Application Opens Soon: New Doctor of Business Administration
August 22, 2025 | Simon Admissions Team
There's much to be excited about this time of year in Simon Admissions. Our students are here to begin their studies for a new academic year, and we are preparing to open our application for 2026 entry in less than two weeks! But this year, there's even more than usual to be excited about, as we are launching a brand new program: the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). We want to make sure you have everything you need to start your application once it's open, so check out the application requirements below, and as always, don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Application Requirements
You’ll need the following to apply to Simon’s DBA:
- Online application
- Transcripts (undergraduate as well as any graduate transcripts)
- Résumé
- Two Required Essays (250–500 words)
- Two References
- $90 Application Fee*
- TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (international applicants only)**
*Waiver available.
**Not required for those who attended three or more consecutive years of post-secondary education taught solely in English and received a bachelor's or master’s degree from a college or university where English was the language of instruction. Simon's DBA is an online, non-visa sponsoring program.
Essays
Our DBA application has two mandatory essays. When you are preparing your responses, make sure you fully answer the question, stay within the word count (250–500 words), and run your responses by a friend or family member before submitting—if they can guess what the prompt was, chances are you did a great job addressing it! The essays for 2026 entry are as follows:
Essay One:
Describe two examples that demonstrate your potential as a creative and original thinker. (500 word limit)
Essay Two:
Describe how your past education and experiences have led you to seek a DBA. What are your post-graduation goals and how will the Simon DBA help you achieve those goals? (500 word limit)
Résumé
We require a business formatted résumé (not a CV) and recommend it be no longer than two pages. Focus on quantifying your accomplishments and be sure to keep the formatting clean and easy to read.
Transcripts
Gather your school-issued transcript or marksheets, including proof of degree conferral (e.g., degree awarded listed on transcript, diploma, or graduation certificate) and grading scale for each institution attended. Your name, the institution’s name, all course names, grades, conferral date (e.g., graduation date), and GPA scale should be legible. If your transcripts are not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation.
If you're looking for more information we invite you to register for and attend our upcoming webinar, Inside the DBA: Is This The Right Path for You? on September 23 to explore the structure, focus, and unique opportunities of this advanced doctoral program. Whether you're considering the practice track or the teaching track, this webinar will help you determine if the DBA is the right fit for your professional goals.
We wish you all the best as you prepare for business school! Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
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