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Postgraduate Study

The BusD is an advanced and ambitious programme that creates impactful research by leveraging the seniority, unique access to context and data, and exceptional experience of its students.

The programme enables students with significant experience at senior executive level to demonstrate an intellectual achievement at the highest level and thereby become better, more effective and more reflective leaders. Students will carry out high-calibre impact-orientated research that is of particular relevance for experienced senior managers at the highest level of the management profession. The degree is relevant to practice, facilitating transformational leadership in organisations. The BusD also emphasises continuing, life-long education.

The workload of the programme is substantial and demanding, as students will carry out their research while embedded within the work environment. Total workload is equivalent to that of a full-time PhD programme.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

  • developed a strong awareness of the current academic debates related to their chosen research programme;
  • gained in-depth knowledge of the relevant underlying theories of management;
  • gained practical knowledge of management research through close supervision of their thesis project; and
  • developed strong methodological expertise across a spectrum of research methods and will have applied these methodologies as part of the thesis research project.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

  • Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

  • Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

Cambridge Judge Business School also hosts Experience Days throughout the year. Please see Cambridge Judge Business School wide-events page for further information.

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Key Information


4 years full-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Business

Judge Business School

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2026

Applications open
Sept. 3, 2025
Application deadline
March 26, 2026
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2026

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.