Admissions — Readiness For A Doctorate Of Consequence
Admission to the Executive DBA is by competitive selection and reflects the global calibre of the programme. We seek senior leaders who bring strategic influence, reflective depth, and the curiosity to explore complex challenges through doctoral inquiry. This is not a traditional academic route. It is designed for experienced executives, policymakers, and change-makers who are ready to generate actionable, responsible knowledge and shape the systems in which they lead.
Entry requirements
To be considered, applicants should normally have:
- A Master’s degree (MBA, MSc, or equivalent)
- At least ten years of senior management experience, demonstrating strategic responsibility and leadership maturity
- A compelling Portfolio of Inquiry evidencing readiness for doctoral-level research and alignment with the programme’s Knowledge Frontiers
Admission decisions are based on intellectual fit, leadership experience, and capacity for contribution to the cohort’s collective learning community.
Portfolio of inquiry — your first act of doctoral inquiry
The Portfolio of Inquiry (POI) is more than an application requirement; it is the beginning of your doctoral journey. It invites you to frame the complex organisational or societal problem that compels your curiosity and leadership attention. Through a structured, evidence-based submission, you will demonstrate your ability to see systems, synthesise insight, and articulate a question of genuine consequence. The Portfolio forms the basis for your first conversation with faculty and the foundation for your evolving research pathway.
What your portfolio includes
- Alignment with the Knowledge Frontiers
- The Complex Problem
- Research Architecture
- Interweaving Doctoral Inquiry within Professional Practice
- Motivation and Legacy
Reflective selection conversation
Following review, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a reflective selection conversation with faculty, an opportunity for both you and the School to explore alignment of purpose, readiness, and supervisory fit. Admission marks your entry into a global learning community of senior leaders constructing actionable and responsible knowledge, shaping systems, organisations, and futures.
If you’re ready to generate original knowledge, bridge multiple knowledge systems and lead systemic transformation at the highest level, the Kemmy Executive DBA awaits.
Our programme team is available to guide you through the application process and answer any questions you may have. See below for contact details for general enquiries.