Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
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Overview of the Doctor of Business Administration

Content & Design

The Dr. of Business Administration (DBA) lasts a minimum of 6 semesters. In the doctoral program you will deal intensively with scientific methods. The management program is strongly application-oriented and provides you with methodological competencies for practice as well as research. You will complete the program with a doctoral thesis worth 120 ECTS credits.

The DBA program is designed for three years and can also be studied in English. An advanced degree completed in English is particularly suitable for people who are not native-speakers, yet want to get started in the field of international management.

The doctoral program (DBA) allows our doctoral students to discuss current topics in management theory. Furthermore, you will improve your skills in research, methodology and analysis by critically reviewing and systematically applying appropriate theories and conducting research.

Competent faculty will guide you at all times: from the step-by-step planning and development of your research project to the final implementation of your dissertation.

Your modules in the Doctor of Business Administration are:

• Practice-based Research
  Assessment: 50% Seminar presentation and discussion, 50% Written account identifying context for research

  This module focuses on the distinctive features of a professional doctorate and practice-based research, exploring the essential principles of evidence–based practice, developing as a self-aware reflective practitioner and to be able to respond to social, scientific and ethical challenges.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Learning Outcomes

  • articulate the distinctiveness of the professional doctorate and evidence-based practice;
  • identify the challenges of undertaking professional doctorate research including access, ethics, maintaining awareness of positionality, managing changing relationships and communicating with professional networks;
  • introduce and enable successful engagement with reflective and reflexive practice;

• Research Methods Toolkit
  Assessment: Coursework (5000 words)                                                                                                                                                                                      The module introduces the principles and practice of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Associated data analysis techniques are explained. Students will be able to locate qualitative and quantitative methods within their research design and be able to collect and prepare analysis of the data necessary to fulfil their research objectives. 

    Learning Outcomes

• • consider the location of qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methods within the context of overall research design and its underlying theoretical and philosophical perspectives;
  • develop appropriate methods for the collection of data as part of the context in which the research is conducted;
  • develop an ethical and principled approach to the conduct of qualitative and quantitative data collection;
  • be familiar with appropriate data analysis and support software packages;

• Organizational Analysis and Research                                                                                                                                                Assessment: 30% A critical review of a particular perspective in the literature, 70% Student paper with presentation at a Triagon conference, an academic conference or in class.                                                                                                                                                                                          This module introduces students to major themes in organisations and organisational research, and exposes them to contemporary issues and developments in organisations.  The themes would explore major contributions and theoretical developments as well as exposing students to organisational research that has explored these themes in depth and detail.

    Learning Outcomes

• • explore the various theoretical approaches to understanding organisations and organisational research;
  • provide conceptual frameworks and contrasting perspectives in Organisational Theory and Analysis;
  • provide a critical space for exploring the application of these frameworks and perspectives in examples of organisational research
  • develop critical thinking from a number of differing perspectives;
  • critically develop and support reflective thinking about organisational behaviour.

• Reflexivity in Action
  Assessment: 30% Reflexive account of progress, 70% Pilot Study

  This module provides the student with an opportunity to reflect on progress made as a researcher in a research community. The module encourages charting the milestones accomplished throughout the first part of the DBA programme through developing reflexive accounts through a variety of mediums. Focusing on student experiences during their participant research groups and documenting changes in thinking and practice, this module acts as a vehicle for self expression. The module also encompasses a pilot study in order to allow a degree of practice and reflection regarding the doctoral research process and design. 

    Learning Outcomes

• • develop a reflexive engagement with the research process;
  • critically reflect on the learning experience, focusing on changes in thinking and practice;
  • develop research aims and objectives and test them through a pilot study;
  • critically evaluate the processes of knowledge construction;

• Doctoral Thesis
  Assessment: Doctoral Thesis

  Writing the thesis is the final stage of progression to gaining a professional doctorate. The first year prepares the student through the modules studies and students will have undertaken a pilot study giving them experience of researching into their chosen area. This stage is concerned with the students gathering the primary data which will form the basis for the analysis. The findings and analysis are written up before entering the final phase, in which all aspects of the thesis are unified into a coherent piece of research and the work is presented for examination at the viva. During stage two regular meetings with the supervisory team will ensure individual support and monitoring of progress. Additionally, participatory research group meetings will continue discussions as set out in the different modules and there will be an emphasis on sharing knowledge and experience while reflecting in particular on practise based research.The students have the possibility to choose topics from all areas connected to business. Not all doctoral theses have to be workplace-based. Students can also choose to do research based on databases as well as other information sources. If a student decides to write a workplace based theses workplace supervisors should not interfere with determining suitable projects to ensure the academic rigour of the research.

    Learning Outcomes

• • focus and design their particular research methodology, contextualise it in the proposed research study and establish its appropriateness. These aspects will be considered both specifically and philosophically, and the planned research process relating to the study will be evaluated in order to ensure effectiveness in terms of data collection strategies, appropriate analytical techniques and research ethics.
  • apply appropriate methods which support the methodology while collecting primary data in the field.
  • analyse the data and develop a theoretical framework that is grounded in the data and in secondary material (as discussed in the literature review).
  • write up findings, analysis and their theoretical interpretations.
  • effectively link all parts of the thesis to a coherent research study ensuring that the candidate’s doctoral research is complete and that it demonstrates a contribution to the body of knowledge in the research domain and to the management practice in the field.

Admission requirements

Candidates must have the ability and opportunity to carry out detailed research activity in one or more organisations. Candidates will normally have already gained an MBA or other business-related master’s degree, together with 2-3 years of business and management experience. Candidates are required to submit a 3000 word proposal and successfully pass a panel interview. They have to demonstrate the capability for doing independent research at level 8 MQF.

Students must produce evidence of English language proficiency at IELTS:6.0 or equivalents with a minimum of 5 in each component or English B2 referred to CEFR.

If you are unsure whether your degree and professional experience are sufficient for admission, you are welcome to consult our specialists.