Doctor of Business Administration DBA at De Montfort University

Programme overview

An action-research based doctorate for senior professionals, researchers, managers, entrepreneurs and consultants, in which research emerges from a field of practice informed by academic knowledge. Students build reflective skills and develop original, research-led solutions for their organisations.

Faculty: Leicester Castle Business School | Duration: Full-time: 3 years (option of one extra year); part-time: 4 years (option of two extra years) | Intake: October, January and April | Location: Leicester, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Year 1 comprises three assignments: a structured literature review, challenging assumptions through research paradigms and philosophies, and development of the research design, plus action-learning sets, a research log and an end-of-year residential. Year 2 covers a pilot study and thesis development, followed by field work, analysis and writing up.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

In order to enter the programme the student must have completed: an honours undergraduate degree (2.1); or have membership of a recognised (chartered) professional body; or be able to demonstrate equivalent professional qualification or managerial/directorial experience; and must have a substantial body of supervisory/managerial roles on a permanent or periodic basis. It is likely that this will have taken a period of time to accumulate and, for indicative purposes only, this might be, for example, five years; and draft a detailed research proposal; and provide a CV; If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 (including a minimum of 6.0 in each component) or equivalent is normally required.

GBP 16,000 a year (2026/27). DBA, charged years 1 to 3; thesis pending period GBP 400 if thesis not submitted within three years and three months Source

Intake: October, January and April

Duration: Full-time: 3 years (option of one extra year); part-time: 4 years (option of two extra years)

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