Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

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Duration:

Full-Time: 3 Years up to 4 years / Part-Time: up to 6 years

AWARDED BY:

London Metropolitan University, UK

Brand statement

London Metropolitan University’s mission is to transform lives through the power of education – and it does that by welcoming students from all kinds of backgrounds and supporting them to achieve success. Each and every one of them belongs there and uniquely contributes to the university and the city around them. They are The Real London. This is The Real London.

Overview:
Based in one of the world’s most exciting capital cities, London Metropolitan University is home to an inclusive community of inspiring and determined learners, teachers and innovative thinkers.

The University’s mission is to transform lives through the power of education – and it does that by welcoming students from all kinds of backgrounds and supporting them to achieve success. Each and every one of them belongs there and uniquely contributes to the university and the city around them. They are The Real London. This is The Real London.

London Met’s campuses are based in central London and offer students the excitement of the capital at their fingertips. London is an exciting international city with something for everyone. Whatever their course, students find inspiration in London’s wealth of culture, industries, innovation and heritage.

High-quality teaching is at the heart of the experience offered to students at London Met and the university is ranked ninth in the UK for teaching quality by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, as well as 10th for student experience.

Working with partners
London Met works closely with a number of collaborative partners both in the UK and overseas to deliver courses that lead to a university award. These relationships give the University the opportunity to enhance its academic offering and provide the best possible learning experience to a wider audience.

Working with Stanfort Academy: Franchised Agreement
London Metropolitan University (London Met) authorises and approves Stanfort Academy to deliver and assess part or all of the course. This course is also taught and assessed at London Met’s main campus in London, United Kingdom. London Met holds direct responsibility for quality assurance, curriculum content, and the teaching, learning and assessment strategy.

The collaborative partner page

PROGRAMME AIM

    (Awarded by London Metropolitan University, UK)

    The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate programme which is distinctive in that its aim is to contribute to both knowledge and practice for responsible business/ management through undertaking doctoral research. Central to this DBA is the development of the self-awareness required for purposeful and socially responsible practice. The programme aims to advance candidates’ proficiency in the analysis and problem-solving of contemporary business and organisational issues of their own choosing and that are pertinent to socially responsible business and management practice in a wide range of sectors and organisations.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

  • Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline
  • Design and implement an original research or advanced scholarship project to a standard acceptable at level 8 with an immediate relevance to organisations
  • Demonstrate research design capability and analysis skills in order to support work at a doctoral level
  • Develop a sound understanding of the relevant conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of the chosen area of research to enhance professional practice in organisations
  • Gain the ability to apply key problem solving and critical thinking skills to achieve a set of objectives and make informed judgements on complex organizational issues
  • Apply for ethical approval and adhere to ethical standards in order to recognise, evaluate and minimise the risks involved in the research design and execution and its impact on the environment
  • Aim to provide or create new knowledge and / or solutions that can maybe applicable to similar contexts (eg, product or service, function, organisation, market, geography)
  • Demonstrate practical impact through research and applied problem-solving techniques
  • Discuss confidently from an informed position the use and impact of research within different organisational contexts
  • Communicate effectively and disseminate research output and creative solutions to various audiences including contextual stakeholders
  • Enhance individual performance as a reflective practitioner and enhance professional skills and practice
The DBA course is organised for all students in 2 main stages:

The programme comprises five taught modules in stage 1 that will be conducted in Year 1, totalling 180 credits at Level 7. This is followed by a full-time or hybrid research and practice-based phase (360 credits) at stage 2, allowing candidates to complete their doctoral work within Year 3 or, where required, extend their studies up to Year 4.

Stage 1 (180 credits): Students will complete modules that enable them to plan their DBA journey, become aware of issues associated with organisational research, gain a theoretical foundation in relevant areas of organisation and management studies and gain a sound foundation in research methods. They will also design, have agreed and undertake a relevant small-scale research project which will enable them to devise a full research proposal when progressing to Stage 2.

Stage 2 (360 credits): Students will create a full research proposal and when agreed, will conduct their organisational research project and receive supervision. They can choose either an academic or consultancy focused route.

