Five years of full-time studies at INSEAD’s Europe and Asia Campuses
INSEAD, one of the world's leading and most international business schools, invites intellectually curious and ambitious individuals to pursue a career in business academia through its PhD in Management. Designed for those who aspire to advance knowledge through rigorous, original scholarship, the programme prepares the next generation of faculty at leading business schools worldwide.
Whether your background is in business or a related discipline such as economics, psychology, sociology, engineering, or computer science, if you are motivated by important research questions and the opportunity to shape how organisations and societies are understood, this programme is for you.
Online application opens in September for the mid-August 2027 intake.
The Programme
The INSEAD PhD in Management is a fully funded, five-year programme with two years of rigorous coursework, followed by three years of dissertation research. Candidates are recruited across eight fields:
- Accounting and Control
- Decision Sciences
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Marketing
- Organisational Behaviour
- Strategy
- Technology and Operations Management
A distinctive feature of the programme is its two-continent structure: all doctoral candidates spend time across INSEAD’s campuses in Fontainebleau, France, and Singapore. This dual-campus experience is not optional: it is built into the doctoral journey, offering genuine cross-cultural immersion and access to two vibrant research communities.
Candidates may also pursue an optional PhD exchange with The Wharton School, adding a third international dimension to their training.
Who Should Apply?
We seek candidates with the intellectual ambition and discipline to contribute to frontier research in management. We welcome candidates from diverse academic backgrounds. A master’s qualification is advantageous but not required. Prior research experience is beneficial but not a prerequisite. Several candidates have gained research skills and knowledge through their industry roles, including as consultants and CRM/data analytics professionals.
Strong candidates typically demonstrate:
- Passionate about research and driven to make a scholarly contribution to their chosen field
- Motivated to pursue an academic career as a management professor
- Entrepreneurial in spirit, with the self-direction to define their own intellectual path
- Globally minded, with genuine engagement across cultures and perspectives
- Resilient, able to sustain themselves through both solitary research challenges and collaborative breakthroughs
- Strong communicators, with solid analytical and critical-thinking skills
- Holders of at least an undergraduate degree (a three-year bachelor’s degree from any discipline is accepted)
Funding and Benefits
All admitted PhD candidates receive a fully funded, five-year scholarship, including:
- Tuition fee waiver
- Annual stipend (living and accommodation allowance)
- Research and conference funding
- Comprehensive international health insurance
Funding details: https://inse.ad/phd-financing
Additional highlights:
- Dual-campus experience (France and Singapore), with a mandatory exchange
- Optional PhD exchange with The Wharton School
- Access to a state-of-the-art Behavioural Lab in Paris
- A global, diverse, and highly collaborative research community
Keen to learn more? Hear it from our students, alumni, and faculty: https://inse.ad/phd-stories
Rigorous Research Training
PhD candidates will:
- Conduct original, high-quality research
- Collaborate closely with faculty and peers
- Present at leading international conferences
- Receive structured training in research and teaching: 2 years of coursework + 3 years of dissertation
Application Process (for the PhD 2027 Intake)
Candidates should prepare:
- Online application (opens in September 2026) at https://inse.ad/phd-apply-2027
- CV (1–2 pages)
- Statement of Purpose (1,500-word letter of motivation or essay)
- Academic transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation (with at least one academic referee)
- GMAT or GRE scores (mandatory; must be less than five years old)
- TOEFL (if applicable)
- Open one-way recorded video interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews between January and March 2027.
Learn more: https://inse.ad/phd | https://inse.ad/phd/admissions
Explore, Engage, and Apply
Contact the PhD Team at https://inse.ad/phd-inquiry-academic-positions
