Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
- Grenoble, France
- Paris, France
DBA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Sep 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Nov 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, Blended
* rolling admissions
Key Summary
What is the Global DBA?
The Doctor of Business Administration (Global DBA) is a professional doctoral degree for experienced executives, managers, and consultants who want to solve complex organizational challenges through academic research. Unlike a traditional PhD, the DBA emphasizes practical application, allowing you to conduct research directly relevant to your industry while maintaining your career.
From day one, participants begin working on their research with guidance from subject matter experts who provide personalized supervision throughout the program. The program is designed to support long-term research projects that are highly relevant to management practice and grounded in current scientific knowledge. It connects the business and research communities to drive change and foster progress through original, publishable research.
Program Highlights
- Complete a 3-year part-time doctorate (extendable to 5 years) while maintaining your full-time career
- Study across Global Hubs in France, Europe, North America, Asia, and MENA through 4 in-person, week-long core research seminars, online applied workshops, and advanced research masterclasses
- Join an international cohort of executives building a truly global professional network
- Earn a terminal degree from a top research-ranked, triple-accredited business school (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS)
- Participate in optional Advanced Research Masterclasses drawing from Global Hub expertise and networks
Why Choose the Global DBA from GEM?
- Learn from Internationally Recognized Scholars:
Benefit from experienced supervision from day one. Access cutting-edge methodologies and publication opportunities throughout your journey. All DBA supervisors are experienced business scholars, giving you the latest approaches and techniques in your field. - Experience Diverse Business Contexts:
Study across multiple continents through our global hub network in France, Europe, North America, Asia, and MENA. Gain diverse regional business perspectives while building an international professional network that spans the globe. - Connect with the DBA Community:
Join an active community through regional networking events, global conferences at rotating hub locations, and hub-based research collaborations. Engage with a network of scholars and practitioners who share your commitment to rigorous, impactful research. - Benefit from 30+ Years of Excellence:
As Europe’s DBA pioneer, GEM has produced 500+ intellectual contributions to business practice through DBA alumni publications, conference presentations, and applied research since 1993. - Access Comprehensive Research Support:
Access specialized statistical software, extensive e-library resources, business databases, and publication guidance to support your doctoral journey and ensure research excellence. - Earn a Globally Recognized Terminal Degree:
Graduate with credentials recognized worldwide by top universities and leading corporations. As a terminal degree from a triple-accredited business school (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), the DBA opens doors in both academia and industry.
Program Structure
The GEM Global DBA places a strong emphasis on research methodology while allowing you to tailor your work to your interests and career goals.
Throughout the program, you will:
- Conduct original investigations that test or challenge existing ideas and create new knowledge
- Connect your research to broader bodies of knowledge
- Address real organizational or societal issues by integrating theory and practice
- Master rigorous research design, data collection, and data analysis techniques
- Produce and disseminate high-quality doctoral-level research
- Build credibility as an expert in academic and professional contexts
The DBA curriculum is structured in two phases designed for working professionals:
Phase I: Research Foundations
Master doctoral-level research methodology through seminars and workshops at GEM campuses and international hub locations:
- Research design and data collection techniques
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis methods
- Academic writing and literature review
- Research ethics and philosophy
Deliverables:
- Preliminary Research Proposal (±2,000 words)
- Literature Review (±10,000 words)
- Dissertation Proposal (±15,000 words)
Successfully defend your Pre-Dissertation Proposal to earn the Certificate in Research in Management Sciences and advance to Phase II.
Phase II: Dissertation Research
Conduct original research under expert supervision:
- Individual research project with practical applications
- Data collection and rigorous analysis
- Dissertation writing (±60,000 words, publication-quality standards)
- Final oral defense before examination panel
Program Content
4 Core Research Seminars
The four core research seminars guide you step by step from foundational research philosophy and design through to data collection and analysis, with sessions delivered across GEM’s Grenoble and Paris campuses, Online or at Global Hub locations to enrich your dissertation journey with diverse international contexts.
8 Applied Workshops
These online Applied Workshops are short, focused 2‑hour sessions that help you turn your research plan into concrete outputs at each key milestone of the program. They guide you step by step from implementing your research proposal, through preparing and defending your dissertation proposal, to writing up and communicating your final thesis.
Across the workshop series, you build practical skills in academic writing, articulating theoretical and managerial contributions, and presenting your work convincingly to both scholarly and practitioner audiences.
6 Advanced Research Masterclasses
Throughout the program, students may choose to attend up to six Advanced Research Masterclasses at any stage of their studies. These sessions draw on local expertise at our Global Hubs and GEM’s research strengths to expose you to frontier research and broaden your intellectual horizons.
Masterclasses are offered in person at GEM and Global Hub locations, as well as online, and are not required to align directly with your dissertation topic. They provide opportunities to:
- Gain exposure to diverse research topics beyond your dissertation focus
- Learn cutting-edge techniques in leading management research
- Engage with faculty experts across multiple disciplines
1-on-1 Continuous Supervision
Ongoing support from internationally recognized scholars who guide your research development throughout the program, providing personalized feedback and expertise aligned with your research focus.
Research Excellence
- Top 1% of business schools globally to be triple-accredited (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS)
- Member of the Executive DBA Council (EDBAC) and the European Doctoral Programs Association (EDAMBA) – the premier associations for executive doctoral programs worldwide
- CEO Magazine Top DBA Listing 2025
- Ranked Top 5 in Research - Shanghai 2025 Ranking
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
Visit our website for scholarship and financing information.
The DBA Profile
- Senior managers and executives with 5+ years of experience
- Independent consultants seeking academic credibility
- Experienced professionals looking to work part-time in academia
- Global leaders addressing complex organizational challenges across regions
The DBA Profile
DBA Student & Alumni Profiles
(2021-2024 Intakes)
Our diverse international cohort brings rich professional experience to the program:
- Average age: 44 years
- Female representation: 40%
- Geographic diversity: 46% from North America, with students from France, Switzerland, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and 25+ other countries
Career Outcomes
65% Work in Industry
Across diverse sectors including technology, consulting, financial services, and manufacturing
35% Work in Education
Reflecting strong academic pathways at top universities worldwide
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. Our DBA alumni have created a significant impact in numerous fields.
A Global Community of Scholars
With Global Hubs across the world and 30 years of DBA experience, GEM continues to build an active international network that includes more than 800 DBA alumni and students.
A Program Made for Experienced Managers
The Global 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.
- Format: 3 years, part-time (with both online and on-site seminars, workshops, qualifying deliverables, and a final dissertation)
- Global Hubs: France, Europe, MENA, North America, Asia
- Duration: 3 years (5 years maximum)