For further information and an application form,
please contact:
Academic Support Office
Newcastle Business School
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
Tel: +44 (0)191 227 4941
Email: nb.nbs-research-admin@northumbria.ac.uk
Website: www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
DBA Programme
DBA
Programme
Further information
314765C/08/11
DBA Programme DBA Programme DBA Programme DBA Programme DBA Programme DBA Programme DBA
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
What is the Newcastle Business School DBA?
“Research at Newcastle
Business School aims to
enhance leadership and
management capability;
investigate international
aspects of business and
management and develop
theory into practice –
knowledge into action.”
The research culture within Newcastle
Business School is dynamic with
communities of practice supporting
areas of research across the School.
We have a highly successful Doctoral
programme, evidenced by a diversity
of international students engaged
in research programmes which
span the breadth of business and
management. Our inclusive research
community integrates PhD, DBA and
DBL students, graduate tutors and
academic staff. Newcastle Business
School also supports an ongoing research training and
development programme, including an international Doctoral
Summer School and collaborative training events with other
university Business Schools.
The DBA is a Professional Doctorate in Business Administration
equivalent in standing to a PhD but with a clear focus on developing
and improving professional practice. With its accent on developing
research and enquiry skills to the highest level, a focus on
application, reflection and flexibility of its block delivery, the
DBA is the logical choice for experienced senior managers and
management educators who wish to continue their lifelong learning.
As a doctoral student in Newcastle Business School you can
expect support and training for your programme, a lively
international community and the opportunity to become involved
in the academic life of the School.
What type of research can I do?
Professor Sharon Mavin,
Dean of Newcastle Business School
What does the Newcastle Business School
DBA aim to do?
Programme Delivery:
The programme is offered over two years (full-time) and three
years (part-time). The taught stage is delivered in two blocks,
each of one week duration. It utilises a combination of structured
lectures, workshops, directed learning activities, group work and
seminar presentations, with emphasis on creative student-centred
learning and self-evaluation/reflection. The research phase
(supported by a supervisory team) culminates in the production
of a thesis/portfolio.
Build on your current knowledge skills and abilities
Challenge you at the highest level of thought
Extend your capabilities as a manager, consultant and
management educator
Open up new and higher level career opportunities
Equip you with the premier academic qualification
The DBA concentrates on research that typically has application in
the workplace. Based on sound philosophical and methodological
foundations, the research in the DBA thesis/portfolio normally
addresses an issue of practical importance. Also required is a
strong element of self reflection on the researcher’s own practice
and journey of development.
Programme details
The programme aims to enable managers, consultants and
management educators to:
Have acquired advanced knowledge in areas of specialization.
Have developed advanced theoretical or practical research
skills for the areas of specialization.
Have given attention to the role of the specialization areas
within managerial and organizational contexts.
Be prepared for responsibilities in higher education (for those
students who expect to enter teaching careers) or professional
practice.
Have demonstrated personal integration of, and original
intellectual contribution to professional practice through a
written and oral defence of a dissertation.
Fact File
ATTENDANCE MODE:
Block mode (full-time and part-time)
LOCATION:
Newcastle Business School, City Campus East
How does the DBA benefit you?
You develop as a practitioner able to reflect critically on your
own and others’ practice.
You expand your range of research skills, techniques and
knowledge.
You become a member of a community of practically-oriented
researchers.
You increase your credibility as a manager, educator or
consultant.
You continue your professional development
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ENQUIRIES:
Academic Support Office
Newcastle Business School
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST United Kingdom
Tel: 0191 227 4941
Email: nb.nbs-research-admin@northumbria.ac.uk
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
3
Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes
The Professional Doctorate in Business Administration is
designed to provide a structured and supportive programme
that will enhance a practitioner’s theoretical understanding of their
profession and will assist in the development of critical insight and
evaluation, building on academic and research skills acquired via
formal subject delivery and the doctoral research subsequently
conducted. The end result will be a practitioner who has made
a significant and original contribution to the creation and
interpretation of a body of knowledge and who is at the
forefront of practice development.
