The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program is more than just a terminal academic degree; its true value lies in addressing the strategic needs of experienced professionals while aligning with the complex realities of the global business landscape. This program empowers candidates to tackle high-level challenges in leadership, organizational transformation, and advanced management practices.

By combining the rigorous academic standards of OTHM with the research-driven, practice-oriented approach of Swiss doctoral education, the DBA offers a comprehensive and globally relevant experience. Learners not only deepen their expertise in business theory and applied research but also strengthen their critical thinking, strategic decision-making, and innovation capabilities—key qualities for driving impact at the highest levels of business leadership.

Upon graduation, learners will earn:

• Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss).
• Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice from OTHM, recognized by Ofqual (UK.Gov).

The program consists of 8 modules and a Doctoral Thesis, totaling 240 UK/120 ECTS Credits, lasting a minimum of 3 years.

First stage – Mandatory modules from Level 8 Ofqual UK.Gov Awarding Body

• Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Potential (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Managing Strategic Change (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Project Development, Planning and Management (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Advanced Research Design and Methodologies (40 UK Credits/ 20 ECTS Credits)
• Developing Research Capability (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Strategic Financial Management (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Strategic Human Resource Management (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation (20 UK Credits/ 10 ECTS Credits)

After each module, learners will take an ending exam. The end-of-module exams are application-oriented essays to help learners review knowledge, apply knowledge in the workplace, and improve the practical environment.

Second stage – Doctoral Thesis with SIMI Swiss:

• Doctoral Thesis
• Defend Doctoral Thesis

The program consists of 30 online training modules, corresponding to 8 compulsory subjects:

1. Qualities of effective leadership: Learners will explore the making and developing of powerful leaders.
2. Developing interpersonal skills: Connecting and bonding with people within the commercial sectors is extremely important for good business. This module trains learners in skills to improve and enhance communication techniques to create strong bonds.
3. Motivating and influencing people: Inspiring people to create a unity of direction within business.
4. Making decisions: Doing the right things in the right way at the right time. Learners will look at the process of making a good decision.
5. Creativity and problem-solving: Do problems pose a threat or are they an opportunity to improve? Here, learners will figure out how to turn a problem into an advantage.
6. Studying and using management theories: There are many theories concerned with management and the various models developed from these theories. This module looks over these theories with real-life examples.
7. The external operating environment of business: Planning for influences on the business outside your control.
8. Culture and ethics: The culture and ethics involved in the business world today.
9. Governance and directorships: Structuring and controlling a business in a professional way.
10. Analysing the competition: What are my competitors doing, how are they doing it, and why are they doing it? Reviewing and analysing competitors’ actions to enhance managerial roles.
11. Marketing strategy: Creating an effective and successful market presence. Looking at the development of marketing strategies to create successful marketing campaigns.
12. High performance sales: Learners will grasp the key elements of successful selling.
13. E-Marketing communication: Understanding and using effective electronic messages to market.
14. Customers and their needs: Ensuring that your customers are recognised and valued.
15. Strategic human resource management: Human Resource Management must play a central role in the strategy of any organization. It is concerned with people as an asset of the business.
16. Recruiting and CPD: Getting the best people. Developing the best people. Keeping the best people.
17. Measuring and rewarding performance: Knowing and measuring how your people are performing.
18. Interpreting business accounts: Using and understanding the litmus tests of business health.
19. Tools of financial analysis: Resources, tools, and techniques to keep a finger on the pulse of the business.
20. Managing cash and working capital: Cash, cash flow, and working capital. The lifeblood of business.
21. Exercises in quantitative techniques: How to use and understand key figures.
22. Impact of technology on business: Analyse and exploit the role of e-business within a business sector.
23. Innovation and R&D: Creating commercial advantage from innovation and research.
24. Implementing and managing quality systems: Right first time, right every time. The place of quality in business strategy.
25. Strategic planning tools: Resources, tools, and ideas to help create an effective business strategy.
26. Strategic and systems management: Options for strategic direction. Making the right choices for your business.
27. The business plan: Creating a plan that targets the stated aims and objectives of a business.
28. Developing high-performance teams: Cohesion and teamwork that enhances business performance.
29. Managing projects: Getting things done. Using the right tools to run projects.
30. Strategies for growth: This module explores the different ideas of growth and the various tools, measures, and controls at a manager’s disposal in planning for growth.

