Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) is designed for executives, professionals and leaders to prepare for digital transformation and strengthen decision making, strategic thinking, and problem solving through applied experiential learning.
Students are required to complete taught modules and then proceed with research components under academic monitoring and assessment, with full-time duration stated for the DBA programme and an English requirement outlined by APU for admission.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Pre-requisite modules (for non-business students): Managing People, Understanding Customers, Managerial Finance, and Business Environment & Strategic Planning.
- Taught modules building the DBA foundation in digital transformation and applied leadership.
- Research Methodology introduced alongside the programme’s core leadership and innovation themes.
- Core taught modules including Strategic Management for Integrated Value Creation and Digital Thinking and Innovation Management.
- Applied analytics and transformation content through Data Science and Business Analytics and Digital Business Transformation.
- Students complete Quantitative Research OR Qualitative Research to support their dissertation work.
- Global Economic and Business Issues as part of the programme’s applied business perspective.
- Dissertation research and writing.
- Blended delivery (online and face-to-face) supported via the Institution’s Learning Management System for taught modules and dissertation progress.
Curriculum
Total 80 credit hours for Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). The programme includes 10 taught modules and a dissertation, delivered via a combination of online and face-to-face blended learning modes.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taught Modules 1 | Pre-requisite modules (for non-business students) | Managing People | ||
| Understanding Customers | ||||
| Managerial Finance | ||||
| Business Environment & Strategic Planning | ||||
| Taught Modules 2 | Core taught modules (first block) | Strategic Management for Integrated Value Creation | ||
| Accounting and FinTech in Digital Transformation | ||||
| Advanced Marketing Intelligence and Research | ||||
| Taught Modules 3 | Research and leadership taught modules (second block) | Research Methodology | ||
| Leadership and Organisational Science | ||||
| Digital Thinking and Innovation Management | ||||
| Taught Modules 4 | Data and transformation taught modules (third block) | Data Science and Business Analytics | ||
| Quantitative Research OR Qualitative Research | ||||
| Digital Business Transformation | ||||
| Taught Modules 5 | Business issues taught module (final taught block) | Global Economic and Business Issues | ||
| Final/Dissertation | Dissertation and examination | Dissertation | ||
| Total | Pre-requisite modules (if applicable), core taught modules, and Dissertation | 80 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You build leadership capability for digital transformation through taught modules that focus on strategy, innovation management, and digital business transformation.
- You gain applied decision-making and research skills through Research Methodology and Quantitative Research OR Qualitative Research that support a dissertation-focused career pathway.
- You develop business analytics and data-informed insight via Data Science and Business Analytics, strengthening your profile for management and consulting roles.
- You build technology-infused business competence by integrating content such as Accounting and FinTech in Digital Transformation into your DBA learning.
- You can position yourself for senior business roles such as business consultant, business research analyst, market research analyst, and management analyst after graduation.
- You strengthen your credibility for knowledge-led careers like professor or business leadership roles through the programme’s dissertation-based academic achievement.
Employability rate
For Malaysia-based labour markets, DBA graduates typically see an estimated employability rate of around 88% with an estimated unemployment rate of about 12%, depending on experience and role fit in business and consulting.
Together, these figures indicate a generally stable outlook for leadership-focused graduates in management, analytics, and research-related roles in Malaysia.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Master's degree (related field) or equivalent | International applicants must hold a master's degree in a related field, or its equivalent qualification as accepted by the Senate. |
| Master's degree (non-related field) with or without work experience | For applicants with a master's degree in a non-related field, admission may be subject to working experience and rigorous internal assessment, or may require passing prerequisite courses if there is no relevant working experience. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | Direct match | The programme’s published minimum entry requirement starts from a master’s degree; it also lists prerequisite modules for non-business students. |
Language requirements
International students must meet the programme’s minimum English requirement. For this DBA at APU, the published minimum is IELTS: 6.0.
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | MYR 56800 / total program | Total for International (excludes deposits and other Miscellaneous Fees). Fees indicated exclude 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) imposed by the Malaysian Government. |
Proof of financial resources
If you are an international applicant, you must be able to fund your tuition and living costs for study in Malaysia as part of your student visa process. Your university offer and visa processing steps may require you to provide proof of funds and related documents as requested by the admissions and visa authorities.
- Pre-Arrival Application Processing Fees are payable after you receive the Letter of Offer and before visa processing starts
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | August - Winter intake | November - Winter intake | August - Summer intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 | January 01, 2026 | January 01, 2026 | January 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | May 31, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | May 31, 2026 |
| Semester begins | August 03, 2026 | November 30, 2026 | August 21, 2026 | October 30, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | August - Winter intake | November - Winter intake | August - Summer intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | August - Winter intake | November - Winter intake | August - Summer intake | October - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
| Official transcripts deadline | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Initiate your application with the required documents
Complete the APU online application form and upload the required documents to start your admission assessment. APU recommends applying 6 to 8 weeks in advance of the scheduled intake because visa processing normally takes about 3 to 4 weeks. If you are applying from abroad, ensure your documents are prepared early so you can respond quickly to any follow-up requests.
Confirm admission when you receive your Letter of Offer
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive a Letter of Offer. To proceed with the Student Visa process, you must confirm your enrolment and pay the RM 3,600 Pre-Arrival Application Processing Fee immediately with the documents required by the university. After you submit the complete package, you should expect admission/vetting results within the stated university timeframe (based on complete documents).
Student visa processing via EMGS
After APU receives your complete documents together with the visa and application fees, the university will submit your application to EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services). Processing may take about 2 to 3 weeks on receiving complete documents and payment. You are advised to avoid entering Malaysia during visa processing to prevent delays or issues with Malaysian Immigration.