The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) research degree is a professional doctorate designed for experienced managers, executives, and organisational leaders seeking to develop advanced research capability alongside strategic leadership expertise.
The programme combines rigorous doctoral-level research with practical business application, enabling candidates to investigate complex organisational challenges within real-world professional contexts.
Equivalent in academic standing to a PhD, the DBA differs through its practice-oriented focus, integrating scholarly theory with applied organisational problem-solving. The programme includes a substantial taught phase through an embedded Master of Research (MRes), followed by an independent doctoral research project culminating in a thesis and viva voce examination.
The DBA aims to strengthen evidence-based leadership, innovation capability, and organisational impact across private, public, and third-sector organisations. Students develop expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, strategic analysis, ethical leadership, and professional reflection. The programme also aligns strongly with UWS strategic priorities around sustainability, enterprise, inclusive growth, and industry engagement.
Graduates of the DBA are likely to work in senior leadership, consultancy, policy, research, and executive management roles across private companies, public sector organisations, government agencies, charities, and third-sector bodies.
Likely sectors include business consultancy, healthcare management, finance, education, digital enterprise, manufacturing, and strategic leadership roles within multinational organisations.
Graduates may work regionally, nationally, or internationally, particularly in organisations requiring evidence-based strategic decision-making and organisational transformation expertise.
The DBA also supports progression into higher education leadership, professional research roles, and specialist consultancy. Some graduates may pursue academic publishing, postdoctoral research, supervisory roles, or contribute to professional and policy development within their sector.
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no individual component below 6.0.
Please note: The programme team retains discretion regarding admissions decisions following interview and application review.
The DBA consists of 540 credits, including a 180-credit taught phase and a 360-credit doctoral research phase. The taught phase incorporates the MRes and develops advanced research capability in business and management contexts.
The research phase includes supervised doctoral research, progress monitoring, data collection and analysis, thesis development, and viva voce examination.
(approximately, across taught element and enrolled modules)
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree comprises of several learning and teaching approaches, and assessment strategies that are cognisant of research inquiry and industry.
In addition to timetabled lecture of seminar class contact, thematic tutorials and practical settings enhance the learner experience during enrolment on the programme.
Learners develop their knowledge and understanding of key research(er) considerations and factors, when investigating organisational, managerial, strategic, or sector domains and perspectives. This is confronted and accomplished through business case and context appreciations, reflecting and adopting relevant and rigorous methodological designs, and adapting these to research interests that are both topically relevant and appropriate to DBA-level study.
With this mind, the quantitative, qualitative, or pragmatic researcher develops significant skillsets in critical evaluation of primary and secondary data, advancing numerical or statistical analysis, narrative analysis within subjective domains, and business or industry reporting.
Crucially, this is further reinforced at doctoral level through learners’ development into timely and responsible researchers who can explain, justify, and defend a direct piece of scholarly DBA-related research.
Students on the DBA programme shall utilise a range of academic and digital research facilities. Key facilities include the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Skillsforge researcher development system, online learning resources, recorded lectures, digital research tools, and research ethics support systems.
Students also engage with research centres, workshops, writing retreats, expert-led seminars, and mock viva sessions. Dedicated supervisory support is provided throughout the programme, alongside access to library databases, methodological software, and collaborative research communities designed to support doctoral-level scholarship and professional development.
All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
The first stage of the process is to complete the initial application form. You will then receive a follow-up email with further instructions relating to your application including documents that you will need to forward to support your application, e.g. degree transcripts and certificates etc.
Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you.
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.
Students and researchers who are nationals of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the United States of America do not need an ATAS certificate.
An ATAS certificate may be required for certain taught postgraduate master's degrees for international students at UWS.
For the latest information on ATAS and details of eligibility and how to apply for a certificate check the UK Government's dedicated ATAS web pages.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Our friendly admissions teams are here to help!
International prospective students
Our international team is ready to support you with your application and any questions about joining UWS from abroad.
UK-based prospective students
If you’re applying from within the UK, our applicant enquiry team is here to guide you every step of the way.
With cutting edge facilities, specialist knowledge and world-leading and internationally excellent expertise, we aim to develop research outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on society across the globe.
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