Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Intro
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is a professional doctorate designed for senior managers and professionals who want to develop higher-level research skills that can be used to make informed strategic decisions within their organisations. The DBA supports senior leaders to become critical thinkers who have the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in an applied setting to make real change.
The DBA is designed for management professionals who want to build on their extensive knowledge and experience through the application of organisational theory and research practice. The student determines the focus of the DBA and through the development of the thesis each doctoral candidate will be encouraged to explore the contribution to practical and theoretical knowledge within his or her discipline.
Offered on a full or part-time basis, USWs Doctor of Business Administration is an excellent choice for individuals wishing to undertake Doctoral study while in full time managerial positions.
What are my next steps?
Places are available June 2025 and February 2026
If you have your results you can apply online for a place through our online application. Find out more about studying with us in our digital prospectus.
Download Oxford Catalogue
Entry criteria
Admission to the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) normally requires a Masters degree from a recognised academic institution. In addition, all applicants are required to provide evidence of significant professional or managerial experience.
All applicants must be able to access organisations to conduct their research. This will normally be your employing organisation but may include others. Access to support for the research study is essential in terms of initial selection and for the duration of the programme.
Applications must include two references on headed paper from your referees which should be uploaded as a supporting document. Please note, we can not accept applications without these two references. At least one referee should be able to comment on your academic/professional ability. References provided by relatives are not acceptable.
You are required to provide a detailed doctoral research proposal prior to the acceptance stage. All applications will be considered by the University’s Research Applications Panel. Once your research proposal has been submitted and approved, you will be subject to a formal interview; this may be a panel interview.
International candidates whose first language is not English should have been taught and assessed in English and be able to evidence English fluency to TOEFL 570 or IELTS 6.5 or higher.
Course Content
What you will study
The DBA has two distinct levels, Level 7 and Level 8. Level 7 consists of 120 taught credits and a 60-credit independent research report. The independent research report represents the development of the students research thus far and must include: their refined research question, an appreciation of the (phenomenological) theoretical ground in which their research sits, an overview of the existing research, research methodology and proposed research methods.
Successful completion of Level 7 allows students to progress to Level 8 which comprises of the doctoral thesis.
Potential Careers
Business Analyst
Analyzes business processes and data to provide insights and recommendations for improving efficiency and effectiveness.
Project Manager
Oversees projects from initiation to completion, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and on budget.
Marketing Manager
Develops and implements marketing strategies to promote products or services, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.
Operations Manager
Manages day-to-day operations within a business, focusing on optimizing efficiency, productivity, and quality.
Fees and Costs
The tuition fee shown is for one year only. Tuition fees increase every year in the majority of cases. You should take this annual tuition fee increase into consideration when you estimate your fees for a degree.
Undergraduate
Duration: 3 Years
Application Fee: $150 (On application)
ICT/Library: $150 Per year
Student Assoc: $10 Per year
Annual Fee: $5,850
Masters
Duration: 1.8 Years
Application Fee: $150 (On application)
ICT/Library: $175 Per year
Student Assoc: $10 Per year
Annual Fee: $5,450
PhD/ Doctorate
Duration: 3 Years
Application Fee: $150 (On application)
ICT/Library: $175 Per year
Student Assoc: $10 Per year
Annual Fee: $6,250
Stay In Touch
If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.
Contact Information
Visit Us: 3 Bauhinia Str Centurion, Pretoria, South Africa, 0046
Phone: +27 (0) 12 004 0028 OR +27 (0) 72 573 8221
Email: info@ox-edu.co.uk OR exec.edu@ox-edu.co.uk
