Program Overview

DBA Doctor of Business Administration

The Doctorate in Business Administration is a postgraduate program designed for senior managers with significant experience and decision-making responsibilities. It aims to equip students with the practitioner skills, specialist knowledge, and business understanding to become industry shapers.

About

Our Doctorate in Business Administration is a focused, carefully curated course that enables students to meet the higher intellectual and professional practice demands of their role. It is a challenging, game-changing opportunity that has the potential to transform leadership vision, individual performance, and organization.

The program is designed for senior managers who want to apply current business knowledge and original thinking to develop comprehensive research skills in their area of interest. With the support of a carefully selected specialist supervisor, students will develop a personalized learning plan that allows them to address the challenges facing their business.

Entry

Entry Requirements

Participants normally should have an MBA or Master's degree and a minimum of two years of senior management experience. All shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview.

English Language Requirement

If English is not the first language, students will be required to meet the UK Border Agency and Universities' minimum English Language requirements, such as the International English Language Test (IELTS) overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.

Structure

Content

The structure of the DBA course incorporates two complementary stages, parts 1 and 2.

• Part 1 consists of creating a doctoral development plan and two 30-credit modules:
  • Research Principles and Practice in Business Management
  • Ways of knowing
• Part 2 includes revising the doctoral development plan, followed by seeking RD1 approval, which would signify that the student is on course to develop the project further.

Learning and Teaching

The face-to-face element of this course is made up of four modules taught at UWE Bristol and supported by online resources and materials. Learners will be supervised from the start of their studies, with an allocated Director of Studies as their first point of contact throughout the course.

The Director of Studies provides formative feedback on module work and supports the student to develop their Doctoral Development Plan, which captures their learning journey and will be part of their final submission.

Study Time

• Part 1 of the course is made up of two years of study, with two 30-credit modules to be completed each year.
• Each module equates to 300 hours of learning, including one week of face-to-face teaching.
• Part 2 consists of a supervised research project, usually within the learner's own organization, which may take between two and four years to complete.

Assessment

Learners will be assessed on a 60,000-word thesis outlining the development and impact of their research project. Before beginning the research project, they must also pass a progression examination, which includes a written report and viva.

Fees

There is currently no published fee data for this course. More information can be found on the Doctoral Academy fees and funding pages.

Features

Study Facilities

As a DBA student at Bristol Business School, students will have access to dedicated rooms with WiFi and study space for individual and group work. They will also be able to access the Business School's Postgraduate Resource Centre, as well as the Academic Support Centre and Executive Development Centre.

Careers

The DBA course will help students move their career forward, providing them with agenda-shaping skills and capacities of thought leadership in their field of business. The award-winning careers service will develop students' employment potential through career coaching and find them graduate jobs, placements, and global opportunities.

Life

The university provides support, including access to fantastic facilities, study tools, and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare. The city of Bristol offers a stunning environment for student living, with opportunities to engage in sports, societies, and activities, and access to health and wellbeing services.