Key information
The DBA programme at Edinburgh Business School offers a unique opportunity to study a part-time, flexible doctorate. It couples first-class research methods training with senior academics to produce world-leading practitioners of research-based business solutions
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Edinburgh Business School
- Location
- Dubai
- Award
- DBA
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Duration
- Up to 5 years
The DBA is a professional research degree, designed to support you and give you the skills you need to deliver unique solutions in your sector or organisation, based on accurate and unbiased analysis of situations within your sector or organisation
The programme is led by academics at the Edinburgh Business School and is suitable for professionals with a number of years of work experience who wish to solve complex business challenges.
Programme duration
The programme consist of two essential stages – the Course stage (it takes about a year to be completed) and the Research Stage (it takes 3-5 years to be completed)
The course stage
The course stage will equip you with the knowledge and expertise needed to develop the topic of your thesis and your understanding of the research process. The stage comprises of three courses:
- Research Methods 1: An Introduction
- Research Methods 2: The Qualitative Researcher
- Research Methods 3: The Quantitative Researcher
All course materials are available online for our learners to work on at their own pace. Non-compulsory, on-campus 4-day seminars are available at our Edinburgh and Dubai campuses for each of the courses.
On successful completion of the three courses, not only will you have the theory, knowledge, tools and techniques required to embark on a doctoral research programme, but you are also awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods, a significant University award in its own right.
Research Methods 1: An Introduction
This course presents the first step in a basic review of the nature of research and methods for business and management doctoral students. It will provide students with the practical research tools and the theoretical background for critiquing and designing research on a variety of topics. It also serves as a useful guide as to the content required in a thesis, the nature of examination for a doctoral degree, and how to generate research questions and write in an appropriate ‘academic' style.
Download Research Methods 1 course taster
Research Methods 2: The Qualitative Researcher
This course introduces qualitative research methods for business and management doctoral students. It will help students to assess the advantages and disadvantages of different qualitative methods and look at how they can combine with each other. Moreover, it provides a holistic understanding of the qualitative research process starting from outline of philosophical underpinnings to qualitative data collection, analysis and reporting.
Download Research Methods 2 course taster
Research Methods 3: The Quantitative Researcher
This course introduces quantitative research methods for business and management doctoral students. It will provide an understanding of the different techniques available from data collection through to analysis. The course is designed as an introduction to quantitative techniques, bridging into more advance ones with a comprehensive coverage of the most commonly used methods. The course will also train students on the use of SPSS statistical software to carry out analysis and apply the techniques covered within the course.
Download Research Methods 3 course taster
The research stage
On completion of the three courses, you will be asked to finalise your research idea and discuss it with a potential supervisor from within Edinburgh Business School.
Once a supervisory team is appointed (typically composed of two supervisors, with the possibility of a third depending on the doctoral student’s needs), they will support and guide you throughout your research journey—from the development of your initial research idea through to final thesis submission and the oral defence (Viva Voce).
Edinburgh Business School sits within the School of Social Sciences and hosts experts across multiple disciplines, ensuring that each doctoral candidate is supervised by specialists in their relevant field.
Our world-leading research is organised around several research centres, including:
- The Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences (CABS)
- Logistics and Supply Chain research
- The Centre for the Transformation of Work (CTW)
Supervisory meetings can be conducted either online or on campus, offering flexibility to accommodate student needs.
Accreditation
This programme is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) in the UAE and the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the United Kingdom.
Entry requirements
Candidate criteria
We welcome applications from suitably qualified applicants throughout the academic year and you can commence your studies once you are offered a place on the programme. To apply, please complete the application form and submit this along with the required supporting documents.
Please note that possession of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry on to the programme. We will select the best candidates based on academic and professional credentials and those whose research interests are aligned with the School's Research Centres.
Work experience
Applicants are required to have a minimum of 5 years relevant, managerial-level work experience. A CV showing evidence of your career progression should be submitted along with your application form.
Qualifications
Entry on to the DBA programme requires a Masters degree in a relevant field from a recognised institution, equal in standard to one offered by Heriot-Watt University. Please submit a certified colour copy of your degree transcript and certificate or a copy sent directly from the awarding institution.
Research interests
The application form requires you to give a brief overview of your research idea. You should also specify which of the School's Research Centres you believe is most suited to your research interests.
Additional information
References
We require two references, preferably one academic and one professional. These are to be written on an official letterhead.
Important information for research applicants (Dubai campus)
All research programme applicants at Heriot-Watt University Dubai are required to complete the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Social Research Methods with Heriot-Watt University.
The PGCert is a 60-credit, online pre-doctoral qualification designed to strengthen research capability and prepare students for doctoral study. You can find further information and submit your application via the Heriot-Watt Professional Academy: https://professionalacademy.hw.ac.uk/offerings/pgcert-social-research-methods.
Please note that successful completion of the PGCert in Social Research Methods does not guarantee admission to your chosen research programme.
Progression to your chosen research programme will depend on the strength of the research proposal, academic performance in the PGCert, and the availability of suitable supervisory expertise at the Dubai campus.
This programme is offered free of cost, applicants who subsequently receive an offer and enrol on Research Programmes at Heriot-Watt University Dubai will be eligible for a tuition fee deduction equivalent to the PGCert tuition fee (GBP 3,855).
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 6.0.
If you do not have IELTS 6.5, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
For more information about your application and our English Language requirements, please see Section 10 of our page on English Language Requirements as part of your application.
Funding information
| Full Time | Part Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Local and International | AED 95,670 per year | AED 47,835 per year |
- All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.
Additional information
The pre-requisite PgCert programme is subject to below fees:
| PgCert programme fees | 3690GBP* |
| Workshop fees | 800GBP |
*This programme is offered free of cost, applicants who subsequently receive an offer and enrol on to a research programme at Heriot-Watt University Dubai will be eligible for a tuition fee deduction equivalent to the PGCert tuition fee. For more information, please refer to the Additional information under Entry requirements
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The three consecutive five-star ratings by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.
The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.
Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.
Related content
Explore facilities, & chat to staff and students
