Doctor of Business

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Candidates for the BusD will apply with an outline research proposal. The standard to be attained in the choice of research topic will be high, identifying a major business problem to be examined with a sound methodology, and with the potential to lead to an excellent thesis and subsequent publication. Applicants are expected to draw on their experience as senior executives and their unique access to context and data in their research proposal.

Selection Process

Applicants should make a formal application via the Applicant Portal. Complete applications, including all supporting documentation, are considered by the Business Doctorate Admissions Committee on a rolling basis.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by faculty members with relevant expertise, who will work with them on a revision of the research proposal, which will then form the basis for an admissions interview by a panel of senior faculty.

We aim to have all decisions made by the end of April.

Further information on How To Apply

Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

• Two academic references  
• Transcript  
• CV/resume
• Evidence of competence in English  
  If required - you can check using our tool
• Reasons for applying (5000 characters)
  We recommend a maximum of 800 words (note that there is a 5,000 character limit set up for this field).
• Research proposal (M)
  Please submit an outline research proposal (of no more than 2,000 words) addressing the following specific questions: 1• What are the wider business or societal challenges and the specific research questions you wish to address with your doctoral research? 2• Why and how would answers to these research questions lead to progress in business or society? 3• How do you intend to leverage your professional experience in answering your research questions? 4• What is already known about your research questions? (provide an outline literature review, using sources such as Google Scholar, with an explicit link to the academic business and management literature). 5• Which data will be available to you (archival data or interviews) or may be generated by you (e.g. through field experiments), and why do you expect the data to shed light on these questions? Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by faculty members with relevant expertise, who will work with them to submit a full research proposal of 4,000 words, which will then form the basis for an admissions interview by a panel of senior faculty.
• Sample of work (1)
  Please provide a sample of your writing outside of your immediate executive function, for example a reflective publication in an industry journal, or an independent review, or a chapter of a book.
• Employer correspondence

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

How to Find a Supervisor

Prospective candidates may wish to consult the Cambridge Judge Business School webpages for a faculty member that may want to work with.