"Creating Knowledge that Integrates Practice and Academia" — 2026 KUBS-DBA Admissions Session Held 

On Friday, September 5, Korea University Business School (KUBS) held an admissions information session for the 2026 KUBS Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Ahn Young Il Hall in the LG-POSCO Building. The event was attended by Associate Dean Gangseog Ryu, Academic Director Professor Tae Kyu Kim, Professor Kyo Ryung Koo, current students from the Class of 2025, and prospective applicants who had pre-registered. 

The session began with a welcome address by Professor Kim, followed by an overview of the KUBS-DBA program and its structure. The KUBS-DBA is a professional doctoral program in business administration designed to generate new business knowledge through the integration of practical experience and academic theory. 

The program is structured to accommodate working professionals, with classes held biweekly on Friday afternoons and all day Saturday. It is a three-year program (six semesters) with an annual cohort size of 12 students. 

Applicants must hold a master’s degree and have at least 10 years of practical experience. Graduation requirements include the completion of 36 credits, submission of a doctoral dissertation, and successful defense. 

Professor Kim explained, “Because the program requires over ten years of professional experience, it is a process through which experts from diverse fields reflect on how to connect their real-world experience with academic theory.” He continued, “Unlike an MBA, the DBA program is not limited to the consumption of knowledge; it focuses on the creation of new knowledge. Also, unlike a Ph.D., which builds upon existing literature, this program allows students to deeply explore real-world challenges grounded in their own professional experience.” He emphasized that “this will be an academic journey to further develop and elevate your expertise.” 

A small group of carefully selected students will pursue the three-year program while balancing their professional responsibilities through KUBS-DBA’s uniquely designed curriculum. They will receive intensive support from the faculty through small-group and one-on-one mentoring, and will develop their work experience into a variety of research outcomes—not only academic papers, but also practical theses, business case studies, and professional publications—thereby producing structured, applicable knowledge for the field. Furthermore, students will have access to an optimal learning environment, including dedicated classrooms, lounges, and research labs. 

Finally, Professor Kim remarked, “Korea University Business School consistently delivers outstanding results, with the quality of its research papers ranking within the top 20 to 30 globally each year.” He added, “I encourage you to take on this challenge with high aspirations as future members of the Korea University community.” 

During the Q&A session that followed, current students from the Class of 2025 shared their experiences in the program. One student noted, “We studied numerous academic papers and case studies, many of which offered practical insights that could be directly applied in real-world situations.” Another added, “After studying, I felt more confident tackling areas I had previously hesitated with at work. The strong theoretical foundation we built helped me identify the underlying roots and key structures of practical challenges.” 

Meanwhile, applications will be accepted from Monday, September 8, 2025, through Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 3:00 PM (KST). Final candidates will be selected through a document screening and interview process, with the results to be announced on Friday, December 19, 2025. 

For more information, please contact the KUBS DBA office by phone (02-3290-1309 / 1366) or email (kubsdba@korea.ac.kr).