Accepted into Heriot-Watt Univ DBA program

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by JeepNerd, Oct 22, 2012.

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  1. JeepNerd

    JeepNerd New Member

    Ok, after lurking and posting on here for years on occasion, I am finally walking into the breach and signed/sent my registration paper this morning for my acceptance into the DBA program!

    I sent in my application about 2 weeks ago and they turned it around pretty quickly and I received my acceptance the middle of last week. What is interesting is unlike most programs, there was no $100-150 application fee just to get in!

    I hope to start my first (of 3) Research classes in the Taught phase next month, I will try and update here as I go through the program.

    WHY Heriot-Watt?

    I was looking for a "regionally" accredited program (Royal Charter in their case...)
    I preferred a Public or Private Not For Profit status University (They are Public)

    They do NOT have AACSB or ACBSP (or eMBA or EQUIS) but with nearly 200 year history... I judged them to be credible without those.

    8th oldest university in the UK, Scottish University of the Year for 2011-13, etc.

    100% DL, no travel requirements to UK.... (This was huge for me...)

    Low cost 875 pounds per class (x 3 classes), 600 pounds Mentored stage and then 4000 pounds per year for supervision / dissertation phase. So 18-22k USD approx is my hope. (That would be 2-3 years for dissertation)


    Baker College & UMUC would be my next two choices but alas I was accepted to HWU so have not applied to either.

    My focus for dissertation is in Accounting Education, but that could change as I work on this. I have been teaching Accounting classes online for 10 years now and I am really interested in how we teach, WHAT we teach and where we maybe going in the future!! (More focus on sub-specialties, Compliance, Tax, Accounting Information Systems, etc.)


    I think there are some HW folks out there, would love to hear from you!

    Also, if you have an interest in Accounting Education, and would be interested in keeping touch with me during this, please let me know.

    Sam
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 22, 2012
  2. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    The sounds great...the only problem you might face is... DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), people might think you have a DBA (Database Administrator) certificate or position.
     
  3. JeepNerd

    JeepNerd New Member

    I suppose that could be true, but MCDBA or such is the actual certification names. The only ones that will see the degree are likely on my CV which will be spelled out as the full

    Doctorate of Business Administration - Heriot-Watt University, 20##, Edinburgh Business School
     
  4. Nowhereman

    Nowhereman New Member

    That's a good point, Tekman. I would certainly spell it out on a CV as "Doctor of Business Administration" rather than D.B.A.
     
  5. dl_mba

    dl_mba Member

    Congratulations on your acceptance.

    I am starting my DBA at Grenoble Ecole de Management next month. I wish you all the best.
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    ... or a d.b.a. (doing business as). ;)
     
  7. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member


    I am pretty sure that if he is applying to teach at a business school they will know the difference. :)


    Almost forgot. CONGRATS JeepNerd!!
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Congratulations, good luck, and keep us posted on how it goes!
     
  9. bassethorn

    bassethorn New Member

    Congrats! Finally, a H-W DBA student on this forum. I graduated with H-W MBA and have been seriously considering the DBA. A tuition of CDN$24K over 3-4 years is quite manageable.

    Before I decide to apply, I just need to work out my dissertation topic and research methods in details. It will certain be an industrial relations topic that's work-based.
     
  10. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Congratulations! :banana::banana::banana::banana:
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    MCDBA is Microsoft Certified Database Administrator as opposed to a DBA as a job description - Database Administrator.
     
  12. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Congrats on the Heriot-Watt Univ DBA. Please keep us posted on the progress since many are looking for a reasonably priced and respected PhD/DBA.
     
  13. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    This is a concern, are you planning to use it to teach in the US? If so, the lack of accreditation would limit your teaching options to non AACSB accredited schools or community colleges.

    IF you are planning to use it to stay in Industry, I agree that the name is established enough to raise any concern from employers.

    HW is established but it is not ranked top 100 in the FT or any other known ranking.

    I have a DBA from a non AACSB accredited school and realized that options are limited with the lack of this accreditation. Some schools would take AMBA or EQUIS instead of AACSB but without any accreditation your options are limited to teach at non AACSB accredited schools. Of course there are exceptions and am sure that some people manage just well with a non AACSB accredited DBA.

    The DBA vs PhD is not such a real concern but the lack of accreditation. A DBA in Accounting from AACSB accredited school is gold now and it is worth at least 150K as a starting salary.

    My two cents,
     
  14. bassethorn

    bassethorn New Member

    I know for adjunct teaching in Canada at the post-secondary level, a doctorate is a nice to have, but not a requirement. Some even teach with a bachelor's degree supplemented with strong industry experience and designations like CA (chartered accountant), etc. Obviously everything else being equal, the institutions mosly likely will take the candidate with doctorate from AACSB.
     
  15. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    I agree, for full time tenure track the AACSB requirement is not well defined yet in Canada as most business schools wont ask for it as a mandatory requirement. McGill for example is not AACSB accredited but it would be accepted by most business schools.

    The American market is another ball game, if your doctorate is not AACSB accredited then your options are limited to non AACSB accredited schools that normally pay in the 50 to 60K range to start.


    HW is a good option for someone that is OK with teaching at a non AACSB accredited school on a full time basis or someone that wants to remain in industry and just teach on the side.
     
  16. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    RFV you may be overstating aacsb importance. Heriot-Watt University is one of the top universities in the world. HW has been around since 1821 and has contibuted to humankind more than many of the aacsb universities. Not all aacsb universities are spectacular.
     
  17. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    Not in business, the school doesnt even make it in the top 100 in recognized rankings such as the FT. It has good reputation in Engineering though.

    The AACSB accreditation requirement is only an issue if the OP wants to work as full time faculty at another AACSB accredited school.

    AACSB accreditation has value if you are interested in becoming a full time academic, there is a huge difference in salaries between non AACSB accredited and accredited schools. I would rather spend a bit more money and get an AACSB accredited degree that can help to get a better salary but this is just me and some people might would just rather pay less for their education because they are not interested in using the degree for this purpose.
     
  18. Jonathan Whatley

    Jonathan Whatley Well-Known Member

    I think the open-admission-like nature of the EBS MBA alone disqualifies EBS from the traditional UK standard AMBA, unless they got an exemption somehow. It may also disqualify them directly or functionally from ratings where applicant GMAT scores or GPAs and such are important.

    AMBA MBA accreditation criteria: "Students are expected to have a minimum of three years appropriate and relevant postgraduate work experience upon entry and the student body as a whole should average at least five years of such experience.… no more than 20 percent of a student cohort may be admitted with credit, advanced standing and exemptions."

    EQUIS and (when else can we ever say this!) AACSB might be more flexible. EQUIS specifically notes: "EQUIS recognises that selection upon admission is not always possible, for example in many public universities in Europe. In these cases, the onus will be upon the School to demonstrate that high standards for progression through the programmes and for graduation at their end will compensate for the absence of selectivity upon entry."
     
  19. novadar

    novadar Member

    Congrats. This is great news. I too look forward to following your exploits. There is much appeal to the HW DBA for me. It is on my short list. I am also an Oracle Certified DBA. So if I could ever complete this I would be a DBA with a DBA.

    Godspeed to you. Please keep us advised on how things proceed!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2012
  20. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    I think the OP said they already teaching in the subject area so the business accreditation for the doctorate may not be a 'current issue'.
     

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