DU - Executive Doctorate in Business Administration (EDBA)

Key Strengths

• Applied research tailored to your educational and career goals in the business world, accompanied by extensive academic guidance.
• Small class size: cohorts are composed of a maximum of 18 senior candidates per major, each mentored by a senior researcher.
• Courses scheduled one weekend per month to allow you to study and work at the same time if you so choose.
• Mostly distance work, allowing you to continue to work while studying with an international faculty of academics and leading professionals.

FAQ

What is the Difference Between a PhD and an Executive DBA ?

In order to obtain a thesis, registration in a PhD program is mandatory.
A PhD typically takes three to five years following a master’s degree whether professional or research-oriented.
While the primary focus of a doctoral thesis is to produce academic knowledge, it is crucial to showcase a practical interest in organizational practices in the field of management sciences.

The Executive DBA program is geared towards professionals and emphasizes the practical application of knowledge in business affairs. The focus is on quickly integrating the knowledge produced into practical settings, so a strong theoretical background is not as necessary as it would be in a traditional PhD program.

 

Executive DBA vs PhD Differences: Executive Doctorate of Business Administration Programs

Both, the PhD in Management and the Executive DBA, are doctoral degrees and as such have similarities, but  there are some key differences: 

   a- Target groups

   b- Motivation

   c-  Career goals

   d- Financing
 

a - Executive Doctorate of Business Administration Target Groups: Young Graduates vs. Senior Professionals

PhD in Management and Executive DBA programs address different target groups.

A PhD program is specifically designed for those who want to pursue a career in social sciences and aspire to become a full-time professor at a business school. Their goal is to become an academic and do research. These people often come directly from the university and start their PhD after graduating.

In contrast, individuals do an Executive DBA when they have already been successful in business for many years and are looking for a new intellectual challenge. These people often already have an MBA and want to further distinguish themselves from others through a doctoral degree. At the same time, they are interested in management research and may have a practical research question in mind.
 

b - Motivation: Career Perspective vs. Personal Challenge

A difference between a PhD in Management and an Executive DBA program is often the motivation behind the studies. For PhD students the PhD is the path to a career as an academic. Their degree qualifies them as scholars and the overall goal is to start a career as a fulltime professor at a business school.

Executive DBAs in contrast are driven primarily by the search for a personal challenge. They already have achieved a lot in their business careers and some of them have an MBA. The Executive DBA provides them with a new challenge that goes beyond the practical knowledge that they learnt in business or in the MBA. It challenges them as potential researchers.
 

c - PhD and Executive DBA Career Goals: Fulltime vs. Part-time Academic

PhD in Management students aim for a career in academia. They apply for positions as fulltime professors after graduating or go for a Postdoc for several years. Their key activity is conducting research, publishing in academic journals or books, and teaching. At top schools, this is what PhD in Management students become qualified for.

In contrast, Executive DBA graduates usually stay working professionals in their companies and want to stay in the business world even after their graduation. However, their doctoral degree qualifies them to conduct research as well. They may occasionally teach as guest professors, invited faculty or adjunct faculty members.
 

d -Financing your Doctorate in Business Administration

PhD in Management students, particularly at top schools, often get financial support during their studies, either by a scholarship or through a position as a research assistant. Executive DBA students on the other hand often pay for their education even though some schools may provide scholarships for them as well.

Some companies fund Executive DBA students, especially when they use data from their employers and when their research is relevant for their companies. PhDs on the other hand are sponsored by their universities because the university has an interest in them.

Who Can Join the Executive DBA?

Every higher education graduate with a Master's degree. It is recommended to have a background in management or economics however other profiles of training may be accepted. Professional and management experience is asked in principle.

Is the DBA a Recognized Diploma?

It is a Université Côte d'Azur diploma. The Executive DBA is recognized by Anglo-Saxon companies or those highly internationalized. The diploma is referenced EDBAC and the IAE of Nice AACSB.

What Can Be Expected from a DBA?

• On a personal level, the capacity to carry out a research project and gain expertise in a subject area, and find answers to questions relevant to professionals in the field.
• On a professional level, it can demonstrate a commitment and ability to solve specific problems encountered in both private and public organizations.

Finally, the desire to share the experience gained and formalized through an Executive DBA is a rewarding element of the degree.

What Are the Skills Developed in an Executive DBA?

The ability to effectively lead research in a professional setting is crucial. Methodology plays a key role in distinguishing the knowledge generated by research from that gained through practical experience. Executive DBA programs rely on validated theoretical knowledge in specific fields such as marketing and management control. The research methods and protocols used in these programs are rigorous, resulting in knowledge that is both legitimate and robust.

Which Research Topic Can Be Chosen?

The Executive DBA is designed for professionals with a few years of experience. The research topic must be directly or indirectly connected to their experience. The candidate's intuitions and the problems they have encountered serve as the foundation for formulating their research topic.

What is the Workload Executive DBA Participants Face?

The program is quite extensive and requires a long-term commitment. On a day-to-day basis, the workload is not necessarily overwhelming, but it is important to maintain consistency and discipline throughout the duration of the program.

Overall, How Valuable is the Executive DBA for Managers and How Does the Knowledge Gained from the Program Help Them in their Profession?  What is Learnt in the Executive DBA Program?

Pursuing a Doctorate in Management, whether it is a full-time PhD or a part-time Executive DBA - NEVER has the purpose to increase your management capabilities. While there may be some practical take-aways from a doctorate that you can apply in business, the primary purpose of the program is NOT to become better managers.

The program teaches participants how to identify relevant research problems, frame them in appropriate terminology, design suitable methodologies, and conduct research. While the research topic can and should be related to the real-world management context, the ultimate goal of the program is to equip participants with the tools to conduct research at a higher level of abstraction, beyond the specific company case, that can help explain similar phenomena in other settings as well.

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