Business Administration (DBA) Doctorate

Course overview

Today’s global business environment is disruptive and dynamic, posing a range of leadership challenges for organisations. You develop the knowledge and skills required of business leaders within the complexities of the fourth industrial revolution.

You become a research-informed business leader who is able to apply best practice within your organisation and in your own managerial practices. The interaction between theory and practice provides you with a range of perspectives that add value in terms of business effectiveness, efficiency and capability. You reflect upon your own personal skills and engage in dialogue with global peers, to challenge your assumptions and transform your professional practice.

Working autonomously, but with support from your supervisory team, you build on previous knowledge and experience, gaining the confidence in academic research to undertake doctoral-level study.

You select a research topic aligned to your personal and professional objectives. Examples of previous research include studies of commitment to personal development, changes in public sector organisation, and the impact of organisational culture on efficiency.

Career opportunities

Typically graduates move into senior management and strategic leadership roles, internal consultant/project leadership roles or into external consultancy roles. DBA applicants are expected to be relatively senior business-based professionals at point of entry, so whilst the course will allow you to build on your existing work experience and skills, it will develop you as a research-informed business leader who is able to apply best practice within your organisational context and towards your own managerial practices.

Applicants should have a master's degree in a subject that has aspects that relate to business and/or management, together with a minimum of three years' managerial experience. All applicants should have a minimum three years' managerial experience.