Prospective Students

Degree Information:

Please Note: No New Intakes For Academic Year 2012/2013

The Professional Doctoral Programme is a part-time, research-based programme leading to the award of Doctor of Business Administration. Success in the programme is determined by two, equally important, factors:

1. The participant's ability to make a significant contribution to academic knowledge in their chosen field of study through research, and,

2. The participant's ability to use this research to advance professional practice in a particular field of management

The programme affords senior managers the opportunity to undertake research on issues and problems of direct relevance to their own professional interests and organisational requirements. This research is transformational. Participants will be challenged to change managerial practice, including their own, as well as to understand it. The programme prepares participants for advanced professional leadership by enhancing reflective practice skills, by extending the breadth and depth of their specialist knowledge and by developing their research skills.

The Professional Doctoral Programme offers applicants the opportunity to extend their knowledge and professional capability in a range of different research areas.

If you wish to pursue postgraduate research at DCU Business School you must make sure that your proposed topic is close to the research interests of one of more members of faculty.

For further details about individual staff members research interests and publications, please visit our staff research page at http://www.dcu.ie/info/staff.php3?query=dcubs

Due to our commitment to research of the highest quality, the number of places available on this programme is restricted. We would anticipate no more than 20 participants, five in each of the specialist tracks.

Aims and Objectives:

The core aim of the Professional Doctorate is to make significant contributions to knowledge of professional managerial practice through research. An integral part of the doctoral process involves preparing participants for advanced professional leadership by enhancing their reflective practice skills, by extending the breadth and depth of their respective theoretical knowledge, by exploring the diverse values of academic research and workplace activity, and by developing their research skills.

Professional doctorates have proven especially attractive to those who view their own personal and academic ambition as fully integrated within their professional development and who have a commitment to furthering the standing of their profession. The Professional Doctoral Programme fosters critical thinkers who will seek to surpass and transform current conceptions of practice in their respective professional settings.

Under the Professional Doctoral Programme, scholars may submit for the award of PhD or for the award of Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). In the case of the PhD, the focus is on theoretical contributions to the existing body of academic knowledge. In the case of the DBA, the focus is on the novel development of applied knowledge designed to enhance professional practice. However, both degrees are of the same scholarly standard, and there is a strong tradition within the Business School of applied doctoral research, relevant to professional practice at the highest level.

Programme Structure:

Please Note: No New Intakes For Academic Year 2012/2013

On acceptance to the Professional Doctoral Programme, each scholar is allocated a supervisor, or team of supervisors, with whom they work closely to develop their research design, methodology, literatures and models. Regular meetings with supervisors are vital to keeping the doctoral process on track. Scholars are expected to meet with their supervisors on average once a month.

In the first and second years of their doctoral studies, scholars will take a range of modules designed to equip them with the analytical tools required for effective research at doctoral level in their chosen discipline area. The modules are as follows:

Philosophy of Social Science
Constructing a Research Thesis
Personal & Professional Development

Advanced Studies in Quantitative Research Methods
Or
Advanced Studies in Qualitative Research Methods
(These modules are scheduled so that scholars can take both if they wish.)

Each module constitutes 24 hours of classroom time. The modules are delivered in a block format, over two days, once a month from October to June. Modules begin begin at 8.30am and ends at 4.30pm.

Scholars taking the DBA will complete the following pieces of work for the completion of their thesis.

Scholars taking the PhD must complete a thesis of no more than 90,000 words. The University has specified a number of different formats for the PhD thesis. These are detailed in the University regulations.

Ultimately, the length of the programme depends on how long it takes the scholar to complete the PhD or DBA thesis to an acceptable standard. However, we would expect that participants would be able to complete their studies in four years.

What our Students and Graduates Say

"Joining the DCU Doctoral Programme has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Of course, it's intellectually stimulating and, of course, you get to learn by spending time with plenty of smart people at the top of their game - both on the lecturing side and among your fellow students. But what I've enjoyed most about it is that it continues to force me to a better level of reflection about what I do in marketing and how I go about it. It has made me think more deeply about my professional practice and it has given me many fresh insights that I have found quite liberating and I believe enhance my effectiveness for my organisation.

