Executive PhD in Business Management

Core methodological courses lay a rigorous foundation of state-of-the-art analytical techniques, research methodologies, theoretical lenses, and a focus on net positive business. You then deepen your expertise through specialised modules and mentoring, exploring emerging ideas and building mastery in your chosen field. 

Your journey culminates in a PhD dissertation, developed in close collaboration with EDHEC’s world-class faculty, who provide tailored, one-to-one guidance on research with both academic depth and strategic industry relevance. 

This individualised mentorship empowers you to shape a research agenda fully aligned with your professional ambitions and establish yourself as a future thought leader.

Year 1: Foundations of Research & Net-Positive Business

Each participant benefits from structured supervision, continuous feedback and structured progression milestones, ensuring both academic rigour and steady progression throughout the programme.

Main Topics:

• Management Research for Net Positive Business 
• Theory Development in Management Research 
• Fundamentals of Qualitative Research​ 
• Qualitative and Mixed Research Methods
• Fundamentals of Quantitative Research 

• Basic Quantitative Analysis

   

Year 2 and Year 3: Specialisation & Advanced Research Methods  

Deepen expertise and specialisation through tailored  courses and high-impact research bootcamps.​ 

Main Topics:

• Advanced Quantitative Analysis
• Case Study and Action Research
• Phenomenological and Interpretive Research

• Unstructured Data Analysis

   

Year 4: Dissertation & Contribution to Practice

• The dissertation is a bridge between scholarship   and managerial practice - generating insights that are both scholarly robust and managerially relevant, and  that extend across organisations, industries, and beyond. 

Year 1 and Year 2

You will take part in six immersive residential sessions across EDHEC’s Lille, Paris, and Nice campuses (September, January, and April). 

These intensive modules build a strong foundation in research design and analytical methods, guided by EDHEC’s internationally recognised faculty. 

Year 2 and Year 3

You will deepen your expertise through tailored specialisation courses and high-impact research bootcamps led by leading international scholars in your field. These experiences strengthen your methodological knowledge and prepare you to contribute new insights to both academia and practice. 

Year 4

Finalisation of the dissertation and defence.

Beyond coursework, participants are actively integrated into the research community, attending and preparing for cutting-edge research seminars, doctoral conferences and receiving individual mentorship from their dedicated EDHEC supervisor. 

Each academic year concludes with a formal review meeting, where participants present their research progress, receive in-depth feedback from their supervisors, and refine their roadmap for the year ahead.

• Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Operations - Innovation, resilience, and long-term value creation

  Net positive business models, innovation and foresight, and digital technologies and transformation, circular economy models, supply chain resilience, international business, human–machine interaction.

   

• Marketing - Responsible marketing in digital and AI‑driven markets

  Consumer behaviour, AI‑powered analytics, digital platforms, branding, pricing, services, health and wellbeing, and sustainable marketing.

   

• Management & Humanities - Leadership, ethics, and societal impact

  Leadership, organisational behaviour, careers, wellbeing, sustainability, business ethics, whistleblowing, AI ethics, and geopolitical influences on business.

   

• Accounting, Control & Law - Governance, regulation, and accountability

  Financial and non financial reporting, auditing and compliance, management control systems, corporate and tax law, business and human rights, and the impact of AI on legal and governance frameworks.

   

• Economics & Finance - Finance, markets, and data‑driven

  Asset pricing, investment management, corporate finance, financial econometrics, machine learning, and climate related financial risks.

The faculty fosters a co-creation approach to research and provides the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring academics and industry experts.

At EDHEC, research goes beyond theory — you actively create, shape, and experience it firsthand. You are invited to join projects that bridge insight and impact.

This hands-on approach gives participants direct access to cutting-edge thinking, while actively shaping solutions with tangible impact. By working side-by-side with thought leaders in their fields, participants accelerate their research capabilities, grow high-value professional networks, and generate ideas with immediate potential for business growth and innovation. 

This journey opens doors to emerging topics reshaping global business strategy — from AI-powered decision-making and net-positive business models to digital ecosystems and platform-based value creation. 

This Executive PhD is more than research. It is co-creating the future of business with impact.

A master’s degree or equivalent is required (a graduate-level qualification recognized internationally.)

This includes: MBA (Master of Business Administration), MSc or Master in Management, other postgraduate degrees in relevant fields such as marketing, strategy, leadership or operations.
 

Yes. Holding an MBA is an excellent foundation for pursuing an Executive PhD. 

Any program with a strong business focus—such as marketing, strategy, leadership, or operations—can be a suitable pathway.
 

The Executive PhD in Business Management takes 40 months, structured around coursework, research seminars, and dissertation work. 

Research experience is useful but not required. 

The focus is on applying rigorous research methods to real-world business challenges, so prior research experience is not expected. 

The program provides comprehensive training in research methods and academic writing.
 

EDHEC Business School has designed its Executive PhD programme in line with international academic standards and awards a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). 

The Executive PhD programme is tailored to executive needs, but offers all the academic rigour of a traditional PhD. 

An Executive PhD combines academic rigor with practical application. 

Unlike a traditional PhD, it is designed for senior professionals who want to address real-world business challenges through evidence-based research. 

It emphasizes original research and scholarly contribution.
 

The program is intended for senior executives, consultants, and professionals in transition who hold a master’s degree and seek to create strategic impact through research.

The program is a part-time format, crafted to be pursued in parallel with an active career, without compromising the depth of doctoral-level work.

Classes are delivered on campus (e.g., Lille, Paris, Nice) with some additional online components. Participants attend 6 in-person residential sessions.

It enhances strategic thinking, expands influence, and positions you as a thought leader capable of shaping business and policy decisions.

You will conduct purposeful, evidence-based research aligned with your professional challenges, aiming to create a net-positive business impact.