DBA

• Define your strategic options:

o Strategic Planning

• Evaluate the risks of each:

• And implement your chosen strategy:

o Making Strategies Work
o Project Management

You also have to complete three more subject-based courses of your choice, and three courses to develop your research expertise and understanding. The courses are assessed by examination as and when you are ready for assessment.

• Elective courses

o Alliances and Partnerships
o Corporate Governance
o Leadership
o Mergers and Acquisitions
o Strategic Negotiation

For the Research element, you work under the direction of an appointed Edinburgh Business School supervisor to carry out appropriate data collection and analysis and design a suitable research method to test the research hypothesis. You must derive a clear set of conclusions, and formally submit a 45,000 word final thesis for examination.

Stage 1: Research proposal

After completing the Introduction to Business Research courses, you are required to develop a research proposal. The research proposal must be submitted to the EBS Research Committee for approval. If the research proposal is not acceptable, it is returned to you with an indication of the review or further works required. You will continue to develop the research proposal until a standard acceptable to the EBS Research Committee is achieved.

Once the research proposal is accepted, you will be allocated a supervisor whose expertise lies within your proposed area of research.

Stage 2: Literature review and synthesis of research hypothesis

You work under the direction of the supervisor to develop a literature review, synthesis and research hypothesis. As with the research proposal, the literature review, synthesis and research hypothesis must be developed to a level acceptable to the EBS Research Committee. If the work undertaken at this stage is not acceptable, it is returned with an indication of the review or further works required. With the assistance of the supervisor, you continue to develop the literature review, synthesis and research hypothesis until a standard acceptable to the EBS Research Committee is achieved.

Stage 3: Research methodology, data collection, analysis and conclusions

Under the direction of the supervisor, you carry out appropriate data collection and analysis and design a suitable research method to test the research hypothesis.

You must derive a clear set of conclusions. The final thesis is then submitted formally for examination.

Students who complete the Study element but not the Research element will be eligible for an MSc in Strategic Focus.

Admission

To be eligible for admission you must hold at least one of the following qualifications:

• A Heriot-Watt University MBA;
• An approved MBA of equivalent standard to that offered by Edinburgh Business School;
• A Masters degree such as MSc, MA, MPhil in a relevant field of study; or
  
• A PhD in a relevant area.

In addition, you should normally have a minimum of 5 years' relevant business experience.

The Edinburgh Business School Research Committee may approve other candidates where there is evidence of exceptional and relevant experience or ability and where evidence is provided of the candidate's ability to undertake the programme.

Designed for executives who want to apply detailed understanding of business strategy and research tools to their organisations.

Application process

To be considered for a place on the DBA programme, download and complete an application form and two reference form and return them to Edinburgh Business School.