Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Sustainability Management
Lead the Future of Sustainable Business Strategy. Elevate your professional impact with a Doctor of Business Administration designed for the modern global landscape.
Program Overview
The DBA in Sustainability Management at SUMAS is designed for experienced professionals seeking to elevate their impact through advanced research and innovative business strategy. The program integrates business excellence with sustainable development, ensuring that economic growth, environmental management, and social equity form the foundation of every doctoral project. Candidates engage in rigorous, real-world research while developing crisis leadership and systems thinking capabilities necessary to navigate today's complex organisational landscape. The curriculum emphasises applying sound theoretical frameworks and advanced research methodologies to solve critical sustainability challenges, enabling leaders to drive meaningful organisational change. Doctoral candidates pursue independent investigations using specialised techniques tailored to their professional fields, producing actionable insights that bridge academic rigour and practical impact. The program culminates in a formal Doctoral Thesis defended through a public viva voce oral examination. Delivered entirely online, the DBA accommodates high-level professionals who need to balance doctoral study with ongoing executive responsibilities, regardless of geographic location. The three-year structure provides a clear progression from advanced coursework through research design and thesis development, supported by experienced supervisors throughout.
Core Curriculum
Career Outcomes
DBA graduates emerge as thought leaders equipped to shape sustainable business strategy at the highest organisational levels, addressing the intersection of profitability and planetary health. The program develops resilience and adaptive leadership skills enabling graduates to navigate complex, changing organisational settings and drive meaningful sustainability transformation.
Student Stories
“The DBA programme at SUMAS has been an insightful journey for me. It influenced how one thinks about sustainability – avoiding singular issue advocacy without considering broader change implications.”
Why Study at SUMAS?
Professionally-oriented education
Emphasis on applying research and innovation to real sustainability challenges within organisations, bridging theory and practice.
Holistic problem-solving approach
Systems thinking and interdependent frameworks unlock creative decision-making at complex intersections of business, environment, and society.
Global sustainability focus
Economic growth, environmental management, and social equity are integrated into every doctoral project from the outset.
Flexible study options
Available 100% online or on-campus at Lake Geneva with rolling admissions and multiple intake dates.
Alumni
See all alumni →"My research seeks to broaden the search for possible transition pathways for decarbonisation of steel production – through juxtaposing the priorities of climate change, the themes in clean energy transition; and insights from steel-making processes."
Dr. Ashok Kumar
Strategic Technical Development / Industrial Transition Lead
Tata Steel · United Kingdom
Class of 2023
Dr. Elisa Miguel Nhamuave Matola
Deputy General Director
Instituto Superior Politécnico de Manica · Mozambique
Class of 2017
Dr. Lucinda Kuys
Sustainability Professional
H-SEQ Audits · South Africa
Class of 2026
3/5
hold senior positions
70+
countries represented
60:40
female to male ratio
Student Life
The DBA program attracts senior professionals and executives from around the world who engage in a scholarly community focused on advancing sustainability knowledge. On-campus candidates at the Lake Geneva site benefit from Switzerland's concentration of international organisations, NGOs, and green-economy networks, while online candidates connect through virtual seminars, supervisor sessions, and peer research exchanges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the DBA in Sustainability Management designed for?
The program is designed for experienced professionals — typically those with an existing Master's degree and significant managerial or executive experience — who wish to conduct advanced research and drive strategic sustainability transformation within organisations.
What is the research essay required for admission?
Applicants must submit a 3,000-word essay stating their research interests, chosen research topic, motivations for undertaking the DBA, the theoretical framework they intend to apply, and the expected outcomes of their research.
How is the DBA assessed?
The program culminates in a Doctoral Thesis that candidates draft and refine across the three years of study, culminating in a public viva voce oral examination before a panel of academic and professional examiners.
Can I study the DBA fully online?
Yes. The DBA is available in both on-campus format at the Lake Geneva Campus and as a fully online program, enabling candidates to maintain their professional commitments while pursuing doctoral-level research.
Entry Requirements
- Successfully completed Master's degree
- Official certified university transcripts and diplomas with certified English translation if applicable
- CV/Resume indicating complete education and work experience in reverse chronological order
- 3,000-word essay stating research interests, chosen research topic, motivations, theoretical framework, and expected research outcomes
- Photocopy of valid passport or ID
- English language proficiency (TOEFL minimum 550 PBT or 80 IBT, IELTS minimum 6.0, or equivalent) if not a native English speaker or without 3 years in an English-taught institution
English Proficiency
IELTS: Minimum 6.0
TOEFL: Minimum 550 PBT or 80 IBT
Apply Now
Interested in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Sustainability Management? Contact our admissions team for full details.
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