Doctorate in Business Administration

The Doctorate in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School is an integrated doctoral programme that develops applied research skills in strategic focus in various areas of Business Administration. This course aims to produce business research professionals who can directly apply their doctoral level skills at a senior executive level in a business environment.

Entry Requirements:

  • Applicants must hold at least one of the following qualifications:
    • A Heriot-Watt University MBA
    • An approved MBA of equivalent standard to that currently offered by Edinburgh Business School
    • A Masters degree such as MSc, MA, Mphil in a relevant field of study
    • A PhD in a relevant area

In addition, applicants should normally have a minimum of 5 years relevant business experience.

Course Structure:

  • The DBA programme combines a study element with a research element.
  • The study element requires you to complete 3 Core Courses and 3 research based Courses plus 5 Elective Courses. The Courses are assessed by examination as and when you are ready for assessment.
  • The research element provides the skills necessary to apply the tools and techniques of the discipline in a rigorous manner and in a wide range of settings
  • To achieve the DBA, a student must complete eleven courses plus a DBA thesis normally around 45,000 words with an upper limit of 80,000 words excluding appendices
  • The programme is offered full-time, part-time and in self-study modes

Programme Content:

Part 1 - The Study Element

DBA Core Courses

  • Strategic Planning
  • Strategic Risk Management
  • Making Strategies Work
  • Project Management 

DBA Research Courses

  • Introduction to Business Research 1 
  • Introduction to Business Research 2
  • Introduction to Business Research 3

Elective Courses

  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Corporate Governance
  • Strategic Negotiation
  • Alliances and Partnerships
  • Leadership
  • Competitive Strategy
  • Stakeholder Management (not yet available)
  • Corporate Venturing (not yet available)

 

Part 2 - The Research Element

  • A student must complete a thesis of around 45,000 words with an upper limit of 80,000 words excluding appendices.
  • The thesis must be completed in three distinct stages:

Stage 1 - Research Proposal. The student is expected to complete the Introduction to Business Research course and develop a research proposal. The research proposal can only be submitted to the Edinburgh Business School research Committee for approval when the study element is completed. If the research proposal is not acceptable, it will be returned to the candidate with an indication of the review or further work required. The student should continue to develop the research proposal until a standard acceptable to the Edinburgh Business School Research Committee is achieved.

Stage 2 - Literature review and synthesis of research hypothesis. The student works under the direction of the supervisor to develop a literature review, synthesis and research theory, hypothesis or question. As with the research proposal, the literature review, synthesis and research hypothesis or question must be developed to a level acceptable to the Edinburgh Business School Research Committee. If the work undertaken at this stage is not acceptable, it will be returned with an indication of the review of further works required. With the assistance of the supervisor, the student must continue to develop the literature review, synthesis and research hypothesis or question until a standard acceptable to the Research Committee is achieved.

Stage 3 - Research methodology, data collection, analysis and conclusions. The student works under the direction of the supervisor to carry out appropriate data collection and analysis and to design a suitable research method to test the research hypothesis or question. The student must offer a clear set of conclusions and suggestions for further research. The final thesis is then formally submitted for examination.

Assessment is by formal viva voce (a formal face-to face oral defense) examination comprising the student, an internal examiner, an external examiner and a supervisor.

Examinations - June and December of each year. Exams are held at UWI centres across the Caribbean. Caricom Nationals are able to write examinations in their respective countries.

Exemptions - EBS MBA graduates may be eligible for up to four credit transfers for relevant courses from the MBA, which form part of the DBA programme.