Duration:
2 year (full-time)
4 year (part-time)
Number of credits:
360 credits
Start date(s):
October 2026
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is designed for experienced leaders who want to shape strategy, influence organisational change, and drive real-world impact through research. The concentrated programme design will allow you to balance doctoral study with your professional commitments through intensive on campus study
This practice-focused doctorate enables you to address complex business challenges while developing advanced analytical expertise, positioning you as a thought leader in your field.
You will engage in rigorous, doctoral-level study that combines academic excellence with strategic relevance. Through structured supervision and milestone-driven progression, you will design and deliver original research that directly informs professional practice, policy, and organisational decision making.
A key feature of the DBA is its accelerated and flexible structure
You can complete the programme in just two years full-time or four years part-time , making it a distinctive option compared to many UK DBA programmes. This compact format allows you to progress efficiently while continuing to apply your learning directly within your professional context.
Throughout the programme, you will:
- Develop advanced research and analytical skills at doctoral level
- Investigate a significant business or management challenge within your organisation or sector
- Apply robust research methods to generate impactful, practice-focused insights
- Strengthen your leadership capability and strategic thinking
- Build your professional profile as an expert and influencer in your field
You will be part of a vibrant research community, benefiting from integration within Faculty of Business and Law and Graduate School networks. You can find out more about research in the Faculty of Business and Law through our research centre.
The programme culminates in both a doctoral thesis and a practice-oriented output, ensuring your work demonstrates clear, measurable impact in real organisational settings.
By the end of the programme, you will have enhanced your leadership, expanded your professional influence, and developed the expertise to tackle high-level challenges with confidence. Whether advancing within your organisation or stepping into more senior roles, you will graduate with the credibility, insight, and impact of a doctoral qualification.
Careers
As a graduate of the DBA, you could pursue a wide range of career paths, including:
- Senior leadership and executive roles across private, public, and third-sector organisations
- Consultancy and policy advisory positions
- Roles that combine industry practice with academic engagement
- Strategic project management and practice-oriented research positions
This programme equips you with advanced research skills, evidence-based decision-making, and executive-level communication, preparing you to lead with impact, drive innovation, and make informed, strategic decisions at the highest professional levels.
Learning & assessment
How you’ll learn:
The DBA is delivered through a structured supervision model that supports independent research as the core of your learning. Each student is allocated a supervisor who provides academic guidance, critical challenge, and oversight of your progress, helping you shape your project, refine methodology, and define the scope of your work.
Alongside supervision, you will engage with a menu of research training opportunities provided by the Graduate School or Faculty of Business and Law, including seminars, workshops, and tailored sessions that you can select to meet your needs. Regular research seminars and peer discussions allow you to present work in progress, receive feedback, and learn from the experiences of others, building a strong community of researchers. The programme offers flexibility to focus on the areas most relevant to your project while ensuring support and intellectual challenge throughout.
How you’ll be assessed:
Assessment is milestone-driven and focused on research. Your progress is monitored through formal milestones, review points, and annual progress checks. You are expected to gain ethics approval before collecting data and to engage actively with supervision and mandatory training sessions.
Successful completion of the DBA requires submission of a final doctoral thesis, an applied practice-oriented output, and a viva voce examination. All earlier assessments and milestones are designed to prepare you fully for your final submission, ensuring you are supported and well-equipped to complete the accelerated research route to your doctoral qualification.
Open days
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Applying
UK postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.
Course subject to curriculum review and validation.
To join the DBA, applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:
Academic qualifications:
- A Level 7 qualification (for example, an MBA, MSc, or equivalent) from a recognised institution at a good level.
Professional experience:
- At least five years’ relevant managerial or senior professional experience.
- Evidence of leadership responsibility, strategic decision-making, or substantial professional practice in a business or organisational context.
Research preparedness:
- Submission of a research proposal addressing a clearly defined business or management problem. The proposal must show critical engagement with relevant literature and demonstrate doctoral-level academic writing skills.
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate appropriate preparation for doctoral-level research. This may typically include prior experience of independent research at Level 7, such as successful completion of a 60-credit dissertation or equivalent independent research project at Level 7, and the ability to formulate and articulate a clear research proposal addressing a relevant business or management problem.
Additional requirements:
- English language: Non-native English speakers must meet the University’s standard postgraduate research English language requirements.
- Other requirements: All other doctoral entry requirements apply in line with University regulations.
- Interview: Candidates whose experience and proposed research align with supervisory expertise will be invited to an online interview.
International postgraduate students apply through our direct application system.
Course subject to curriculum review and validation.
To join the DBA, applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:
Academic qualifications:
- A Level 7 qualification (for example, an MBA, MSc, or equivalent) from a recognised institution at a good level.
Professional experience:
- At least five years’ relevant managerial or senior professional experience.
- Evidence of leadership responsibility, strategic decision-making, or substantial professional practice in a business or organisational context.
Research preparedness:
- Submission of a research proposal addressing a clearly defined business or management problem. The proposal must show critical engagement with relevant literature and demonstrate doctoral-level academic writing skills.
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate appropriate preparation for doctoral-level research. This may typically include prior experience of independent research at Level 7, such as successful completion of a 60-credit dissertation or equivalent independent research project at Level 7, and the ability to formulate and articulate a clear research proposal addressing a relevant business or management problem.
Additional requirements:
- English language: Non-native English speakers must meet the University’s standard postgraduate research English language requirements.
- Other requirements: All other doctoral entry requirements apply in line with University regulations.
- Interview: Candidates whose experience and proposed research align with supervisory expertise will be invited to an online interview.
Fees and funding
UK students
Tuition fees (full-time)
| Entry date | DBA |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | £13,500 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
More information about tuition fee costs
Tuition fees (part-time)
| Entry date | DBA |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | £6,750 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
Funding your studies
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London.
International students
Tuition fees (full-time)
| Entry date | DBA |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | £16,998 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
More information about tuition fee costs
Tuition fees (part-time)
| Entry date | DBA |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | £8,499 |
Prices shown are for the first year of your degree.
More information about tuition fee costs
Funding your studies
We also provide other ways to support the cost of living, including on-campus car parking, hardship support and some of the most affordable student accommodation and catering in London.
Need help or advice before applying?
Business and Law
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