Toulouse School of Management TSM
Doctoral Programme in Management
Toulouse, France
PhD
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
03 Apr 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 255 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* The application period round 1 will open from 8 December, 2025 to 9 January, 2026. Results will be published on 16 February 2026. The application period round 2 will start on 9 March 2026. Results will be published on 22 May 2026.
** https://tsm-education.fr/en/doctoral-programme/admissions/tuitions-and-funding
Key Summary
Do you want to deepen your understanding of how management is practiced?
Are you willing to inspire new thinking through teaching and research?
And make an impact on management policies?
Toulouse School of Management offers an intensive Doctoral Programme for individuals interested in conducting independent research. Fully taught in English, our Programme combines the best of theory, practice, and research methods with scholarly integrity. The courses are accompanied by research practice. Graduates pursue careers in leading universities and business schools, policy-oriented institutions, and private firms.
An EFMD-accredited Programme
In 2026, The Doctoral Programme has been EFMD-reaccredited for a maximum of 5 years; It is one of the few doctoral level programmes in the world to be EFMD accredited. This international accreditation delivered by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) certifies the high quality of the TSM Doctoral Programme.
It highlights the TSM academic rigor and excellence, employability, internationalization, and research that underpins the Programme. The continuous improvement that this accreditation requires means that you will benefit from international partnerships, and more opportunities to foster your research skills and network.
Five management sciences tracks
- Accounting, Auditing and Management Control
- Finance
- Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour
- Marketing
- Strategy and International Management
What to expect?
The TSM Doctoral Programme offers five in-depth fields of study, for a curriculum of unusual richness and breadth. Since the program enrolls only 10 to 20 new Ph.D. students each year, doctoral students thrive in an atmosphere of intellectual rigor and creative collaboration among students and faculty.
To follow international best practices, research at Toulouse School of Management begins in the second year of the Master, with a dedicated research programme, and during two years, the curriculum of the Doctoral programme emphasizes four essential areas of training for doctoral students:
- research tools and methodology
- in-depth study of their research field skills to conduct independent research leading to high-level publications
- career development
Benefits
- Engage with internationally renowned scholars
- Conference and research funding
- Robust training in conducting original and independent research
Opportunities
- Grant for international visiting positions
- Close supervision by international, research-driven, renowned faculty
- A vibrant European city
The TSM Doctoral Programme is a boutique programme, focusing on small cohorts, close collaboration between students and faculty, and offering high quality courses and administration. This intensive programme is designed for individuals interested in conducting independent research, and our goal is to prepare students in the best possible way for their future roles in academia or in policy institutions, research organizations and private companies.
TSM Doctoral Programme is one of few of doctoral programmes that are EFMD accredited. Around 110 full-time faculty members provide doctoral supervision in a wide range of research topics.
TSM Doctoral Programme is directly affiliated with the TSM Research centre (UMR 5303 CNRS / TSM-UT1), and partners with two other research laboratories based in Toulouse: The Laboratoire Gouvernance et Contrôle Organisationnel (EA 7416 / Université Paul Sabatier) and TBS Research Centre, affiliated with the internationally accredited Toulouse Business School (TBS).
TSM Doctoral Programme is delivered 100% through the English language, and provides an international and inclusive environment to foster research expertise. Instruction is conducted on-site at our campus located in the center of Toulouse. While full-time presence in Toulouse is not necessary during all stages of the programme, PhD students must come to Toulouse to take classes (especially in the first and second year) and participate in events.
The first two years are dedicated to formal research training courses (lectures, seminars, workshops and meetings). At the same time, unlike many other PhD programmes, TSM Doctoral programme is flexible and gives you the opportunity to choose your own research topic, supervisor and research group.
The Master of Science, first year of the Doctoral Programme
TSM Doctoral Programme is a five-year programme and usually students receive a PhD under 5 years. To maintain a culture of collaboration throughout the programme, there are typically 30 to 35 students entering into the first year across all five disciplines. The first year, Master of Science, serves as a basis for doctoral contract selection and the transition into second year is conditional.
The goal of the first year of the Doctoral Programme is to provide students with the quantitative, analytical and theoretical tools for a successful academic or research oriented career. The students’ research programme and dissertation phase begin in March of the first year. Most students will start to define their core research interest and find a supervisor around this time. Students who successfully complete the first year of the Doctoral Programme are awarded a Master of Science and may choose to exit the programme at that point.
