Taking a Closer Look at DBA in Hong Kong

It’s not worth the money. Everyone and their dog has an MBA these days. You can be successful on your own without it. These are only a few of the many reasons why critics view an MBA degree as a worthless degree, but are there other options for business professionals in Hong Kong?

Stepping into the business world with some education, professionals may choose only to complete an associates or foundation degree. Most business professionals will have a bachelor of business administration or commerce degree followed by the ever popular master of business administration degree (MBA). For those considering the next big leap in business, there is either a PhD in business administration or a doctor of business administration (DBA).

Like their scientific counterparts, a PhD holder is considered a researcher who tests and develops theories and applications of the subject matter at hand. Typical students of a PhD in business administration are ones that are interested in academia as a career, either as a researcher or a professor. Admission into a PhD programme doesn’t have the mandatory requirement of an MBA degree and will accept students with a master’s degree or an exceptionally high standing from any bachelor degree programme.

DBA degrees are relatively new and institutions that offer a DBA programme are not as common as those offering a PhD in business administration. Critics may say an MBA is a useless or worthless degree, but if you are interested in increasing your business knowledge and potential, an MBA degree is not so useless after all. To get into a DBA in Hong Kong, an MBA degree is a mandatory prerequisite. DBA institutions will take into consideration an educational equivalent of an MBA, but an MBA is preferred.

Touted as the next prestigious degree in business, the learning objectives to a DBA programme are relatively similar to an MBA. Both degrees offer the framework for strategic planning and managerial skills; only the DBA takes the broad knowledge provided in an MBA programme further through extensive research, analysis, and testing in the real world. While both the PhD and a DBA are geared for a professional career in academia, a DBA degree is more practical in the working environment, especially in a managerial setting or as an expert a field as a consultant.

Two universities that offer a DBA in Hong Kong are the Open University of Hong Kong and Baptist University of Hong Kong. Students of a DBA in Hong Kong will learn how to effectively initiate and lead changes within an organization, make strategic decisions based on research, and apply management practices in the workplace.