DBA-INTERNATIONAL

Doctor of Business Administration International Stream (DBA-International) is a full-time professional doctoral  programme that aims to nurture business leaders with a global perspective, equipping them to navigate Asia’s digital transformation within diverse geopolitical landscapes and enhancing their ability to lead in technology-driven global markets. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary rigor, blending foundational modules with cutting-edge topics, like blockchain regulation, AI-driven supply chain optimization and transnational data governance. The programme also includes elective courses for the field trips to global innovation hubs across the US, Europe, and Asia, offering students hands-on experience with industry leaders and policymakers.

DBA-International

Programme Aims

The rapid evolution of global markets demands leaders capable of navigating transnational tech governance, particularly in bridging China’s dynamic innovation ecosystem with emerging opportunities in regions Southeast Asia and Middle East. The DBA-International is designed to nurture business leaders for an era characterized by intricate globalization and rapidly evolving technology landscapes. We aim to:

  • Nurturing business leaders with a global perspective, equipping them to navigate Asia’s digital transformation within diverse geopolitical landscapes and enhancing their ability to lead in technology-driven global markets;
  • Providing doctoral training that bridges emerging technologies, transnational business strategy and cross-border governance;
  • Breaking academic barriers and address complex challenges at the technology-governance nexus;
  • Cultivating industry leaders who can contribute to sustainable digital transformation in Asia.

DBA-International

Programme Structure

The DBA-International requires students to complete 120 credits in 3-5 years on a full-time basis, divided into two phases: a coursework phase (66 credits) delivered in block mode with four-day intensive classes and a research phase (54 credits) dedicated to thesis development and an oral defense.

Coursework Phase

Students are required to complete 66 credits:

Core Courses

54 credits

Elective Courses

12 credits

The coursework components aim at equipping students with advanced business knowledge and comprehensive research skills in various areas. It enables them to apply research outcomes to real-life cases. It benefits to the students in broaden up their visions, mindset and to establish global leadership and innovative spirits.

The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary rigor, blending foundational modules with cutting-edge topics. The programme also includes field trips to global innovation hubs across the US, Europe, and Asia, offering students hands-on experience with industry leaders and policymakers.

DBA candidature will be confirmed after all coursework requirements are completed and pass preliminary oral defense.

Research Phase

Students who progress to the research phase are required to attain 54 credits through completion of a thesis (40,000 words in total) under the supervision from the scholars from HKU. The DBA candidates to complete the credits though preparing the:

Research Proposal

Thesis and Thesis Oral Defense

Preliminary Oral Defense

Awarding

The Degree of Doctor of Business Administration will be awarded by The University of Hong Kong upon successful completion of the graduation requirement.

Course

Accounting

Management and Strategy

Artificial Intelligence

Marketing

Business Analysis

Planetary Health
and Sustainability

Finance

Marketing

Business
Analytics

Economics

Manufacturing, Robotics and Smart Transportation

Core Courses

54 Credits

Elective Courses

12 Credits

• Advanced Financial Management
• Advanced Macroeconomics
• Advanced Microeconomics
• AI Foundations for Business Leadership
• AI-Driven Business Transformation and Innovation
• Behavioral Research Methods
• Big Data and Business Analytics
• Frontiers in AI Research
• Frontiers in Economics and Accounting Research
• Frontiers in Management Research
• Frontiers in Manufacturing, Robotics and Smart Transportation
• Frontiers in Marketing and Business Analytics
• Frontiers in Planetary Health and Sustainability
• Globalization, Financial Crisis and Chinese Economy
• Organizing Competitive Advantages
• Research Methods in Finance, Economics and Accounting
• Responsible Conduct of Research
• Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Elective Courses

12 Credits

• Advanced Finance Theory
• Advanced Research Methods
• Business Creation and Dynamics
• China Financial Innovation and Economic Reform
• Global Accounting Standards and Practices
• Global Economy and Capital Market
• Global Financial Innovation
• Global Wealth Management
• International Enterprise Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Services Marketing and Management
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Strategic Information System Management
• Strategic Management
• Web3 Technology Investment

**The offering of the elective courses is subject to the number of enrolments and the discretion of the University.

DBA Thesis

54 Credits

• Research Proposal
• Preliminary Defense
• Thesis Defense

Our Faculty

Professor Hongbin CAI | The Dean of HKU Business School

Professor Hongbin CAI

• Dean
• Chair of Economics
• Director, Institute of China Economy

Professor Pingyang GAO

• Associate Dean (Research and Knowledge Exchange)
• Zhang Yonghong Professor in Accounting
• DBA Programme Director

