DBA (Value-Based): Fully funded Welsh Government Doctor of Business Administration, DBA (Value-Based Health and Care Academy Scholarship) (RS782)

Funding provider: Welsh Government  

Subject area: DBA (Value-Based) 

Project start date: 1st October 2025 

Academic Supervisors: To be confirmed on acceptance 

Aligned programme of study: DBA  

Mode of study: Part-Time  

Project description: 
As a result of a change in funding allocation, we are able to offer a limited number of full-fee scholarships available specifically for those researching projects in the field of Value-Based Health and Care. 
The Swansea School of Management DBA is a part-time professional doctorate designed for senior managers and leaders in all sectors; private, public and not-for-profit. 
In this programme, learners engage in applied research, bringing established and cutting-edge theories to bear on their practical organisational issues. You will develop and enrich practice in your field, as well as contribute to our understanding of the underpinning theoretical base for the work. 
The structured approach offered by the Swansea DBA is based on six modules over three years, blending lectures, guest talks, workshop discussions and student presentations. The doctoral thesis is developed in parallel under guidance from a doctoral supervisory team allocated at the start of the programme. 
The Swansea School of Management DBA is designed to develop critical thinkers and practitioners who will reflect on their impact on their organisations and society more generally. 

INTENSIVE TEACHING BLOCKS 

While the DBA is research-led and work will be carried out remotely, each module will be structured around a three-day intensive teaching block. This means that twice yearly, you will be required to attend face-to-face seminars and workshops on our Bay Campus in Swansea. 
For those enrolling in October 2025, your three-day face-to-face sessions will likely fall in the following months: 
- November 2025 
- May 2026

Applicants for the DBA must hold an undergraduate degree from an approved university and have achieved a minimum classification of upper second (2:1) or equivalent. Applicants will also normally have, or be studying for, a master’s degree or similar level of qualification at an approved university. 

Applicants will normally be expected to have a minimum of five years experience in a senior role. 

All applicants will be interviewed by two representatives of the programme leadership team (normally including the programme director) and will be expected to demonstrate the drive and intellectual ability to undertake the DBA. 

 English Language 

IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience. 

As part of this programme, we are able to offer several full-fee scholarships to professional learners from across Wales, working with the following: 

• NHS Wales  

• Local Authority Social Services 

• Social Care Organisations in Wales 

• Third Sector organisations in Wales 

To apply please then complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice:

Doctor of Business Administration / DBA / Part-time / 4 Years / October

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this case, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

     2. Start year – please select 2025

     3. Funding (page 8 on the application process) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS782 - DBA'

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

One application is required per individual Swansea University-led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University-led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• Value-Based Full-Fee Scholarship Application Form 
• Research Proposal 
• Two references (academic or previous employer) on the headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable)
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact VBHC Academy VBHCAcademy@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.