Doctor of Business Administration

Doctorate Part-Time

Suitable for International Students?

Yes

Course Introduction

The Bradford DBA is the pinnacle of management education. This doctoral degree is as academically rigorous as a PhD but is designed for senior, experienced professional managers – average age 42 – and is highly applicable within your specific sector and career.

For MBA (or equivalent) graduates looking for the next challenge in your career, the Bradford DBA provides an unprecedented fast-track to the status of global expert in your chosen field. 

You will make a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in your area of expertise while studying part time and remaining at work, which will act as a powerful asset to you, your company and your industry.

This will open up a new realm of personal development and career opportunities including teaching at international business schools, high level consultancy and board level roles.

Your fellow DBA students are an elite group of 25 international managers, which you will meet, network and share ideas with at regular peer review workshops in different locations. As a DBA student at Bradford University School of Management, you become part of our international alumni network of business people. Current and recent DBA students work for companies like Shell International, Siemens, Bayer, ING Group and Phillips International.

The part time programme is designed to fit into your busy schedule whilst ensuring that you have the support and guidance needed to help you translate your knowledge into proper academic thinking and writing. The schedule of modules and workshops is agreed well in advance and details of dates for 2012/13 are available on request.

Our DBA supervisors bring a high level of support, as well as a high level of academic achievement, to your studies. Unlike many DBA programmes, all our supervisors are experienced in doctoral research supervision. Our other staff are also always available to help answer questions and give advice.

Course Syllabus

Research skills training

In years one and two you will study eight modules designed to develop doctoral-level expertise in research methods and to take you to the point where you can start your own independent research. In this intensive period, you learn to translate your hard won management wisdom into a research framework that enables you to produce an academic thesis with practical business impact.

The modules are practically focused so that, if you wish, you can hone your research skills by focusing on current problems you have to tackle for your organisation. You will maintain a learning journal that will help you become more reflective as a business person and encourages professional self-improvement along the way.

Research proposal

Before progressing to the next stage, you will use the knowledge and skills gained from your research training to design, refine and defend your research proposal by presenting it at a ‘mini viva’.

Research

In years three to four or three to six, you will complete a supervised research project leading to either a thesis of 60,000 words, or a combination of thesis and management reports that together total about 60,000 words.

Students choose their own research topic, based on their individual and organisational needs. It may be problem driven, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate where existing theories break down and new thinking is needed, or discovering a new way in which to tackle difficult issues. The project will provide you with skills and insights you will draw on throughout your career.

Recent projects have included ‘Measuring the Efficiency of Customer Retention Programmes’, ‘Productivity Improvement in Small and Medium-Size Enterprises’, ‘Organisational Learning in Context’, ‘External Communication and Corporate Performance’, and ‘Managing Cultural Integration in International Joint Ventures’.

For full details, please visit the School of Management website.