Professor Chen LIN

• Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Business)
• Chair of Finance
• Stelux Professor in Finance
• Director, Centre for Financial Innovation and
   Development

Professor Heiwai TANG

• Associate Vice-President (Global)
• Associate Dean (External Relations)
• Victor and William Fung Professor in Economics
• Director, Asia Global Institute
• Director, APEC Study Center
• Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of
   Economics and Business Strategy

Professor Roni MICHAELY

• Associate Dean (Global Engagement)
• The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professor in Finance and
   Entrepreneurship
• Chair of Finance and Entrepreneurship
• Founder & Executive Director, HKU-TLV Innovation Hub
• Co-director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability
   Global Research Institute

Professor Haipeng SHEN

• Associate Vice-President (Teaching and Learning - TPG)
• Chair of Business Analytics and Innovation
• Associate Dean (EMBA and IMBA)
• Patrick S C Poon Professor in Analytics and Innovation

Professor Echo Wen WAN

• Associate Dean (MBA)
• Zhang Yonghong Professor in Marketing
• Director, Institute of Behavioural and Decision Science

Professor Hailiang CHEN

• Assistant Dean (Taught Postgraduate)
• Director, Artificial Intelligence Research Institute
• Professor in Innovation and Information Management

Professor Uta SCHӦNBERG

• Chair of Economics
• The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professor in Economics
• Co-Director, The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone
   Center on Socio-Economic Inequality in Asia

Professor Balazs SZENTES

• Chair of Economics
• Professor in Economics

Professor Xiaodong ZHU

• Chair of Economics
• Professor in Economics

Professor Jin LI

• Area Head of Management and Strategy
• Zhang Yonghong Professor in Economics and Strategy
• Director, Centre for AI, Management and Organization

Professor Sara KIM

• Area Head of Marketing
• Professor in Marketing

Professor Zhixi WAN

• Area Head of Innovation and Information Management
• Professor in Innovation and Information Management

Professor Yanhui WU

• Area Head of Economics
• Professor in Economic and Management and Strategy

Professor Guojun HE

• The Hong Kong Jockey Club Professor in
   Economics, HKU Business School​
• Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability
   Global Research Institute
• Director, ESG Research Institute, HKU Business School
   (Shenzhen)
• Associate Director, Institute of China Economy, HKU

Professor Zhenhui Jack JIANG

• Padma and Hari Harilela Professor in Strategic
   Information Management
• Director, AI Evaluation Lab

Professor Guochang ZHANG

• Chung Hon-Dak Professor in Accounting

Professor Kevin Zheng ZHOU

• Chair of Strategy and International Business
• Chung Hon-Dak Professor in Strategy and International
   Business
• Director, Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Professor Junhong CHU

• EMBA International Programme Director
• Associate Director, Centre for Innovation and
   Entrepreneurship
• Associate Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise
   Sustainability Global Research Institute
• Professor in Marketing

Professor Yulin FANG

• Director, Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation
• Professor in Innovation and Information Management

Professor Dragon Yongjun TANG

• Associate Director, Centre for Financial Innovation
   and Development
• MSAF Programme Director
• Professor in Finance

Professor Thomas SCHMID

• Associate Director, HKU Jockey Club Enterprise
   Sustainability Global Research Institute
• Associate Professor in Finance

Other Faculties

Faculty of Social Sciences

Faculty of
Social Sciences

Faculty of Engineering

Prof. Peng GONG

• Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
   (Academic Development)
• Chair Professor of Global Sustainability
• Department of Geography

Prof. Ning XI

• Head of Department
• Chair Professor of Robotics and Automation
• Director, Advanced Technologies Institute
• Department of Data and Systems Engineering

Prof. Shunlin LIANG

• Head of Department
• Chair Professor of Remote Sensing
• Department of Geography

Faculty of
Engineering

Prof. Mingxin HUANG

• Head of Department
• Chair Professor of Materials Technology
• Department of Mechanical Engineering

Prof. Yuyu ZHOU

• Professor
• Department of Geography

Prof. Xiaobo YIN

• Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global)
• Chair Professor of Sustainability Technology
• Department of Mechanical Engineering

Business Leaders

Prof. Zhenhua MAO

• Professor of Practice in Economics
• Founder of ZhongChengXin (HK) Investment
   Services Limited

Prof. Jun MA

• Professor of Practice in Management and Strategy