DBA / EDBA in Geneva

Professional Doctoral Programmes in Management, Strategy and Applied Leadership.

Transform your professional experience into applied research. Develop your intellectual leadership. Contribute to the evolution of organisations.

European Global Academy offers two professional doctoral programmes in Geneva for managers, senior executives, entrepreneurs, consultants and experienced professionals:

Doctorate in Business Administration – DBA

Executive Doctorate in Business Administration - EDBA

These programmes are designed for professionals who wish to deepen their expertise, analyse complex organisational challenges and produce a meaningful contribution to companies, institutions and organisations.

Located at the Château d’Aïre in Geneva, European Global Academy provides an international, academic and professional environment in a city recognised for its role in diplomacy, international organisations, finance, innovation and education.

Why Choose the EGA?

The DBA/EDBA at European Global Academy is designed for professionals who wish to go beyond practical experience and develop a genuine capacity for research, strategic reflection and managerial contribution.

This programme enables you to:

transform your professional experience into an applied doctoral thesis;
work on a real challenge related to your sector or organisation;
strengthen your analytical, decision-making and leadership skills;
benefit from individual doctoral supervision;
develop advanced expertise in management, strategy, governance, innovation, finance, marketing, human resources or digital transformation;
join an international academic environment;
participate in an International Doctoral Week in Geneva;
build a contribution that is useful for your company, institution or sector.

A Professional Doctorate Focused on Impact

The DBA and EDBA are not simply training programmes. They are designed as a journey of intellectual and professional transformation.

Each doctoral candidate works on a concrete issue arising from professional practice. The thesis must analyse a real situation, mobilise rigorous research methods and propose useful recommendations for practice.

The programme combines:

doctoral seminars;
lectures and debates;
case studies;
academic discussions;
applied research;
individual presentations;
supervision by a thesis supervisor;
progressive thesis writing;
pre-defence and final defence.

The programme may be followed face-to-face in Geneva, online via Zoom or in a hybrid format.

A Programme Designed for Professionals

The programme is normally organised over three years, allowing participants to combine their professional responsibilities with their doctoral journey.

Year 1 - Building the Doctoral Foundations

Training in research methodology, epistemology, literature review, research problem formulation, qualitative and quantitative methods, academic writing and preparation of the Research Proposal.

Year 2 - Developing the Research with the Thesis Supervisor

Supervised independent work, data collection, analysis, thesis structuring and writing of a substantial first version of approximately 100 pages.

Year 3 - Finalising, Defending and Promoting the Thesis

Final writing, corrections, pre-defence, final defence and promotion of the research findings.

International Doctoral Week in Geneva

An International Doctoral Week of five days is organised in Geneva, in principle at the end of the first year or at the beginning of the second year.

This week is a key moment in the programme. It enables doctoral candidates to:

meet the academic team and professors;
exchange with their thesis supervisor;
present their research project;
participate in advanced methodological workshops;
receive personalised recommendations;
build an international network with other doctoral candidates;
discover the academic and international environment of Geneva.

For doctoral candidates following the programme online or in hybrid format, this week represents an important opportunity for academic integration, networking and consolidation of the doctoral project.

DBA or EDBA: What Is the Difference?

The Doctorate in Business Administration - DBA is mainly designed for managers, executives, consultants, entrepreneurs and professionals who wish to develop applied doctoral-level expertise in management and business.

The Executive Doctorate in Business Administration - EDBA is more specifically designed for senior executives, business leaders, experienced entrepreneurs, senior consultants and decision-makers who wish to conduct research with strong strategic impact.

Programme - Main Profile - Orientation

DBA

Managers, executives, consultants, entrepreneurs and experienced professionals - Applied research in management

EDBA

Senior executives, business leaders, experienced entrepreneurs and senior consultants - Executive, strategic and transformational research

Key Programme Features

Programme duration - 3 years
Format - Face-to-face, Zoom or hybrid
Campus - Château d’Aïre, Geneva – Switzerland
Faculty - International faculty representing 24 nationalities
Teaching methods - Lectures, debates, case studies, discussions, research and presentations
Teaching languages - French section, English section or bilingual format
Supervision - Individual supervision by a thesis supervisor
International Week - 5 days in Geneva
End of Year 1 deliverable - Research Proposal
End of Year 2 deliverable - Substantial first thesis draft of approximately 100 pages
Diploma awarded - DBA or EDBA
Awarding institution - European Global Academy
Nature of the diploma - Institutional diploma

Research Areas

Doctoral candidates may develop their research in a wide range of fields related to business, management and organisational sciences, including:

leadership;
strategic management;
governance;
innovation;
digital transformation;
artificial intelligence and management;
finance;
marketing;
human resources;
entrepreneurship;
organisational psychology;
change management;
corporate social responsibility;
sustainable development;
international management;
project management;
organisational performance.

The research topic is approved by European Global Academy in order to ensure its relevance, feasibility and alignment with the objectives of the programme.

Admission Requirements - Documents to Be Submitted

Candidates must submit a complete application file including the following documents:

A duly completed and signed registration form;
A copy of the Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree, or equivalent qualifications, awarded by a recognised institution;
Copies of the Master’s academic transcripts;
An employer’s certificate or any equivalent document demonstrating at least three years of professional experience;
A duly completed and signed application form;
An updated CV;
A copy of the identity card or passport;
Four recent passport photographs;
A presentation of the preliminary research project;
A motivation letter.

For the EDBA, advanced professional experience and managerial, entrepreneurial or strategic responsibilities are recommended.

Nature of the Diploma

The DBA and EDBA programmes of European Global Academy lead to the award of an institutional diploma.

They are not Swiss state university doctoral degrees, but private institutional qualifications with a professional, executive and applied orientation.

This transparency enables candidates to clearly understand the nature of the programme and the diploma awarded.