The DBA
Designed for executives who want to apply research-based thinking to business ideas.
Whereas a PhD will develop professional researchers, this DBA will enable you to use research methods to define, implement and evaluate issues facing your organisation.
The EBS DBA is non-specific and can cover almost any aspect of applied business. In the Course stage, candidates can specialise in one of four specific discipline areas, or if you have a relevant Masters qualification you can apply directly onto the DBA; EBS will then determine an appropriate bespoke study route to support your research interest.
In the later stages of the DBA programme, you can develop more or less any area of specialization provided the chosen area is sufficiently reliable and robust. You can base your research on applications directly relevant to your own company and/or employer.
DBA benefits
The EBS DBA offers a number of valuable benefits.
The programme:
- builds on the internationally successful EBS MBA programme, utilising established distance-learning-based delivery and support systems;
- produces applied research professionals – people who are able to analyse complex business issues and develop original and reliable solutions; and
- generates understanding of synergies and insights that can only be developed by integrating different disciplines within the context of original research.
DBA background
This DBA programme was introduced in 2003 as one of a small number of active DBA programmes in the UK.
It currently has several hundred high-calibre candidates from all over the world from a diverse range of backgrounds – from senior police commanders in Asia to company CEOs in Canada, and from senior academics in Ireland to postdoctoral researchers in Vietnam.
To achieve your DBA, you are required to:
- demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the subject discipline(s) required to underpin the subject of your thesis – the Course stage;
- acquire the skills needed to define and undertake a thesis, and define an appropriate subject for your thesis – the Mentored stage; and
- conduct a literature search, and write and defend your thesis – the Supervised stage.
DBA – the three stages
Subject knowledge – the Course stage
You have two ways to demonstrate your knowledge in the subject area of your proposed thesis. Either:
- Complete one of the EBS MSc degree programmes. EBS currently offers MSc programmes in Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Strategic Planning. The EBS MSc programmes will ensure you have sufficient subject knowledge for a thesis in any of these broad subject areas, and each includes the course Introduction to Business Research 1, which provides a basic understanding of what research is and how it is done.
Or:
- Apply to the EBS DBA Research Committee with details of an existing degree at Masters level (or higher) and the proposed subject for your thesis.
The DBA Research Committee will determine additional subject-based courses that you will be required to complete with EBS before you can start the Mentored stage.
This 'tailored' route is at the discretion of the Committee and additional academic references may be required.
If you do not have a clear concept for your thesis proposal, it is recommended that you focus on a specialist MSc programme in the Course stage.
The EBS courses can be studied by self-managed distance learning, or with an EBS Approved Learning Partner.
Some subject courses may also be studied on campus at EBS.
Each course normally requires 200 hours of study.
Research skills and research proposal - the Mentored stage
To embark on this stage of your DBA, you will be allocated a mentor and be required to complete the EBS courses Introduction to Business Research 2 and 3. In this stage you will also develop your thesis proposal.
Introduction to Business Research 2 considers research methodology and literature review. It explains how to carry out a business-related literature review and then use it to develop a hypothesis or theory about a business issue.
Introduction to Business Research 3 concentrates on statistical techniques for data collection, analysis and drawing conclusions.
As with other EBS courses, the two Introduction to Business Research courses are each assessed by written 3-hour examinations.
Your EBS mentor will work with you to help in the preparation of the research proposal. Your mentor will be a senior academic with experience of mentoring DBA students but not necessarily an expert in the subject of your final thesis.
Your research proposal must be submitted to the EBS DBA Research Committee for approval. If the research proposal is not acceptable, it is returned to you with suitable explanations and you will continue to develop the research proposal until a standard acceptable to the EBS Research Committee is achieved.
Once the research proposal is accepted, you will be allocated a supervisor whose expertise lies within your proposed area of research.
The Mentored stage is normally of 1 year's duration.
Literature review and thesis – the Supervised stage
During this stage of the DBA programme, you work under the direction of your allocated supervisor to conduct a literature review to support your research and underpinning methodology, carry out your research and write your thesis.
Your supervisor will be a senior academic with specific knowledge of your chosen area of research. He or she may or may not be a member of EBS's faculty, and will allocate to you approximately 6 hours of contact time per month.
Communication with your supervisor will be primarily via email.
As with the research proposal, each stage of your research must be developed to a level acceptable to the EBS DBA Research Committee.
After acceptance of the literature review and synthesis, you will work on your thesis (approximate length 45,000 words) under the direction of your supervisor; the thesis is then submitted formally to the university and assessment takes the form of a review followed by a viva voce 'defence' of your thesis.
The examination will be conducted in person or by live video link at the university's discretion.
The supervised stage is normally of 2–3 years' duration, but this can of course vary greatly by individual student.
Admission and application
To be eligible for admission to an EBS MSc programme, you must have a relevant undergraduate degree from a recognised university.
To be eligible for direct admission to the DBA programme, you must hold at least one of the following qualifications:
- a Heriot-Watt University MBA;
- an approved MBA of equivalent standard to that offered by EBS;
- a Masters degree such as MSc, MA, MPhil in a relevant field of study; or
- a PhD in a relevant area.
In addition, you should normally have a minimum of 5 years of relevant business experience.
All candidates are required to apply to EBS for admission using the relevant application and reference forms. You should also consult the example outline proposals before completing section 6 of the application form.
There is no fixed start date for the DBA programme: you can apply and commence your studies at any time of year.
Fees
The subject courses and the Introduction to Business Research courses carry the standard EBS fee per course plus the standard EBS examination fee.
There are additional DBA fees for:
- The Mentored stage: £1200. Payable on allocation of a mentor.
- The Supervised stage: £4000 per year. Payable in advance of each 12-month period.
Total DBA fees are therefore the relevant EBS subject course and examination fees, plus the research proposal fee, plus the annual supervision fee(s) for the Supervised stage.
Please note that there is no DBA Application or Registration fee.
Subject to status. Fees liable to change.
