DBA Admissions Process

The RBS DBA is a unique two-year doctoral degree program with classes held mostly on weekends to accommodate the schedules of executives, professionals, and academics seeking a terminal degree. After a review of the application materials required to be filed, qualified applicants will also be interviewed by the Director of the DBA program, and possibly by other faculty members as well.

Admission to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program will be highly selective. A Master's degree, preferably an MBA or EMBA, with 10+ years of academic, business or technical experience, working in senior executive or technical positions will be preferred.

Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and with strong substantial experience in business-related areas at senior levels will also be considered. Candidates will have to demonstrate interest and talent for research. International applicants who have not had English as their primary language of instruction must also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

In addition to the application form the following items are needed for applicants:

Application fee (non-refundable) of $70

This can be paid online via a credit card in the online application.

Transcripts

To expedite the review process, applicants should upload unofficial transcripts to the online application. Upon being accepted and committing to the program, applicants must mail in an official transcript for each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. These transcripts must demonstrate degree conferral.  

*Official transcript(s) and degree conferral(s) will be verified. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission at any time prior to or after enrolling if there is any discrepancy between the self-reported and official transcript(s).

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

You must submit either a TOEFL or IELTS score if your native language is not English. This is not required of students who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree in the U.S. or other English speaking countries (Canada, England, etc...); or have been working in the U.S. for at least three years.

TOEFL code: Institution Code B355

IELTS: Please contact IELTS and have your score sent to our office (address listed below). Please upload a copy of your IELTS test report in the application if possible.

You must provide two letters of reference

Letters of reference can be submitted through the online application.

Submit your current resume

This can be done through the online application.

*You affirm that your job experience, including any and all positions held with current or previous employers, is true and accurate, understanding that any discrepancy or inaccuracy will allow the Admissions Committee to withdraw an offer of admission at any time prior to or after enrolling in the program.  The Admissions Committee may require additional documentation and proof regarding any aspects of a candidate’s resume at any time prior to or after enrolling in the program.

Personal Statement

You must submit a personal statement in less than 900 words as to why you wish to enroll in the Rutgers Business School DBA Program and provide reasons as to how this would lead to achieving your personal goals and objectives. The personal statement should describe your qualifications, identify special interest areas of study, and describe how you are qualified to pursue pure or applied research in the area of your choice.

You are encouraged to identify a precise research question that you plan to investigate during the course of the DBA. This statement will be carefully read and evaluated by professors in the appropriate field and by the DBA admissions office. The personal statement should be submitted along with your online application.

International Applicants

Once admitted, those who intend to hold F1 or J1 visas, financial documentation is required that proves sufficient funds are available to finance your education and living expenses. To document your finances, you must complete the Financial Affidavit of Support.