Doctor of Business Administration

Entry requirements

A 1st or 2:1 honours degree, or Merit or Distinction Master’s degree, or equivalent in a relevant discipline from a recognised university in the UK or comparable university overseas. By exception, applicants will be considered with additional evidence of substantial relevant professional experience instead of relevant academic qualifications. This will include business or organisational management or leadership, or related organisational consultancy, appropriate to the proposed research. Applicants will typically have a minimum of five years’ experience; however each application will be considered individually.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Our Doctorate level programme has been designed for senior executives and professionals with a track record in management seeking to develop their insight and expertise. This programme is equivalent in stature to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and provides learners with greater opportunities to undertake applied research that also contributes to the development of related theories and concepts.

COURSE OVERVIEW
Choose your own independent research area in business, management and/or leadership which will enable you to strengthen and sustain your organisation and those who work in it, and to enhance engagement with other key stakeholders.

Develop your current knowledge of and skills in critical thinking, strategy-development and problem-solving and become part of a peer community of senior leaders sharing experience, gaining insight, and learning new business ideas, models, strategies and approaches ready to take back and action in the workplace.

ON THIS COURSE YOU WILL...

• Design and implement a research project that explores a specific management, leadership, and/or collaboration question

• Critically assess, select, and implement applied research methodologies and methods within complex organisational, leadership, collaboration contexts or more specific professional settings

• Synthesise, interpret, and rigorously apply relevant theoretical frameworks and research findings in relation to complex business, management and leadership contexts and issues

• Develop high-level analytical and conceptual skills, facilitating questioning and critical debate about established theoretical orthodoxy and challenges to such orthodoxy

• Engage in and manage a process of high level critical reflective personal and professional development leading to the enhancement of your own professional practice within an organisational context or a specific domain

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme is based on a sustained, self-directed applied research project, supported by a collegial team of academic advisors, and reviewed and evaluated via seminars, workshops, and taught modules (encompassing formative and summative assessment), submission of a thesis and an oral defence.

Our DBA will be undertaken on a part-time basis and will typically take 4-5 years to complete.

Modules

• Understanding Dynamic Business Contexts

• Critical Thinking for Leadership & Collaboration

• Developing an Applied Research Strategy

• Advanced Research Methods

• DBA Proposal and Plan

• DBA Thesis

Fees and funding

COURSE COSTS PER YEAR

Year One - Four UK Fees | £5,200 Per Year

Year One - Four International Fees | £10,150 Per Year

Year Five UK Fees | £2,800

Year Five International Fees | £5,670

MORE INFORMATION

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000. For more information, please click here.

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you. For more information, please click here.