Our standards are high…
but extremely broad.
Diversity is what INSEAD’s about, after all. But there’s one thing that all successful applicants have in common – and that’s the desire to pursue a successful career in academia.
Essential requirements
Apart from that fundamental requirement, we are, first of all, seeking people with a proven academic record, whatever their subject background. Second, we are looking for the creativity, curiosity and independent thought necessary to become a great researcher. Third, the ability to work in the English language is a must. Fourth, we require evidence of motivation and drive, which you’ll need to carry out successful independent research.
Nice to have
It goes without saying that you’ll need to be a good communicator in order to make it as a professor. After all, unless you can explain and present your research, it won’t have an impact. But as long as you have potential, we can help you develop your communication skills throughout the programme. A strong mathematical background is also a distinct asset – and essential for most areas of specialisation. The research techniques we teach are highly numerical, which means that some admitted students have to undertake remedial studies before starting the programme.
Business degree or experience not essential!
If it helps to know what we’re not looking for – we do not ask for a degree in business, a master’s, an MBA or work experience (although, many successful applicants come with an MBA, an MSc or a successful business career behind them), nor do we have a preference for any particular undergraduate area of study.
Typical profile?
What does all this mean in practice? The short answer: there’s no such thing as a typical profile. You might be a fresh graduate in a business-related discipline, or you might have developed an interest in business research through a master’s or a few years’ of work experience. However, some of our best students have come straight from degrees in mathematics, IT, science or even the arts, but with a strong interest in business as a future field of academic study.
If you’re in any doubt about your suitability, please email us at phd.info@insead.edu or attend our recruitment events, held on and off-campus or online. Visit inse.ad/phd/events to get the updated schedule.
Proven academic record
irrespective of subject background
Motivation, determination and drive
to follow through with goals
Creativity, curiosity and independent thought
necessary to become a great researcher
Ability to work in English
as English is the sole medium of instruction
Application
procedure
Applications are fully electronic and open in early Fall, a year preceding the intake. The submission deadline is in early December.
The PhD Committee evaluates each application and interviews shortlisted candidates. Final decisions are made by late March or early April, well in time for the start of the programme in September. Overall, the admissions process takes just three to four months, from submission deadline to offer of a place, but we recommend that you start preparing well in advance and submit your application at least a month before the deadline.
A complete
application includes
• Online application form (including a statement of purpose)
• Certified true copies of all university diplomas
• Official transcripts of grades
• GMAT or GRE official score report
• TOEFL official score report (waived for native English speakers or those who have already done a degree taught exclusively in English)
• Three letters of recommendation from faculty or scholars on applicant’s academic ability, and potential for research and teaching
• Open one-way (recorded) interview
• Application fee (currently €50)
Test
requirements
All applicants must take either the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE), administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), administered by Pearson VUE. Both tests may be taken at various locations around the world. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take one of these tests in the fall, at the latest. It is best to allow ample time for ETS or Pearson VUE to send test scores to INSEAD. Applications cannot be considered without a valid test score.
The INSEAD PhD in Management is taught exclusively in English and is highly participatory, requiring well-developed written and verbal skills. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), unless their university degree is from an institution where the curriculum was exclusively taught in English. The TOEFL is administered by ETS and is offered at specified locations around the world.
Early Fall 2022
Start of
application
mid-December 2022
Preferred
submission date
early January 2023
Application
deadline
mid-August 2023
Intake
Financial information
Most successful applicants are eligible for the INSEAD PhD Fellowship – full tuition fee waiver, generous living allowance, substantial research support and conference budget, and comprehensive health insurance coverage. This means that students do not have to bear the financial burdens typically associated with postgraduate study. Nor are they expected to undertake onerous teaching or summer duties that get in the way of their research.
PhD Fellowships are available for five years of study, renewed annually (for a full twelve months) dependent on satisfactory progress. Candidates are encouraged to seek external financial support where available, and will receive complementary INSEAD Fellowship funding. We also offer paid maternity leave – with an automatic extension of PhD status and funding for six months.
Why are we so generous? The PhD Fellowship represents an investment by INSEAD in its own research culture and the wider profession of business academia. Quite simply, the outstanding quality of our PhD students enables us to attract the best faculty, to do the best research and to be recognised as one of the best business schools in the world. But this success story is also due to the generosity of the donors – both organisations and individuals – who have loyally supported the programme for nearly 30 years. We thank them all, on behalf of our PhD students, past and future.