Doctor of Business Administration
Lincoln University College · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Lincoln University College offers the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) to help candidates develop advanced conceptual understanding and translate research into practical business solutions, through critical management issues and relevant theories.
The DBA programme is designed to strengthen research and leadership capabilities, building the ability to source, analyze, interpret, explain and link data, communicate research effectively, and culminate in the Doctoral Dissertation.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Research Design (DBA 7013) to build your approach to doctoral-level business research
- Organizational Behaviour (DBA 7024) to study leadership, culture, and workplace decision-making
- Marketing Philosophy and Strategy (DBA 7034) to develop strategy thinking for modern business environments
- Research Methodology (DBA 7043) to strengthen how you design and execute research
- Research Analysis Techniques (DBA 7054) to apply analysis methods to business data
- Current Issues in Economics (DBA 7064) to interpret economic developments for business decisions
- Entrepreneurship management (DBA 7073) to examine how entrepreneurial strategies are planned and implemented
- Global Enterprise and Leadership (DBA 7084) to connect leadership with international business challenges
- Recent trends in Financial Decision Making (DBA 7093) to evaluate current approaches to finance and decision-making
- Doctoral Dissertation (DBA 7148) to complete the final research/dissertation component of the Doctor of Business Administration
- Progress through dissertation work that results in a required doctoral dissertation submission as part of your programme completion
Curriculum
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Lincoln University College is a research-based degree. Entry is structured as coursework across Year 1 and Year 2, followed by Doctoral Dissertation in Year 2 Semester 4 and Year 3 Semesters 5–6. Minimum graduation requirement is 48 credit hours.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Semester 1 | 3 | Research Design | 3.00 | 11.00 |
| Organizational Behaviour | 4.00 | |||
| Marketing Philosophy and Strategy | 4.00 | |||
| Year 1 Semester 2 | 3 | Research Methodology | 3.00 | 11.00 |
| Research Analysis Techniques | 4.00 | |||
| Current Issues in Economics | 4.00 | |||
| Year 2 Semester 3 | 3 | Entrepreneurship management | 3.00 | 10.00 |
| Global Enterprise and Leadership | 4.00 | |||
| Recent trends in Financial Decision Making | 3.00 | |||
| Year 2 Semester 4 & Year 3 Semester 5 & 6 | 1 | Doctoral Dissertation | 48.00 | 48.00 |
| Total | All coursework modules and Doctoral Dissertation | 48 credit hours | ||
Career outcomes
- You develop research-informed leadership capability so you can pursue senior management roles that require data-led decision-making in business organizations.
- You build advanced understanding of organizational behaviour and strategy, supporting career moves into areas like executive leadership, management consulting, and corporate advisory work.
- You gain strong research methodology and analysis skills, positioning you for roles that value advanced business research and applied problem-solving.
- The programme is designed for business leaders and experienced professionals, helping you translate your doctoral learning into practical, organization-level improvements.
- Your dissertation work strengthens your ability to communicate and apply research effectively, supporting progression into higher-responsibility positions over time.
Employability rate
Doctor of Business Administration graduates in Malaysia typically see an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%, reflecting competitive hiring for senior management and research-informed roles.
Together, these figures point to a generally stable career outlook where employability improves as you combine doctoral research strength with relevant work experience.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree (Level 7, MQF) or equivalent | International applicants must have an MBA at Level 7 (MQF), or another qualification equivalent to that MBA level accepted by Lincoln University College Senate. |
| Equivalent qualification accepted by the university Senate | If your previous degree is not an MBA, you must submit your prior qualification for assessment to confirm it is equivalent to the stated MBA requirement. |
| Professional experience (preferred) | The university indicates that professional experience can strengthen an application, with typical candidates having relevant work experience, although it is not stated as mandatory. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | Preferred background | The university states that an MBA or an equivalent qualification is the entry requirement; applicants from non-business backgrounds may need to demonstrate capacity to handle the program’s academic rigor. |
Language requirements
International students applying to the Doctor of Business Administration must provide proof of English proficiency. The university states minimum acceptable scores for IELTS, or TOEFL, or equivalent evidence of English competency.
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
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 | Not published | Tuition fee amount not found on the official Lincoln University College programme page during research; keep as empty until verified from the university’s official fee schedule for this specific DBA intake. |
Proof of financial resources
For student pass processing, international applicants may need to show evidence of funds and pay any required processing fees as instructed by the university. Follow the university guidance for what to prepare and when to submit it during the application and visa process.
- EMGS (visa processing) fee of USD 800 is required for student pass processing, as stated by the university for international students.
- Bank transfer/TT payment details for the EMGS (visa processing) fee are provided by the university for international applicants.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | Ongoing winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | December 31, 2099 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | Ongoing winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | Ongoing winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your eligibility documents for an international application
Confirm that you meet the entry requirement of an MBA (Level 7, MQF) or an equivalent qualification accepted by the university Senate. Gather your academic transcripts and certificates from all institutions attended and prepare your updated resume or CV. Ensure you have valid English proficiency evidence using one of the university-accepted tests/scores.
Submit your online application during the intake window
Apply online through the university’s official application channel. Upload the required scanned documents in the formats requested by the admissions process. Pay any required fees where instructed for international student processing to avoid delays.
Complete student pass processing steps after conditional approval
After you receive a conditional offer letter, follow the university instructions for submitting required payment documentation for visa processing. The university indicates that EMGS/visa processing requires a fee and provides international payment instructions. Respond promptly to document requests to keep the processing on schedule.