions team in consultation with the Programme Director.
UBI does not operate its own student residence in Brussels, but the school actively supports students in finding suitable housing before they arrive. UBI has partnered with Spotahome — a platform offering over 2,000 verified accommodation options in Brussels — and as a UBI student you benefit from an exclusive 30% discount on Spotahome’s service fee. Spotahome listings include shared apartments, private studios and student rooms, all verified with photos, video walkthroughs and transparent pricing, so you can secure accommodation remotely before you land.
Beyond Spotahome, the UBI admissions and student services team can advise you on neighbourhoods, transport links, typical rental costs and what to look for in a Belgian tenancy agreement. Useful independent platforms include Immoweb, Zimmo and student-focused housing sites. A few practical tips: start your search as early as possible — demand rises sharply in August and February — budget for a deposit of one to three months’ rent, and confirm whether utilities are included before signing any contract.
Brussels is significantly more affordable than comparable European capitals such as London, Amsterdam or Paris, while offering the same quality of life and professional environment. UBI students report average monthly living expenses of approximately €890 to €1,300, covering food and accommodation within Brussels. As a general guide, you should budget for the following:
A realistic total monthly budget, excluding tuition, sits between €900 and €1,200 for a student living modestly and sharing accommodation. Students studying in Brussels are also permitted to work up to 20 hours per week, which can meaningfully supplement living costs.
