DBA programmes in the UK - thoughts?

Hi Guys,

I am completely new to this site and this is my first post - so bear with me if this question has been asked 1000 times already.

I am in the proces of identifying the right DBA program for myself with a projected start in 2013 (to be realistic) I have 11 years of professional experience and hold a MA in social Science from Durham University, an MSc in Organizational Psychology from Birkbeck College and a BSc in Economic Geography from the University of Copenhagen. I am not interested in doing a pdh as my life commitments doenst allow for taking out 3-4 years full time. I am interested in doing a DBA focusing on training and development issues (which pending who you ask is a business or educational discipline)

I have spend the last couple of weeks looking into programs and have narrowed down some potential candidates. Before laying it down I am interested in getting the best school for the money - as well as having the BEST DBA experience. So let me lay it down.

Cranfield School of Management 56000
Aston Business School 24500
Liverpool University: 35000 (full distance learning)
Manchester Business School: 50000
Henley Business School: 43500
Edinburgh Business School: 20000 (full distance learning)

all of the above is in Pounds Sterling.

I would greatly appreciate all of your comments, thoughts and reflections - as well as hear about personal experiences with any of the above schools.

Thanks

Allan

 

Since you are a graduate of Durham why did you exclude their DBA?
Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) - Durham University
This would be my first choice for a UK DBA provided the price was right.

 

@Ian,
You are right Durham is a great place. I loved my years there. Thing is -I have already had the Durham experience. But I am glad that you are making me rethink that. I havent per se. excluded any program and now I am going to look into it again. In addition I am looking for a program that allows me to give my thesis a training and development angle. Not all do that..

@SteveF
It would be a great personal, life archeivement. Per se there isnt anything I couldnt do with or with out a DBA. Except perhaps do teaching at university level. Does the fact that I have a deeply embedded drive to continually pursue knowledge make sense? I am just really deeply interested in going deeper into my area of expertise....

 

just checked up on Durham - their restructuring their program, same as Aston is right now. More info to come later in the year...

 

ok - have spoken with Henley. Got a good sense of the program and have a good feeling about that program at the moment. Interviewing Aston later today. Still I would love to hear from anyone with first hand experience with any of the mentioned schools as well as doing a DBA in general.

 

You might want to consider a DBA program that has an MBA as a mid-point. That way should life interfere with your plans you have a useful consolation prize.

Also, with your academic record so far, and your response to SteveF (post #4), have you considered a DPA?

 

Hi Allan,

Thanks for your post. Where are you located? If you fit the criteria of being a UK or EU resident, there are a large variety of UK doctoral programs that you could pursue on a part-time basis (limited residency) and the resident fees are much lower than the DBA programmes (most seem to have the same high fees regardless of residency).

In regards to doctoral programs in business and management, you can look at the following thread, which focuses mainly on programs accredited by AACSB (important if you want to become a tenure track professor):

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/33133-aacsb-doctorate.html

In regards to your specialty, there is another interesting program, which is the PhD in Management Learning from the University of Lancaster (triple accredited and very respected):

PhD Opportunities in Management Learning & Leadership

While it is a PhD Program, most of the students appear to be part-time and the residency requirements seem very reasonable.

If you are not concerned about AACSB accreditation or the name of the degree, there is also the Doctorate in Social Science, which is offered by the Centre for Labour Market Studies at the University of Leicester:

Doctor of Social Science DSocSci — University of Leicester

This program is 100% distance learning (I think) and is geared towards human resources, training and development. In addition, the University of Leicester recently introducted a PhD in Management by Distance Learning:

Distance Learning PhD/MPhil in Management — University of Leicester

There are two required visits (to defend your research proposal and thesis), but otherwise there does not seem to be any mandatory visits to campus.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Regards,

Michael

 

Hi Guys,

Thanks for responding.
@Ian I am not aware of any programs that have an MBA as a midway point. I know the Henley DBA gives you an Msc. after the first 2 years - but not an MBA. Can you direct me?

@Michael. Thank you so much for your comprehensive research. I spoke with Lancaster as it was one of my first choices - and the first I located where it was possible to focus on training & development in a change context. They have tightened their requirements for attendance - and want you to stay full time for minimum a full term.

I am located in Denmark so I fit the criteria. Also I am currently negotiating with my organization to cover the tuition as well as other fees. So I am more interested in finding the best program.

I wasn’t aware of the Leicester program and am looking into that. I have been talking to both Henley and Aston and am speaking with some former students on their DBA programs to get a better sense of the programs.

To you list I can add that the University of Sheffield has a distance Phd in the work and organizational psychology department - around 20k sterling (5 years) with no attendance requirements. The Leicester programs run around 15k with is very reasonable....and its is a pretty decent university.

