FAQ

Admissions

1. What are the admission requirements?

To apply for the HKUST Doctor of Business Administration program, applicants should:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree (preferably a master’s degree)
  • Possess substantial years of work experience (preferably at least 12 years of managerial experience)
  • Fulfill the University’s English language admissions requirements

During admissions – We encourage candidates to consult with our program representative(s) and discuss their potential research interests and suitability to the program.

2. How do I apply and what is the interview process?

Candidates can directly apply via our website: click here.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Credentials*
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Copy of identity document (i.e. HKID, passport)
  • 2 reference letters

Qualified applicants will be invited for a panel interview where your professional background, your study plan, you research ideas and interests will be discussed.

3. What is the application deadline?

You are encouraged to apply before the application deadline.

For Local Applicants:

First Round: Jan 31, 2025 (early bird deadline)

Final Round: Jun 30, 20255 (final deadline) 

For Non-Local Applicants:

First Round: Jan 31, 2025 (early bird deadline) 

Final Round: Jun 1, 2025 (final deadline) 

Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis

4. Do I need to take the English examinations? If yes, what are the minimum scores?

Applicants who are not native English speakers and did not obtain their academic degrees at institutions using English as the medium of instruction are required to present a valid TOEFL or IELTS score with one of the following proficiency attainments:

  • TOEFL-iBT: 80 (refers to the total score in one single attempt)
  • TOEFL-pBT: 550
  • TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test: 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)
  • IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.5 and all sub-scores: 5.5

Applicants are not required to present TOEFL or IELTS score if

  • Their first language is English, or
  • Their bachelor's degree, or master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) was awarded by an institution where the medium of instruction was English.

5. Any visa requirements for overseas students?

Yes, all non-local students are required to apply for Student Visa to study in Hong Kong.

Our university’s Postgraduate Outreach and Admissions (PGOA) and program office will assist the students in visa application process. The application requires at least 8 weeks of processing time, please submit your application at the earliest as possible.

The student visa fee will be covered by the Program Office.

Visa duration, terms and conditions are determined by Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Fees

1. What is the tuition and what is covered?

The total tuition fee is 1.8 million HKD to be paid in 3 installments, it covers faculty teaching, course materials, accommodation and most meals for the on-campus sessions at HKUST for the normative 4-year study.

2. If I am based overseas, is the tuition fee the same? What other costs will I need to plan for?

The tuition fee is the same for all students. Non-local students will have to be responsible for the travelling tickets and fares for all on-campus modules in Hong Kong, during which the fees of hotel accommodation and most of meals are covered by the program.

3. Any scholarship or financial aid available?

The HKUST DBA Program is a self-financing program. To cultivate diversity and equality, we have launched four awards. Please click here for more details.

Additionally, an early bird discount would be offered for application submitted before the deadlines. Please click here to view our application procedures.

Program

1. How many weekends/days are required for on-campus modules in the program?

The HKUST Doctor of Business Administration program is a 4-year part-time program. Students will complete a 55-credit curriculum that comprises of coursework and research proposal preparation in Years 1 & 2, and thesis research and residential programs in Years 3 & 4. Classes will be conducted on a on-campus modular basis in Hong Kong and normally students will attend classes for 4 consecutive days (including weekends) for each module in the regular terms. To understand more on how the classes are scheduled, please visit here for a glimpse on the upcoming Year 1 study.

2. What is the maximum number of years to complete the DBA Program? Does the program allow students to complete the program in less than 4 years or more than 4 years?

In general, students will have a maximum of 8 years to complete the DBA program.

Students can complete the program in less than 4 years. However, by experience, usually it takes at least 3.5 years to complete a comprehensive thesis research and pass the thesis defense.