More specifically, students will:
1. Acquire and develop expertise in a range of advanced research
skills and apply these to the design and implementation of a
practice-based research project.
2. Develop their skills in understanding, evaluating and creating
new knowledge within their profession, thereby making an
individual and independent contribution to the development/
enhancement of professional practice in Business
Administration.
3. Produce a thesis or portfolio based on high quality original
research of publishable standard (suitable for dissemination to
their profession), demonstrating critical evaluation and synthesis
in relation to current literature and professional practice.
The Professional Doctorate in Business Administration will enable
practitioners to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and
skills required to reach the highest level within their profession,
utilising the skills required for autonomous practice research that
have been developed during their doctoral study.
How is the programme delivered?
The programme commences with the Advanced Business
Research module delivered in two one-week blocks encompassing
research philosophies, research techniques and doctoral study
skills. Personal study during the inter-block periods is seen as vital
in allowing participants to reflect upon the content of the taught
modules, to relate theory to their current (or past) professional
practice, to undertake their research and to prepare for their
doctoral thesis/portfolio. This study time is self-managed, but
supported by fellow participants, academic tutors and a supervisor.
As a full-time student you will be in attendance at the university
between blocks with successful completion of the module leading
to the research phase. The part-time programme allows practising
leaders the freedom to continue working in their profession. The
ability of doctoral students to study in blocks and continue in
employment allows them direct access to the professional context
within which their doctoral programme rests.
What learning support is there?
Support for the student learning process will be provided through:
Taught block delivery
Online support systems
Cohort student learning sets
A thesis supervisory team
Doctoral (DBL, DBA and PhD) peer support, including
monthly research surgeries
Newcastle Business School Annual PGR Conference
Unique feature of DBA
International Doctoral Summer School
The Newcastle Business School DBA recognises the student’s
previous Masters level study and professional experience allowing
completion of their doctoral qualification in two years (full-time) or
three years (part-time).
NBS research community, via the academic subject groups
NBS training and other opportunities, including internal
research/guest speaker programme and support for
external conferences
Programme Structure and Content
The DBA has been designed to provide a means of progression
from an established academic knowledge base of a Masters
qualification in a Business and Management area that includes
substantial study of the field, professional development, research
training and a research based dissertation. The Masters qualification
provides subject knowledge, personal development and research
training to enable a student to progress to the DBA.
The DBA comprises study of the Advanced Business Research
module (30 credits) and the development of a doctoral research
thesis or portfolio leading to an individual contribution to enhance
understanding of theory and/or practice in Business Administration.
The module is assessed via a critically-argued proposal (4000
words). The programme includes learning tasks in which the student
will enhance his/her practice development and career progression
at a doctoral level, with opportunities for networking with other
doctoral students, researchers and professionals.
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Dr Satish Sharma, Senior Lecturer
Open access dedicated doctoral research suite
DBA – Full-time (Two years)
Year
1
Module Advanced
Business Research
Research
2
Research culminating in submission of thesis or
portfolio. Viva voce.
DBA – Part-time (Three years)
Year
1
Module Advanced
Business Research
Research
2
Research
3
Research culminating in submission of thesis or
portfolio. Viva voce.
“
Having worked as a professional banker for several
years, I had the inner urge to make my career path
more academic wherein I would be able to integrate
practice into theory. Thus, I was motivated to pursue
a higher level academic qualification which would
provide me with an edge in my career. In my search
towards this, I was introduced to the Newcastle
Business School’s Doctorate of Business
Administration (DBA) programme. The DBA
programme was aimed at delivering research and
enquiry skills at the highest level with the focus on
the professional practice. This attracted me and I
joined the DBA programme with an objective to
develop and enhance my knowledge, research skills
in understanding and evaluating practical problems.
SPSS, and Endnote. After the completion of the
taught component, I progressed towards the
research component. The knowledge and skills
acquired in the taught component helped me to
develop my research proposal and continue with
independent research so as to produce a thesis of
high quality which demonstrated critical evaluation
to current literature and professional practice.
