Business Administration

Award

DBA

Study option

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Start dates available

September 2026

Apply now

Research Excellence Framework 2021

100% of our business and management research impact is recognised as “very considerable” or “outstanding”

100% postgraduate student satisfaction

Ranked 1st in the sector for Business and Management for overall satisfaction in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2026

17th in the country for research impact

In business and management (Research Excellence Framework 2021)

The world of business and commerce demands highly competent professionals – individuals who are equipped with the ability to make key decisions and face strategic challenges head on. If you want to be able to support your judgement with evidence-based data and bring measurable change to your organisation, the Doctor of Business Administration course is ideal.

Similar to the PhD, the DBA is the highest qualification achievable in Higher Education (Level 8). It is a common choice for practicing managers and senior professional practitioners who wish to pursue their academic, personal and career development beyond a Masters degree (Level 7) through a rigorous and challenging programme of study and research. The DBA is aimed at those who want to make a difference to the way that management and professional practice in the fields of organisation and management will be developed in the future.

The DBA has been designed for senior executives and other professionals in strategic management positions from diverse industries and sectors of the economy. DBA candidates advance their respective fields by conducting original practice-based research and thus contributing to professional practice by developing existing theories and knowledge in the field.

It’s a doctoral research degree that investigates real businesses and managerial issues via the critical review and systematic application of appropriate theories and research to professional practice. Having an applied research perspective, the DBA differs from a traditional PhD in that it includes a substantial knowledge element, as well as the development of a research thesis. The informed element of the DBA focuses on both philosophy and methods of advanced qualitative and quantitative research. It places emphasis on the participative and action-oriented processes relevant to applied doctoral study of this nature.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: DBA Business Administration

Duration

This part-time course is taught over 5 years. This includes 2 years of taught curriculum (6 modules) at Level 7, plus 3 years of research at Level 8.

Course content

The DBA is a professional doctorate designed for experienced senior leaders operating at a strategic level who wish to investigate, shape and improve leadership and organisational practice through rigorous, practice-based research. The programme develops doctoral-level scholar-practitioners with the capability to frame complex strategic problems of practice, critically evaluate evidence, exercise methodological judgement, and generate original research that contributes to professional practice and, where appropriate, policy and place.

A key distinguishing feature of the programme is its strong emphasis on strategy and executive leadership from the outset, anchored in a two-module launch sequence delivered in Semester 1 and 2 of Year 1 of the study: Critique of Practice and Leadership (30 credits) followed by Research Problem Formation (30 credits). This staged approach ensures that learners ground their doctoral journey in live, senior-level strategic challenges and a clearly defined problem of practice, before progressing into evidence review and research methods modules.

The six modules delivered during the first two years of the programme are as follows:

Critique of Practice and Leadership
Research Problem Formation
Review of Evidence
Quantitative Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methods
Methodology in Practice

Those students who succeed through the taught part of the programme will then have the opportunity to proceed further to develop and present their research proposal (60 credits) and go through a transfer interview. Once they pass the transfer interview, they will proceed to the final independent and original research work (DBA thesis of 300 credits) under the supervision of University of Staffordshire approved academics.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Critique Of Practice And Leadership	30 credits
Research Problem Formation	30 credits
Review Of Evidence	30 credits

Year 2 compulsory modules
Year 2 compulsory modules
Methodology In Practice	30 credits
Qualitative Research Methods	30 credits
Quantitative Research Methods	30 credits

Year 3 compulsory modules
Year 3 compulsory modules
Research Proposal	60 credits

Year 4 compulsory modules
Year 4 compulsory modules
Dba Thesis	300 credits

Entry requirements

To be considered for study for the Doctorate in Business Administration you must meet the following entry requirements:

All candidates

Candidates should be professionals with significant managerial experience at a senior level. Individual applicants with prior professional experience and a strong industry background may be considered for the programme (however this is subject to the individual having access to data which will inform the practice-based research project). Individual entrepreneurs may also be considered and will be provided advice and guidance by the Award Leader of the appropriateness of the course and how students may approach the modules and the research project.

Applicants will be expected to have attained at least one qualification at a L7 level with a 50% pass or equivalent (Masters/MBA/MRes/MPhil).

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who do not meet the above criteria but have an outstanding under-graduate degree along with significant professional experience will also be considered.

Additional requirement for international candidates

An English language qualification of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band or equivalent is required from international candidates.

