DBA

Doctor of Business Administration

Doctoral research for practising executives

Online or on campus

3–4 years540 creditsEnglish

Overview

The DBA is distinct from the PhD: it is designed for senior managers who want to investigate real problems in their own organisations and contribute practitioner-oriented knowledge to the field. You will complete advanced coursework in research design, then conduct a doctoral project that typically addresses a strategic challenge in your firm or sector. Cohort-based residencies (virtual) build a lifelong network of executive peers. Doctor of Business Administration is taught as one award, not a list of unrelated modules. The published length is 3–4 years, and the credit total is 54. Students move from Discovering Applied Doctoral Research through Discovering Applied Doctoral Research; Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management; Organizational Strategy & Policy; Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership; Global Management & International Business; Ethics in Business & Management, and finish on Doctoral Viva & Dissemination. Each course has a question, a method, and a submission. In this field, students diagnose one organisation and carry a decision through to a recommendation. Reading is a case, a short financial extract, and a stakeholder note. The artefact a marker expects is a consulting brief a manager could use. The award is built so that a graduate can do the following in practice: Apply doctoral-level research methods to live organisational problems Produce a publishable doctoral thesis with managerial implications Lead evidence-based transformation in complex institutions Teaching assumes the student can read a source, attempt a problem before the seminar, and revise after feedback. Attendance at live seminars is part of the design. The capstone or final course must use the methods of the earlier courses; a project that ignores them does not pass. The pages for each course name the topics that are examined. Those topics are the syllabus. A brochure line is not a substitute for them.

DBA candidates remain employed while researching — your organisation is often the site of investigation. Virtual residencies bring together global executive cohorts for peer critique and faculty coaching. Published practitioner articles are encouraged before final defence.

Who This Programme Is For

CEOs, COOs, and division heads with 10+ years of leadership
Board advisors seeking doctoral credentials
Executive educators and corporate university leaders

Faculty spotlight

Professor Sofia Ramirez, DBA, combines board service with research on family-enterprise governance; Dr. Hassan Al-Rashid mentors public-sector transformation projects.

How you can study

Recommended

Study online

100% tuition-free online

Online tuition is free. Online examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored.

✦ Tuition: £0 / $0
✦ Examinations & certificates are 100% free & sponsored
✦ Learn from anywhere · Live online seminars

Apply online →

On-campus study

Study at our campus

Prefer to learn at our London campus? Campus tuition is published on each programme page. All examinations are 100% free of charge.

✦ Tuition: £14,000 / US$18,000/year
✦ Location: Du Cane Rd, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
✦ Campus examinations are charged
✦ In-person seminars, library & student services

Apply for campus →

What You Will Learn

Apply doctoral-level research methods to live organisational problems
Produce a publishable doctoral thesis with managerial implications
Lead evidence-based transformation in complex institutions
Contribute to executive education and thought leadership
Bridge academic rigour with board-level strategic decision-making
Translate doctoral findings into board-ready transformation roadmaps
Publish in practitioner journals alongside academic outlets

Curriculum

Years 3–4 — Dissertation

Code	Course	Credits · hours
DBA802	Doctoral Dissertation Research Doctoral Dissertation Research (DBA802) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA802-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Doctoral Dissertation Research DBA802-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Doctoral Dissertation Research DBA802-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Doctoral Dissertation Research DBA802-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Doctoral Dissertation Research DBA802-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Doctoral Dissertation Research DBA802-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Doctoral Dissertation Research	45 · 450 h

Code

Course

Credits · hours

DBA802

Doctoral Dissertation Research

Doctoral Dissertation Research (DBA802) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.

DBA802-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Doctoral Dissertation Research
DBA802-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Doctoral Dissertation Research
DBA802-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Doctoral Dissertation Research
DBA802-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Doctoral Dissertation Research
DBA802-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Doctoral Dissertation Research
DBA802-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Doctoral Dissertation Research

45 · 450 h

Year 1 — Doctoral Business Foundations

Code	Course	Credits · hours
DBA701	Discovering Applied Doctoral Research Discovering Applied Doctoral Research (DBA701) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA701-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research DBA701-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research DBA701-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research DBA701-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research DBA701-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research DBA701-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Discovering Applied Doctoral Research	45 · 450 h
DBA702	Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management (DBA702) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA702-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management DBA702-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management DBA702-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management DBA702-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management DBA702-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management DBA702-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Philosophy of Science & Knowledge Creation in Management	45 · 450 h
DBA703	Organizational Strategy & Policy Organizational Strategy & Policy (DBA703) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA703-M1 · Forum, rule, and parties — Organizational Strategy & Policy DBA703-M2 · Claim, counterclaim, and the facts that would change the result — Organizational Strategy & Policy DBA703-M3 · A clause, briefing, or policy note for a named audience — Organizational Strategy & Policy DBA703-M4 · Sources, revision, and the strength of the authority — Organizational Strategy & Policy DBA703-M5 · Institutions and the limit of the award — Organizational Strategy & Policy DBA703-M6 · A supervised paper: question, sources, argument, and defence — Organizational Strategy & Policy	45 · 450 h
DBA704	Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership (DBA704) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA704-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership DBA704-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership DBA704-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership DBA704-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership DBA704-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership DBA704-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Advanced Organizational Behaviour & Leadership	45 · 450 h
DBA705	Global Management & International Business Global Management & International Business (DBA705) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA705-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Global Management & International Business DBA705-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Global Management & International Business DBA705-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Global Management & International Business DBA705-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Global Management & International Business DBA705-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Global Management & International Business DBA705-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Global Management & International Business	45 · 450 h
DBA706	Ethics in Business & Management Ethics in Business & Management (DBA706) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA706-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Ethics in Business & Management DBA706-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Ethics in Business & Management DBA706-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Ethics in Business & Management DBA706-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Ethics in Business & Management DBA706-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Ethics in Business & Management DBA706-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Ethics in Business & Management	45 · 450 h

