Overview

The degree of Doctor of Business Administration (abbreviated DBA or D.B.A. and equivalent to PhD in Business Administration), is a highest academic degree and a research doctorate in business administration.

The DBA requires advanced coursework and research beyond the master-level degree that usually results in a dissertation and possible journal publication that contributes to business practice.

DBA Programme

DBA programme contributes to the research excellence. By conducting research in the specialist area, students are able to further their professional careers and improve expertise to contribute to grow competitive advantage and differentiate themselves in the job market. We have more than 130+ universities who offer Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) courses in the UK.

Interested to get your Business Administration Degree?

We provide you with a large range of available options to think about.  You will find all the needed information you are looking for regarding the University, course length, Intake and location. The most popular Universities of Scotland are mentioned here.

The programme is particularly benefit to experienced executives, consultants, management managers and business academics. A DBA degree will enhance professional capability and credibility, and develop networks. Employers benefit from supporting candidates for the DBA by attracting, developing and retaining key talent and building knowledge for competitive advantage.

Know about DBA and PhDs

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) has both rigour and relevance as it contributes to theory and practice in business and management. The DBA typically focuses on research ‘in’ organisations rather than research ‘on’ organisations. It is more likely to involve cross-disciplinary work and mixed methods and contribute to developing students’ own practice and development.

Research Topics:

There are a number of DBA research topics across the various academic disciplines in the UK University. When writing your research outline, the followings are some important topics you can consider for UK universities.

Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour

  • Virtue and integrity theories applied to problems of governance and agency in business, business and society and critical approaches to management
  • Cultural change (in particular industries, or in relation to the business and society relationship at large e.g. globalisation) and the nature of ethical issues arising for individuals and groups in organisations and in the organisation and society relationship.
  • Challenges of ethical pluralism and relativism in relation to context and stakeholder problems.
  • Morals and the limits of Markets; Challenges for the common good
  • The role of ethics of dialogue in organisations and society, the nature of dialogic ethics and agency.
  • The role of businesses and international organisations in the development of universal humanistic and eco-centric ethics
  • Philosophical topics in organisation studies (especially questions about the ontology of organisations).
  • Proposals that use convention theory (sometimes called pragmatic sociology) and apply it to organisations.
  • Proposals on alternative ways of valuing and prioritisation in general, or with a specific focus on healthcare
  • Any topics related to the philosophical foundations of economic thought
  • Gender, race, class in the workplace
  • Intersectional perspectives on employment and organisations
  • Elites and Professions
  • Professional status and inequality regimes
  • Critical perspectives on stress and well-being at work
  • Critical perspectives on power in organisations
  • Lacanian studies of organisational issues
  • Management in cultural and creative organisations, particularly legitimisation strategies and relations within creative clusters
  • Engaging Leadership
  • Distributed Leadership in complex professionalized settings and strategies to facilitate its emergence
  • Project leadership change management
  • Leadership development processes to enable women to access senior positions and break the glass ceiling
  • Leadership dysfunction and its effect on organizational culture/wellbeing
  • Team leadership, team dynamics and team effectiveness)
  • Leadership and innovation-creativity on teams
  • Exploring organisational leadership capability
  • Energizing senior management teams
  • Developing leadership capacity on the job
  • Digital strategic leadership
  • Entrepreneurship
  • The economics of entrepreneurship – Clusters and their evolution; Government Policies for the development of Small Business concerns and Clusters; The sources of Finance of Small and Medium-sized firms; Regional and National Systems of Innovation and their Evolution (all in relation to developed countries only)
  • Leadership and Management in Entrepreneurial and /or Family firms – The impact of Gender on Management in SMEs, Women in Entrepreneurship
  • Intermediation and market making
  • Cross-Cultural Entrepreneurship – Ethnic entrepreneurship
  • Organisational Learning and Knowledge Strategies
  • The relationship between organisational learning, continuity and change
  • Pathways to organisational UNlearning
  • How knowledge strategies contribute to organisational development and change
  • The qualities of ambidextrous leadership that facilitate organisational development
  • The role of paradoxical experience in facilitating learning
  • How conceptualisations of time affect intellectual capital and knowledge work
  • The contribution of knowledge management and organisational learning to organisational agility or dynamic capability development
  • The role of organisational learning andknowledge management to organisational resilience
  • Complexity and simplification, their role and implications in management decision making.

Interested to get your Business Administration Degree?

University of Strathclyde

Course Name: MPhil, PhD and DBA Marketing/Economics/Management Science/Work, Employment and Organisation

Level of study: Postgraduate Research Program

Mode of Study and Duration:

The available options of studying in this University are :can study MPhil over One Year, DBA Over three Years and a PhD over the course of three years. Part-time option is available.

