Professional Doctorate in Business and Management

Program Overview

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Professional Doctorate in Business and Management DBA

Overview

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) has been designed to increase your professional capabilities, make a positive contribution to your organisation, and produce publishable-level research. The DBA is a professional doctorate, designed to generate an original contribution to professional practice, through a rigorous engagement with management theory, and a focussed programme of independent research into a specific ‘research problem’ in your professional practice.

Full Description

The DBA is structured in a way that allows you to develop the necessary academic skills to complement your existing professional skills set.

Stage 1 – Taught Component

The first year of the course consists of two 30 credit modules, supported with online “scaffolding sessions”. You will undertake one module in semester 1 and the second module in semester 2. For each semester you will be required to attend, in week 7, a block teaching session, 4 days attendance in semester 1- and 3-days attendance in semester 2. Attendance will be based at the ARU Chelmsford Campus.

The online “supportive scaffolding” sessions will take place, via Microsoft teams, from week 1 alternating weekly until week 12 of the module. In these sessions we will prepare you for delivery of the block delivery in week 7, whilst also providing assessment support.

In module 2, delivered in semester 2, you will be required to complete a research proposal, as part of the assessment. Progression onto the research stage, will be dependent upon successful completion of this module, with a minimum of a 60% pass mark in the assessment.

Advanced Professional Practice Research Problem and Theory

This module will cover three core elements:

1. As the introductory module on the DBA, the module will introduce the conceptual basis of Evidence Based Management and explore the relationship between theory and practice in management research. The move from practice to theory and back to practice will provide the underpinning structure of this module.
2. The module will explore how to move from a research topic, to a set of specific research problems and questions, to clarify and focus what a good research question is and how to formulate researchable questions.
3. This section of the module will focus on how to undertake a literature review, and how to use academic literature in business and management theory to clarify and narrow the research topic into a coherent set of research questions, that will deliver a doctoral level research project if answered.

The module will take you through the different approaches to reviewing the literature, with a focus on undertaking systematic literature reviews to explore the evidence base for specific practices and their efficacy in the field of management practice. This approach is located within an Evidence Based Management (EBM) paradigm that encourages you to critically analyse and evaluate the evidence underpinning your taken-for-granted practices and assumptions about what makes effective management.

The EBM paradigm is at the core of the management approach found in the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), and the structured literature review is the preferred approach in the International Journal of Management Reviews, the British Academy of Management’s main journal for literature reviews. As such, this module combines best practice in both the management profession and academic studies of management, to prepare you for formulating novel and relevant research questions.

The module adopts a blended approach to learning, combining a 4 day, intensive, face-to-face block, delivered once a year on the Chelmsford campus, with a Canvas-based tutor lead program of studies for the duration of the remainder of the semester.

Advanced Research Methods in a Business Context

This module will cover three core elements:

1. The second and final module on the taught stage of the DBA, introduces the theoretical, contextual and conceptual requirements of undertaking independent research that will lead to a Doctoral award. The module will explore the relationship between practice-based research and the requirements needed to develop and create a doctoral thesis.
2. The module will explore how to move from the development of a research topic and its underpinning theoretical concepts into developing a robust and justified scientific research paradigm, equipping you with a wide range of doctoral level research tools, prior to moving to the practical research in stage 2.
3. The main section of the module will focus upon the relationship between practice-based research and the requirements to develop a research paradigm that is appropriate and justified academically, that will lead to a doctoral award. Consequently, you will be exposed to a wide range of research processes with the associated lexicon, ensuring that you will be able to determine an appropriate research paradigm for your research project.

It will be expected that you will build upon your first module and by the time this module is completed you will have gained a thorough understanding of the various research techniques that you’ll have at your disposal, to develop your research and complete your doctoral thesis.

The module will take you through the different approaches to the various research paradigms, exploring as well as practical issues wide philosophical issues such as ontological. epistemological axiological positions. Additionally, you will develop your research strategies, research approaches and research methods with a constant requirement that the research is scientifically based. As such, this module combines best practice in both the management profession and academic studies of management, to prepare you for formulating novel and relevant research paradigms.

The module adopts a blended approach to learning, combining a 3 day, intensive, face-to-face block, delivered once a year on the Chelmsford campus, with a Canvas-based tutor lead program of studies for the duration of the remainder of the trimester.

