PhD vs. DBA: Research and Professional Doctorates Online

Business doctorates come in two main forms: the research doctorate, usually a PhD, and the professional doctorate, usually a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Both are doctoral degrees and both end in a substantial piece of original research. They differ in who they are designed for, what the research is meant to do, and how the program is structured. A DBA is not a PhD under another name, and a program's title tells you which one you are getting.

Two kinds of doctorate

The UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) describes research doctorates as programs "based largely on a supervised research project," in which all candidates are "required to make an original contribution to knowledge by conducting an independent research project."

QAA describes professional doctorates, giving the DBA as an example, as degrees that "provide an opportunity for individuals to situate professional knowledge developed over time in a theoretical academic framework." It adds that they "are often post-experience qualifications" and "frequently the doctoral degree of choice for mid-career professionals."

In practice:

Schools set their own rules, so treat this as a pattern, not a guarantee. Browse online PhD and DBA programs separately; our directory never labels a DBA as a PhD.

Dissertation, doctoral study or applied project

The final output has different names, and the name often signals the type of program.

• Dissertation or thesis. Liberty University's online PhD in Business Administration says that "through a sequence of 4 courses, you will research, write, and defend your dissertation." Teesside University's online DBA requires "a doctoral-level thesis of approximately 40-50,000 words."
• Doctoral study. Walden University says that "Instead of writing a dissertation, students in Walden’s ACBSP-accredited online DBA program complete a doctoral study focused on a real-world business challenge."
• Applied capstone. Capella University says its DBA capstone "emphasizes applied research to help solve a real issue within your organization."

QAA notes that professional doctorates "usually contain taught elements with significant lecture and seminar content," with the final award based on the supervised research. Heriot-Watt's DBA, for example, begins with three research courses, "Each course is assessed by a three-hour examination," before the thesis stage.

Residencies, workshops and colloquia

Online doctorates rarely mean no contact at all. Many include structured events where you present your research and receive feedback. These can be in person, online, or either:

• In-person residencies. Athabasca University's DBA includes "a 1-week on-site research workshop, held in Edmonton, Alberta, once a year for the first 3 years." Grand Canyon University says that even in its online DBA in Marketing, "learners are expected to participate in two in-person residency experiences."
• Virtual or in-person choice. Walden prices residencies for both its DBA and its PhD in Management at one rate when virtual and another when in person, with travel and lodging extra for the in-person option. The PhD lists four residencies; the DBA lists two.
• Online by default. University of Maryland Global Campus says its DBA workshops "are primarily online and in-person attendance is not required."
• Optional seminars. Heriot-Watt offers "Optional on-campus 4-day seminars" in Edinburgh and Dubai for its research-methods courses.
• Colloquia. Teesside DBA students "attend the annual doctoral colloquium, where you present your work and get feedback."

Check whether each event is required, where it takes place, how often, and whether travel costs are included. Our program pages record each attendance requirement separately; fully online vs. hybrid explains how to read them.

Proposal reviews and the final defense

Most doctorates have checkpoints before the final examination. Athabasca describes a year-3 dissertation proposal "followed by an oral candidacy exam." Aston's online Executive DBA has a qualifying report around month 20, "assessed by an online viva voce examination."

The final assessment is usually oral. QAA says doctorates are assessed through a thesis or portfolio and "in the vast majority of cases an individual oral examination ('viva' or 'viva voce')." It also notes that the UK viva is usually a "closed" examination, which differs from some European models involving a public defense. For online students, the key question is where the defense happens:

• Aston: a thesis "examined in an online viva voce examination with internal and external examiners."
• Heriot-Watt: "Your final thesis will be examined by an oral defence (Viva Voce) of your research," with no location stated on the page.
• Athabasca: an "oral dissertation defense" approved by a supervisory committee.

If the page does not say whether the defense can be held online, ask before you enroll.

Choosing between them

Questions to answer for yourself:

1. What is the research for? If you want to contribute to an academic field, a PhD's structure is built for that. If you want to study a problem in your organization or industry, the DBA model described by QAA fits that aim.
2. What do you bring? Professional doctorates often expect substantial experience; read each program's admission requirements.
3. Can you travel? Count required residencies, workshops and defenses, and where they happen.
4. How long can you commit? Published durations vary widely and are often ranges. Teesside lists 39 months full-time or four years part-time for its online DBA; Heriot-Watt says its DBA takes five years on average.

Whichever you choose, confirm the awarding institution's legal recognition first. Browse all online doctoral programs to compare structures.