I think the other great strength of the programme is that you are supported throughout by a strong faculty who seem just as committed to your success as you are."

Peter Robbins
Director of Innovation Excellence, GSK Future Group (Global Brands)

"I have participated on the PDP since October 2007. The programme has been of great assistance to me in my career as a management consultant working with Irish manufacturing SMEs. The programme has sharpened my analytical skills significantly and has also allowed me consider a broader range of alternative perspectives on many issues. I have found that the intensive engagement with the literature and theory which is required for the programme has provided my clients with an enhanced level of knowledge and resource in a practical and effective manner. The workshop element of the programme was outstanding and delivered with great commitment and professionalism by the staff of DCU Business School."

Lorcán Ó hÓbáin, Managing Director, Syrom Systems Ltd.

View the subjects currently taught on this course (2012 - 2013)

Please Note: No New Intakes For Academic Year 2012/2013

For further general information on the programme, please contact: Dr Teresa Hogan at 00 353 1 700 8082, or email teresa.hogan@dcu.ie

Acadamic staff research interests in the Business School:

http://www.dcu.ie/dcubs/interests_in_research.shtml

FEES

There are two different fees charged annually by the programme, one fee pertaining to the taught phase and a lower fee pertaining to the research phase.

For fee details, please visit the webpages of the Finance Office at http://www.dcu.ie/finance/fees/schedule.shtml

Career Prospects:

Please Note: No New Intakes For Academic Year 2012/2013

Professional doctorates have proven especially attractive to individuals who view their own personal development and academic ambition as fully integrated with their professional development and who have a commitment to furthering the cause of their profession. As such, the programme will appeal to individuals who view themselves as leaders within their professional community. The Professional Doctoral Programme emphasises action-oriented leadership and organisational and professional development. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will have developed a portfolio of personal transferable competencies appropriate for organisational leadership.

• For those participants whose goal is to move into top executive positions, the doctoral qualification is a significant differentiator. It confers a distinct competitive advantage on the holder.
• For those who are already at the executive level and wish to orient their careers towards a management consultancy role, the programme offers a unique opportunity to develop further the requisite skills and acumen necessary for success in this field.

Entry Requirements:

The minimum entry requirement for the programme is the possession of a second class Masters degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline area. In addition, applicants must hold, or have held, a position of managerial responsibility for a minimum of four years. In exceptional circumstances, the Programme Board may make appropriate recommendations for applicants who do not fully meet these criteria.

The Professional Doctoral Programme is a research-based programme that seeks to change fundamentally the way in which organisations and communities operate. For this reason, it is vital that applicants have the full support of their organisation for the research they propose to undertake. Evidence of such support must be included in the application form.

Application Process

For information on how to apply for the Professional Doctoral Programme, please click here

"Please Note: No New Intakes For Academic Year 2012/2013"

In addition to the completed application form, applicants should also submit a research proposal to the Postgraduate Application Centre, no shorter than 3,000 words in length. This research proposal should include the following information.

• A broad outline of the nature of the intended research
• A rationale for choosing this area
• A review of the academic literature(s) pertinent to the proposed research
• A discussion of the applicant's professional experience relevant to the proposed research
• Demonstration of access to one or more organisations as a context for the proposed research, such as letters from key players within these organisations.

Guidelines for writing a research proposal can be found at

http://www.dcu.ie/dcubs/research_proposal_guidelines.pdf

A discussion of how the proposed research might benefit both the applicant and the participating organisation. Completed applications should be marked Professional Doctoral Programme ,and should be posted to the following address:Catherine Gallagher,The Registry, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.

Your application should include the following:

• A completed application form
• A research proposal of no less than 3,000 words in length
• Evidence of support from organisation(s) participating in proposed research
• A passport-sized photograph

Short-listed applicants will be called for an interview. Interviews will take place in the first three weeks of September.

Full list of degrees >

Fee information

Indicative Timetable
(Weeks 20-31)