Current (not more than 2 years old at the time of application) TOEFL/GMAT/GRE scores will also be considered.

All candidates will be interviewed to assess their suitability which will include the understanding of their broad research theme. The candidates will be provided with appropriate information, advice and guidance.

International entry requirements

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

International entry requirements in your country

Get country-specific details on entry requirements, fees, scholarships and support services. Choose your country to see how University of Staffordshire can support you from application to arrival.

Check your country information

Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and service desks at both sites in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our experienced and friendly staff can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and help with referencing.

Careers

Students studying a DBA are usually already at a senior level in their organisation/companies. Studying a DBA can help identify problems and inspire change in any business situation. Typically graduates will be working in (or looking to progress into) the following roles:

Chief Executive
Divisional Head
Departmental Head
Senior Consultant

Students on this programme have the opportunity to enhance their studies with a placement year, gain valuable work experience, and take part in international activities—potentially supported by the Turing funding.

All students have access to Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

Open Day

Saturday 17 October 2026

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Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The programme is designed to give you the freedom to develop your own ideas and interests, whilst benefiting from the shared experiences of your peers through small study groups. The philosophy of the programme is based on the belief that this level of management education is based on three inter-related objectives:

The provision of an academically challenging and stimulating curriculum.
The application of the curriculum to an appropriate managerial and professional context.
The development of your personal and professional effectiveness, and your continuing ability to be a successful reflective management practitioner.

The overarching objectives are thus to:

Enhance your ability to question, analyse, critique and theorise through the undertaking of a programme of research, and so develop your professional management practice.
Provide sound training in the design, execution and analysis of research to enable you to complete a thesis and potentially other academic publications that represent original contributions to the practice of management and thereby business and management knowledge.
Recognise the relationship between management research and the professional practice of management within business organisation.
Facilitate and foster your ability to question and challenge received wisdom in business and management arena, and consider how learning is translated into management practice, and practice into business and management theory.
Build a rich community of reflective business and management practitioners.

The parallel strands of professional development and management research training offered by the DBA are designed to provide mutual enhancement of theory and praxis within the learning experience.

The DBA is planned to develop your professional and research skills and encourage the application of original thought to management practice. It is concerned with professional development through knowledge creation and will benefit both the individual career of the successful graduate, as well as the profession and organisation in which you are, or may in the future be, employed. You will be able to employ your new knowledge and skills across a wide range of professional occupations, especially those where critical thinking and knowledge creation in relation to professional tasks is necessary and highly valued.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Staff

If you’d like to know more about the Doctorate in Business Administration, including fees and the application process, please contact:

Dr Frederick Nyakudya
Email: frederick.nyakudya@staffs.ac.uk

Please note, teaching team staff members may change during your studies.

Bharati Singh

Course Director

Bharati is the Course Leader for the MBA and undergraduate Business Management and Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship courses. She teaches across the undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes within the Business School.

Bharati's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 21 September 2026 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for DBA-Part-time, blended learning, September start
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Part-time	£6,500 per year of study	£8,750 per year of study

The expected pattern of study is to complete the DBA within 4-5 years, with the first 2 modules accumulating 60 credits in the first year (and the award of ‘PG Certificate in Practice Based Research’) and latter 2 modules accumulating a further 60 credits in the second year (and the award of ‘PG Diploma in Practice Based Research’). The remaining 420 credits are spread over years 3 (research proposal), years 4 & 5 (DBA thesis) resulting in the final award of the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). If you follow this pattern of study, you will pay the same fee for each year of study for the first 4 years, with a reduced fee for writing up (£2000) in year 5 and thereafter (up to a maximum of 8 years). You will be invoiced for the modules that you register for each year, so if your study pattern is different from the expected pattern, you will pay more or less each year accordingly.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:
Any optional study trips

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Our students

My experience during my doctorate studies in Staffordshire University was very positive. The support I have received from all levels (including the University, faculty and peer students) throughout my journey at Staffs are the major strengths of the program. My experiences in the DBA program included engaging in research, learning new analytical methods, and developing critical thinking. These activities equipped me with a combination of skills that are essential in my business and academic career.

Mohamad Bacho

Business Administration DBA Graduate

Business and Management REF 2021 Results

Blog

Business and Management research has been highly rated by peers and stakeholders in the HE sector.

Apply now to Business Administration

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	DBA	Part-time, blended learning, September start	21 September 2026	Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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