DBA or Executive PhD: understanding the difference in 2 minutes

After several years of experience, many senior executives and experts feel the same need: to step back, produce knowledge, and bring high-level academic credibility to their expertise. To meet these ambitions, ICN offers two doctorates of excellence designed to be pursued alongside full-time professional activity: the DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and the Executive PhD.

Both are doctoral degrees of equal rigour, based on rigorous scientific research, offering tailored individual supervision, and backed by ICN’s triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS). Both enable participants to develop a recognised “Executive Scholar” profile, qualifying graduates to teach in business schools or universities and to publish research articles.

Here is how to determine the pathway that best aligns with your professional and personal goals.

The DBA: theorising practice and transforming business

The DBA in Sustainable Innovation Management relies on action research methodology. It is aimed at professionals whose scientific approach stems directly from real-world business experience to produce applicable academic knowledge.

Why choose the DBA?

• You start from a concrete challenge: your objective is to study a real-world managerial issue – sustainable innovation, organisational transformation, strategy – to deliver a modelled theoretical and strategic response.
• You want a direct impact on the business world: a DBA thesis goes beyond generating abstract knowledge; it aims to conceptualise concrete, transferable solutions that can be directly used by executives and consultants.
• You are looking for an international cohort dynamic: delivered in partnership with the Business Science Institute (Luxembourg) with a dual degree option with Manchester Metropolitan University, the programme is structured around an annual January intake and key collective highlights, notably during the in-person International Week.

The Executive PhD: challenging paradigms and building an expert-researcher identity

The Executive PhD in Management & Creative Transformation is ICN’s proprietary programme, built on its signature interdisciplinary Art-Technology-Management approach. It is aimed at candidates wishing to examine global societal and organisational transformations through advanced research methodologies.

Why choose the Executive PhD?

• You start from a theme or a scientific question: your ambition is to explore a research area in depth, cross disciplinary boundaries, and deliver an original scientific contribution that advances theoretical frameworks.
• You want to establish global intellectual authority: the programme aims to build a true Executive Scholar identity, enabling you to act as a leading practitioner-researcher on complex creative transformation issues.
• You value organizational flexibility: with four intakes per year (January, April, July, October) and a structure combining online seminars, residential modules, and individual supervision, this programme offers great flexibility to align the start and pace of your research with your professional schedule.

In summary

Both doctoral pathways share the same academic standing and rigour. The choice essentially depends on your starting point: if your ambition is to leverage research to solve a real-world problem and transform managerial practices, the DBA is your preferred path. If your project aims to explore societal shifts, challenge existing concepts, and build a fundamental scientific contribution, the Executive PhD will fulfil your aspirations.