DBA in Higher Education Management
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS. POWERFUL RESEARCH. THOUGHT(FUL) LEADERSHIP.
The Bath DBA
We've developed our DBA specifically for university leaders. Gain the research skills you need to address the challenges of higher education in the 21st century.
What makes the Bath DBA in Higher Education Management unique
- A specific focus on higher education management
- Delivered by one of the UK's best business schools
- Develop research skills relevant to higher education managers
- Combine research with professional practice by applying your increased knowledge to your work
- A strong global alumni network who support current students and the programme
The expertise you need to make a genuine impact in your area
As well as developing your leadership expertise, the Bath DBA will give you the skills you need to apply research to your own professional area.
We bring together the latest scholarship and an applied focus on research. You'll develop a thorough understanding of how and why things happen in contemporary higher education.
You'll graduate with research skills appropriate for higher educational managers, and be better equipped to deal with the ethical and political issues facing higher education today.
Applying your DBA research to your own organisation will allow you to:
- understand emerging trends in higher education
- improve national and international policy
- establish and share best practice in management and leadership
We regularly invite graduates to visit and feed back into our programme to keep it relevant and up-to-date. We're confident that our DBA students go on to produce some of the most significant and influential research in this area.
A DBA made for busy higher education professionals
The DBA in Higher Education Management is more structured than a traditional PhD. It has two phases:
- a two-year taught programme phase delivered through a series of residentials (on campus attendance compulsory)
- a thesis phase (can be completed remotely)
Most students complete the programme within six years (taught and thesis phases).
Key information
Designed for:
- Mid to senior level managers working in higher education
- Leaders from governmental ministries
- Leaders from organisations with a higher education brief
Duration:
Minimum three years, maximum eight years
Start date:
4 November 2024
Calendar of residential modules:
- Residential 1 comprising eight days: 4 to 11 November 2024 inclusive
- Residential 2 comprising eight days: 16 to 23 June 2025 inclusive
- Residential 3 comprising eight days: 16 to 23 February 2026 inclusive
- Residential 4 comprising eight days: 5 to 12 October 2026 inclusive
Mode of study:
Part-time
Admissions requirements:
- Graduate-equivalent professional qualification and an advanced graduate qualification
- Experience in a mid to senior management position in higher education
Scholarships
Assessment methods
- Thesis
- Attendance
- Coursework
- Essay
Course code
RMMN–APD03
Fees for 2024/25
- £10,000 a year for years one and two
- £2,000 a year for subsequent years
Find out more about DBA fees and scholarship opportunities.
These fees are for the 2024/25 academic year only. Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students.
Get in touch
We would love to hear from you so get in touch if you have any questions about the programme.
If you want to come to Bath (on a work day, during normal working hours), we can meet you, talk to you about the DBA and show you around. If you visit during one of our residentials, you'd be welcome to sit in on a session. This will give you the chance to experience how we teach on the course and meet current students and staff.
Apply for the DBA
Contact us
If you have any questions about applying for the DBA in Higher Education Management, please get in touch.