Doctor of Business Administration DBA
Course code
P-N1A0
Start date
4 October 2027
Study location
University of Warwick
Qualification
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Department
Warwick Business School
Duration
Minimum 4 years, up to 7 years (average 4-5 years) part-time
Course overview
Do you have a desire to change the way your business functions, and impact the world of business with new ideas and big picture thinking? Make your mark on the world of business research and practice with a Doctorate in Business Administration.
It's not simply about producing a piece of research; it's about learning the practical skills that can be used again and again to create content or evaluate the contributions of others.
Shaun Collier
Technology Managing Director, Head of Equities Technology, Deutsche Bank
Doctor of Business Administration
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is designed to provide business leaders, executives and professionals an opportunity to pursue the next step beyond their MBA or equivalent qualification.
It is equivalent in stature to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, but distinct in that you will pursue applied research rather than theoretical knowledge. The goal of the DBA is to design organisational interventions which help address real-world challenges in your business, and then to rigorously evaluate, assess and test the effectiveness of those interventions, and to communicate the findings so that both the world of practice and the world of research can benefit from your work. In this way, DBA candidates generate new knowledge – the ultimate criterion for the award of a Doctoral degree.
Benefits
Our DBA is designed to produce scholar-practitioners who can enhance their organisation’s performance through evidence-based practice. The programme addresses three core areas:
- Developing a clear understanding of the nature of the problem(s) or challenges to be addressed
- Understanding the relevant bodies of knowledge across management, innovation and strategy that may inform an intervention
- Designing a research and data strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
In pursuing these goals, the DBA brings together our inspirational faculty, a unique degree programme designed to impart critical skills at the highest level, and organisational leaders and entrepreneurs with the desire and ability to make change in their organisations. Does that sound like you?
Teaching and learning
Your research training will include a series of in-person workshops delivered by leading WBS faculty at The Shard and at our University of Warwick campus. Workshops integrate content, theory, design and research methods, through a review of relevant literature. Workshops will be supplemented by readings, and online tools and resources such as short video lectures.
Year 1: four 3-day workshops and supervision, including a programme induction
Year 2: three 3-day workshops and supervision
Year 3: one 3-day workshop and supervision
Year 4: one 3-day workshop and supervision
In addition to workshops, there will be a 2-day DBA Conference each year. This conference usually takes place in January/February each year, immediately following a planned workshop, so 3 days of teaching, plus a 2-day conference). This event will allow you the opportunity to network across DBA cohorts and will provide executive-level perspectives on how to address complex business problems by becoming a scholar-practitioner.
Reading lists
All DBA workshops are non-accredited. Instead, each workshop has its own comprehensive reading list, which consists primarily of journal articles. For further information, please visit: https://www.wbs.ac.uk/courses/doctoral/doctor-of-business-administration/programme-content
Entry requirements
Research themes
Supervisors and proposals
There are several routes to finding a PhD supervisor at University of Warwick. Searching for a supervisor and submitting a research proposal will look different depending on the opportunity you are applying for. Below you’ll find guidance from the department about what is required for this course.
For more general advice, including top tips for finding and contacting a potential supervisor, and what to include in your research proposal visit the university’s guidance webpages.
Fees and scholarships
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of research trips in the UK and overseas. In addition, you should consider the more general costs below:
- Access to research material that is not available via university resources
- Printing and binding a personal copy of your dissertation
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
About the department
Why Warwick
Your university experience is defined by far more than your course or the career path you follow. At Warwick, it’s where you discover who you could become.
How to apply
We are delighted that you are interested in studying with us. Details on our application process and how progressing your application are available on Warwick Business School’s webpages.
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Next steps
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