STATE 1

  1. MN7207SR – Planning your DBA Journey (20 credits)

    This module introduces students to the nature and purpose of a professional doctorate and enables them to begin to map and plan their DBA journey. It includes reflexive activities which will support their development and progress as practitioner researchers particularly in relation to the principles which underpin the programme, i.e. inclusivity and responsible, sustainable management practice, and the development of creative, confident and connected professionals.

  2. MN7208SR – Contemporary Issues in Organisations and Management (40 credits)

    This module aims to help students familiarise themselves with fields of inquiry that could then inform their own DBA project choices. It equips students with an understanding of the processes involved in knowledge creation and application, while developing their ability to conduct and write a critical literature review that identifies meaningful research gaps worthy of further investigation.

  3. MN7209SR – Developing as a Practitioner Researcher (20 credits)

    This module will enable students to develop awareness of what is involved in being a practitioner researcher and undertaking ethical work-based research associated with responsible and sustainable management practice in an organisational context. The concepts of positionality and reflexivity will be explored, and will support students in identifying the factors that influence the identification of the problem and the factors that influence practitioner research choices when planning ways to explore this problem.

  4. MN7210SR – Fundamentals in Organisational Research Design (40 credits)

    This module introduces the student to the theoretical and practical foundations of empirical research design and how these may be applied to practice-based contexts. It includes core interdisciplinary principles of research design that span methodological traditions and explore contemporary methodologies relevant for the practice-based nature of a DBA research project. You will learn how the research designs that you use ultimately depend upon the nature of the research questions you are asking and the type and kinds of evidence that are available.

  5. MN7P64SR – Impacting Organisational Practice: Research Pilot Study (60 credits)

    This module provides students with the opportunity to devise and undertake a small-scale research or consultancy project on a specific topic relevant to their area of interest. It will also provide a vehicle for reflection on the impact of the study on the organisational context and on personal progress as a practitioner researcher and/or researcher-consultant.

    6. STATE 2

  6. MN8P02SR – Organisational Research Project (360 credits)

    This module introduces students to teaching, learning and assessment framework as well as support mechanisms to enable students to complete their substantial practice-based doctoral research project. Utilising the problem-solving skills and competences that students have developed throughout the DBA programme, they must identify a practice-based problem area and/or organisational challenge and seek a solution through their doctoral project.

TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO is 1:30

Course outcome Doctor
Duration Full-Time: 3 Years up to 4 years / Part-Time: up to 6 years
Mode of delivery Classroom-based teaching/ Blended learning
Awarding Body London Metropolitan University, UK
Language of instruction English

Entry requirements

Minimum Age 25 Years Old
Academic qualification
    1. Masters degree (eg MA, MSc or MBA) or an equivalent recognised qualification AND
    2. Five years’ work experiences in relevant fields evidenced through CV and referee statements AND
    3. Satisfactory research interest demonstrated via application support form/proposal and successful interview (OR)
    4. Non-standard applicants with 10 years of relevant work experiences including 5 years of senior managerial position with other qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
      5. Transition from Level 7 modules (180 credits) to the Level 8 doctoral stage will normally require an overall Merit pass of the 180 credits.
Language proficiency requirement Any of the following:
    1. IELTS score 6.5 with minimum 6.5 overall, with Reading and Writing at 6.5 or higher (OR)
    2. Completed Stanfort Academy Certificate in English for Foreign Students (Advanced Level) with pass with Distinction (OR)
    3. Obtained at least 90% for Stanfort Academy English Proficiency Test. (OR)
    4. Evidence that the Master’s Degree was taught mainly or entirely in English

You’ll be assessed through a variety of challenges that have been carefully selected to support your learning and be appropriate for the nature of disciplines covered. This includes coursework assignments, personal presentations and reflective accounts.

During the first part of this course, assessments for the modules are designed to help you focus on your own research interest. The final stage of the DBA involves independent research and the production of a final research project report or portfolio of 50-60,000 words, with an oral examination (viva).

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