Professional Doctorate in Operational Excellence at University of Buckingham

Programme overview

The Professional Doctorate in Operational Excellence (Prof Doc) / Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is designed to enhance professional education and practice through rigorous research.

Faculty: School of Business | Duration: 6 years part-time | Study mode: part-time | Intake: September 2026 | Location: Buckingham, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Students will initially be registered for the degree of DProf / DBA Their status will be probationary until all taught modules have been passed and the proposed research has been assessed as viable. Each student will be assigned a supervisory team which will provide expert support throughout the taught and research components of the programme. The first two years of the programme comprise taught modules that prepare students for doctoral level research in Operational Excellence. Core modules include Framing a Doctoral Problem: From Practice Issue to Researchable Inquiry, Literature, Theory and Contribution: Positioning ProfDoc/DBA Research, Philosophy and Logic of Business Research: Paradigms, Knowledge and Justification, Research Design, Ethics and Evidence Generation in Professional Doctorates.

Career pathways

Students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded a Professional Doctorate in Operational Excellence (DProf) / Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). Graduates will acquire a widely-respected qualification that clearly demonstrates their intellectual capacity and their ability to innovate and problem-solve.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A master’s degree from a recognised institution comparable/ equivalent to a British level 7 degree. A minimum of 5 years management experience at a senior level with practical knowledge of business or public organisations. A draft research proposal must be submitted and all prospective students will be interviewed, either in person or remotely. If your first language is not English, you will also need an IELTS score of 6.5 overall (no component to be less than 6.0). Applicants without a master’s degree may still be eligible based on their professional experience and qualifications.

Domestic applicants: GBP 5,511 a year (2026/27). Part-time (6 years); From £5,511 per year Source

International applicants: GBP 9,645 a year (2026/27). Part-time (6 years); From £9,645 per year Source

Intake: September 2026

Duration: 6 years part-time

Apply through the official page: https://www.buckingham.ac.uk/course-redirect/?coursecode=RPDP4POE

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