Heriot-Watt University

Level of study:  DBA / PhD Business Administration

Mode of Study:  Open enrolment

Location:  Edinburgh

Duration of the course: 5 Years

University of Stirling

Level of study: Doctoral Level

Mode of Study:  Part-time, Full TIme, Campus-Based

Location: Scotland

Duration of the course: 3 Years

Intake:  September

Fees: Home/Eu- £16,500 total courses and non-EU -£31,825

Robert Gordon University

Doctorate of Business Administration/Accounting, Finance and Economics/ Public Policy/Human Resources/Business and Management DBA

Level of study: Doctoral Level

Award: DBA

Mode of Study:  Part-time- Full-time, Campus-Based

Location: Scotland

Duration of the course: Part-time, Full-time

Intake:  February and October

Fees: Home/Eu- £6435 per year and non-EU -£12,870  per year

University of the West of Scotland

Level of study: Doctoral Level

Award: DBA

Mode of Study:  Part-time, Full Time

Location: London and Paisley

Duration of the course: Part-time- 6 Years, Full-time- 3 Years

Intake:  London: January, April, September, Paisley*: January, September,

Fees: Year-10750 and year 2,3 and further year-5400 per year of study

De Montfort University

Level of study: Doctoral Level

Award: DBA

Mode of Study: Part-time and Full TIme

Location: Leicester Castle Business School

Duration of the course: Part-time- minimum 4 and maximum 6 years, Full TIme- minimum 3 and maximum of 5 years

Intake: September

Fees: EU and Home Year 9000 year 2,3 and Non-eu12500 per year of study

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Level of study: Doctoral Level

Award: DBA

Mode of Study: Part-time and Full Time

Location: London, Swansea

Duration of the course: 4 Years

Intake:  February, June and October

Moreover, the following University also provide Full-time DBA:

You can always contact our experienced team regarding your Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Application

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Course Details of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctoral degree, designed to enhance executive and professional practice through the application of business and management theory and research into real and complex issues. The capability to develop knowledge and theory, and their application and, to develop personal, consultancy and research skills.

DBA will help you to: Develop a sound understanding of the relevant conceptual and theoretical in the area of business and management.

Have a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research.

Enhance performance as a reflective practitioner and professional practice.

Develop personal, consultancy and research competences at an advanced level.

Entry Requirements

  • A Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree from reputed universities.
  • Some universities require work experiences.
  • English language tests: Minimum 5.5 in IELTS or good points in TOEFL, MOI, etc.

Fee range

£12,000- £18,000

Scholarships

  • University of Bradford offers scholarships for DBA
  • University of bath provide scholarships
  • University of Southampton offers scholarships for DBA programs
  • Scholarships of University of Reading

Employability

Graduates of DBA degree can try for private and government jobs too. Governments of many countries give priority to these graduates with higher salaries. DBA degree holders can build their career as HR directors, Economists, consultants, Entrepreneurs, Logisticians, Chief Financial Officers, etc. A Business Administrator with 1-4 years of experience could expect to earn an average total salary of £16,920. They can build their career in any country with satisfaction.

What is a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)?

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate degree that focuses on advanced business management and leadership practises. It is designed for experienced executives, entrepreneurs, and senior managers seeking to enhance their managerial skills and make significant contributions to the business world.

Why study DBA in the UK?

The UK is renowned for its prestigious business schools and research-focused education system. Pursuing a DBA in the UK provides access to leading faculty, cutting-edge business insights, and excellent networking opportunities with industry experts. Additionally, the UK's strong business and financial sectors offer ample opportunities for research and practical applications.

What are the entry requirements for a DBA programme in the UK?

The entry requirements for a DBA programme may vary between universities, but most programmes expect applicants to have a Master's degree in business administration or a related field and several years of managerial experience.

How long does a DBA programme typically last in the UK?

DBA programmes in the UK often require part-time study over a period of 3 to 5 years. However, the duration may vary based on the university and the pace at which the student completes their research and dissertation.

Can international students apply for DBA programmes in the UK?

Yes, international students are welcome to apply for DBA programmes in the UK. Many UK universities value the diverse perspectives and experiences that international students bring to their research and academic communities.

What is the structure of a typical DBA programme in the UK?

A typical DBA programme in the UK comprises a combination of taught modules, research methodology courses, and independent research leading to a doctoral dissertation. The focus of the research is usually on solving real-world business problems or contributing to existing business theories and practises.

How does the DBA differ from a Ph.D. in Business Administration?

While both the DBA and Ph.D. in Business Administration are doctoral degrees, they have distinct focuses. The Ph.D. typically emphasises academic research and contributes to advancing theoretical knowledge, while the DBA emphasises the application of research to practical business challenges and is designed for experienced professionals seeking to advance their careers in the corporate world.

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