Stage 2 – Research Component

Research Proposal Approval

Stage 2: The Research Stage

After successfully completing stage 1, you will progress onto stage 2, the research stage. You will be able to undertake a significant research project in your chosen subject area, focusing upon identifying a gap in the practice and theory, supported by 2 academic supervisors. During your time on the research stage, you will complete annual reviews, ethics approval to conduct your research and an upgrade of registration. The final milestone is the completion of the research thesis and Viva Voce examination.

Annual Review

Annually you will prepare a range of documents for presentation at an annual review. The meeting is conducted by two academics who are not familiar with your work, who will assess your progress toward your goal of achieving a Doctorate.

Upgrade of Registration

By this stage of the programme, you will have clarified your research instruments, operationalised a pilot study for the main research and be in a position to proceed with the primary research project. By building in supervisory meetings, it will mean that you will have benefited from a structured programme of support that will have prepared you for the upgrade.

The Thesis and Viva

The final element of the DBA is assessed through the production and submission of a 60,000-word thesis, which is defended in a viva voce examination.

Supervision and Support

As part of the International DBA, ARU’s Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) is growing domestic DBA professional student cohorts of dedicated communities of local inspirational leaders.

Supported by expert supervisory teams, as a part-time DBA student you'll join a collaborative learning environment to share problems, solutions and contributions – for your academic and professional development, as well as to make a step-change difference for your organisation and society.

We are interested in all applications but particularly from candidates based in the eastern region of the UK. We will encourage you in a collaborative learning environment, where possible working with fellow students and supervisors in an action learning cohort to share problems and ideas for challenges in a workplace or organisational context.

Our collaborative learning may mirror your professional experience but with original thinking and theories in exciting novel applications, exploring different methodologies and critical reflection. Equally, our approach will maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of your and others’ supervisory teams, giving you access to a widest mosaic of rich expertise and knowledge throughout the course in a collective learning paradigm.

Your DBA will bring you an opportunity to nurture special relationships with our local civic and commercial leaders through the programme of study and beyond, in an ecosystem of knowledge transfer, academic rigour and innovation, based on excellent research. Additionally, the wider cohorts of international DBA students will bring mutual but contrasting ideas and inspiration to the DBA.

Your DBA will prepare you to take on professional roles across different walks of life, not least in the areas of strategic planning and decision-making, equipping you in designing, interpreting, and conducting critical thinking and advanced research projects. It will give you opportunities to test theories and practice of organisation and management in your own work contexts, but also with those of your fellow students.

Blended Learning

Mandatory attendance is required for the block delivery, in week 7, semester 1 and 2, and this is the main mechanism within which stage 1 is delivered. Block sessions are further supported with bi-weekly online sessions providing “academic scaffolding” to develop the practical, academic and research concepts further.

Canvas Learning Management System

ARU Learning Management System, Canvas provides candidates with access to a wide range of resources to support their development. This includes academic databases, links to other websites and research software. In addition, it provides a mechanism through which candidates and staff can interact and facilitates electronic submission of work for formal assessment and allows timely feedback from academic staff.

Supervision

The role of supervision and the relationship with supervisors is one of the key determinants for successfully undertaking doctoral level study. For this reason, your supervisory team will be established at the outset, and is built into your programme of study. Mentors will be assigned during stage 1 and the supervisory team at stage 2. Supervisory support is, therefore, an on-going process during and after the completion of the taught modules.

Where You'll Research

Your Faculty

You have a highly active mind and see opportunity everywhere. Now you need theory and life-changing skills to sharpen your approach to management. At the Faculty of Business & Law, you will immerse yourself in a multicultural environment where technology blends with teaching to create a dynamic and innovative learning environment. An environment to help you gain those skills.

Where Can I Study?

• Chelmsford
• Cambridge

Fees & Funding

Course Fees

• UK students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £6,650
• International students, 2024/25 (part-time, per year): £9,600

Bench Fees

In some cases extra costs known as bench fees will be charged for a postgraduate research degree. These are to cover additional/exceptional costs directly related to a specific research project.

Some examples of these costs are (the list is not exhaustive): equipment hire, access costs to specialist equipment/workshops, volunteer expenses, specialist tissue/cell culture, specialist reagents or materials, specialist software, access to specialist databases, data collection costs, specialist media, recording or digital storage needs.

