Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
International School of Management , Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: #501
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at International School of Management is designed for senior professionals who want to deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge of international-level management and develop original research aligned with their career progression.
The DBA includes a multidisciplinary curriculum with coursework and an original dissertation research project, and it can be completed with flexible e-learning options alongside location-based course blocks.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Advanced Academic Writing & Literature Review
- Statistical Analysis
- Research Methods
- Build the literature and methods base needed for doctoral-level dissertation research
- Take multidisciplinary business coursework in any order (through Paris course blocks, rotating international course blocks, and e-learning)
- Complete elective and skills-focused modules chosen from the multidisciplinary and advanced coursework options
- Continue progressing toward the point where the Comprehensive Examination can be completed
- Complete the Comprehensive Examination after you have completed 75% of your coursework
- Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (receive feedback and guidance to develop your proposal)
- Prepare for dissertation work under supervision from the Director of Doctoral Research and an assigned adviser
- Doctoral Dissertation under supervision from the dissertation adviser
- Participate in dissertation workshop sessions
- Defend the dissertation before a committee for final approval
Curriculum
53 credits DBA structure with required research methods coursework, multidisciplinary coursework, a Comprehensive Examination, a dissertation proposal, and the doctoral dissertation.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Required Research Methods Coursework | Advanced Academic Writing & Literature Review | 1.5 | 5 |
| Statistical Analysis | 1.5 | |||
| Research Methods | 2 | |||
| Semester 2 | Multidisciplinary Coursework | Multidisciplinary Coursework (fundamental skills courses and advanced electives; credits required as published) | 16 | 16 |
| Semester 3 | Comprehensive Examination and dissertation proposal | Comprehensive Examination | 2 | 7 |
| Doctoral Dissertation Proposal | 5 | |||
| Semester 4 | Doctoral dissertation | Doctoral Dissertation | 25 | 25 |
| Total | Required Research Methods Coursework, Multidisciplinary Coursework, Comprehensive Examination, Doctoral Dissertation Proposal, and Doctoral Dissertation | 53 credits | ||
Career outcomes
- You build doctoral-level research capability in business management, helping you qualify for higher-responsibility roles that value evidence-based decision-making.
- The dissertation requires an original, career-relevant research project, so you can turn workplace problems into publishable-style academic outputs and strategic leadership insight.
- The program’s focus on linking theory to practice supports your progression toward senior executive, consultant, and leadership positions where complex organizational analysis matters.
- Your coursework is delivered through a flexible mix of in-person and e-learning options, helping you continue working while developing advanced leadership and management skills.
- By working across international course locations and an international candidate community, you strengthen global business perspectives that are valuable for multinational organizations and cross-border strategy work.
Employability rate
International School of Management DBA graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting ongoing demand for experienced business leaders with advanced research and strategic decision-making skills.
Together, these figures point to a fairly stable career outlook, especially for candidates who can apply dissertation-driven insights to their current or target organisations.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Master’s-level degree and senior management experience | International applicants must have completed a master’s-level program and have an average of about 8 years of senior management experience, as part of the DBA candidate profile. |
| Overall applicant strength (academic background and career fit) | ISM assesses the strength of your application as a whole, not only your academic background and professional experience. The committee particularly considers your rationale for choosing the DBA and how the program fits your career plan. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | Direct match | ISM states that the DBA is multidisciplinary and requires a doctoral dissertation based on an original piece of research in business-related theories, practices, and problems. |
Language requirements
For the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), ISM evaluates English proficiency as part of the overall admissions decision. The program requires strong written and spoken English for successful study and dissertation work.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 84562 / total program | Official ISM DBA tuition is shown on the program fees page as $84,562 (total). The page also states fees can be paid in Euros on request. |
| Application fee | EUR 175 / one time | Non-refundable application fee is listed as $175 on the ISM fees & scholarships page (not included in tuition). |
Proof of financial resources
International applicants must be able to demonstrate sufficient funding to cover tuition and living costs while studying. ISM also provides a tuition questionnaire and scholarship application as part of the admissions process.
- Proof of sufficient financial funds for study in Germany (as required for your visa/immigration process).
- ISM tuition questionnaire and scholarship application submitted with your online application.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | June 01, 2026 | December 01, 2025 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | August 15, 2026 | February 15, 2026 |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | June 01, 2026 | December 01, 2025 |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
🎓 Scholarship
| Provider | Scheme name | Coverage | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD | EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | Tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance | DAAD EPOS supports participants from developing countries to pursue development-related postgraduate studies in Germany. Doctoral studies can be funded in exceptional cases, depending on the selected EPOS call and course eligibility. |
| DAAD | DAAD Research Grants — Doctoral Programmes | Monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance, research allowance | DAAD Research Grants (Doctoral Programmes) provides funding for a doctoral project at a state or state-recognised institution in Germany. This can be relevant for international applicants pursuing doctoral-level research in Germany. |
📝 How to Apply
Complete the online application
Submit the online application on ISM’s application portal and upload the required documents before submitting your form. You will need to provide a personal statement and a CV, and upload copies of your previous diplomas or transcripts and your passport. You must also include the tuition questionnaire & scholarship application and pay the application fee via Stripe or PayPal. Optional items such as writing sample, reference letters, and standardized exams may be included in certain cases.
Prepare for the admissions interview
After submitting your online application, you will be interviewed by a member of ISM faculty. The interview can be done by telephone, Skype, or in person at ISM’s Paris headquarters, depending on your circumstances. Use the interview to explain your motivation, goals, and fit for the DBA research and dissertation work.
Submit remaining materials if requested
In certain cases, applicants may be requested to submit additional materials if the Admissions Committee asks for them. If this happens, respond promptly to keep your application moving toward review. Use the opportunity to provide any requested clarification about your academic background, professional experience, and dissertation research direction.