Doctor of Business Administration
Bilingual DBA
Part-time
4 years
HK$2,160,000
(HK$1,080,000 payable to HKUST; RMB1,000,000 payable to Tsinghua University)
For students who cannot complete the program in the normal 4 year period, an additional yearly tuition of HK$50,000 will be charged starting the 5th year.
Academic Director:
Prof Dong LOU, Chair Professor of Finance
The program is offered in collaboration with Tsinghua University.
The Bilingual Doctor of Business Administration Program aims to select and cultivate Chinese business leaders who can demonstrate the spirit of research exploration and lead change in the fields of scientific and technological innovation, management and finance.
Based on this project, the HKUST Business School and the PBC School of Finance of Tsinghua University have launched a strategic cooperation to cultivate professionals with an international perspective, give full play to Hong Kong's advantages as an international financial center, and empowering China to achieve its ambition of becoming a global financial leader.
On successful completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Develop a solid foundation in both qualitative and quantitative social science research methods essential for business administration.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of classic economic theory and business models to grasp the underlying principles that drive business decisions and market dynamics.
- Anticipate and adapt to technological advancements that impact their industries based on their awareness in the historical development of key technology innovations and scientific breakthroughs.
- Incorporate rigorous academic insights into their business decisions, leveraging their knowledge of economic theory, business models, and technology trends to assess risks, predict outcomes and make informed strategic decisions.
- Conduct policy analysis to understand the implications of regulations and policies on their businesses, navigating the complex interplay between business operations, technological advancements, and the regulatory environment, especially in the high-tech sector.
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Minimum Credit Requirement
59 Credits
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Core Courses
14 Credits
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Elective Courses
10 Credits
(i) Frontier Business Theory (3 Credits)
Courses on frontier business theory are designed to give students the latest insight into modern business practices. Students are required to take 3 of the following 4 courses:
(ii) Advanced Technology and Industrial Development (7 Credits)
The bilingual DBA program is inter-disciplinary, focusing on the integration of business and technology. Leading scientists and experts in respective fields will be invited to teach each module. Students are required to take 7 of the following 8 courses on cutting-edge technology:
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Research Proposal
2 Credits
Students are required to register in DBAB 6200 to complete a research plan and proposal in Year 2. A thesis supervisor (or two supervisors) will be assigned to oversee the research progress of each student by the end of Year 1. Under the guidance of their supervisors, students should identify specific research topics, formulate research plans, and submit a topic selection report. Researchers from both business and science-and-engineering disciplines will be invited to serve as supervisors. The prime supervisor will be from HKUST, and the co-supervisor can be from Tsinghua University. Co-supervisor is optional.
Students are required to submit a research proposal and conduct a presentation to pass a qualifying examination by the end of Year 2. The research proposal must be written in English; the presentation can be either in Chinese or English.
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Residential Plans and Overseas Studies
3 Credits
Students are required to register in DBAB 6300 in Years 3 and 4 to complete two residential programs at HKUST and Tsinghua University, and a global study program.
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DBA Thesis Research
30 Credits
Students will proceed to the research and thesis-writing phase in Years 3 and 4. Students are required to defend their DBA thesis in the presence of the Thesis Examination Committee, following the standard protocol for DBA programs, normally by the end of Year 4. The thesis must be written in English; the defense can be in either Chinese or English.
Last update: 8 Apr 2025
To qualify for admission, applicants must meet all of the following requirements. Admission is selective and meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
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Applicants seeking admission to a doctoral degree program should have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a proven record of outstanding performance from a recognized institution; or presented evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level on a full-time basis for at least one year, or on a part-time basis for at least two years.
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Exempt from the English Language admission requirments of the University (The exemption deviates from the Academic Regulations, approval alongside the program is required)
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Applicants are expected to have a master’s degree (can be waived on a case-by-case basis).
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Applicants are expected to be a founder or a top executive of their companies (with 12 years or more of managerial experiences). Exceptional considerations may be given to outstanding candidates.
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Applicants are exempted from the English Language admission requirements of the University. They are required to have some proficiency in English and Chinese, carefully assessed by the program office to ensure quality and standard.
