Where executive authority becomes academic legacy
A rigorous, part-time doctorate designed for senior leaders who seek intellectual distinction and the title of Doctor.
emlyon business school
Triple-crowned - Top 10 Europe (FT 2025)
Durham University Business School
Triple-crowned - 3rd in the UK (Times 2026)
AACSB · EQUIS · AMBA
Presentation
Delivered by Durham University Business School and emlyon business school, the Global DBA is a prestigious DBA program, offered in a part-time format and taught across multiple global locations: Durham, Paris, and other international module destinations.
You will have the unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with internationally renowned faculty at two of Europe’s most innovative and highly ranked, triple-crowned business schools.
This Doctorate in Business Administration has been specifically designed to meet the global demand for business leaders who can challenge current professional practices and develop innovative strategies for progress. By combining an academically rigorous doctoral degree in business administration with real-world applications, you will expand your business knowledge, enhance your analytical and critical thinking skills, and drive impactful change as a recognized expert in business management.
The DBA degree also requires you to produce a doctoral thesis, bridging the gap between business education and practice, generating new knowledge, and creating tangible business value.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Next available places for start in
January 2027
Format
Part-time with residential modules & independent research
Degrees awarded
Doctor of Business Administration — Durham & emlyon (2 degrees)
Duration
4 to 6 years
Language
English
Entry requirement
Master's degree + min. 5 years senior management experience
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
- Doctor of Business Administration awarded by Durham University Business School
- Doctor of Business Administration awarded by emlyon business school
- Two fully independent, internationally recognised doctoral degrees
- Both institutions are triple-crowned (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA)
- 2 dedicated thesis supervisors — one from Durham, one from emlyon
- Access to research centres and doctoral seminars at both schools
- International faculty with expertise across strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation and more
- Optional guest lecture opportunities at Durham or emlyon
- Small cohort — ensuring high-quality peer interaction and supervision
- 20+ nationalities represented across cohorts
- Participants are senior executives, CEOs and leaders from around the world
- Joint admission board — Durham and emlyon decide together
- Part-time format — compatible with a full executive career
- Intensive 3-day residential modules across Durham, Paris, Lyon and international locations
- Independent research phase conducted at your own pace
- 4 to 6 years total duration
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - GRADUATION RATE
4 participants have withdrawn from the programme, a reflection of the academic rigour and intellectual demands that the Global DBA requires of its participants.
Doctoral Theses
MEET THE DOCTORS
Each Global DBA participant conducts original research in their own field, producing a doctoral thesis that is both academically rigorous and managerially relevant. Below are the graduates who have completed the programme and been awarded the title of Doctor.
- Dr. Chen LIU - Maternal Identity in the Entrepreneurial Process: A Study of Mompreneurs in Urban China
- Dr. Annelen SCHAER - Customer Journey Management Capabilities in the Automotive Agency Sales Model
- Dr. Ashish KAKAR - Driving venture capital funding efficiencies through data driven models. Why is this important and what are its implications for the startup ecosystem?
"Our GDBA takes advantage of the multicampus structure of emlyon and a top-level Anglo-French strategic partnership with Durham University, providing a global reach combined with local knowledge and oustanding supervisory capacities."
"The Global DBA is designed for executives who wish to formalize their experience and create real-world impact through advanced research. Our Global DBA graduates drive innovation, growth, and sustainability across industries worldwide."
Program
- Welcome and Orientation (2 days) (January - Durham)
- Leadership and Followership module (3 days) (January - Durham)
- Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice module (3 days) (May - International location)
- Technology & Innovation Management module (3 days) (October - Paris)
- Global Strategic Management module (3 days) (January - Lyon)
- Theory into Practice module (research methodologies) - Part 1 (3 days) (June - Durham)
- Theory into Practice module (research worshop) - Part 2 (3 days) (October - Paris)
- Oral Presentation of Research proposal (October - Paris)
- Year 3 and Year 4 are dedicated to carrying out the research project (data collection, findings analysis, recommendations, thesis writing)
- Thesis and Oral Defense (min. 2 hours) + Q&A in front of a jury (end of Year 4)
- Research centre seminars from Durham and emlyon business school
Various fields/topics to develop DBA candidates’ curiosity and awareness
- PhD students’ seminars at Durham and emlyon business school
Learning how to correctly and efficiently present research work
- Opportunities to do guest lectures at Durham or emlyon business school (optional)
Learn how to properly teach for those who are interested in a career in academia
Assessment Methods
Assessment methods may include case studies, presentations, mock exercises, tests, etc.
Rankings
- Top 10 best European business schools (Financial Times 2025)
- No. 2 business school in France (Global Employability University Ranking 2026)
- 4th french business school (QS World University Rankings 2025 by Subjets)
- 10th best business schools in the world (Corporate Knights Better World MBA 2023)
- 3rd in the UK (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
- 10th in the UK European business schools (Financial Time 2024)
Admission & Financing
STEPS OF ADMISSION
- Application form : You will be required to submit a research proposal of between 1,500-3,000 words as part of the selection process
- Pre-screening
- Interview : An interview will be conducted with the Founding Global DBA Director with each applicant prior to an offer being recommended
- Admission Board : Admission decisions are made jointly by Durham University Business School and emlyon business school
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- A Master’s degree in a business and management related discipline from a recognised university or other institution of higher education; or equivalent qualifications or experience
- A minimum of five years’ business and management experience
- An English proficiency test is required for non-native English speakers (minimum score requirements are IELTS score of 7.0 or 102 or above in TOEFL IBT) or equivalent qualifications or experience
TUITION & FINANCING are set at £75,000
A £2,000 non-refundable deposit payable upon acceptance of an offer will be deducted from the first year's fee.
- Direct expenses in connection with research projects (for example travel and subsistence) are the responsibility of the individual participant.
- Participants may apply for funding for attendance at relevant events, such as Conferences, based on the Research policies of both schools. In addition, students are responsible for covering the costs in attending all modules.
Faculty
Durham University Business School
emlyon business school
Testimonials
Dr. Hamad Al Thani: Transforming aviation strategy through the Global DBA
Dr. Ashish Kakar: Harnessing AI for smarter investment decisions
Global DBA, ESG, and technological innovation
The most enjoyable experience for me was meeting similar, like-minded people from different nationalities, different territories, different geographies, and building relationships with them.
Coming from a practitioner background, do this global DBA, is having the opportunity to think and to be exposed to different thinking, different models and different pieces of research and really having to step back and just think about a problem and about it from an academic perspective as opposed to a problem-solving perspective.
I’ve always dreamed of pursuing a doctorate with a hands-on approach. That’s why I chose the GDBA - it allows me to continue working, offers a structured and supportive program, and provides an international perspective, all within a manageable timeframe.
Disability initiative
You will find the welcome guide and all the information on how we welcome and support our students and participants with disabilities here.