Years 2, 3 and 4 of the Doctoral Programme
Those students who wish to continue their PhD beyond the MSc year, can apply for one of approximately 10 University Toulouse Capitole (UT1) doctoral contracts that finance three years of PhD work. The doctoral contracts are awarded on the basis of academic merit and research project suitability. Alternatively, students continuing into the second year can secure other methods of funding, including work-study arrangements for PhD study such as CIFRE. During the second year of the Programme students dig further into ideas, theoretical models, methodology, and their research protocol, while working closely with their supervisors. These two years provide a solid foundation through intensive course work on which students can build their thesis project.
From the second year, most students gain teaching experience at the undergraduate and Master’s level. In addition, an annual conference travel and research support ensures that students can progress under good conditions and fully integrate into international research networks in their field. The year 3 and 4 of the Doctoral Programme are dedicated to original research and the development of a PhD dissertation. Some students require an additional fifth year to finish the PhD dissertation in which case a part time teaching contract with the University of Toulouse 1 Capitole (ATER contract) is generally signed.
With the support of their supervisor, this training immerses PhD candidates in all aspects of academic life. Students contribute through original research and presentations at academic conferences, organising seminars, teaching on undergraduate and occasionally postgraduate courses and contributing to management and academic decisions in the programme in which they teach. A student's workload is between 1,500 and 1,800 hours for an academic year. Both the pedagogical and the administrative teams are committed to delivering high-quality teaching and an exceptional working environment for students.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the programme, students should be able to:
- Recognise and validate original problems based on a theoretical foundation
- Develop and apply appropriate, innovative and persuasive methods for research projects
- Conduct critical and reflexive analysis of research findings, impacts and outcomes
- Provide relevant recommendations for practical problems encountered by organisations
- Actively work in an inclusive, respectful and constructive way with supervisors, researchers and their peers both within the institution and the wider international research community
- Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats with a range of audiences in formal and informal settings through a variety of different techniques and media
- Understand and apply the codes of conduct and guidelines for scientific rigour, integrity and ethics
- Teach and/or support student learning at undergraduate and graduate level
Are you an international student who wants to join TSM? The Eiffel Scholarship can make your plans financially sustainable. The Eiffel programme provides merit-based scholarships to foreign students who wish to study in France for a Master's or a PhD.
TSM will accept Eiffel scholarship applications at the Master level, but not at the PhD level.
The TSM Doctoral Programme is a 5-year Programme with the first year being an integrated MSc year (Master 2 Master of Science, Research) - the first year is a mandatory part of the Programme. Students write their PhD thesis in the following 4 years. It is therefore mandatory to choose the 'Master' category of Eiffel Bourse when applying for the Eiffel Bourse for entry to the TSM Doctoral Programme, which means that the age limit of 29 years applies.
To get the scholarship, you must apply directly to TSM. Our school will then send the pre-selected applications to Campus France. You will not be able to apply directly to Campus France.
Graduates pursue careers in leading universities and business schools, policy-oriented institutions, and private firms.
TSM, a French leading public School at affordable prices
Toulouse School of Management (TSM) is a French EQUIS-accredited public School of excellence in Management.
The EQUIS international accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) is a leading certification for Business and Management schools, and a testament to our dedication to excellence.
As a public institution, TSM offers excellent programmes in management, comparable to those offered by leading schools, but at much more affordable tuition fees.
A welcoming environment for students
At TSM, the quality of student life has always been a priority. Teachers, administrative staff and partners all strive to provide an exceptional educational experience that goes beyond academic excellence.
TSM has been awarded with 3 stars "Bienvenue en France" for its international outlook and the quality of reception for international students and has been awarded the HappyIndex®AtSchool label.
These two awards validates our ongoing efforts to put the happiness and success of our students at the heart of our concerns.
Toulouse, the French art of living!
TSM is located in Toulouse's bustling city center near shops, restaurants, cafes and all the entertainment of the fourth-largest city in France.
In southwest France, Toulouse is a vibrant metropolitan area attractive for the quality of education, quality of life and employment rate.
Our Commitments:
- Enabling students to be active and engaged learners in an innovative learning environment
- Training students with digital skills that suit the job market
- Developing international learning experience for your future exposure in a globalised economy
- Giving the benefit of professionnal preparation to ensure rapid and successful employability
- Providing access to high-quality programmes at an affordable public school price
- Offering research opportunities for students to cultivate problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Empowering students to establish startups and emerge as innovative leaders
TSM Summer University
Join TSM Summer University during 2 weeks and experience insightful courses taught by brilliant faculty in the amazing city of Toulouse, southern France.
Learn from and network with participants from different countries!