Doctor of Business Administration Admission Requirements

Applicants to an Athabasca University DBA program must have a Master of Business Administration degree or equivalent Master’s degree and at least five years of significant managerial and/or professional experience.

Applicants must also provide:

• a completed application form.
• a detailed resumé demonstrating five or more years of significant management and/or professional work experience.
• a 1000 – 1500 word expression of research interests.
• three letters of reference, ideally from two professional and one academic source. References from personal friends or relatives will not be accepted.
• official transcripts, sent directly to the Faculty of Business from the respective institution(s). Applicants with degrees obtained outside of North America may be required to have educational qualifications assessed independently (see International transcripts).
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results completed within the previous 10 years and preferably within the previous five years. GMAT results are to be sent directly to the Faculty of Business from the Graduate Management Admissions Council. GRE results may be considered in place of GMAT results.
• evidence of a successfully completed university level statistics course.
• evidence of English language proficiency (see Proof of English Language Proficiency below).
• a $200 non-refundable application fee.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Applicants must have successfully completed an English Language Proficiency Test unless they have received a high school diploma or university degree from one of the following countries:

• Canada
• Australia
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• U.S.
• United Kingdom
• English-speaking West Indies

Documented proof must be submitted with the application for admission. Scores more than two years old are not acceptable. Acceptable English language proficiency tests can be found on the English Language Proficiency Requirements page.

Note: In addition, foreign language students may be asked to complete the CanTEST prior to or following registration and, if need be, remedial measures in language skills based on the results of the CanTEST may be recommended.

For more information, contact the Faculty of Business office.