Doctor of Business Administration
The DBA is the professional equivalent of the academic PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), but designed specifically to support participants in undertaking practice-based research related to their professional environment. While the knowledge gained from this research is equally rigorous to the PhD, it is distinctive in that the research findings tend to be highly applicable within the students’ organisation and/or within their community of professional practice.
The doctor of business administration study 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 relevant to the professional practice of the students, their organisation, community of practice or professional field.
Why study the DBA - Doctor of Business Administration at Middlesex University / KMU Akademie & Management AG?
- This DBA programme aims to provide experienced professionals in senior management positions with the opportunity to undertake rigorous research, advance theory, and its application to practice.
- Senior professionals have achieved a significant amount of both formal and informal learning, sometimes over many years. 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 the professional environment.
- Participants' projects meet their individual needs and interests, and those of their organisations or the professional community.
- The distance learning concept offers a high degree of flexibility and allows students to combine their DBA study well with private and professional commitments.
Costs
GBP 26.000,-
from GBP 567,- / month
Scope
180 ECTS
Duration
8 semester
(max. 7 years)
Diploma
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA/Dr.)
(Führ- und beurkundbar)
Start (intake)
Application/Enrolment all year round
Language
English
Phase 1
- Submission of Extended Research Proposal
- Approval, presentation and evaluation of Proposed Programme of Research
Phase 2
- Submission of draft version of the Thesis
- Thesis (proof of ability to deal with scientific questions)
- Viva voce (presentation and defence of the thesis before a panel)
Start your journey now
Either get going with our online application to directly apply or request a demo access to our online learning platform KMUnity and get more insight on how your study experience at KMU Akademie will be.
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Accreditations represent high quality
Accreditations and certifications ensure the quality of the academic programmes and help future students to choose a degree programme. Each accreditation agency specifies quality criteria with regard to possible programme and/or system accreditation and universities or study providers are assessed and measured against these criteria.
The Doctor of Business Administration is accredited by the reputable accreditation agency AQAS (Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programmes) based in Cologne. Middlesex University/KMU Academy is pleased to fulfil the high requirements with these quality seal.
Significant professional experience (at senior level; 5 years) and a master’s, Diplom or Magister degree (300 ECTS) or equivalent obtained from a recognised domestic or international higher education institution is required.
If English is not the applicant’s first language, test results to prove that their command of English is at least CEFR reference level C1 (= IELTS 7.0 or higher) are required as well.
Research areas in the field of economics and management:
- Banking and Insurance
- Corporate Consultancy
- Education Management
- Digitalisation / Big Data
- Energy
- Financing
- Health Management
- Human Resource Management
- Real Estate Management
- Management of SMEs or Corporate Management
- Marketing
- Logistics
- Sustainability Management
- Public Administration and Management
- Restructuring
- Sports Management
- Tourism Management
- Environmental Management
- Business Consulting
- Corporate Social Responsibility
Should your application for the DBA programme be rejected, no fees or costs will incur and the next ranked application will be considered.
The distance learning programme Doctor of Business Administration (DBA/Dr.) has a minimum duration of four and a maximum duration of seven years. It consist of two phases and concludes 180 ECTS. The following achievements must be completed as part of the programme (in this consecutive order):
Application & Admission:
- Submission of application documents
- Review of the submitted documents by KMU Akademie and Middlesex University
- A decision whether or not the applicant will be admitted to the programme will be provided within three months
- Receipt of admission documents (letter of admission and invoice for tuition fees)
- Transfer of the tuition fees by the student
- Access to our online campus KMUnity and registration at Middlesex University/KMU Akademie
- Submission of Research Proposal as well as a Personal Statement according to which a supervisory team will be assigned
- Interview (Discussion research proposal, personal and professional qualification)
- Establishing contact and liaising with the assigned supervisory team
- Signing of the supervision agreement and commitment to supervision by the student and supervisor
Phase 1:
- Submission of Extended Research Proposal
- Approval, presentation and evaluation of Proposed Programme of Research
Phase 2:
- Submission of draft version of the Thesis
- Thesis (proof of ability to deal with scientific questions)
- Viva voce (presentation and defence of the thesis before a panel)
Graduation:
- Graduation ceremony and receipt of certificate of Middlesex University with Doctor of Business Administration (DBA/Dr.) and award of the academic degree "Doctor of Business Administration".
The university reserves the right to make sovereign changes to the programme.
Your supervisory team will normally be appointed after your Research Proposal as well as your Personal Statement have received final confirmation from the admission panel. Your supervisory team will consist of a Supervisor, who will have profound knowledge in your research area (subject expert), and a Methodology Coach, whose primary role will be to support you with academic writing and research (research expert).
During phase one of the programme, your supervisory team will assist you with the Extended Research Proposal as well as providing guidance for your research and work on your research project (Proposed Programme of Research). In phase two, your supervisory team will supervise and help you with your Thesis.