 

This might be related largely to the framing of your research idea, but at Aston there is Paula Jarzabkowski ( http://www1.aston.ac.uk/aston-business-school/staff/academic/esg/prof-paula-jarzabkowski/ )- one, if not the founder, of the Strategy-As-Practice school (roughly oriented on understanding how strategy is translated into every-day business situations i.e. very "real world" oriented). Extremely respected in the Organisational Science community, but not sure in how far she is going to stay with Aston since there seem to be some transfer to Cornell going on. A while ago I thought about approaching her in regards to PhD studies as well

 

It seems that you live in the UK so attending the few sessions here and there shouldn't be a problem.
If you are looking for a top school, the financial times ranks the schools below really high:

Cranfield School of Management 56000
Aston Business School 24500
Manchester Business School: 50000
Edinburgh Business School: 20000 (full distance learning)


Business school rankings from the Financial Times - Global MBA Rankings 2012

I would go with Edinburgh, it looks like a very good deal for a top ranked school. It is about half the price that an American virtual school and it is ranked high in FT times.

 

Aberdeen-Robert Gordon University: DBA
Online Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) - Part Time - Aberdeen Business School | Robert Gordon University (RGU) Aberdeen Scotland

University of Surrey: DBA / PHD (AACSB and AMBA)
Business and Management - University of Surrey - Guildford

Newcastle University (Joint program w /Grenoble Ecole de Management: DBA
DBA - Newcastle University Business School - Newcastle University

 

@Woho. I checked out Paula - she is certainly very competent. In terms of research I am slightly more in the direction of training and development. But they do have to good people at Aston. I have been interviewing some of the DBA students last week. They are quite happy with the program.
@RFvalve. I live in Denmark. Attending is not a problem. Full residency would be. This isnt a problem with any of the DBA programs. Cranfield is world class. They seem very professional. its also expensive. With regards to EBS - its not the university of Edinbourgh one. Its heriot watt university....
@Major56: I am adding your schools to my list for research. Thanks!

 

I'm not aware of any DBA programs in the UK that offer an MBA but many UK (and some Australian) Ph.D. programs offer a M.Res. or other master degrees as an interim achievement.

In the USA a doctorate typically requires 90 units beyond a bachelor degree and many universities will accept a masters degree towards meeting 30 to 45 of those credits.

Why did I mention this?: Because many people who start doctorate programs drop out by the dissertation stage for many reasons and not necessarily academic. So gaining a masters means that your efforts have at least provided a useful reward.

 

So far here is the compiled list of places in the UK that offer DBA/Phd programs where it is possible to work from a training/learning & development angle with minimal attendance:


Cranfield School of Management
Aston Business School
Liverpool University:
Manchester Business School
Henley Business School:
Edinburgh Business School - Heriot-Watt
Strathclyde Business School
University of Surrey
Ashridge Business School
Durham Business School
Newcastle Business School
Aberdeen-Robert Gordon University
Lancaster Business School
University of Sheffield
Kingston University
Bradford University school of management
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE, THE BUSINESS SCHOOL
Liverpool’s John Moore’s University

….and I am sure I have forgotte a few.

All of them are physical universities which offer part or all of their programs as distance learning with minimal attendance.
Prices range from £20000 to £60000 for a period of 3 to 6 years of registration. This is excluding travel expenses for visiting, etc.

They surely range in quality and prestige...I would still love to hear opinions and thoughts.

Allan

 

Hi all,

I have just registered on this site as I am seriously looking into various DBA programmes offered, same as few others here. I guess my main motivator for taking DBA is a strong drive for professional development and academic curiosity. Also I want to do lecturing at the university level some day, but want to stay in business, therefore I find DBA a better choice as opposed to PhD.

Due to my job and family commitments, distance learning only works for me, I live in Central Europe. I have been doing a lot of online research lately and it occurred to me that the Aston Business School (ABS) DBA course is the only DBA delivered through distance learning that is accredited by AMBA, which is a good indication of quality. Also I find triple accreditation (AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS) very important in finding the right course - ABS as university has it too.

So at the moment I am closest to Aston, but I have not ruled out any other DBA yet. My main criteria is accreditations, one of the three mentioned at least, and the best value for money.

Shadowskimmer, you mentioned you talked to some former DBA students, would you mind sharing that info with me, nothing beats first hand accounts in deciding which DBA to take, many thanks.

Vedrik

 

Adding Bath DBA in Higher education management to the list....19500

 

Vedrik email me for more info: [email protected]

I am happy to share to my research

 

Hi Guys,

How about DBA from university of liverpool?!!

Please advice.

Thanks
DBAAA

 

I found this article "Business school rankings from the Financial Times" as it may help to rank school in different perspectives.

Business school rankings from the Financial Times - List of Rankings