RQF LEVEL 8 DOCTORAL PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Management & Leadership
Programme Overview & Regulatory Framework:
The IQAB RQF Level 8 Doctoral Qualifications (DBA, Doctor of Management, Doctor of Leadership Management) represent the pinnacle of professional and academic achievement under the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 8. Designed for senior leaders, C-suite executives, directors, and principal consultants, these programmes synthesize advanced applied research with executive praxis to generate original contributions to organizational theory and professional practice.
Total RQF Credits: 360 UK Credits (180 ECTS) | Level 8 Doctoral Framework.
Total Qualification Time (TQT): 3,600 Hours (Typically structured over 3 years).
Medium of Instruction: English.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): Focuses on applied executive strategy, corporate governance, and solving complex organizational challenges.
Doctor of Management (DMgt): Focuses on advanced operational systems, global supply chains, and enterprise ecosystems.
Doctor of Leadership & Management (DLM): Focuses on transformational leadership paradigms, executive psychology, and change management.
Prior Qualification: Master’s Degree (RQF Level 7 / EQF Level 7) in Business, Management, Leadership, or related disciplines from a recognized awarding body.
Professional Experience: Minimum 5 to 7 years in senior management, executive leadership, or board-level advisory roles.
Language Proficiency: English language fluency (IELTS 7.0 overall or equivalent for non-native speakers).
IQAB-801: Epistemology, Philosophy & Advanced Business Research Design (30 Credits)
IQAB-802: Strategic Leadership, Governance & Global Ecosystems (30 Credits)
IQAB-803: Advanced Data Analytics, Evidence-Based Management & AI in Decision Making (30 Credits)
IQAB-804: Organizational Transformation, Change Dynamics & Praxis (30 Credits)
IQAB-805 (240 Credits): Original empirical investigation (approx. 60,000–80,000 words), supervised research, and final viva voce defense before an independent examination panel.
Flexible blended and executive hybrid model combining interactive doctoral seminars, one-on-one research supervision, peer-reviewed research colloquia, and digital access to global research databases via the IQAB Learning Management System (LMS).
In accordance with RQF Level 8 standards, assessments evaluate high-level critical analysis, independent scholarly contribution, and executive impact through doctoral research papers, empirical case evaluations, proposal defense, and final dissertation viva voce.
DBA DMGT DLM RQF L 8 Programme Specification
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