We charge bench fees in bands. They may apply for every year of your course. These bands are the same for full- and part-time students.

For 2024/25 the bench fee bands are:

• 1. £500
• 2. £1,200
• 3. £2,200
• 4. £4,500
• 5. £8,900

Writing Up Fees 2024/25

£1,200

Funding

For advice on the Doctoral Loan and other sources of funding, including ARU scholarships, visit our finance guide for postgraduate researchers.

You might also find The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding helpful.

ARU Research

Join us for a Professional Doctorate and you’ll be joining a group of passionate researchers who are experts in their fields.

Our research-active staff are dedicated to producing relevant and significant outcomes and solutions that can be applied in the real business world.

Our four research centres are at the heart of knowledge generation in our business school, working on the latest research developments that emerge from challenges and issues in the business world. We rely on our close business partnerships to keep our research focused where it matters: improving business practice across the world. Our Professional Doctorate students play a part in constantly addressing the most relevant issues.

Learn more about the work we’re doing and how it could be significant to your organisation and professional development:

• Centre for Inclusive Societies and Economies (CISE)
• Centre for Research into the Organization of Work and Consumption (CROWC)

Looking for something else? Our schools cover all business subjects, with many of our people having professional backgrounds. Take a look at our School of Economics, Finance and Law people and our School of Management people to see our range of expertise.

ARU's academic excellence was recognised in 2021, as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise which assesses the quality of academic research. Sixteen areas of our work were classed as generating world-leading research. The results showed that we're making a significant impact on the societies we live in.

Careers

This programme is based on the rationale that candidates will normally be in employment whilst they are undertaking it. In terms of employability, therefore, the aim of this course is twofold. First, to support career progression within the organisation and/or industry. Second, to support candidates who wish to embark on a portfolio career.

Research training is integral to this course and will let you develop transferable skills in research methods, report writing, academic publishing, conference presentations, personal effectiveness and more.

Read more about studying a Professional Doctorate.

Entry Requirements

• A Master’s degree in a related area, along with appropriate professional experience.
• If English is not your first language, you’ll also need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent.
• You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course. Before starting the course, we recommend that you check our technical requirements for online learning.

Suggested Courses That May Interest You

• Professional Doctorate in Science and Engineering DProf
• Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care DProf
• Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology DProf

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) aims to enhance professional capabilities, contribute to organizations, and produce publishable-level research. Designed as a professional doctorate, it focuses on generating original contributions to professional practice through engagement with management theory and independent research into specific research problems in professional practice. The program is structured to develop academic skills that complement existing professional skill sets.

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Outline:

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Stage 1: Taught Component

• Two 30-credit modules
• Online "scaffolding sessions" from week 1 to week 12 of each module
• Block teaching sessions: 4 days in semester 1, 3 days in semester 2, held at ARU Chelmsford Campus
• Module 1: Advanced Professional Practice Research Problem and Theory
• Explores the conceptual basis of Evidence Based Management and the relationship between theory and practice
• Guides students in moving from a research topic to specific research problems and questions
• Provides training in undertaking literature reviews to clarify and narrow research topics
• Module 2: Advanced Research Methods in a Business Context
• Introduces theoretical, contextual, and conceptual requirements for independent research
• Focuses on developing a research paradigm that is appropriate and justified academically
• Equips students with various research tools and strategies

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Stage 2: Research Component

• Research Proposal Approval
• Annual Reviews
• Upgrade of Registration
• Thesis and Viva Voce Examination
• Production and submission of a 60,000-word thesis

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Teaching:

• Blended Learning: Mandatory attendance for block delivery in week 7 of semesters 1 and 2; bi-weekly online "academic scaffolding" sessions
• Canvas Learning Management System: Provides access to resources, submission of work, and timely feedback
• Supervision: Established at the outset of the program, with mentors assigned during stage 1 and a supervisory team during stage 2

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Careers:

• Designed for individuals who are typically employed while undertaking the program
• Aims to support career progression within organizations or industries
• Also supports candidates pursuing portfolio careers
• Provides training in transferable skills such as research methods, report writing, academic publishing, conference presentations, and personal effectiveness

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

UK students, 2023/24 (part-time, per year) £6,250 International students, 2023/24 (part-time, per year) £9,050