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Business Administration at University of Northampton - UCAS

University of Northampton

Degree level: Postgraduate
Awarded by: The University of Northampton

Business Administration (Research)

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

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. Why the Northampton DBA? 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.

Assessment method

A combination of written assessment including essays, portfolios, reports, data analysis as well as individual presentations and group discussions will be used. These are designed to support your learning and develop the skills required to implement your ideas at doctoral level. The research project is assessed in the same way as a PhD by a written thesis and a viva voce examination. The thesis will be examined by an internal examiner from the University of Northampton and an external examiner who is selected for subject knowledge and comes from the wider academic community.


Entry requirements

Applicants will need to met all of the following criteria: hold a Masters degree in a business-related subject, completed within the last ten years. (Exceptionally a long standing career in senior management with evidence of significant achievement coupled with a good first degree can be considered for APL); have a minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, at least some of which should be at senior level; be employed in a leadership/management role capable of supporting the achievement of the programme learning outcomes, including the thesis; an overall IELTS score (or equivalent) of 7.0 with no component less than 6.5.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Business Administration at University of Northampton - UCAS