Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
EUR 50,000 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
Blended, Distance Learning
* rolling admissions
Introduction
Founded in 1993, The DBA program from Grenoble Ecole de Management is the most experienced DBA in Europe. It offers senior managers, independent consultants, and academics the opportunity to leverage their careers and/or to make a transition into academia. The program is for those seeking to link corporate experience to rigorous and relevant research. It connects the business and research communities to enact change and foster progress through original and publishable research work.
Our DBA approach leads to intellectual contributions, as demonstrated by our students and graduates’ outstanding publication records. As a triple-accredited business school (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS), Grenoble Ecole de Management has designed a program that fits executives’ needs with the highest quality standards: we see the DBA program as a true research-based degree.
Global Cohort Options: France & USA
The program includes two or three on-campus Research Seminars (depending on location selection), live online Workshops & Seminars, qualifying deliverables and milestones, and a final dissertation. Join one of our strategic international cohorts while following the program from anywhere in the world:
- DBA France: Paris - Grenoble - Online
- DBA USA: Los Angeles - Paris - Grenoble - Online
Specialization in Year 3
During Year 3 of the DBA program, candidates participate in a specialization track. The specializations are not required to be aligned with the student's own research topic but are rather an opportunity to gain further research experience by producing and presenting academic-level work and learning about cutting-edge research. Tracks include:
- Specialization in Sustainability
- Specialization in Managing Technology and Innovation
- Specialization in Managing and Leading People
Admissions
Curriculum
During the course of the program and with training, DBA candidates will demonstrate their ability to conduct original investigations, including the capacity to test, apply, and examine their ideas and those of others, and to describe and understand the relationships existing between their specific areas of expertise/research topic and other bodies of knowledge. Candidates will be required to identify current organizational or societal issues and propose relevant solutions that combine management theory with practice in the field.
Phase I
Philosophy, Methods, and Tools (~16 months, part-time study)
DBA students start by learning methods and techniques for research design, data collection, and data analysis in order to conduct, analyze, author, and publish research that meets doctoral standards. Students complete a series of research training seminars and workshops that are held Online, in France, or in the United States.
Each seminar is followed by the delivery of a written document showing student progress: a Research Proposal (Seminar1), a Literature Review (Seminar 2), a Dissertation Proposal (Seminar 3)
Between seminars, and under the direction of doctoral supervisors, students periodically submit written reports stating their progress, highlighting work on the literature review, research design, and/or research fieldwork. In order to proceed to Phase II, students are required to produce three pieces of written work:
- A Research Proposal (±2,000words)
- A Literature Review (± 10,000 words); and
- A Pre-Dissertation Proposal (±15,000 words).
The Pre-Dissertation Proposal is subject to an oral defense before a panel. A successful oral defense results in the awarding of the Certificate in Research in Management Sciences and authorizes entry into Phase II.
Phase II
Dissertation (~20 months, part-time study)
The DBA research and thesis portion of the program consists primarily of individual research under the supervision of a qualified professor with expertise in the relevant discipline of management scholarship.
During Phase II, DBA candidates are required to collect and analyze data following a rigorous academic protocol. Data collection and analysis will lead to the presentation and write-up of results, and the production of a final dissertation document in preparation for the final Phase II oral defense. The DBA dissertation should provide substantial evidence of original scholarship that meets requisite doctoral and publication-quality standards, with relevant contributions proposed for society and business.
Specializations
Students will have the opportunity to choose one of three specialization tracks, in Phase 2 of their studies:
- Sustainability
- Managing Technology and Innovation
- Managing and Leading People
The specialization tracks will give the students the opportunity to learn from our expert faculty members about cutting-edge research in the specific specialization, and its impact and applications in today's organizations and society.
The specializations are not required to be aligned with the student's own research topic; rather they are an opportunity to enrich the student's knowledge and expertise in important organizational and managerial issues.
The specialization will consist of a series of webinars (8 in total) during year 3 of the program, at the end of which students will work in small groups on a conference paper where they will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and own reflection on the topic with either an academic or a practitioner community.
Gallery
Program Outcome
DBA Impact
The DBA program enables students to:
- Understand state-of-the-art research in their fields of study
- Acquire the necessary understanding and expertise in methods and techniques for research design, data collection, and data analysis
- Conduct, write, and disseminate high-quality, doctoral-level research
- Achieve a greater level of effectiveness as a professional practitioner in managing technology, innovation, and change;
- Gain legitimacy as researchers and faculty members in both academic and non-academic environments
Scholarships and Funding
Financing your DBA
The DBA is a self-financed program. The tuition fees are divided into yearly payments for your convenience. We are a part-time, executive-level program and do not offer full-ride scholarships. We do, however, offer modest scholarships to early applicants based on their overall application and motivational essay.
Talking to Your Employer about Sponsorship
For many students, obtaining sponsorship from their organization is an option. Discuss with your employer how your enhanced skills and project goals could align with your company’s objectives.
Scholarships
Scholarships may be awarded to outstanding, self-funded applicants. The scholarships are in the amount of 5k euros (DBA France) or 6k USD (DBA USA), divided over the 3-year program.
To apply for the scholarship, please submit a one-page essay explaining why you would benefit from the scholarship and how the subject will contribute to your field and/or society. The scholarship request must be submitted along with your application documents for our Admissions board to review. Scholarships may be offered to early applicants only and not past June 19.
Program Tuition Fee
Ideal Students
The DBA Profile
DBA program candidates are recruited from all over the world and come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Generally, they are high-level professionals, such as managers or executives with advanced degrees in business disciplines.
We request a Master's degree or equivalent, fluency in English and at least 5 years of managerial experience. For the application, we ask our candidates to write a preliminary research proposal.
Career Opportunities
The DBA program at GEM offers senior managers, independent consultants, and senior academics the opportunity to leverage their careers and/or to make a transition into the highest levels of academia. The DBA is a degree for those seeking to link corporate experience to rigorous and relevant research.
The DBA acts as a lever for rewarding careers. For students and graduates, there is an opportunity to launch or reinforce careers. Our DBA graduates hold full-time and part-time faculty positions in accredited schools and share their experiences through pedagogy and research.
Those working in commercial or public organizations benefit from new legitimacy as recognized experts in their fields.
Our DBA Graduates teach in universities such as:
- Yale University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Temple University Fox School of Business
- Menlo College
- California State University, Fresno
- Brooklyn College
- Central Michigan University
- Bridgewater College, Virginia
- University of North Georgia
- Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University
- Lebanese American University
- Kaiser University
- University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
- CalPoly Pomona School of Hospitality Management
- California State University Channel Islands
- UNC Kenan-Flager Business School
Facilities
Student Testimonials
Accreditations
Why study at Grenoble Ecole de Management
Excellence in Research
In addition to our triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), this top, accredited doctoral degree is an AACSB-recognized terminal degree for future faculty. With more than 1,400 intellectual contributions to business practices, our DBA alumni have created a significant impact in numerous fields.
A Global Community of Scholars
With DBA locations in France and the USA and 30 years of DBA experience, Grenoble Ecole de Management continues to build an active international network that includes more than 600 DBA alumni and students.
A Program Made for Experienced Managers
The DBA program is organized into seminars, workshops, and research activities taking place on campus and online. Coursework and content are delivered according to a part-time schedule that meets the needs and constraints of working professionals.
Program delivery
- Format: 3 years, part-time (with both online and on-site seminars, workshops, qualifying deliverables, and a final dissertation)
- Grenoble or Paris or Los Angeles or Online/hybrid
- Duration: 3 years (5 years maximum)
English Language Requirements
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Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.