Doctorate in Leadership and Public Administration

Introduction

About the Program

Lead with Vision. Inspire Change. Transform Public Leadership.

The Doctor of Leadership and Public Administration (DLPA) at the American University in the Emirates (AUE) is a prestigious doctoral programme designed for experienced professionals, senior executives, government leaders, policymakers, military and security professionals, and aspiring scholars who are committed to shaping the future of leadership, governance, and public administration through impactful research and evidence-based practice.

Developed in alignment with AUE’s mission, the UAE National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, and the UAE Vision 2031, the DLPA responds to the growing demand for highly qualified leaders capable of addressing complex governance, organizational, and societal challenges in an increasingly dynamic global environment. The programme combines rigorous doctoral education with applied research to develop innovative solutions that advance leadership excellence, public sector performance, policy development, and sustainable governance.

More than a doctoral qualification, the DLPA is a platform for developing influential leaders who can transform organizations, shape public policy, and contribute to national and international development. Students engage in advanced coursework, interdisciplinary research, and doctoral thesis supervision while exploring contemporary issues in strategic leadership, governance, digital government, public policy, organizational transformation, innovation, sustainability, and evidence-based decision-making.

A distinctive feature of the programme is its bilingual delivery in both English and Arabic, making advanced doctoral education accessible to a wider community of professionals while fostering cross-cultural collaboration and regional impact. Guided by distinguished faculty with extensive academic and professional expertise, students develop advanced research competencies, critical thinking, and strategic leadership capabilities that enable them to generate meaningful knowledge and deliver practical solutions to today’s most pressing public and organizational challenges.

Graduates of the DLPA emerge as research-driven leaders equipped to influence public policy, strengthen governance systems, lead organizational transformation, contribute to academic scholarship, and create sustainable value across government, public institutions, private organizations, and international agencies.

Program at a glance

Total Credit Hours

63 Credit Hours

Duration

4 Years

Instruction Language

English & Arabic

Tuition Fees

86,625 AED/Yearly

Quality assured

Accreditations

Accredited by CAA

Program Director

Credit breakdown

Program Structure

Course Category	Total Number of Courses	Total Number of Credit Hours
Core Courses	8	27
Elective Courses	2	6
Comprehensive Exam	–	0
Dissertation	–	30
Total	–	63 Credit Hours

Curriculum

Courses & Descriptions

General Education Courses

Bridging Courses

Core Business Courses

Core IT Courses

Core Courses

DLPA 701 Advanced Leadership Theories and Practices 3 CH

DLPA 700 / DBA 700 Advanced Research Methods in Business 6 CH

DLPA 705 AI-Driven Governance and Innovation in Public Sector 3 CH

DLPA 704 Crisis and Risk Management in Public Administration 3 CH

DLPA 703 Ethics, Integrity, and Governance 3 CH

DLPA 707 / DBA 707 Financial Decision-Making and Resource Allocation in Fiscal Stress 3 CH

DLPA 702 Public Policy Analysis and Design 3 CH

DLPA 706 / DBA 706 Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Cost Control, and Public Finance Leadership 3 CH

College Mathematics and Science Courses

Concentration Courses

Cybersecurity Engineering Core Courses

Mechatronics Engineering Core Courses

Engineering Core Courses

Thesis

Electives

DLPA 712 Collaborative Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement 3 CH

