Saint Mary's University offers Prof.D in Business Administration, a professional doctorate in Business Administration programme in Halifax, Canada. The programme runs for 3 years. Tuition for international students is CAD 75,000 per total (CAD 75,000 per total for local students).
Also offered as: Master of Business Administration, Doctorate
The Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (EDBA) at Saint Mary's University's Sobey School of Business is a full-time doctoral program aimed at experienced executives rather than recent graduates, described as a first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. It centres on evidence-based management, teaching participants to apply a structured problem-solving framework to test assumptions and ground business decisions in objective analysis. The program is organized over three years: a foundational first year covering assessment, methods, problem diagnosis, and data analysis; a functional second year focused on model building, research synthesis, and developing a research proposal; and a third year in which students conduct and disseminate an original applied research project relevant to their own organization or industry. Graduates receive a certificate from the Center for Evidence-based Management on completion. The program suits senior leaders and seasoned executives who want doctoral-level research training applied directly to workplace problems, distinguishing it from a traditional PhD aimed at academic careers. It fits professionals seeking to combine ongoing executive responsibilities with a structured, cohort-based path to a practice-oriented doctorate.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: This executive doctorate is designed for seasoned executives and requires an MBA or equivalent master's-level degree (for example a Master of Public Administration) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.3 scale, plus approximately 15 years of senior managerial or executive work experience. English-language applicants must reach an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with no band below 6.5; TOEFL iBT is also accepted, though the page does not publish a minimum score for it, and no English test taken more than two years before application is accepted. Candidates submit a letter of intent describing their background and goals, and must be available for an interview if the programme requires one; no separate portfolio or entrance-exam requirement is stated.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Saint Mary's University applies directly, not through a provincial service. For the currently posted cycle, Winter Term 2027 domestic applications close 1 December 2026 and international applications for the same term close 15 October 2026; Entrance Award and Admissions Scholarship consideration requires applying by 15 February 2027. Applications for the following 2027-2028 academic year (Fall 2027 and Winter 2028) opened 1 October 2026, but SMU has not yet published a Fall 2027 closing date for either domestic or international applicants -- the prior cycle's Fall Term domestic deadline was 1 August 2026. Admission is not described as rolling; each term carries a fixed posted deadline, released roughly a year ahead of the term. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
