MSc Management Research / Doctor of Business Administration — Study from Johannesburg, South Africa

Lead from Johannesburg without pausing your life. The MSc Management Research / Doctor of Business Administration empowers you to transform complex challenges into rigorous, real-world solutions—while you continue to thrive in your current role and city. Offered in exclusive partnership between the University of Salford and Robert Kennedy College, this advanced, research-driven journey blends academic depth with practical impact so you can design, test, and scale ideas that matter.

Whether you are aiming to influence C‑suite strategy, elevate your consulting practice, or craft evidence-based policies, you will build the critical thinking, methodological mastery, and leadership confidence to move from insight to implementation. And you will do it entirely online, on your schedule, from Johannesburg—connecting with a global network of peers and faculty who share your ambition to create lasting value.

Award a British Degree Recognised Worldwide

A British postgraduate award has long been a hallmark of academic quality and professional distinction. Completing this programme leads to a respected British degree that signals your mastery of management research and your capacity to apply rigorous methods to real organisational challenges. Employers and institutions around the globe recognise the credibility and transferability of British higher education—opening doors across sectors and continents.

You will graduate with a credential that travels with you—from Johannesburg to any boardroom or research environment worldwide. The result is a passport to opportunity: enhance your prospects for senior leadership, join international research collaborations, or strengthen your standing as a consultant or entrepreneur. Wherever your ambition leads, your degree speaks a language the world understands.

Complete 100% Online in as Little as 4 Years

Your goals shouldn’t wait. This programme is structured for professionals who want to progress with purpose and pace. With a clearly defined online pathway, you can complete the full journey in as little as four years, moving steadily from foundational research competencies to a sustained, original contribution to management practice.

Each stage is designed to create momentum—so that your learning compounds, your research sharpens, and your impact grows. You will stay rooted in Johannesburg, remain active in your career, and still advance toward a doctoral-level outcome with a clear timeline and the guidance you need to keep moving forward.

Learn on Your Schedule—No Live Attendance Required

Life is busy: leadership meetings, client deadlines, family time, and unexpected opportunities. This programme respects your rhythm. There are no mandatory live sessions or fixed online attendance times. You engage with lectures, readings, and activities when it suits your day—early morning, late evening, or a focused weekend burst.

This flexibility lets you sustain high performance at work while making consistent academic progress. You can carve out the study blocks that fit your calendar, protect your deep-thinking time, and align your research milestones with your professional cycles—without compromising either.

Study Anywhere, Even Offline—Powered by a Mobile App

From a quiet corner in Sandton to a flight between meetings, the programme travels with you. Our mobile app allows you to download study materials and watch lectures offline, ensuring continuity even when you are on the move or between Wi‑Fi connections. When inspiration strikes, your learning environment is already in your pocket.

This freedom amplifies your consistency. It turns commuting into progress, layovers into learning, and travel into time well spent. Whether you are in Johannesburg, visiting clients across South Africa, or exploring new markets abroad, your studies stay on course.

Open‑Book Assessments that Mirror Real‑World Practice

Complex problems are not solved by memorisation. They are solved by asking better questions, finding evidence, and building a compelling line of reasoning. That is why this programme uses open‑book assessments rather than traditional question/answer exams. You will be evaluated on your ability to synthesise sources, apply frameworks, and produce insight—just like you would in a board presentation or client engagement.

Open‑book doesn’t mean easy. It means authentic. You will learn to frame problems precisely, substantiate your recommendations, and defend your conclusions. By the time you complete the programme, your thinking will be sharper, your arguments tighter, and your value to stakeholders unmistakable.

Guided by Faculty with World‑Class Pedigrees

Behind every breakthrough is a mentor who asks the right questions. You will learn from tutors and faculty who graduated from world‑renowned universities such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their academic depth and practitioner sensibilities create a learning experience that is both exacting and encouraging.

These mentors understand the art and science of management research—and they understand your context as a working professional. Expect clear standards, practical feedback, and scholarly guidance that elevates the quality and relevance of your work. You will be challenged to think bigger and supported to deliver.

A Truly Global Classroom and Alumni Footprint

Innovation accelerates in diverse communities. You will join a cohort drawn from over 130 countries, bringing perspectives from every major industry and function. That global mix will broaden your worldview, sharpen your cross‑cultural communication, and create lifelong professional connections that extend well beyond graduation.

Our alumni work across international organisations and industry leaders—including the United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, Sony—demonstrating the portability and practical relevance of the skills and mindset you will develop.

Flexible, Transparent Fees with Monthly Instalments

Invest confidently in your future. Our fees are structured for working professionals and can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest‑free instalments. This approach allows you to align your outlay with your cash flow while maintaining full access to the programme’s resources and support.

There are no hidden surprises—just a clear plan that helps you move forward now, not “someday.” By distributing the investment over manageable monthly commitments, you can remain focused on learning and leading, not on logistics.

What This Programme Can Unlock for Johannesburg Professionals

Johannesburg is a powerhouse for financial services, mining and resources, telecommunications, healthcare, and rapidly scaling tech ventures. Your research‑driven training will equip you to interrogate big questions in these sectors: from ESG measurement and reporting on the JSE, to digital transformation and AI adoption in banking and telecoms, to supply‑chain resilience and safety innovation across the resources ecosystem.

As the city doubles down on infrastructure, logistics, and smart‑city initiatives, your capability to design robust research, test interventions, and translate data into strategy will make you invaluable to boards, executive teams, and public‑private partnerships. You will be able to lead pilot projects, evaluate policy impacts, and demonstrate ROI with clarity and credibility.

Johannesburg’s entrepreneurial spirit also rewards evidence‑based leadership. Whether you are scaling a consultancy, advising growth‑stage tech firms, or building a social enterprise, your mastery of management research will help you de‑risk decisions, convince investors, and operationalise insights. In a competitive market that prizes both innovation and accountability, this combination is a standout advantage.

Begin Your Journey

The work you want to do next deserves the strongest possible foundation. Build it now—on your terms, from Johannesburg, with a British degree that carries global weight and a research toolkit that keeps paying dividends throughout your career. Ready to explore modules, schedules, and next intakes? Request our course catalogue.