GEM’s Global DBA supports experienced professionals from the development of their research project through to the final oral defense. This part-time Doctor of Business Administration combines four Core Research Seminars, eight online Applied Workshops, optional Advanced Research Masterclasses, and individual doctoral supervision.

The program has two phases: first, you develop and defend your research proposal; then, you conduct, write, and defend your original doctoral dissertation. Throughout the programme, your dissertation supervisor provides personalised guidance on your research and final defense.

Program at a Glance

• 4 Core Research Seminars: Intensive, one-week, in-person sessions focused on research design, literature review, data collection, and data analysis
• 8 Online Applied Workshops: Two-hour sessions linked to specific doctoral milestones and research outputs
• Up to 6 Advanced Research Masterclasses: Optional sessions on contemporary research topics and methods
• Individual doctoral supervision: Receive personalized academic guidance from day one through to your final dissertation defense
• 2 research phases: Develop and defend your dissertation proposal, then conduct, write, and defend your original doctoral research
• An original doctoral dissertation: Approximately 45,000 to 50,000 words, followed by an oral defense before an examination panel

Research Skills You Will Develop

Throughout the Global DBA, you will develop the research capabilities needed to conduct and communicate original applied research in management.

The DBA curriculum is organized into two complementary phases. Together, they represent approximately three years of study and structure your progress from defining your research project to defending your doctoral dissertation.

The four Core Research Seminars guide you through the major stages of doctoral research. They combine methodological learning, faculty guidance, and peer learning.

Seminars are delivered at GEM’s Grenoble and Paris campuses and may also take place through selected Global Hubs in Europe, the Americas, Asia, or the MENA region. Available locations depend on the cohort and intake year.

The eight Applied Workshops are focused, two-hour online sessions designed to help you progress through key doctoral milestones and produce concrete research outputs.

They provide practical support from implementing your research proposal to preparing for your final dissertation defense. Across the workshop series, you develop your academic writing, clarify your theoretical and managerial contributions, and strengthen your ability to communicate research to scholarly and practitioner audiences.

During the program, you may attend up to six Advanced Research Masterclasses. These optional sessions are available at GEM campuses, selected Global Hub locations, and online.

Masterclasses draw on GEM’s research strengths and the expertise available across the Global Hub network. They provide opportunities to engage with contemporary management research, emerging methods, and perspectives beyond your individual dissertation topic.

Through the Advanced Research Masterclasses, you can:

• Explore research topics beyond your dissertation focus
• Discover advanced methods and emerging approaches in management research
• Learn from faculty experts across multiple management disciplines
• Expand your academic and professional perspective through international exchange

Program content and locations are subject to change.

From day one, you work with a research-active dissertation supervisor whose expertise is relevant to your research topic. This individual doctoral supervision helps you structure your thinking, develop your project, and maintain a rigorous research approach throughout the program.

Your supervisor supports you through the key stages of your doctoral research:

• Defining and refining your research question
• Designing and adapting your research methodology
• Preparing data collection and analysis
• Interpreting findings
• Writing and revising your doctoral dissertation
• Preparing for your final dissertation defense

This support is aligned with your research topic, professional context, and the contribution you aim to make to management knowledge and practice.

Learn more about Research at GEM

Global DBA Student & Alumni Profiles

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

2021-2024 Intakes

Sectors of Activity

GEM Global DBA graduates achieve remarkable career outcomes across all hub regions, holding positions at:

Who Should Apply?

Rolling application deadlines – Apply now for November 2026 intake!

• Session 1: February 17
• Session 2: March 24
• Session 3: May 5
• Session 4: May 26
• Session 5: June 23*
• Session 6: July 14
• Session 7: Sept 7

Applicants are reviewed by the academic admissions board and notified within two weeks of each rolling application deadline.

*Scholarship Deadline is June 23. Please submit a one page motivational letter along with your application.

Program Investment

Total Tuition: €60,000 for 3 years

• Year 1: €20,000 (50% deposit upon acceptance)
• Year 2: €20,000
• Year 3: €20,000
• Extension: €6,000 per additional semester if needed

Tuition fees do not include travel, accommodation, and visa expenses for in-person seminars at France campuses and hub locations.

Merit Scholarships: Up to €6,000 available for qualified early applicants, based on application strength and motivational essay, divided across 3-year program

Alumni Discount: Special tuition reduction for GEM graduates (MBA, MSc, MIB programs)

Employer Sponsorship: Many students secure organizational funding

Join an international community of more than 800 Global DBA students and alumni. Alongside the programme’s core curriculum—Core Research Seminars, Online Applied Workshops, individual supervision, and doctoral research—the Global DBA offers optional opportunities for international exchange, peer connection, and research dissemination.

From your first seminar to your final oral defense, you will engage with internationally recognised faculty, exchange ideas with fellow practitioners, and contribute original research that advances management theory and practice.

The Global DBA brings together experienced professionals, researchers, and practitioners from diverse industries, professions, and regions. You will develop your research within an international doctoral community while building relationships that can continue beyond graduation.

The program combines a shared academic framework with opportunities for regional and virtual exchange, helping you explore management questions through different business, organizational, and cultural perspectives.

GEM’s Global DBA includes hub locations in France, Europe, North America, Asia, and the MENA region. Core Research Seminars are delivered at GEM’s Grenoble and Paris campuses and may also take place at selected Global Hubs, depending on the cohort and intake year.

Global Hubs enrich the Global DBA through optional opportunities to learn, connect, and exchange ideas with peers, faculty, alumni, and local professional communities.

Alongside the core Global DBA curriculum, participants can take part in optional in-person, virtual, and regional activities. These opportunities complement, rather than replace, the required Core Research Seminars, Online Applied Workshops, individual doctoral supervision, and independent doctoral research.

The Global DBA supports you in sharing doctoral research with academic and professional audiences. You can present work in progress at the Global DBA Conference, receive feedback from peers and faculty, and explore opportunities to contribute to relevant international academic conferences.

Each doctoral dissertation includes a dedicated focus on managerial implications, helping translate research findings into practical recommendations for organisations. This focus on research impact is central to the Global DBA: producing rigorous, original research that informs management practice.

The Doctoral Knowledge Community Blog enables Global DBA students, alumni, and faculty to share research insights, methodological reflections, and practical applications.

By contributing to the community, you can develop your thought-leadership profile, communicate your research beyond the dissertation, and engage in conversations relevant to your field of practice.

Read about the Global DBA experience from those who have made it!​

The GEM Doctoral Knowledge Community Blog features over 50 testimonials and insights from DBA alumni, current students, and PhD candidates. These stories inspire prospective candidates, provide practical guidance for current doctoral students, and demonstrate real-world research applications across diverse industries.

Alumni Voices

Info Session Replays

Access replays of our information sessions to explore the Global DBA in detail, including its objectives, structure, and participant profiles. These sessions allow you to discover the program at your own pace, hear participant testimonials, and get clear answers to your questions!

Have Questions?

Feel free to contact our DBA advisors and faculty with any questions about the program and how it fits your research goals.

alumni panels, masterclasses, info sessions and more!

Sign up for upcoming webinars and view the replays of those you missed! Meet the alumni and faculty and learn more about the program.