DLPA 711 Comparative Public Administration 3 CH

DLPA 708 Gender, Diversity, and Leadership 3 CH

DLPA 709 Sustainability and Resilience in Public Administration 3 CH

DLPA 710 Urban Planning and Infrastructure Development 3 CH

Comprehensive Exam

DLPA 720 Comprehensive Exam 0 CH

Dissertation

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Government CH

Crisis Leadership and Strategic Resilience CH

Future Leadership and Organizational Transformation CH

Global Governance and International Cooperation CH

Human Capital and Public Sector Innovation CH

Leadership for Government Excellence CH

Public Administration and National Competitiveness CH

Public Policy and Evidence-Based Decision-Making CH

Public Sector Ethics, Integrity and Accountability CH

Smart Cities and Future Government CH

Strategic Leadership in Education, Healthcare and Public Services CH

Sustainability, Governance and Public Value CH

Research Seminar

Basic Health Science Courses

College Core Courses

Clinical Placement Courses

Semester by semester

Study Plan

Year 1 18 credit hours

Fall 9 CH

Code	Course	CH
DLPA 700/DBA 700	Advanced Research Methods Core Courses	6
DLPA 701	Advanced Leadership Theories and Practices Core Courses	3

Spring 9 CH

Code	Course	CH
DLPA 702	Public Policy Analysis and Design Core Courses	3
DLPA 703	Ethics, Integrity, and Governance Core Courses	3
DLPA 704	Crisis and Risk Management in Public Administration Core Courses	3

Year 2 15 credit hours

Fall 9 CH

Code	Course	CH
DLPA 705	AI-Driven Governance and Innovation in Public Sector Core Courses	3
DLPA 706	Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Cost Control & Public Finance Leadership Core Courses	3
DLPA 707/DBA 707	Financial Decision-Making and Resource Allocation in Fiscal Stress Core Courses	3

Spring 6 CH

Code	Course	CH
—	Elective Course Elective	3
—	Elective Course Elective	3
DLPA 720	Comprehensive Exam	0

Year 3 30 credit hours

Dissertation 30 CH

Code	Course	CH
DLPA 800	Dissertation	30

Year 4 0 credit hours

Dissertation 0 CH

Code	Course	CH
DLPA 800	Dissertation	—

Total: 63 credit hours

What we aim for

Program Goals

To prepare scholars and professionals with advanced theoretical and practical expertise in leadership and public administration.
To develop critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills for addressing complex governance and administrative challenges.
To foster interdisciplinary and policy-oriented research that serves the national priorities of the United Arab Emirates and contributes to evidence-based leadership and governance.
To promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration in governance systems and leadership practice.
To provide advanced doctoral education that meets the needs of leadership and public administration sectors and contributes to evidence-based policy and practice.

What you will learn

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the DLPA, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of leadership theories, public administration frameworks, and their application in diverse organizational, governmental, and policy contexts.
Conduct original and impactful research addressing regional and global governance, leadership, and public administration challenges.
Develop innovative, evidence-based solutions to complex public-sector and organizational challenges.
Exhibit ethical, transparent, inclusive, and accountable leadership and public administrative practice.
Evaluate and influence policy initiatives that advance sustainable development and societal well-being.
Collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders to address regional and global governance challenges.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Doctoral program must satisfy all of the following requirements:

Master’s degree in business administration; leadership and public administration; or a closely related field from a MOHESR-recognized institution.
Minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
English language proficiency demonstrated through:
- IELTS minimum score of 5.0 or TOEFL iBT minimum score of 45 for students in the Arabic language program.
- IELTS minimum score of 6.5 or TOEFL iBT minimum score of 91 for students in the English language program.
Research proposal (1,500-2,000 words) articulating the candidate’s intended research focus and demonstrating capacity for doctoral-level inquiry.
Two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references attesting to the candidate’s research potential and scholarly capability.
Successful performance in an admission interview conducted by the doctoral admissions committee assessing research readiness, intellectual curiosity, and fit with program objectives.

When can I join?

Three intakes every year

Students can join at the beginning of any semester.

Intake 01

September

Fall Semester

Intake 02

January

Spring Semester

Intake 03

May

Summer Semester

Keep exploring

Explore Other Programs

Program

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Doctorate in Leadership and Public Administration

About the Program

63 Credit Hours

4 Years

English & Arabic

86,625 AED/Yearly

Accreditations

Program Structure

Courses & Descriptions

Study Plan

Program Goals

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

Three intakes every year

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

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