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Course overview
Dr Ryan Thomas Williams, Teesside University Online
Hear from Dr Ryan Thomas Williams about studying DBA with Teesside University Online.
This course places strong emphasis on:
- business and management theory
- strategic and organisational issues
- research that advances professional business practice
- leadership, decision-making and organisational performance.
Through original research, explore real business issues that matter to an organisation or sector, learning how to investigate problems, interpret evidence and develop well-informed solutions.
By combining structured academic study with your professional experience, you strengthen your understanding of how businesses work and how change happens in practice. Develop your confidence, analytical skills and decision-making capability to improve outcomes, address challenges responsibly and progress your professional practice.
We’re a proud signatory of the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, which aims to globally raise the profile of sustainability and responsible leadership to equip current and future leaders with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to solve the global business challenges.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
This research-based module guides you through conducting real-world research under the supervision of two experts, generating academically and practically impactful knowledge. You complete a doctoral-level thesis of approximately 40-50,000 words and participate in a viva voce to defend your work. Both are required for the Doctor of Business Administration award, along with submitting satisfactory ethical clearance.
Critical Issues in Policy, Organisation and Management Research
Examine interdisciplinary approaches to research in policy, organisation and management, using theories and methods from fields like political science, economics, sociology and public administration. Build skills to critically evaluate policy and organisational challenges through analysis of diverse literature and research methods. Learn to synthesise existing knowledge, assess data and develop frameworks to produce literature reviews that support evidence-based policymaking, enhance governance and deepen scholarly insights.
Interdisciplinary Research Design for Doctoral Students
The module incorporates diverse traditions within social sciences, introducing a range of research philosophies and methods. You gain the foundational understanding you need to critically engage with literature and make informed methodological choices in your research, including considerations of data analysis and ethics.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
This course focuses on preparing you for success in the global workplace, by making you research-active, future-ready, globally-connected, socially and ethically engaged, and digitally empowered. It is underpinned by a focus on industry, employers and practice. Project-based learning is core, drawing directly on industry projects, real-world scenarios, employment/enterprise experiences, and global initiatives.
You are assigned at least two supervisors who you meet with regularly for support, guidance and progress monitoring.
Modules are delivered online (without any fixed schedule) and are underpinned and supplemented by high-quality learning materials crafted through a digital-first approach.
How you are assessed
Assessments draw directly on industry projects and real-world scenarios where appropriate and reflect professional body requirements. They are inclusive and have been developed to consider the needs of students with protected characteristics.
Throughout the course, you are regularly informally assessed and provided with feedback, allowing you to identify areas for improvement. You are assigned a supervisor to offer guidance for developing practical work. You also attend the annual doctoral colloquium, where you present your work and get feedback from fellow scholars and other academic experts.
You also participate in a mock verbal exam, known as a viva voce, to develop confidence in defending your work.
Each module has specific formal assessment criteria and offers an opportunity for feedback:
• The first module is a critical literature review of 7,000 words.
• The second module is a research proposal of 7,000 words.
• The submission of a 40,000-50,000 word advanced research project, this is a written thesis graded pass or fail. You also have a viva (oral exam), where you are expected to defend the written thesis. Following the viva, you are given detailed feedback and recommendations for changes in your final thesis. The examiners later review these changes, and following implementation, you are recommended for the award.
Entry requirements
Designed for professionals with significant experience who are seeking to develop their skills and prepare for progression into senior organisational roles.
You should have:
- a Master's degree
- a minimum of three years’ relevant professional experience, evidenced through a CV and supported by references
- a clear and comprehensive research proposal, using the prescribed research proposal template.
We recommend using the research proposal guidelines. Proposals should be submitted using this template.
The proposal should include:
1. a working title
2. an overview of the proposed study
3. expected outcomes, significance, and originality
4. personal interest and motivation
5. research aims, objectives and key research questions
6. an indicative review of relevant literature
7. proposed methodology
8. a bibliography.
Applicants whose first language is not English, must demonstrate proficiency with an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each component, or equivalent qualification.
To ensure your application is processed and to give yourself the best possible opportunity to be accepted, you must submit:
1. academic transcripts
2. a current CV
3. a professional reference
4. research proposal
5. e-visa.
All shortlisted applicants are required to attend an interview.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
We welcome applications from international students. If you are applying from outside the UK, you can find detailed guidance on the qualifications we accept, entry requirements for your country, and how to apply on our international country pages.
Employability
Career opportunities
Graduates typically progress into management, leadership roles, internal consultancy, project leadership positions or external consultancy careers. Applicants are normally experienced practitioners and this course is designed to build on your existing expertise.
Through advanced, practice-based research, the DBA develops you into a research-informed business professional, equipping you to apply best practice critically and effectively and to enhance your own managerial and professional practice.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.
