PhD program

emlyon business school’s PhD in Management is a 5-year fully-funded program. The program aims to train students to become independent researchers who produce world-class research. Students work closely with emlyon’s internationally renowned faculty who do research and publish in the top academic journals in organization theory, strategy, entrepreneurship, and marketing.

In the first two years students acquire the theoretical knowledge and methodological skills needed to become successful researchers through a variety of courses delivered by emlyon faculty.
The final three years are devoted to designing and conducting a larger-scale, empirical research project and developing publications in top academic journals. Each year we admit only a select few PhD students so that the program remains small, intimate and fully funded. The program is delivered entirely in English.
The PhD students can also complete a double-degree (a French doctoral degree) at the University of Lyon 3 (with the same thesis work).

emlyon business school's PhD in Management is a fully funded program that prepares students to produce world-class research, meets the highest international standards and is delivered entirely in English.

If you hold a master or bachelor’s degree, show evidence of strong intellectual ability and have a passion for academic research, then we’d like to hear from you! The deadline for applications is January 31st for admission in early September.

Apply to our PhD program

First year : foundational courses

In the first year, students work through a range of courses in entrepreneurship, strategy and organization theory as well as an intensive training in quantitative and qualitative methods. They also start working on their Supervised Research Practice (SRP).

Introduction to Statistics (2.5 ECTS)
Philosophy of Science (2.5 ECTS)
Ethics in Research (2.5 ECTS)
Quantitative Methods (5 ECTS)
Qualitative Methods (5 ECTS)
Designing Social Science Research (7.5 ECTS)
Supervised Research Practice (5 ECTS)

Entrepreneurship (7 ECTS)
Organization Theories (7 ECTS)
Strategic Management (7 ECTS)
Social Theory I (7 ECTS)
International Strategy (2.5 ECTS)
Writing skills (2.5 ECTS)

Second year: advanced courses

In the second year, students take a range of advanced courses, receive further intensive training in methods and they also conclude their SRP.

Causal Analysis (5 ECTS)
Field Methods (5 ECTS)
Nvivo (2.5 ECTS)
Supervised Research Practice (10 ECTS)

Advanced Strategy (5 ECTS)
Advanced Entrepreneurship (5 ECTS)
Social Theory II (5 ECTS)
Consumer Culture (5 ECTS)
Advanced Organization Theory (5 ECTS)
Materiality and Organizations (2.5 ECTS)
Know Your Classics (7 ECTS)
Writing Skills II (2.5 ECTS)

Third, Fourth & Fifth year

The third year starts with the student's PhD proposal defense which marks their transition from being a PhD student to becoming a PhD candidate. The student chooses a team of supervisors and sets out to work on their individual PhD project. This journey is complemented through teaching activities in year 3 and year 4. In total, students must teach 2 courses (i.e. 2 X 24 hours) in order to be to show that they have teaching experience when they go on the job market. The students are also provided with a teaching skills course and a job market preparation course. Students attend research events, participate in workshops and international conferences.

Courses