The DBA in 10 Key Points

Page last updated on 22/10/2026

1. Why did Business Science Institute create the Executive DBA programme?

To meet the demand of experienced executives qualified to MBA level (or equivalent) who wish to take a step back from their work, reflect on their management practice, write a thesis and publish it in the form of a book. This internationally AMBA-accredited programme is delivered either face-to-face or online in French, English, German and Spanish.

 

2. What is Business Science Institute?

The Business Science Institute is an international network-based academic organisation headquartered at the Château de Wiltz in Luxembourg. It awards a DBA specifically designed for managers. Since January 2025, it has been affiliated with the IGENSIA Education Group.

It brings together 251 international professors who, collectively, have supervised several hundred doctoral candidates and published thousands of articles and books over the course of their careers.This faculty constitutes an international network of highly experienced professors who are available and committed to working with management practitioners on a wide range of topics. 

The Business Science Institute awards its doctoral candidates, who are practising managers, a Certificate of Research in Business Administration (CRBA) upon completion of the first phase of the programme, and the Business Science Institute Executive DBA upon successful completion of their doctoral thesis defence. Since 2020, this degree has been internationally accredited by AMBA (UK) and, since 2023, the Institute has been certified as a “Responsible Doctoral School” by IRAFPA (Switzerland). These distinctions are quality benchmarks, as few DBA programmes benefit from such international recognition.

Depending on the option selected, graduates also receive a DBA awarded by one of the Institute’s academic partners, notably Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), ICN Business School (both institutions holding AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS accreditations), or Université Paris-Saclay (ranked as the leading European university in the Shanghai Ranking).

It should be noted that, under Luxembourg law, the Business Science Institute Executive DBA is a continuing professional education qualification and is therefore not eligible for registration in Luxembourg’s register of academic titles.

3. What is the duration of the Executive DBA programme?

The Executive DBA programme is structured into three distinct phases over a four-year period, with the aim of defending the doctoral thesis at the end of the programme. Subject to a specific procedure, the thesis defence may take place after three years.

  • Phase 1 is devoted to five three-day seminars (15 days in total), each providing students with key methodologies and concepts,
  • Phase 2 focuses on data collection under the supervision of a thesis director, with students benefitting from the contribution of a two-day Impact Seminar and three one-day follow-up seminars,
  • Phase 3 is devoted to the writing of the thesis and the public defence in front of an international panel of examiners. Students receive invaluable support for the thesis writing process through 3 one-day follow-up seminars per year in Years 3 and 4.

Taught seminars are currently held in 10 locations in Europe, Africa, Asia and remotely for participants regardless of their location.

Each year an International Seminar is held in Luxembourg or an international capital. It brings together doctoral students, alumni and professors for workshops, Certificate of Research in Business Administration presentations, DBA thesis defences and our Graduation Ceremony.

4. What sets the Business Science Institute’s Executive DBA programme apart?

  • An exceptional faculty team in terms of size (60), diversity, and quality who understand that a DBA is based on managerial practices, conceptual hindsight, and impact-generating recommendations,
  • Individual follow-up at a distance and responsiveness provided by both the support team and our professors. This also explains the remarkably high thesis defence success rate (75%): one of our alumni notes in the book “80 tales of DBA Impact” that he had 60 meetings with professors during his DBA! You have the possibility of having 48 follow-up interviews and of presenting your project 12 times in front of a jury. Follow-up is the key factor in the success of your thesis.
  • A unique collection of books (75) dedicated to the DBA written by professors and doctors.
  • International recognition linked to the presence of Business Science Institute in the international accreditation and ranking processes. Our DBA is accredited by AMBA and ranked globally by the Dubai Ranking. 
  • An active and rapidly-growing alumni association, plus the possibility of Associate Researcher status from the Business Science Institute for publishing doctors.

5. What are the tuition fees for the programme?

The Business Science Institute offers several options for its Executive DBA:

  • the standard program at €27,500;
  • the double degree with ICN Business School at €30,000;
  • the double degree with Paris-Saclay at €37,500;
  • the double degree with Manchester Metropolitan University at €37,500;

The availability of double-degree options depends on the DBA format selected. Participants are therefore invited to consult the dedicated pages for the specialised DBA programmes, the Online DBA, or the Face-to-Face DBA for detailed information.

All programmes include supervision by a thesis director, regular research feedback sessions, and can be followed either in person or online in several languages. Fees are payable in two instalments (one before the start and one after 12 months), plus a non-refundable application fee of €175.

6. What is the difference between the Business Science Institute Executive DBA and a PhD?

The Business Science Institute Executive DBA is grounded in specific executive managerial experiences, offering privileged access to the field where management practices can be observed, and the study of academic literature used to underpin these observations. As such, managerial recommendations are an extremely important part of the programme.

The objective of Business Science Institute is to develop a new generation of thesis. A traditional PhD is characterized by an exclusively academic orientation. A DBA covers simultaneously the experience of the doctoral student, an academic perspective and managerial recommendations.

This is why Business Science Institute focuses on the realization of true DBA theses that generate managerial impact. It is also for this reason that we created the DBA Managerial Impact Business Science Institute-Xerfi-IQSOG Award, and the online DBA Impact(s) journal to support us in sharing the impact of theses defended by our graduates.

We actively encourage books resulting from DBA theses to be published by our Doctors in the Business Science Institute collection at EMS Editions.

7. Who is this programme intended for?

  • This programme is specifically destined for practising professionals qualified to MBA level (or equivalent) and with at least five years of managerial experience,
  • The average age of the 222 enrolled doctoral students is 46 years old,
  • Managers, business executives, consultants, business school educators and practitioners are enrolled on the programme.

8. Can I obtain two DBA degrees through the programme?

Yes. Depending on the programme selected, participants may obtain a double doctoral degree.

Business Science Institute offers several Executive DBA pathways developed in partnership with leading academic institutions. When enrolling, candidates may choose the standard Executive DBA programme or a double degree pathway in collaboration with one of our partners.

Upon successful completion of the programme and approval by the joint academic jury, participants receive the Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Business Science Institute and, depending on the chosen programme, a DBA qualification awarded by the partner institution, including Manchester Metropolitan University, ICN ARTM Business School, or Université Paris-Saclay.

9. What title will I be able to add to my business card should I successfully complete my thesis?

Regulations may vary from one country to another.

Executive Doctor of Business Administration or Doctor of Business Administration, after your name.

10. What is the first step in starting the application procedure?

Take a look at the videos of the Business Science Institute and send your CV to cv@business-science-institute.com to get some advice and feedback concerning your profile, your eligibility, and your chances of successfully enrolling on the programme.