The answer
Choose the doctorate that matches your goal and evidence base: a DBA suits leaders pursuing applied organisational change and practice-based impact; a PhD by Research suits candidates generating new research from scratch to advance theory; a PhD by Portfolio suits experienced professionals who already have substantial outputs that can be assessed as a coherent doctoral contribution—supported by a critical commentary and defence.
Why this decision matters: the best doctorate is evidence-driven, not label-driven
Many candidates begin with the wrong question: “Which doctorate is the most prestigious?” The better question is:
Which doctorate matches my purpose, my evidence base, and the kind of contribution I want to defend?
A doctoral pathway should fit three realities:
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Your intended outcome (academic contribution, applied change, leadership credibility, consultancy authority, teaching trajectory)
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Your starting point (whether you already have significant outputs or must generate new evidence)
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Your preferred contribution type (theory-building, practice innovation, policy influence, organisational transformation)
This guide is intentionally transparent. It is designed to help you choose a pathway you can complete rigorously—without wasting time on a model that does not fit your evidence or objectives.
Quick comparison table (start here)
| Feature | DBA | PhD (by Research) | PhD by Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary aim | Applied impact on organisations and practice | Original contribution to knowledge through new research | Doctoral recognition of a coherent body of prior work + synthesis |
| Best for | Executives solving real organisational problems | Candidates building a research study from scratch | Experienced professionals with substantial existing outputs |
| Typical outputs | Applied thesis or project-based doctoral research | Traditional dissertation / thesis | Curated portfolio + critical reflective commentary |
| Evidence base at start | Often practice context and problem access | Research proposal + planned data collection | Existing artefacts (publications/reports/frameworks/projects) |
| Key assessment focus | Practical contribution + rigorous inquiry | Theoretical and/or empirical originality + method | Coherence + originality + defensibility of existing outputs |
| Efficiency potential | Moderate to high (depending on context) | Often longer due to data generation | High when evidence base is already strong and coherent |
| Viva/defence | Common | Common | Common |
Choose a DBA if…
A DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) is typically the right fit if you want your doctoral work to be closely tied to real organisational challenges and measurable applied outcomes.
DBA is often best when:
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You want to research a complex business problem where you have access to a setting (your company, clients, industry)
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You aim to produce practice-facing contributions: frameworks, models, implementation insights, decision tools
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Your goal is executive credibility, leadership authority, applied scholarship, consulting impact
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You want to strengthen the bridge between evidence and action
What assessors usually expect (in plain terms)
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A clearly defined organisational or sector problem
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A defensible inquiry method (qualitative, quantitative, mixed, design-based, etc.)
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Evidence-based findings with practical implications
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Critical reflection on limitations and transferability
Choose a PhD by Research if…
A PhD by Research is typically the right fit if your goal is to produce an original academic contribution by conducting a study where the evidence is largely generated during candidature.
PhD by Research is often best when:
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You want to develop a research project from the ground up
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You plan to collect primary data (surveys, interviews, experiments, datasets) or conduct a deep theoretical study
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You want a conventional dissertation format as the primary output
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You are aiming for roles where a traditional research doctorate format is strongly preferred
What assessors usually expect
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A focused research question and robust literature framing
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Methodological justification and research design quality
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Data collection/analysis performed to appropriate academic standards
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A clear contribution to knowledge and credible limitations
Choose a PhD by Portfolio if…
A PhD by Portfolio is typically the right fit when you already have a significant body of work that can be assessed as a coherent doctoral contribution—without needing to reproduce those outputs as a single new dissertation.
PhD by Portfolio is often best when:
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You have substantial existing outputs (publications, professional research reports, frameworks, policy artefacts, major evaluations, applied methodologies)
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Your work can be organised into 2–4 coherent themes that form a research agenda
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You can articulate a contribution claim across multiple artefacts
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You are prepared to write a critical reflective commentary that synthesises the work and defend it in a viva
What assessors usually expect
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Evidence sufficiency and traceability (outputs can be verified)
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Coherence (a clear through-line; not an unrelated collection)
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Original contribution and research competence
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Authorship clarity (especially in collaborative professional contexts)
The “Evidence-First” decision framework (use this to choose correctly)
This is the most reliable method for selecting the right pathway. It reduces confusion by starting with what you actually have.
