Study Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in the UK
The DBA course is divided into three main phases: the first and second last for a minimum of one semester (6 months) each, and the third continues for a minimum of three further years. During the first two phases of the course, your study is undertaken through online study resources, online discussions, interaction with module leaders, and is supported by a personal academic advisor. For the third phase of the programme of study, you undertake a major research project that focuses on work you are undertaking in your organisation as a senior professional, typically in a change leadership role.
Throughout the course, which is studied part-time, your focus will be on your professional activity in an organisational context. The DBA provides a structured framework for critically understanding your work-based activity and equips you to operate as a reflective professional practitioner. The research project provides an opportunity for you to critically evaluate the learning you achieve while leading significant change in the workplace, and to express this in writing in a systematic way that is both informed by and informs relevant theory.
Course Overview
The DBA is designed to raise the level of professional capabilities of practising senior managers and executives. It does this by developing critical reflective practice skills, by enhancing knowledge of leading-edge areas of business, and by providing the opportunity to develop their capabilities in practice-based research by means of a major doctoral research project focussed on their role as change leaders.
What will you gain?
Our DBA is designed for active senior managers and executives who want to gain new insights and perspectives into change leadership and management based on critical exploration of their own evolving professional practice.
- It is the professional equivalent of the academic PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), but designed specifically to support participants in undertaking practice-based research into their workplace activities. While the knowledge gained from this research is equally rigorous to the PhD, it is distinctive in that the participant is placed at the centre of their research investigation, and their findings tend to be highly applicable within their organisation and within their community of professional practice.
- Because senior professionals have achieved a significant amount of both formal and informal learning, sometimes over many years, the DBA provides an opportunity to make a claim for academic credits against relevant prior learning, including research knowledge and expertise. The DBA focuses on developing participants’ individual capabilities as reflective practitioners, and through this enhancing their capability for undertaking high-level, practice-based research within their own workplace.
- Participants’ study paths and projects are tailored to meet their individual needs and interests, and those of their organisations.
Entry Requirements
Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We understand that recent changes to exams and assessments mean you might be worried about your qualifications, so we’re taking a flexible approach to admissions this year. We’ll do our best to consider your application on an individual basis and look at more than your grades when we’re making a decision.
USS has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications. Applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications are welcomed, provided they can demonstrate appropriate levels of relevant ability and experience.
UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.
UK/EU Students
- We normally require a masters degree or above
- You should also have a minimum of five years managerial or professional experience in a full-time senior position
- You should have role responsibility and relevant authority to specify and implement significant change initiatives within your organisation.
International Students
USS has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications. Applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications are welcomed, provided they can demonstrate appropriate levels of relevant ability and experience.
- We normally require a masters degree or above
- You should also have a minimum of five years managerial or professional experience in a full-time senior position
- You should have role responsibility and relevant authority to specify and implement significant change initiatives within your organisation.
Visas and immigration
You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK.
English language requirements for international students
You must have competence in the English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 7.0 (with a minimum 6.5 in all four components).
Fees & Scholarships
The fees below refer to the 2020/21 academic year unless otherwise stated.
UK/EU students*
Full-time students: £ 5,150 per year
International students*
Full-time students: £ 5,150 per year
*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide.
Careers & Job Prospects
Career options for DBA include accountancy, charted accountancy, banking, insurance brokering, financial advisor, financial trader, investment analyst and tax advisor.
Because of the broad nature of accounting and finance degrees, employment opportunities are available at a range of different companies and sectors and salaries are very competitive.
