Overview

NFQ Level 10, Major Award

The Doctor of Business Administration in Business Economics degree is a full-time research programme running over 36 months from the date of first registration for the programme and consisting of taught modules and research. The programme is delivered on a cohort basis emphasising the collaborative nature of learning appropriate to professional practice development. Applications for the programme are accepted throughout the year. Applicants should note that start-dates for each cohort are dependent on sufficient demand and available staff and other resources. Prospective students are advised to complete their applications at least three months in advance of their desired start date. The three possible start dates annually are January, April and October.

Students take taught modules to the value of 85 credits and undertake research work to the value of 185 credits that meets the satisfaction of the Programme Board (270 credits in total). As a doctoral research degree the programme involves the completion of research work - thesis (research portfolio) - of approximately 40,000 words of publishable standard. The research must be worthy of publication, in whole or in part, as a work of serious scholarship. The research will be completed and submitted for assessment by viva voce at the end of Year 3.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 90 credits as follows - all listed taught modules (40 credits) and research work to the value of 50 credits as follows:
Core Modules
BU7001	Applied Research Design	5
BU7002	Exploiting Literature in Practitioner-Research	5
BU7003	Applied Research Project	20
EC7008	Developmental Approaches for Practitioner-Researchers	10
Research
Students undertake research work to the value of 50 credits that meets the satisfaction of the Programme Board.		50
Year 2
Students take 90 credits as follows - all listed taught modules (30 credits) and research work to the value of 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
EC7003	Research Design and Methods for Practitioner Researchers	15
EC7004	Research Analysis and Evaluation	15
Research
Students undertake research work to the value of 60 credits that meets the satisfaction of the Programme Board.		60
Year 3
Students take 90 credits as follows - all listed taught modules (15 credits) and research work to the value of 75 credits as follows:
Core Modules
EC7005	Research Presentation, Analysis and Evaluation for Practitioner Researchers	15
Research
Students undertake research work to the value of 75 credits that meets the satisfaction of the Programme Board.		75
Total Credits		270

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for DBA (Business Economics) (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
  
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem-solving skills associated with effective practice;
  
• Engage in advanced application of frameworks and techniques in organisational settings;
  
• Display an original contribution to practitioner knowledge through a portfolio of practitioner-centred research outputs;
  
• Set out a nuanced understanding, based on first-person experience, of challenges affecting organisations and development of practitioners within them.