Business Administration - Research

The DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) is the highest level degree for management professionals. The Maynooth DBA is a four-year doctorate completed by part-time study. DBA students work full-time and hold a senior role in all types of organisation: private business, public administration, healthcare or educational. The programme is delivered primarily online in an asynchronous manner with one short residential component per academic year. In completing this programme you will create original management knowledge and apply your research to deliver practical impacts for your organisation.



The Maynooth DBA is a four-year programme completed part-time. Students are organised in year cohorts for teaching which is delivered online and asynchronously. Each student have an individual research supervisor who is allocated during the first year of study. Each year in June there is an on-campus DBA research conference in for all students across the four year cohorts. The aim of the conference is to support the dissemination of your research and promote networking.



Teaching is organised into two types of module: Researcher Development and Professional Development. Researcher Development modules include all the training needed to produce a doctoral thesis: literature review, research methodology and evaluation of research impact. Professional development modules are concerned with integrating your research skills into professional practice, teaching skills for management education and disseminating your research.

The typical DBA student has:



At least five years senior management experience.

Works fulltime in a context that includes private business (corporate, SME or entrepreneurial), public administration, healthcare or educational organization.

Holds a Level 9 MBA or Masters-level qualification in a management-related discipline.

Meets the University requirements for English language proficiency



Consideration is also given to applicants who do not have a Masters qualification, but who have extensive (>10 years) senior management experience.

Closing Date : 14 August 2026



Online application only.



To apply for your chosen postgraduate study at Maynooth University, please ensure you have the following documents to make an application:



Your CV

Academic transcripts and certificates

Personal statement

Research proposal

Two references (one academic and one professional)



All suitable candidates will be invited to an online interview with two members of DBA faculty.



Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.



Please note: applicants do not need to identify and secure the support of a research supervisor before making an application. A research supervisor will be allocated towards the end of your first year on the programme, after you have finalised your thesis research topic.

4 years part-time.