MSc Management Research / Doctor of Business Administration – Study Online from Durban, South Africa

Advance your leadership and research journey with the MSc Management Research / Doctor of Business Administration, delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Salford and Robert Kennedy College. Designed for ambitious professionals, this dual‑pathway equips you with rigorous management theory and doctoral‑level research capability that you can apply across industries worldwide—all while you continue to live and work in Durban, South Africa.

Whether you’re preparing to lead complex transformations or to produce impactful, practice‑oriented research, this flexible online programme lets you learn on your terms. You’ll join a diverse global community, access world‑class academic guidance, and turn evidence‑based insights into decisive action without pressing pause on your career or your life.

Awarded a British degree recognised internationally

Stand out with a British postgraduate qualification that signals academic excellence and professional credibility around the world. The degree you earn is highly valued by employers, boards, and research communities who recognise the rigour and relevance associated with British higher education standards.

As your career takes you across borders and sectors, your credential travels with you. From executive roles and board appointments to consulting mandates and research collaborations, an internationally recognised British degree gives you a competitive edge and the confidence to contribute at the highest level.

100% online; complete in as little as 4 years

Accelerate your journey from advanced management study to doctoral‑level expertise. The programme has been designed to be completed entirely online, with a pathway that enables focused, steady progress culminating in your final doctoral thesis in as little as four years.

This structure respects the realities of senior careers. You can sustain momentum without compromising your professional responsibilities, building a portfolio of research and practice that grows in relevance even as you advance toward your terminal degree.

No fixed class times—study when it works for you

Your life is dynamic; your learning should be too. This programme does not require your online presence at specific times or dates, so you can engage with coursework, discussion, and supervision when you are at your best—early morning, late evening, or between commitments.

This schedule independence keeps you in control. Weekly goals and clear milestones help you move forward with purpose, while the flexibility to choose when you participate ensures your study remains sustainable over the long term.

Learn anywhere—download, go offline, and keep moving

Wherever work and life take you, your learning environment travels with you. Study from home, the office, a client site, or while on the move using our mobile app. Download study materials and watch lectures offline, then sync your progress when you’re back online—ideal for travel days or unpredictable schedules.

This anytime, anywhere access means your momentum never depends on being at a desk. Use small windows of time to make big strides, turning commutes and transit into opportunities to learn, reflect, and advance.

Open‑book assessments that mirror real‑world decision‑making

Rather than classical question/answer exams, the programme uses open‑book assessments. You’ll be asked to analyse, synthesise, and apply frameworks to complex scenarios—just like in executive roles where the skill lies in finding and using the right evidence, not memorising it.

This approach cultivates the abilities senior leaders and researcher‑practitioners need most: critical thinking, ethical judgement, methodological rigour, and the capacity to translate theory into decisions that create measurable value.

Guided by faculty with world‑class academic pedigrees

Benefit from tutors and supervisors who have graduated from leading universities such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their academic lineage reflects decades of scholarship and practice at the forefront of management and research.

Just as important, your faculty are approachable mentors committed to your progress. Expect constructive critique, high standards, and supportive guidance that helps you sharpen your thinking, elevate your writing, and build a strong research identity.

A truly global cohort—and alumni in influential organisations

Join a diverse student body representing more than 130 countries. You’ll exchange perspectives with peers across sectors and continents, gaining cross‑cultural fluency and a professional network that opens doors in markets you know—and markets you’ve yet to explore.

Our alumni contribute to and work with international organisations including the United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, and Sony, among many others. Their trajectories reflect the programme’s emphasis on practical impact, research excellence, and global leadership.

Transparent, flexible fees—pay over up to 18 months

Plan your investment with confidence. Our fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest‑free instalments, helping you balance cash flow without delaying your ambition.

This flexibility makes advanced study more accessible to working professionals, enabling you to align tuition with your income cadence while you continue to grow your career and apply your learning in real time.

Why this matters for your career in Durban, South Africa

Durban’s position as one of Africa’s busiest ports and logistics hubs creates exceptional opportunities for leaders who can optimise supply chains, steward digital transformation, and advance sustainable operations. Your research in areas such as port efficiency, maritime logistics, last‑mile delivery, green corridors, or trade facilitation can translate directly into measurable gains for shipping lines, freight forwarders, 3PLs, and public‑private stakeholders shaping the region’s competitiveness.

Manufacturing, petrochemicals, and automotive operations around eThekwini demand data‑driven managers who can reduce waste, elevate quality, and orchestrate complex supplier ecosystems. Through the programme’s emphasis on evidence‑based management, you can design and test interventions—lean process improvements, advanced analytics for maintenance, or workforce upskilling models—that strengthen resilience, unlock productivity, and support growth across industrial value chains.

Tourism, retail, and the expanding services economy thrive on insight: customer experience, brand strategy, and omnichannel design all benefit from robust research and disciplined execution. Combine that with Durban’s growing innovation corridors—from logistics tech to green energy initiatives—and you have a powerful context for capstone projects and doctoral research that drive social and economic impact while enhancing your leadership profile across KwaZulu‑Natal and beyond.

Ready to take the next step toward an internationally respected British postgraduate qualification you can complete entirely online—without leaving Durban? Request our course catalogue and discover how this programme can align with your goals, your schedule, and your vision for impact.