Applied research in management for senior executives and experienced professionals
Financial Times Executive Education France Ranking 2026
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QS China Ranking - Executive MBA 2026
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The Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at NEOMA Business School is a professional doctorate in management designed for senior executives, experienced managers, entrepreneurs, and consultants seeking to deepen their expertise through applied research.
Unlike a PhD, which is primarily focused on academic research, and an Executive MBA, which emphasises leadership development, the DBA enables participants to investigate a real strategic challenge drawn from their professional environment and transform it into a doctoral research project with tangible organisational impact.
Delivered in Paris in a format designed to accommodate full-time professional commitments, the programme is completed over three years.
NEOMA’s DBA is designed for senior executives, experienced managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and subject-matter experts who hold a Master's degree or MBA and have at least seven years of professional experience. The programme enables participants to investigate a real strategic challenge through a rigorous applied research approach.
The DBA provides an opportunity to step back from day-to-day practice, formalise your expertise, and develop doctoral-level thinking while continuing your professional career.
You will transform your experience into knowledge that can inform organisations, decision-makers, and management practice.
This unique combination of academic rigour and practical relevance enables participants to generate impactful knowledge while advancing their professional and intellectual development.
 | LOCATION Paris & Remote |
 | FORMAT Part-time | Residential weeks • Live virtual sessions • Supervised doctoral work |
 | DURATION 3 years |
 | INTAKE October |
 | TUITIONS FEES € 45,000 (net of tax) Excluding travel and living expenses |
 | INTERMEDIATE DEGREE Executive MSc in Management Research Awarded at the end of the Year 1 |
NEOMA’s DBA supports you throughout the development of an applied research project, from the definition of your research question through to the successful defence of your doctoral thesis.
| Develop the methods and tools required to undertake a doctoral research project and transform a managerial challenge into a rigorous research question |
Objective Deliverable Interim Qualification |
| Refine your doctoral research project, deepen your expertise, and benefit from personalised academic supervision |
Objective Specialisation Areas Deliverable |
| Complete your research, finalise your doctoral thesis, and prepare for the defence of your research contribution |
Objective Deliverable |
A renowned faculty dedicated to your research
Participants in NEOMA’s Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) benefit from the guidance of faculty members who are experts in management and applied research. Through courses, workshops, and individual supervision, the faculty helps ensure the methodological rigour, academic quality, and managerial relevance of each doctoral research project.
NEOMA’s Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) combines face-to-face teaching, live virtual sessions, academic supervision, and peer learning. This flexible format enables executives and experienced professionals to undertake a doctoral research project in management while remaining fully engaged in their professional responsibilities.
The international diversity of the cohort enriches discussions and encourages the exchange of perspectives across industries, functions, and organisational contexts.
Your DBA admission step by step:
Complete your application on apply.neoma-bs.fr by providing the academic and professional information required for the evaluation of your profile:
Your doctoral project and statement of motivation.
Additional information or supporting documents may be requested during the admissions process.
Your doctoral project and statement of purpose are a key component of your application.
This document should explain why the DBA represents the next logical step in your professional development, outline the research topics you wish to explore, and demonstrate how your professional experience can inform and support an applied doctoral research project.
This interview is designed to assess the alignment between your professional background, your doctoral project, and the expectations of the programme.
*The tuition fees for NEOMA’s DBA are spread over the three years of the programme. Funding may be provided either by the participant or, where applicable, by their organisation.
Year | Amount |
|---|---|
Year 1 | €15 000 |
Year 2 | €15 000 |
Year 3 | €15 000 |
TOTAL | €45 000 |
Additional year (if required): €8,000 per year (maximum of three additional years).
Payment of the programme fees may be made in instalments.
A deposit equivalent to 50% of the first-year tuition fees is required within 15 days of admission confirmation.
Travel, accommodation, and living expenses associated with the programme’s residential seminars and workshops are the responsibility of participants.
The DBA enables participants to investigate strategic challenges directly connected to their professional environment. As such, the programme may be eligible for support or funding from your employer.
To explore the various funding options available and discuss your project, please contact:
Email : yann.lorant@neoma-bs.fr
Phone. : +33(0)6 99 05 52 03
11/06/2026
A graduation ceremony at the Zénith in Paris: an unforgettable, emotional moment, courtesy of NEOMA!
Our dedicated point of contact for personalised advice and support.
Yann LORANT
Director of Admissions and Development
Sami Attaoui
EMBAs & DBA Programmes Director
Part time
3 years, part-time
Paris & Remote
English
October 2026
