DBA Course Structure at Aston University
All DBA students undertake the taught Research Methods Course (RMC) as the foundation of their development as a professional researcher. This is intended to provide them with all the skills they require both to complete successfully their DBA degree and to develop as a “researching professional”. Successful completion of the Research Methods Course is a prerequisite to progress onto the Research Project. The RMC is taught by expert staff in management research and is designed to lead to the development of a Qualifying Report (QR), a presentation of the research topic in which the DBA students explain how and why they chose their specific subject matter, what previous research and writing has informed their approach and the methodology and techniques which they will adopt. The QR forms the basis for the final thesis.
Full-time students take the RMC in the first year and finalise their individual research project in Years 2 and 3. Part-time students have a maximum of two years time to complete the RMC and the final thesis has to be submitted by the end of Year 4.
OverviewMode Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Full-time Research Methods Course Individual Research Project
Mode Year 1 Year 2 Years 3-4
Part-time Research Methods Course Individual Research Project
Time Limits Full-time Part-time
Earliest date for submission: after 2 years after 4 years
Maximum time allowed: 3 years 6 years