Year 2 — Research Methodology & Inquiry

Code	Course	Credits · hours
DBA711	Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods (DBA711) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA711-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods DBA711-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods DBA711-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods DBA711-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods DBA711-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods DBA711-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Disciplined Inquiry I: Qualitative Research Methods	45 · 450 h
DBA712	Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis (DBA712) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA712-M1 · The question, the unit of analysis, and data quality — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis DBA712-M2 · Features, baselines, and error — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis DBA712-M3 · Validation, leakage, and what the model must not decide — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis DBA712-M4 · Monitoring, drift, and human review — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis DBA712-M5 · Interpretation for a non-technical decision maker — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis DBA712-M6 · A supervised project with method, result, and limitation — Disciplined Inquiry II: Quantitative & Statistical Analysis	45 · 450 h
DBA713	Research Design & Literature Synthesis Research Design & Literature Synthesis (DBA713) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA713-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Research Design & Literature Synthesis DBA713-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Research Design & Literature Synthesis DBA713-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Research Design & Literature Synthesis DBA713-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Research Design & Literature Synthesis DBA713-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Research Design & Literature Synthesis DBA713-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Research Design & Literature Synthesis	45 · 450 h
DBA714	Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making (DBA714) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA714-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making DBA714-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making DBA714-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making DBA714-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making DBA714-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making DBA714-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Business Intelligence & Executive Decision-Making	45 · 450 h

Year 2 — Candidacy

Code	Course	Credits · hours
DBA801	Doctoral Research Proposal Defence Doctoral Research Proposal Defence (DBA801) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree. DBA801-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence DBA801-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence DBA801-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence DBA801-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence DBA801-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence DBA801-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence	45 · 450 h

Code

Course

Credits · hours

DBA801

Doctoral Research Proposal Defence

Doctoral Research Proposal Defence (DBA801) is a course on Doctor of Business Administration. It carries 45 credits and 450 notional learning hours, at 10 hours per credit. The course is taught at doctoral level. A pass requires a question, a method, evidence a committee can audit, and an explicit limit on the claim. The chapters are the syllabus. Each chapter is a class of work this course assesses. Preparation is the reading, dataset, or case for that chapter. Seminar time is spent on the decision, the calculation, or the draft. The student revises after feedback. A pass requires the method named in the chapters, evidence a marker can check, and a stated limit on what the result does not show. Haverton University teaches this course on the published route for this degree.

DBA801-M1 · Position, rivals, and the choice in front of the organisation — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence
DBA801-M2 · A financial result and the operational cause — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence
DBA801-M3 · The decision, the team, resistance, and the plan — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence
DBA801-M4 · Stakeholders and what they can block — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence
DBA801-M5 · Ethics and the limit of the recommendation — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence
DBA801-M6 · A consulting brief: problem, evidence, recommendation, defence — Doctoral Research Proposal Defence

45 · 450 h

Career Paths

CEO / Managing Director
Board Member or Non-Executive Director
Executive Educator
Senior Partner (consulting)
Government or Multilateral Agency Leader

Programme Highlights

Designed for executives with 10+ years of experience
Cohort model with structured virtual residencies
Thesis often sponsored by your employer
Shorter time-to-degree than traditional PhD
Faculty with both academic and C-suite backgrounds
Employer-sponsored research access supported in admissions
Cohort peers from 40+ countries in executive roles

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.

Admission requirements

Academic entry

Master's degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution
Minimum ten years of senior management experience

English language

English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent for research writing

Documents

Three academic references, at least one from a previous supervisor

Research & interview

Research proposal (1,500–2,000 words) aligned with faculty research areas
Employer support letter for research access (recommended)
Interview with the doctoral admissions panel (online)
Evidence of prior research output (publications, thesis, or professional reports) preferred

Programme questions

How long is the Doctor of Business Administration?

The published duration is 3–4 years. Teaching language: English. Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.

Can I study this from my country?

You may study this award fully online from your country, or — where published — on campus at Haverton. Online study does not require a student visa. Campus study may.

What does it cost?

Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. All online degree examinations and certificates are 100% free and sponsored — the only cost for online study is the application fee. Campus tuition and campus examinations are charged separately. Check the Fees page for details.

What are the entry requirements?

Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.

Will this award be recognised where I live?

Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. Haverton University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.

How do I apply?

Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@haverton.org.

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