To help students develop a deeper understanding of the lessons and learn how to complete their final course assignments, the program provides tutorial videos and support materials, including:

• Webinar & Tutor Videos
• Tutor Materials

List of Webinar:

1. Business growth and expansion
2. Business law
3. Business leaders
4. Business planning
5. Business resources
6. Business stakeholders
7. Business values
8. Concept of leadership
9. Corporate social responsibility
10. Developing people and performance management
11. Effective communication
12. Effective presentations
13. Effective teamwork and developing teams
14. Environmental impact
15. External influences on business
16. External influences on organisations
17. Financial and management accounting systems
18. Financial statements and reporting
19. Global business operations
20. Marketing principles
21. Personal development
22. Product and service quality
23. Product life cycle
24. Production methods
25. Project appraisal
26. Project management techniques
27. Recruitment
28. Research projects
29. Starting a new business
30. Team decision making
31. The marketing mix
32. Theories of management and leadership
33. Time management
34. Vision, mission statements and objectives

List of Tutor Materials:

1. Tutor material for the course Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Potential
2. Tutor material for the course Managing Strategic Change
3. Tutor material for the course Project Development, Planning and Management
4. Tutor material for the course Advanced Research Design and Methodologies
5. Tutor material for the course Developing Research Capability
6. Tutor material for the course Strategic Financial Management
7. Tutor material for the course Strategic Human Resource Management
8. Tutor material for the course Entrepreneurship and Innovation

During the completion of learning modules, eUni Switzerland's automated online learning system allows students to take competency assessments to obtain an e-Professional Certificate, which is integrated into the system as an optional feature. Students can request a hard copy if needed. The Professional Certificate provides a detailed record of the competencies the student has achieved.

The available e-Professional Certificates:

1. Level 7 e-Certified for Qualities of effective leadership
2. Level 7 e-Certified for Developing interpersonal skills
3. Level 7 e-Certified for Motivating and influencing people
4. Level 7 e-Certified for Making decisions
5. Level 7 e-Certified for Creativity and problem-solving
6. Level 7 e-Certified for Studying and using management theories
7. Level 7 e-Certified for The external operating environment of business
8. Level 7 e-Certified for Culture and ethics
9. Level 7 e-Certified for Governance and directorships
10. Level 7 e-Certified for Analysing the competition
11. Level 7 e-Certified for Marketing strategy
12. Level 7 e-Certified for High performance sales
13. Level 7 e-Certified for E-Marketing communication
14. Level 7 e-Certified for Customers and their needs
15. Level 7 e-Certified for Strategic human resource management
16. Level 7 e-Certified for Recruiting and CPD
17. Level 7 e-Certified for Measuring and rewarding performance
18. Level 7 e-Certified for Interpreting business accounts
19. Level 7 e-Certified for Tools of financial analysis
20. Level 7 e-Certified for Managing cash and working capital
21. Level 7 e-Certified for Exercises in quantitative techniques
22. Level 7 e-Certified for Impact of technology on business
23. Level 7 e-Certified for Innovation and R&D
24. Level 7 e-Certified for Implementing and managing quality systems
25. Level 7 e-Certified for Strategic planning tools
26. Level 7 e-Certified for Strategic and systems management
27. Level 7 e-Certified for The business plan
28. Level 7 e-Certified for Developing high-performance teams
29. Level 7 e-Certified for Managing projects
30. Level 7 e-Certified for Strategies for growth

In addition to the entry requirements, candidates applying to the program are also assessed for their suitability by the admissions committee before joining the program to ensure that they can acquire and benefit from the program.

Entry requirements:

To enroll in this program, learners must be over 24 years old and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• A Master’s qualification in Majors from accredited universities; or
• A Level 7 EQF diploma or equivalent. Level 7 Diploma must be from organizations that are authorized to issue qualifications and have been accredited

English requirements:

If a learner is not from a predominantly English-speaking country, proof of English language proficiency must be provided.

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2 or equivalent;
• Or A minimum TOEFL score of 101 or IELTS 5.5; Reading and Writing must be at 5.5 or equivalent.

Please note:

1. SIMI Swiss does not accept entry qualifications from counterfeit universities, Diploma Mills, or universities accredited by unreliable accreditation agencies.
2. SIMI reserves the right to make admissions decisions based on the requirements of recognized agencies and the global quotas of the program.

Teaching and learning strategies:

The program is designed based on a self-study model with automated learning processes, following the STEP framework:

1. (S) Self-Study – Independent learning through lectures and instructional videos.
2. (T) Tutor – Watching tutorial videos or reading support materials to deepen understanding and learn how to develop assignments according to requirements.
3. (E) Evidence – Completing required exercises to demonstrate competency.
4. (P) Project – Conducting a capstone project or writing a graduation thesis.

Learning method:

The fully online program enables students to achieve qualifications equivalent to those of full-time international students without the need to live in or attend on-site activities.

• Guidance on enrolling in Full Online mode at eUniversity: CLICK HERE.

Effectiveness of eUniversity's Pedagogy:

As for our exclusive teaching method, specifically designed for busy learners, we strongly believe that it enables learners to seamlessly integrate foundational theory and professional knowledge into real-life and career contexts. The impact of the 5-Step Teaching Approach in the fully online mode: CLICK HERE.