SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Business Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
4911  Doctor of Business Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Office Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The aim of the DBA programme is to develop business leaders that can and want to make our country and companies competitive in a rapid changing world. Graduates will be able to evaluate, priorities and lead companies to implement relevant strategies and apply management principles across all the functions and operations.
Doctoral students must prove that they are capable of:
  • planning and conducting scientific research
  • conducting original work
  • contributing significantly to the existing knowledge in management sciences 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Matriculation certificate
    First degree: Any Bachelors degree
    Honours degree: Any Honours degree
    Master's degree: MBA
    Other:
    Candidates must have successfully completed a course in research methodology and have achieved a pass mark of at least 65% 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Doctor in Business Administration

    Learning outcomes:
    After completion of the DBA programme the graduate will have in depth knowledge in a specific field as well as in the broad philosophy of management. He/she will have advanced competence to strategically operate and/or mange specific key areas of the business sector within the changing environment and global trends

    Critical cross-field outcomes:
    At the end of the MBA programme the graduate will:
    Identify and solve managerial problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made
    World effectively with employees and efficiently participate as a member of a team, group, organisation and community are the result of providing proper learning opportunities in group and organisational behaviour
    Organise and manage him/herself and their managerial activities responsibly and effectively
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information and communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes or oral and/or written persuasion
    Use economic and management science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and safety of others
    Demonstrate and understand the world and an organisation as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving context don not exist in isolation
    Realise that he/she must contribute to the full personal development of every employee and the social and economic development of the community at large and be aware of the importance of:
  • reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively
  • participating as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities
  • being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contests
  • exploring further education and alternative career opportunities
  • developing entrepreneurial skills and exploit opportunities in this regard 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    A DBA is conferred after the successful completion of the following:
  • a programme in research methodology
  • a major subject in support of the thesis
  • one supplementary subject
  • a thesis
    The student must also have successfully defended the research programme, the findings and the recommendations. At least two articles will be submitted for publication in a refereed journal.

    Integrated assessment:
    Written examinations
    Oral examinations
    Other:
    Successful completion of a doctoral thesis 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    None 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    External assessors form the business world as well as academics from other similar training institutions serve as moderators. Examiners from overseas institutions are also as far as practically possible, involved to ascertain international benchmarking of the qualification. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    At least a doctoral degree in management or in the relevant field for which the assessor is responsible

    Career experience required:
    At least 10 years experience in management or management development 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. University of Pretoria 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.