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Doctoral PhD Programs

Receive your PhD degree from one of the best German business schools

Your advantages at a glance
  • Personal supervision by an ISM professor
  • Professional and administrative support
  • Doctorate with a German supervisor and doctoral degree abroad at a partner university
My New Book

The doctoral programs of ISM offer you many advantages such as optimal international business management orientated program contents, counseling and support throughout the application process and your subsequent doctoral period.

We offer you the opportunity to continue your academic career after your master's degree and to pursue a doctorate with one of our internationally renowned and accredited partner universities abroad and receive your PhD degree. According to the decision of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of Germany, the doctoral degrees awarded at our partner universities may be used in Germany as "Dr." without a subject-related addition and without a designation of origin.

We are at your side from the first second until the completion of your doctorate. You will receive professional and administrative support, and?personal supervision will be provided by an ISM professor. In this way, our doctoral program will optimize the chances of success of your application. This opens up the possibility of doing your doctorate in a very practical way and completing a doctorate abroad. We currently collaborate with various partner universities in Scotland, Spain and Australia.

We work with various partner universities in Scotland, USA and Australia. We also have partnerships for individual collaborations in various fields. We would be happy to discuss these in person.

We have PhD cooperations with

ISM has been collaborating with these universities in the field of teaching for a number of years. The cooperative supervision of PhD projects enables the joint definition of research topics that can be promoted on an international basis.

This PhD cooperation additionally allows ISM to?intensify its international cooperation?and to meet the significantly increasing demand for doctoral research opportunities.

The Lovely Professional University in India was founded in 2005 and is one of the largest private universities,? recognized both nationally and internationally. The focus of the participatory teaching is on innovation and entrepreneurship. It also has a broad network of students and companies worldwide. LPU offers doctoral programs in business and over 60 other fields of study.

Westcliff University

Westcliff University, with campuses in Irvine, California, Los Angeles, California and Miami, Florida, United States is regionally and globally accredited. Westcliff University was founded to provide a quality education for students in the expanding fields of business and education. Since 1993, it has been accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Westcliff prepares students for the practical and theoretical demands of the job market.

Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier University, ranked as the number 1 modern university in Scotland (Times Higher Education World University Rankings) and one of the top 10 modern universities in the UK, is Scotland's leading university in terms of research strength and effectiveness. Edinburgh Napier University is AACSB accredited and prides itself on nurturing a community of ¡®new thinkers¡¯ - an enterprising and innovative cohort known worldwide for its unparalleled learning experience. ENU provides a meaningful, differentiating education and research for a rapidly changing world.

Strathclyde Business School (SBS) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, is one of the few business schools in the world to have triple international accreditation (AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS). The cooperation with ISM enables ISM graduates from other universities to complete a PhD or DBA program. The Business School's postgraduate research area focuses primarily on the following topics: Accounting & Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Management, Management Science and Marketing.

Bond Business School (BBS) at Bond University is located on the Gold Coast in Australia. Bond University strives to be internationally recognized as a leading independent university and is AACSB and EQUIS accredited. The PhD program emphasizes independent research, a thorough understanding of subject-specific knowledge, competence in research methods and the ability to communicate research findings.


Frequently Asked Questions on PhD programs in Germany:

Who can pursue a doctorate degree at ISM?

Anyone with a Master's degree in a relevant field and with a?grade point average of at least 2.0?(German grade system) can apply for a PhD at ISM. In addition to the research proposal (ca. 4 - 6 pages) with the desired topic for the doctoral thesis, our applicants also need?proof of their English language skills?in the form of an IELTIS or TOEFL language certificate (this varies depending on the partner university). The different partner universities sometimes have additional requirements for admission. Please see the individual pages (links above) of our partners for more information on the eligibility criteria.

What is the difference between full-time and part-time doctoral studies?

Anyone with a Master's degree in a relevant field and with a?grade point average of at least 2.0?(German grade system) can apply for a PhD at ISM. In addition to the research proposal (ca. 4 - 6 pages) with the desired topic for the doctoral thesis, our applicants also need?proof of their English language skills?in the form of an IELTIS or TOEFL language certificate (this varies depending on the partner university). The different partner universities sometimes have additional requirements for admission. Please see the individual pages (links above) of our partners for more information on the eligibility criteria.

How long does it last to graduate?

A doctorate in the standard time?takes three years. Part-time doctoral studies at German universities take three to six years. If required, the full-time doctorate can be extended to up to four years and the part-time to up to eight years.

Why do a doctorate? What will I get out of a PhD?

During the doctorate, phD students deal intensively with the?topic of the doctoral thesis, this enables the new acquisition of important?specialist knowledge. A doctorate also has advantages in the working world. For example, the?starting salary?is higher for an employee with a doctorate, and there is often a?better chance of a management position?with a doctorate.

What are the costs of a PhD program?

The cost of a PhD at ISM depends on the?partner university?and whether the full-time or part-time model is chosen.

The cost of a full-time doctorate program (three years) ranges from €13,000 - €46,850.

The part-time doctorate program (three to six years) ranges from €26,500 - €62,740. You can find detailed information about the costs at the respective partner universities.

The amounts are made up of the fees of the ISM and the respective partner universities. These set their current fees independently of the ISM and grant a discount to ISM participants. Please therefore check the current discounted fees of the respective partner university before submitting your application to the ISM.

Is it possible to do a doctorate in business administration?

At ISM, you can do a PhD in?various specializations?at the partner universities. At?Strathclyde Business School?in Scotland, the main focus is on Accounting and Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Management, Management Science and Marketing. Our partner school in Australia,?Bond Business School, offers research concentrations in Marketing & Digital Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Hotel & Tourism Management, Sports Management, Big Data, Management, 足球即时比分 Business & Global Strategy, among others.


Counseling PhD & DBA Programs

Prof. Dr. Kai Rommel

Vice President Research
Prof. Dr. Kai Rommel
+49 231.97 51 39-76
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Jonas Weiler

Research Assistant
Anette Herbst
+49 69.66 05 93 67-57
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