The DBA programme was structured into the taught
and research components. The taught component
provided me with an in-depth knowledge on the
research philosophies, research methods, personal
and professional development. There were sessions
on how to use advanced research tools like Nvivo,
Finally, I am confident to admit that “the DBA
programme has helped me to enhance my research
skills and have provided the edge in my academic
career”. Thus, I am more confident and motivated to
continue with my personal as well as professional
development.
Further, I was able to disseminate the findings
of my research through wider contribution by
participating in various national as well as
international conferences. The school supported
this through appropriate funding when required.
My supervisors provided excellent guidance and
support throughout my doctoral journey.
”
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
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How do I apply?
You can complete the online application form at our
website: www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
Once completed, it should be attached to an email, with a
research proposal (details given on the website), copies of your
qualifications and curriculum vitae and sent to the Academic
Support Office email: nb.nbs-research-admin@northumbria.ac.uk
or alternatively, printed out and posted to the address given on the
back of this brochure.
Can I apply for a scholarship?
A limited number of scholarships, based upon academic merit,
are available for students on this programme. Details can be
obtained from the International Office of Northumbria University.
What do I need in terms of entry requirements?
Can I talk to anyone about my application?
The DBA administrator can advise you about procedures, but if
you have any questions relating to the programme content, you
will be offered the chance to discuss them with a member of the
programme management team.
What happens next?
Provided your research proposal is appropriate and within one of
the Newcastle Business School research specialism areas (see
the Newcastle Business School website), all applicants will be
required to undertake an interview. This may be conducted on a
face-to-face basis, by telephone or by video conferencing.
Applicants for the Newcastle Business School DBA must have;
A Masters qualification in a Business and Management related
area (or exceptionally an equivalent qualification with
substantial work experience in a business and management
discipline) which includes a substantive study of the field,
personal and professional development and research training
resulting in a research dissertation. The research training and
research element must equate to a minimum of 60 credits.
A minimum of 3 years’ experience of business and
management practice in line with the University Professional
Doctorate Framework and/or evidence of appropriate
continuous professional development
Submission of a research proposal at an appropriate level for
doctoral study and which can be supervised by Newcastle
Business School staff
Where English is not the applicant’s first language, a minimum
IELTS score of 7.0. (No individual element in your IELTS score
should be 0.5 or more points below the required overall score).
Candidates will be assessed on these criteria and utilising the
University’s APEL, APL and AWBL policy for entry, 150 credits of
advanced standing will be awarded against their existing Masters
qualification. Exemption from the 30 credit bridging element is only
permissible if applicants can demonstrate that they have 5 years’
verifiable relevant practice experience at a senior level involving
high level methodological research practice.
A successful interview will normally result in your referees being
contacted and if satisfactory references are obtained, an offer is
usually made in writing. Applicants are expected to accept or
reject this offer within a specified timescale.
Peter Scullion, Managing Director
“
I joined the Doctor of Business Administration
(DBA) programme as a continuation of my
own personal and professional development
programme following completion of my MBA in
2006. I started my business some 15 years ago
as a small division of a much larger company
and when this was incorporated into a separate
limited company in 1999, I was given the
opportunity to run it as managing director.
Running a small business can be very challenging
and I found that I benefited enormously from my
MBA studies, as did the company. We now work
to a structured business model that enables us
to focus on the areas most important to the
company’s future success and not waste time and
money on the areas that will not bring long term
benefit. That said, I was still aware of areas where
a greater and more in depth understanding could
benefit us further.
The Newcastle Business School DBA was actually
recommended to me by the university where I
had undertaken my MBA but I did of course do
my own research on a number of others. I chose
Newcastle Business School after attending an
interview as I felt it would offer the right balance
between theoretical and practical learning that
would benefit me and my business the most.
6
It was also important to me that my MBA studies
had been taken account of thereby shortening
both the time and costs involved.
Having now settled into the programme I am
enjoying it immensely. Academic and
administrative staff
are very helpful
and supportive
and I am learning
quickly from
being amongst
people who have
both academic
and practical
experience.
Besides which
Newcastle is a
great city
to visit.
”
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk
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