Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Our DBA generates pioneering research, valuable knowledge and leading insights into the rapidly evolving world of modern business. Study a professional doctoral degree that enhances executive and professional practice.

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Unlock Your Potential with the Henley Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

At a glance

Shape the future of business through cutting-edge research
Join one of only 11 DBA programmes globally to have gained the prestigious AMBA accreditation
Pursue a research topic from a uniquely broad range of fields of expertise
Work with world-class supervisors with expertise specific to your research area from the very beginning
Join a truly international cohort of DBA students at our Henley UK and Henley Africa campuses

Locations: Greenlands campus

Subject area(s): Business & Management

Duration: 4-6 years

Attendance: Part-time

Programme Director: Dr Anastasiya Saraeva

Overview

Are you looking to shape the way the world does business and find unique solutions to age-old problems? On the Henley DBA programme, you’ll develop advanced research capabilities and analytical thinking skills, learning how to apply them to real and complex business situations.

The prestigious status of the Henley DBA means students can further their careers and contribute towards growing competitive advantage, differentiating themselves in the marketplace. You will expand your professional network and form strong connections with your peers from different organisations, countries and backgrounds in a space that fosters new ways of thinking and diverse perspectives.

What is a DBA?

The Henley DBA is a part-time professional doctoral degree with an international scope and reputation. The programme is designed to enhance professional and research practice.

It enhances the capability to develop and apply knowledge and theory, with a strong emphasis on personal development in the context of rigorous and relevant research.

Delivered from our impressive campuses in Henley-on-Thames in the UK, and Johannesburg in South Africa, the DBA programme provides an energising and reflective environment away from the commotion of everyday life.

The DBA typically takes between 4 – 6 years to complete.

Aims

The Henley DBA will enable you to:

Develop a sound understanding of the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of your chosen area of research into business and management.
Have a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic and management enquiry.
Create and interpret knowledge through original research. Enhance both your performance as a reflective practitioner and your professional practice.
Develop personal competences to undertake rigorous research at an advanced level. Also, to contribute to theory and practice in business and management.

Who should consider a DBA?

Do you have a Master’s degree in the broad area of business and management, and at least five years’ relevant managerial experience? Are you looking to take your career to the next level? Then the DBA programme could be the right path for you.

A DBA from Henley will enhance your professional capability and credibility. The networks you develop will provide a firm foundation for further career development, or a major career move. Employers also benefit from supporting learners on the DBA by attracting, developing and retaining key talent and building knowledge for competitive advantage.

To thrive, DBA students need to be innately curious and ambitious, with the commitment and passion to make a real impact.

See some DBA student profiles here.

DBA and PhDs: Equal but different

The DBA has both rigour and relevance as it contributes to theory and practice in business and management. The DBA typically focuses on research ‘in’ organisations rather than research ‘on’ organisations and is often cross-disciplinary.

The Henley DBA has two distinct stages:

Stage 1 – completion of five compulsory modules:

Introduction to Academic Research
Introduction to Research Design and Methodology
Introduction to Qualitative Techniques
Introduction to Quantitative Techniques
Completing your Research - Contribution and Impact
Personal Development

The first five modules are to be completed within the first 18 months of the programme. Each module has mandatory workshops, normally held on campus in Henley-on-Thames, UK. Whilst the first workshop must be attended in-person, it may be possible to join the other workshops remotely, on request.

Each module has a number of assessed assignments.

There are also additional optional modules available via the Graduate School, for example, Advanced Qualitative Methods, Understanding Management and Financial Research, International Business and International Human Resource Management and Long Run Development of International Business Theory. Please note that these modules are subject to change.

Confirmation of Registration – a formal milestone to be completed around Month 18-36 into the DBA.

Stage 2:

Further developing own research area
Personal Action Research Project
Doctoral thesis (including a viva voce examination).

Support and Supervision

Core Support

The overall academic content and quality of your programme will be led by the Director of the DBA Programme. The Doctoral Programme Team will support you throughout the process through to graduation.

In joining, you will gain access to the Henley Business School library which has extensive facilities for undertaking research. This includes journals, textbooks, newspapers and online resources, plus previous doctoral theses and research articles. In addition to the physical Libraries at the Greenlands and Whiteknights campuses, you will also be able to access the Online Library via the Business School website. You will have full-text access to thousands of journal articles, company financial data and market research reports.

Supervisors

Throughout the research process, you will have support and guidance from two supervisors. They will guide you through the research process to submission of the thesis for examination at the viva.

There are a number of DBA research topics across the various academic disciplines at Henley Business School. These have been organised by research areas. Only proposals that align with one of the categories below will be considered.

Research areas

When writing your research proposal, please indicate at the top of the proposal to which topic/faculty member (where applicable) your research outline corresponds, and include your name.

2025/2026 DBA fees


Year 1	£13,900* **
Year 2	£13,900* **
Year 3	£13,900
Year 4	£10,900
Year 5	£7,250
Year 6	£7,250
Year 6 +	Additional registration beyond Year 6 would need to be approved by the PGR Dean and a continuation fee would apply.

*10% discount for University of Reading alumni for Year 1 and Year 2

**10% discount for applicants with full exemption from taught element (including Henley MSc Business and Management Research graduates) for Year 1 and Year 2.

Applicants may be eligible to apply for funding/student loans:

Doctoral loans – Doctoral and Researcher College (reading.ac.uk)

Student Finance GOV.UK (or please check information in your country of residence)

Entry requirements

If you are seeking to enter the DBA programme, you'll normally be expected to hold a Masters degree in the broad area of business or management, together with at least five years' relevant experience.

Applying

To apply for the Henley DBA please complete the online application form and provide the required documents. You will need to include one business reference and one academic reference. You will also need to provide a Research Proposal detailing your DBA research topic (1200-1800 words). You should consult the Research Proposal Notes before writing the Research Proposal and must select a topic from one of the areas shown on the Academic Areas page, as these are the areas of expertise within the Business School.

Please indicate on your Research Proposal under which topic/faculty member (where applicable) your research falls (and include your name). Topics not listed on the Academic Areas webpages will not be considered.

Please click on the DBA alumni clips below to further understand why undertaking a DBA at Henley Business School may be right for you and your career.

Dr Sharon Varney

Director of organisational consulting and research practice

Dr Sharon Varney is a specialist in developing people and organisations. She works at a strategic level and engages at a very human level. Her doctoral research applied complexity theory to explore organisational change and its leadership. Sharon now uses that research to help leaders discover emerging organisational patterns in the midst of change.

Dr Kathryn Hall Newton

Consultant

“As a branding strategist, I now have a unique point of difference in the marketplace. I am able to add value to branding strategy and marketing research because I have gained leading edge academic insight and rigour through the DBA program which I can combine with my traditional brand management work experience.”

Dr Kathryn Hall Newton

Dr Ben Van Den Assem

Consultant and Researcher

“The DBA has opened up different avenues to explore given my theoretical and practical experience…which positions me well for my next consultancy piece.”

Dr Ben Van Den Assem