India’s top management institutions such as IIMs, offer executive PhD programs, with multiple specialization options. This program is specially designed for executives or working professionals who want to achieve a doctorate and upskill themselves. This program is better than a regular PhD in terms of coursework, as pursuing executive PhD candidates learn both academics and business learning and later can move ahead in their career with professor and researcher roles or also top management roles in corporates. This program typically spans four years and most of the courses are conducted online but also require on-campus visits.

For students looking for more flexible options, an online DBA can be a better option because of complete flexibility, shorter duration, and business-focused coursework. The doctoral earned after completing the executive PhD program will be equally valued as a regular PhD and allow candidates to use the ‘Dr’ title in their name. After Completing this part-time PhD program executives get interdisciplinary knowledge which led job roles in management as well as research.

Who Should Pursue an Executive PhD?

Executive PhD is designed for working professionals having substantial work experience, here are some examples:

• Senior Executives- Professionals working in leadership roles, having relevant work experience, and want to achieve a doctoral to upskill and earn the ‘Dr’ title.
• Entrepreneurs- Individuals already gained substantial work experience working in corporate and want to start their businesses can improve their understanding and gain new skills with an executive PhD to succeed in their business.
• Business Consultants- To become more credible as a consultant, individuals working as consultants can upskill and become more reliable with advanced knowledge.

Anybody, working on senior profiles can flexibly earn a doctorate with an executive PhD program and achieve a ‘dr’ title.