Doctor of Business Administration DBA

• Overview

  The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate with the same status as a PhD. It is the highest qualification available in business and management, designed for senior professionals who wish to advance their careers by developing their academic research and critical thinking skills. The Northampton DBA is a part-time programme that typically runs over four years. The first two years are structured around facilitated modules that provide the foundations for the research project, the main element of the DBA. This research project needs to make a significant contribution to professional practice by developing existing theories and knowledge.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Further enhance your opportunities in senior management and/or consultancy roles.
  • Part time study to fit around you.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  The DBA provides the opportunity for you to cultivate the skills needed to find better solutions for intractable problems and develop new paradigms for the increasingly complex, turbulent and interconnected business environment. It does this by:

  • honing your critical thinking and analytical skills to identify the core or ‘real’ issues
  • refining your capability to evaluate evidence on which to base decisions
  • developing your ability to produce robust and reliable research
  • improving the clarity with which you present and support arguments
  • providing the understanding for you to question ideas and options appropriately

  Through undertaking rigorous research into a meaningful and complex issue within your own organisation, you will make a direct contribution to your executive or professional practice.

  In this way, the Northampton DBA will enable you to differentiate yourself, not just in terms of having the qualification, but also in the way you work and think.

  Please visit the application support page for further information.

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  Additional

  Information

  Further information

  If you are looking to find out more information about our DBA, contact our dedicated DBA team at dbaenquiries@northampton.ac.uk.

  Visit our support page for DBA application assistance.

• Careers and Events
  • Case Study

    From fighting fire to doing a DBA

    “With so much change taking place in the UK, there’s no better time to study a DBA, it is this link between academic research and developing real practical solutions that is so important,” said Shaun.

    “I genuinely believe it’s something for senior executives who are looking for a professional development programme that’s going to help them manage change and come up with solutions.

    “I chose the DBA route instead of a PhD because it allows you to apply theory in your workplace. For example, I’m carrying out research on the importance of identity and how this links to organisational performance and the wellbeing of our staff, so important at this time of change. Academic research is one thing, but it is the ‘so what’ factor that is important to me.”

    Read more about Shaun’s story.

    
  • News Story

    DBA graduates making a difference

    After becoming the first recipients in the University’s history, our new DBA graduates are ready to put their learnings into practice in their high-flying careers.

    “I knew when I completed my MBA that I wanted to embark on a DBA programme so as soon as one became available at the university, I applied and have never looked back. Completing the DBA has already helped me to progress in my career and the skills I have gained from achieving this qualification will certainly equip me with the tools I need to achieve my professional goals.”

    Read more about DBA graduates.

     

    
• Requirements

  Applicants will need to meet all of the following criteria

  • hold a Masters degree in a business-related subject, normally completed within the last ten years.
  • have a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, at an appropriate level.
  • be employed in a senior leadership/management role capable of supporting the achievement of the programme learning outcomes, including the professional research project.

  Please visit the application support page for further information and download the Research Topic Form.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in categories (or equivalent)
    for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  We will be running a three day workshop every three months, the details of upcoming workshops are available to download. All workshops are from 9am – 5pm unless otherwise stated.

  GRA8016 Principles of Research

  This module provides you with an opportunity to explore the principles of research which underpin investigations in a variety of applied settings. You will critically examine the various ontological and epistemological approaches to knowledge within your discipline and develop a critical awareness of the ethical dilemmas.

  GRA8004 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis

  This module will develop your skills in quantitative data analysis to an advanced level. You will have the opportunity to develop operational familiarity with a wide range of data management and analytic techniques which are commonly in use in professional
  research. You will explore how these techniques may be applied in practice by interrogating established research data sets. By the end of the module, you will be conversant with a broad range of tools which may be considered for use in your doctoral thesis.

  GRA8010 Advanced Qualitative Data Analysis

  In recent years, the application of qualitative approaches to both research and evaluation within the professional arena has been steadily gathering momentum. Some would argue that such techniques can help bridge the gap between scientific evidence and professional work-based practice by enabling researchers to gather ‘richer’ descriptive data which provides valuable insights into the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and experiences of a range of stakeholders. By the end of the module, you will be conversant with a broad range of tools and techniques associated with qualitative methodological approaches, and their philosophical underpinnings, which will then be considered for use in the doctoral thesis.

  GRA8001 Developing Leadership in Business Research

  This module focuses on the translation of research into practice through the review of research culture, research opportunities, and investigation of issues associated with the leadership and management of research. You will examine potential barriers to the development of a research-based work environment in business including those at organizational, strategic, inter- and intrapersonal levels. You will explore mechanisms for overcoming such hurdles and develop innovative research leadership strategies appropriate for your own working environments across blended interests of public, private, third or community sectors within a corporate citizenship paradigm.

  GRA8002 Reflecting on Business Practice

  This module provides you with the opportunity to acquire appropriate evidence and to critically reflect upon existing practice and your own experiences within a professional context. You are required to identify an appropriate topic aligned to your professional area and explore the appropriateness of current practice by designing, carrying out and analysing an appropriate audit or evaluation with a clear reference to the contextual research literature. This may include examination of an issue related to business management or organisational related training or education. You should reflect on your findings and make evidence-based recommendations for the improvement of practice environments across blended areas of public, private, third and community sectors within a corporate citizenship paradigm.

  GRA8015 The Research Proposal

  This module draws together the knowledge and skills provided in the preceding modules so that you can define an original work-based research project with clear aims and research philosophical underpinning. You will be expected to develop this into a robust research proposal that covers methodology, data collection methods and ethical considerations as well as clear aims and objectives.

  GRA8006 Professional Research Project

  The thesis element of a professional doctorate programme provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate high-level research skills in a written thesis and defend it at an oral examination.

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• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time: £8000 in Year One and Year Two, £4000 Year Three and Year Four

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time: £8000 in Year One and Year Two, £4000 Year Three and Year Four

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time: £8,000 in Year One and Year Two, £4000 Year Three and Year Four

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Part Time: £8,000 in Year One and Year Two, £4000 Year Three and Year Four

  Additional costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

*Course data provided by Unistats