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Are you a private or public sector management professional looking to advance your career as you work? This Professional Doctorate in Business Administration uses scheduled teaching and independent research to help you do just that. 

In your first year you'll attend the University and study specific topics, before conducting an applied, work-based research project that focuses on topics directly relevant to your organisation in the following years.

You'll develop your professional knowledge and skills as you learn, benefiting both your own career as well as your current employer.

The research on this course addresses real business issues — so you'll help solve organisational problems in your current workplace by providing research outcomes that are directly relevant to your organisation.

When you apply for this course you'll typically be working at a senior or executive level in your organisation, already hold a postgraduate qualification, and be keen to take your management and professional development to new levels.

Accreditation

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling multiple demands and commitments when you do this degree, as you may be working or have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

Course structure

On this course you'll study taught modules, explore research methodology, and conduct research.

This part-time programme involves one year of taught study, followed by a research phase of between four and six years depending on how you progress through the course.

The course has two key stages:

Stage 1 — Taught modules

In your first year you'll attend scheduled teaching activities on campus and complete assessments. 

You can expect: 

• to study in three one-week blocks on campus
• to attend in person study weeks in October, February and April
• to attend workshops and discussion forums

Stage 2 — Research phase

In the following years you'll conduct research and undertake a final assessment. Your research is likely to involve independent study within your own organisation,

In this stage you are not required to attend scheduled teaching on campus, but you will meet regularly with your supervisor.

Typically you'll study for four years in the research phase of the course, but there is no minimum registration in the research phase. This means you could submit your completed thesis at any time during this period of study. You could also request up to an additional two years to complete this phase. 

How you're assessed

In your first year you'll be assessed through:

• coursework assignments

In further years, you'll be assessed through:

• research-based report, submitted in your final year

During your first year you'll have a mentor to help you develop your research topic and prepare you for the research phase of the course. After the first year you'll be guided by a team of two academic supervisors.

You'll also connect with a small group of 3 or 4 peers who are at the same stage of DBA research as you, where you'll benefit from sharing ideas and learning experiences.

Term dates

The taught stage of this course September to the following summer, with breaks at Christmas and Easter. 

See key dates