How many participants will be present in each module?
The course size will vary from module to module. The typical class size is approx. 18 - 25 participants. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts places particular emphasis on interactive forms of teaching; working in small groups is therefore an essential part of the study experience.
Do I need to register separately for each module?
For the Elective Modules 3A and 3B, you have to register individually, using the application form of the respective Elective Module (to be found on the respective websites); for all other modules only once, using the DBA application form available on this website.
Which institutions award the degrees?
The Doctor of Business Administration DBA is awarded by Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. The MAS International Management degree is awarded by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – School of Business, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Am I entitled to the prefix “Dr” after having graduated from the DBA program?
All graduates completing the Doctor of Business Administration at Silpakorn University are entitled to the “Dr” prefix to their names in Switzerland. All foreign degrees awarded by accredited higher-education institutions as part of regular study or research degrees* can be used in their original form with an additional reference to the awarding entity, as regulated in the 2016 whitepaper «Legal protection of titles of Swiss higher-education qualifications » (2nd draft), paragraph 2, of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. On 20 May 2019, swissuniversities also published its «Recommendation on the use of foreign doctorates in Switzerland», which reaffirms the regulations of the SBFI.
In Germany, as codified in the Grundsätze für die Regelung der Führung ausländischer Hochschulgrade im Sinne einer gesetzlichen Allgemeingenehmigung durch einheitliche gesetzliche Bestimmungen (14.04.2000), the ‘Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany’ has decided the following (Absatz 1): «Ein ausländischer Hochschulgrad, der aufgrund eines nach dem Recht des Herkunftslandes anerkannten Hochschulabschlusses nach einem ordnungsgemäß durch Prüfung abgeschlossenen Studium verliehen worden ist, kann in der Form, in der er verliehen wurde unter Angabe der verleihenden Hochschule geführt werden. Dabei kann die verliehene Form ggf. transliteriert und die im Herkunftsland zugelassene oder nachweislich allgemein übliche Abkürzung geführt und eine wörtliche Übersetzung in Klammern hinzugefügt werden.» Thus, as in Switzerland, all graduates completing the Doctor of Business Administration at Silpakorn University are entitled to the “Dr” prefix to their names in Germany (with an additional reference to the awarding entity), given that the DBA awarded by Silpakorn University entitles graduates to the “Dr” prefix.
In other countries, being able to bear the prefix Dr depends on the respective national regulations. In Germany, graduates of a Doctor of Business Administration DBA program are entitled to bear the prefix Dr, based on the decision by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) to categorize the DBA as a "D1"-degree; a category indicating a full doctorate. In the US, both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Education characterizes a Doctor of Business Administration DBA as a “research degree” – and thereby as equivalent to a PhD – thus allowing the bearing of the prefix Dr. Also, the British Economic and Social Research Council allows bearing the prefix Dr after having graduated from a Doctor of Business Administration DBA program. Please consult the respective educational policies in your home-country for regulation about bearing the prefix Dr. We are happy to support you with this.
* Silpakorn University is an accredited university; and the DBA of Silpakorn University is a regular study and research degree awarded by the university.
Can I complete the course while working?
Yes. The curriculum is specifically designed to allow for studying while working.
Can I complete the course from abroad?
The curriculum is designed to easily allow attendance of students from abroad, given that program components are offered in a compact format, thereby limiting travel requirements.
What is the workload?
One ECTS corresponds with approximately 30 hours of work (with 1 American Credit counting as 2 ECTS). Over the course of the program, you will receive 65 ECTS from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and 48 American Credits from Silpakorn University. This translates to an approximate overall workload of 4’830 hours for achieving your doctoral degree, including class attendance, preparation and follow-up work, assignments and working on your thesis. Thus, the workload required is significant. After all, this is an executive education program at the DBA level. Given the workload, deciding to pursue this degree must therefore be well balanced with the professional and private commitments you have during the study period. Also, it must be considered that this workload will be with you over a longer period. However, it also must be taken into account that the design of the program is geared towards compatibility with your professional and private life. On the one hand, the respective learning paths are usually offered in compact formats and can be planned well in advance. On the other hand, the individual work on the respective Thesis offers a great deal of individual flexibility.
For a final assessment of the compatibility of pursuing a DBA degree with your personal situation, we recommend that you have a conversation with the program head.
Is residency in Switzerland required for the duration of the part-time executive education programs offered by the Institute of Business and Regional Economics at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts? Does the School assist with residency renewal for participants already located in Switzerland?
No. These programs are designed for part-time coursework while continuing to work in a professional occupation. Residency in Switzerland is not required and the DBA-program does not allow for a visa to live in Switzerland, given that the program contains a limited number of course days onsite. However, we are happy to provide a letter of invitation to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland for the specific dates of a course on request.
