Structure

To graduate successfully with the DBA, you will need to:

  • demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the subject discipline(s) required to underpin the subject of your thesis – this is the Course stage
  • acquire the skills needed to define and undertake a thesis, and define an appropriate subject for your thesis – the Mentored stage
  • conduct a literature search and write and defend your thesis – the Supervised stage. Thesis subjects are wide-ranging and may cover almost any aspect of applied business.

Thesis subjects are wide-ranging and may cover almost any aspect of applied business.

The Course stage

There are two ways to demonstrate your knowledge in the subject area of your proposed thesis.

Either:

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.

Full information is available in the DBA Student Handbooks (see Admissions).

You can opt to study these ‘tailored’ courses at one of the Edinburgh Business School Approved Learning partners, and join in with students taking the same courses at Masters level.

Each course requires around 200 hours of study.

The Mentored stage

To embark on this stage of your DBA, you will be allocated a mentor by EBS and be required to complete the EBS courses Introduction to Business Research 1, 2 and 3. In this stage you will also develop your thesis proposal.

Introduction to Business Research 1 gives you a basic understanding of what research is and how it is carried out. It is particularly useful if you have not undertaken any postgraduate research before. This course can be studied at one of our Approved Learning Partners around the world if the distance learning mode is not appropriate.

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 Introduction to Business Research courses are each assessed by written three-hour examinations.

Your mentor is appointed by EBS rather than by your chosen Approved Learning Partner. He or she will work with you 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.

Once the research proposal is accepted, you will be allocated a supervisor whose expertise lies within your proposed area of research.

Typically, the Mentored stage lasts for one year.

Literature review and thesis – the Supervised stage

During this stage of the DBA programme, you work under the direction of your supervisor (appointed by EBS not your ALP) to conduct a literature review that supports your research and underpinning methodology, and 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 our faculty. You will have approximately six hours of contact time with the supervisor every 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 an oral 'defence' of your thesis.

The examination will be conducted in person or by live video link at the University's discretion.

Typically, the Supervised stage lasts two to three years, but this can of course vary greatly by individual student.