Step 1: Define your primary goal (choose one)
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Academic theory contribution
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Applied organisational impact
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Professional recognition for existing work
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Career/consulting authority grounded in rigorous research
Step 2: Inventory your evidence base (what you already have)
Create a simple list:
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publications, reports, frameworks, evaluated projects, datasets, policy outputs
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your role and authorship in each
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where it was used/published and any independent validation
Step 3: Decide whether you are “evidence-rich” or “evidence-to-be-generated”
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Evidence-rich: you already have a strong body of outputs → portfolio route may fit
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Evidence-to-be-generated: you need to build the evidence during candidature → PhD by Research or DBA may fit
Step 4: Choose the pathway that matches the evidence and the claim you want to defend
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DBA: defend an applied contribution anchored in organisational inquiry
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PhD by Research: defend an original research study and dissertation
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PhD by Portfolio: defend a coherent body of work + synthesis commentary
A candid reality check: common misconceptions
“DBA is easier than a PhD.”
Not necessarily. The emphasis differs. A DBA typically demands a high standard of applied rigour, evidence discipline, and critical evaluation within real-world complexity.
“PhD by Portfolio is only for published academics.”
Not necessarily. Many strong portfolios include professional research outputs—provided they are systematic, traceable, coherent, and defensible at doctoral level.
“I should choose based on fastest completion.”
Time is a consequence of evidence sufficiency, scope discipline, and assessment structure—not a substitute for doctoral standards.
The decision checklist (fast self-audit)
Tick the statements that fit you best:
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I want an applied doctoral project that improves practice in a real organisation. → DBA
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I want to create a new research study and write a dissertation from scratch. → PhD by Research
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I already have substantial outputs and want doctoral recognition through synthesis and defence. → PhD by Portfolio
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I can clearly state my contribution claim in 2–3 sentences. → Portfolio-ready indicator
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I have access to a suitable organisational context and data for applied inquiry. → DBA-ready indicator
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I have the time and scope for research design, data collection, and analysis. → PhD-by-Research-ready indicator
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Which is more respected: DBA or PhD?
Both can be respected when the work meets doctoral standards. The difference is emphasis: DBA is typically applied and practice-facing; PhD is typically research/theory contribution-focused. The most credible choice is the pathway that best matches your goals and evidence.
2) Which is better for senior executives: DBA or PhD by Portfolio?
It depends on your evidence base. If you want to research an organisational problem and generate evidence during candidature, a DBA may fit well. If you already have substantial research-grade outputs that can be curated into a coherent doctoral narrative, a PhD by Portfolio may be a strong fit.
3) Can I do a PhD by Portfolio without publications?
Often yes, if you have robust, traceable professional research outputs (reports, frameworks, evaluations, policy artefacts) that demonstrate doctoral-level rigour, coherence, and contribution.
4) What makes a portfolio “doctoral level” rather than just professional experience?
Doctoral level requires original contribution, defensible evidence logic, critical judgement, scholarly positioning, integrity, and the ability to defend the work under questioning. Seniority alone is not sufficient.
5) Which pathway is best if I want an academic career?
A PhD by Research is the conventional route in many settings. However, career expectations vary by country and institution; what matters is that the doctorate demonstrates rigorous scholarship and defensible contribution.
6) Is a DBA equivalent to a PhD?
Both are doctoral awards, but they may differ in orientation and expected outputs. The credibility of either depends on rigour, assessment standards, and the quality of the candidate’s contribution.
7) How do I know if I am “portfolio-ready”?
You are often portfolio-ready when you can map a coherent set of outputs to 2–4 themes, state a clear contribution claim, show traceable authorship, and justify the methods and evidence underpinning your work.
8) What does the viva/defence test across these pathways?
It tests ownership, contribution, evidence reasoning, method justification, limitations, and scholarly judgement. The viva is a key quality safeguard for doctoral-level awards.
9) Can I change pathways later if I choose the wrong one?
Sometimes candidates can adjust direction, but it is far more efficient to select the best-fit pathway early using an evidence-first approach—so your work aligns with assessment expectations from the start.
10) What is the best first step before applying?
Prepare a brief evidence inventory (or a draft research idea), clarify your goal, and map your background to the pathway requirements. This makes admissions discussions more accurate and saves time.
Next step
Choosing the right doctorate is easiest when you start with your goal and evidence base. If you are an experienced professional seeking a rigorous, flexible doctoral pathway—whether applied (DBA), research-led (PhD by Research), or evidence-recognition based (PhD by Portfolio)—SSBR can help you align your ambitions with a clear assessment route and transparent expectations.
About SSBR (Swiss School of Business Research): SSBR is a private, internationally oriented business school based in Switzerland, specialising in flexible online postgraduate education designed for working professionals. Our doctoral pathways support senior executives and practitioner-scholars through structured milestones, academic guidance, and transparent assessment expectations—enabling candidates to demonstrate doctoral-level competence, contribution, and integrity in a modern research environment.
Apply online: https://ssbr-edu.ch/online-application/
