Doctorate in Business Administration

This programme is for executives able to engage in major projects inside their employing organisations. It benefits you, makes a contribution to knowledge, and can significantly develop your organisation. You can address a wide range of research topics, from consumer behaviour to management accounting, or leadership to production control. The key is that you are able to develop doctoral work that has relevance to theory and practice. The DBA is a structured route to doctoral-level achievement. The initial pre-thesis modular element lasts 18 months, after which you present your formal research plan. You then enter the thesis phase, which lasts a minimum of a further 18 months. At its conclusion, you present and defend a thesis in a viva voce exam. You achieve an understanding and perception of managerial work that is difficult to obtain by other means. The DBA provides a vocational and professional doctorate that is better suited to your needs, and that of your industry, than a more traditional PhD. DBA classes are limited to a maximum of 20 participants who benefit from a collaborative learning environment. The University of Gloucestershire School of Business and Technology has moved to a brand-new, state-of-the-art home at our Oxstalls campus in Gloucester. The £16 million development is home to our Business, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Law and Accounting and Finance courses. Modules Reflective professional development This develops practices of deep ongoing reflection on your business experience, research topic and broader contexts, and is a continuous stream throughout the pre-thesis phase of the programme. Systematic literature review You are introduced to theoretical frameworks and approaches to systematically and critically review the body of literature relative to your thesis, to help you develop your research problem. Methodological fundamentals Gives you a core platform for research thinking and ensures you have considered your own philosophical position and specifically its implications for the methodologies that you might use. It also lays the foundation for discussion of research ethics. Research methods and analysis You will consider a range of different research methods and their principles to determine which will be most appropriate to use in your research, and why. This is a critical decision in your research design and it can profoundly influence your thesis outcomes develop towards higher executive positions in your chosen profession, through demonstrating Doctoral-level expertise. For more information and to apply for the Doctorate in Business Administration programme, please visit the subject page via www.glos.ac.uk/Research

Students travel from around the world to study at the university and there is plenty of help and advice on offer to ease their transition. Before arrival, there is country specific information on a range of topics and once in England there is help for matters such as immigration and visas, working between classes and evening bringing family members to the country. There is help with English language skills for those who don’t already speak the language and even advice about matters such as faith and religion in the UK to help international students feel at home and comfortable. At the heart of life outside the classroom is the Students Union. The union operates a number of venues as well as organising annual events such as the Summer Ball and providing support and guidance for students. It also operates some 30 different sports teams that range from rugby and hockey to equestrian disciplines and even trampolining. In particular, there are seven focus sports in both classroom and social levels – rugby league and union, hockey, football, tennis, volleyball and netball. There is an annual competition with the University of Worcester covering a range of different sports. In addition, there are a range of subject and interest based societies and also volunteer and charity work opportunities as well as student run media outlets such as the radio station and a newspaper called SPACE.