Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Healthcare Leadership
Learn about the course below
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Viewing course details for 2025 year of entry
- Attendance
- Part-time
- Start
- September 2025
- Fees
- £7,450 (UK)* £10,000 (INT)*
- Duration
- 4 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Dr Mary Hartog
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
Overview
The DBA Healthcare Leadership is for senior leaders in the NHS and healthcare organisations who can influence practice and policy, and/or, lead meaningful change in their organisations through research which they conduct.
Live practice- based research leading to organisation or systemic change, or problem-based research that will inform policy or practice is required.
What does our degree do?
The DBA equips you with the knowledge and skills to undertake research in your organisation/NHS context that is competent and robust addressing the strategic issues or wicked problems defined and through your research project make a real difference to the problem at hand.
Course Highlights
DBA Healthcare Leadership programme will support your studies by:
- Creating and facilitating a community of practice involving tutors and your peers
- On campus workshops covering relevant healthcare and research topics three times a year
- Action learning sets to support small group reflection, enquiry and discussion to progress your work through each stage of the programme
- A series of on-line lunchtime discussion on related healthcare topics.
Why choose DBA Healthcare Leadership at Middlesex?
- To equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out a meaningful research project that addresses strategic issues or problems in your organisation
- To develop your skills of influencing key stakeholders in your organisation and in the wider healthcare system
- To effectively disseminate your findings to relevant stakeholders
- To develop the skills required to publish your work
- The programme DBA in Healthcare Leadership is designed for senior leaders and managers in the NHS and healthcare organisations who have the authority and position to influence change and create buy in from key stakeholders in the organisation and wider system as appropriate
- A Masters Level – post graduate qualification is normally required for entry to the DBA.
What will you study on the DBA Healthcare Leadership?
- The DBA Healthcare Leadership is a research programme which you undertake on a part-time basis over a period of approximately four academic years. The programme focuses on developing participants individual capabilities as reflective practitioners and through this enhancing their capability for undertaking high- level practice- based research within their own work context.
- Participants research study projects are tailored to meet their own individual needs and research goals, and those of their organisation.
- The final output for the DBA will normally be a thesis of the research undertaken.
The course is divided into three main stages: the first and the second last for nine months each, and the third continues for a minimum of 30 months.
Stage One Review (9 months): You write and present to a panel for a discussion a 5,000 word critically reflective review of your work context, the project problem area and relevant literature drawn principally from the discipline of business and management.
Stage Two Review (18 months): You write and present to a panel a 10,000 word research project proposal that will address your problem/chosen field of study, along with details of your research approach and methods.
In the third stage you progress and complete your research project, culminating in the presentation of a thesis, word count circa 60,000 to a panel. The formal discussion at this stage is known as the VIVA. Here your work will be assessed by an External and Internal examiner and the decision will made be made regarding the award of doctorate.
Candidates may withdraw from the doctoral process at stage two and be examined for the award of MProf where appropriate.
During stages one and two workshops either face to face or on-line will be provided to support your understanding and application of research methods. Other workshops will help inform you of what it means to be a reflective practitioner or how to draw on relevant literature in the field.
The Middlesex DBA in Healthcare Leadership understands that your research is grounded in your organisation and professional practice context and thus is likely to be somewhat interdisciplinary in nature. Therefore, relevant literature and source material across disciplines will most likely be applicable.
Each candidate will be allocated a Supervisory team of academic advisors, with a specialist Business School academic appointed as your Director of Studies:
Specialist subject knowledge and Supervisory support from Business School academics is typically available in areas of:
Leadership and Strategy, and Human Resource Development & Change Management, including Executive Coaching; and other Business School disciplines such as: Economics, Accounting and Finance and Marketing.
If appropriate, a second supervisor or advisor may be appointed from the Faculty of Health and Education.
Register your interest
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
Teaching
How is the DBA Healthcare Leadership taught?
The course requires attendance in person once a term, three times per year, for residential sessions or tutorials (depending on whether you are part of a cohort or undertaking it individually). Aside from the on-campus sessions, access to the supervisory team can be online. You will have access to the University Researcher Development Programme and the full stack of library digital and physical resources. The final viva would usually take place in person. Overall, the mode of delivery of the programme can be described as hybrid.
In addition to being able to draw on the expertise of tutors, a possible specialist consultant, and other participants in your cohort, you will also have the support of a dedicated academic advisor throughout your period of study with us.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
- MBA or other Post- graduate Masters qualification such as an MA HRM
- Candidates must be employed in a senior position in the NHS or other healthcare provider, preferably in a senior leadership role with the authority and support of key stakeholder to carry out a research project.
- 7.0 IELTS (for candidates where English is not their first language. 6.5 may be considered in exceptional circumstances.)
Eligibility
UK students are eligible to apply for this course, however international students are not eligible as candidates will already be in senior roles in the NHS or with other healthcare providers.
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Entry onto this degree requires an interview.
Qualifications
We accept the equivalent of the below qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification:
- We normally require a masters degree or above
- You should also have a minimum of five years managerial or professional experience in a full-time senior position
- You should have role responsibility and relevant authority to specify and implement significant change initiatives within your organisation.
To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the relevant Support in your country page. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest Regional office for support.
Visas and immigration
You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our Visas and immigration page for further information.
International students who require a Student route (formerly tier 4) visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. However, this course is offered part-time so you are eligible to apply on a part-time basis.
Part-time study
Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 now allows international applicants to apply for Student route (formerly tier 4) visas for part-time postgraduate study (courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or SCQF level 11 and above).
Student route visa students studying part-time are subject to certain restrictions:
- no work (paid or unpaid)
- no work placements as part of the programme
- no dependants
- no extending under Student route visa in the UK. This includes Student route visa applications to work as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer or for the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists
- not eligible for the Student route visa Doctorate Extension Scheme
*Please note that, if the course of your choice involves work experience, unpaid work, placements or internships, we will be unable to sponsor you to study a part- time course under the Student route (formerly tier 4) visa.
English language requirements for international students
You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all components). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification.
Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications. If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course .
Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions
Entry onto this course requires an interview.
Applicants should download an application form and a letter of application for the DBA programme from our research applications page.
The two application documents will be downloaded in a single Word file. Please complete them and email to [email protected], together with the following supporting documents:
- An up-to-date CV (resume)
- Copy of passport / EEA National ID card / photo card driving license (UK only)
- Copy of qualification documents and transcripts
- English language qualifications, if applicable. Please see our English Language Requirements for more details.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year.
UK students1
Part-time students: £7,450 per year
International students2
Part-time students: £10,000 per year
For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.
Course costs
The following course-related costs are included in the fees:
- A free electronic textbook for every module
- All printing and copying required for your study
- Self-service laptops available for loan for a maximum of 24 hours
- Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Careers
Candidates will already be in senior roles in the NHS or with other healthcare providers. Senior Leadership and Board level positions may open up following successful completion of this programme.