Become an expert in solving real-life business challenges using the latest research techniques, with our Executive DBA.
Our Executive DBA is a hybrid, part-time, action-research doctoral programme specifically designed for business leaders, rather than those who want to be academic researchers.
If you hold a leading role in your organisation, the Executive DBA will provide you with new skills to investigate and solve workplace issues, using advanced research methods.
The programme enhances your existing management experience, allowing you to drive transformational change before and after graduation.
Alongside gaining the highest level of academic qualification, the Executive DBA gives the opportunity to become a thought leader in your professional area, with some of our students publishing in world leading journals.
During the first two years, you’ll complete four modules to expand your research skills, specifically those needed to study real-life business phenomena:
This is an intensive two-year period which combines online learning sessions and four on-campus residencies. In-person attendance is not compulsory but is highly recommended.
During the thesis development stage, you’ll put your new skills into practice by researching a particular aspect of your organisation.
Alongside regular one-to-one online support from your supervisor, you’ll receive continuous guidance via group seminars and refresher workshops on different methodologies and aspects of the research process.
The Executive DBA has been designed with the needs of busy business people in mind, to ensure you can complete the course without interfering with your obligations.
The whole process can be completed in 4.5 years, but to account for any unexpected personal or professional situations affecting your progress, you can extend this to 7.5 years.
Our Executive DBA covers a broad range of potential topics for investigation across all aspects of business administration.
Your research proposal should focus on a specific managerial problem within your organisation. This is a current issue you’ll tackle by applying the insights and interventions resulting from your research.
One of an elite group of institutions worldwide to hold the gold standard ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS, the Management School is a research powerhouse.
Home to six specialist research centres, you’ll be joining a school where you can actively participate in current research activities. There’s also the chance to attend seminars where prominent international speakers present their latest ideas and research.
Our international experts lead pioneering research and shape academic thought by producing real-world impacts in business practice, policymaking and society.
You don’t need to find a supervisor before starting your Executive DBA application. This is something we will arrange during the pre-thesis stage of the programme, once you have demonstrated a sufficient level of progress in your research proposal.
You may need the following documents to complete your online application:
Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
The tuition fees for this programme for academic year 2025-26 are:
The above tuition fees apply for UK and international students.
If you take longer than 4.5 years to complete the programme, you’ll need to pay £4,000 per extra year.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this degree.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.
There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding. These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.
A 15% fee discount is available to eligible students joining the Executive DBA programme. University of Liverpool graduates can combine this discount with the Progress to Executive DBA Award.
A £2,000 per year fee discount, for year 1 and year 2 of the course, is available to eligible University of Liverpool graduates joining the Executive DBA programme. This discount can be combined with the ULMS Executive DBA Award.
If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
As a doctoral student in the Management School, you’ll enjoy free access to professional software relevant to your area of specialisation. A range of globally recognised journals and databases for management research are also available via the University Library.
These are the trailblazers, the leaders, the true originals. Our postgraduate researchers are shaping their future, and the future of the world we live in, advancing knowledge with each discovery.
Want to find out more about studying a PhD with us? Chat with our postgraduate research student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Discover the qualifications you'll need to apply for this course.
You’ll need a UK undergraduate degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject, preferably with an Upper Second-Class (2:1) or above, plus:
To discuss the entry requirements for this programme please contact the Management School’s Executive DBA Team.
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 overall, with minimum scores of listening 21, writing 21, reading 21 and speaking 23. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Duolingo English Test | 135 overall, with writing not less than 140, speaking and reading not less than 125, and listening not below 120. For academic year 2025/26 only, we will also accept the production, literacy, comprehension and conversation score set: 130 overall, with no component below 120. |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 69 overall, with no component below 61 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 75 overall, with no skill below 70 |
| PSI Skills for English | C1 Pass in all bands |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.5 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.5 overall, with no component below 5.0 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 7.0 overall, with no component below 6.5, for further details.
Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.