Areas of Specialisations

Areas of Specialication

INSEAD’s PhD programme offers a wide range of specialisations covering the entire business school curriculum, including Accounting and Control, Decision Sciences, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Strategy, and Technology & Operations Management. Core courses in the first two years provide interdisciplinary insights and career confidence.

Students can further enhance their expertise through additional courses, earning certification in Disciplinary Tracks such as Management Science, Organisation Science, Microeconomics, or Psychology & Behavioural Science—expanding future career opportunities.

Accounting and Control

This specialisation equips students with innovative tools to analyse market and institutional forces shaping financial and management information. The programme also provides a strong foundation in economics and behavioral science and offers comprehensive training in accounting research, focusing on financial and managerial accounting.

Decision Sciences

An interdisciplinary field combining economics, forecasting, statistics, and psychology. It explores three key questions: How should rational decisions be made? How do people actually make them? And how can decision-making, particularly for managers, be improved?

Entrepreneurship

A core strength at INSEAD, focusing on the creation and growth of new ventures, corporate renewal, innovation, and family business in a global context. Research integrates perspectives from organization theory, strategy, and social sciences, including sociology, economics, and psychology.

Finance

INSEAD's Finance group is globally renowned, offering diverse faculty expertise and close mentorship. The school's strong foundation in management and commitment to intellectual diversity create an exceptional environment for finance scholarship.

Marketing

The Marketing area is renowned for its diversity and dynamic research environment. PhD students explore topics such as marketing strategy, consumer behavior, decision-making, and neuroscience. The state-of-the-art behavioural lab in Paris provides a unique advantage for cutting-edge research.

Organisational Behaviour

INSEAD's Organisational Behaviour (OBH) faculty are globally recognized and dedicated to developing future researchers. Drawing from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and economics, OBH explores individual, group, and organizational dynamics. Key research areas include leadership, team dynamics, identity, and diversity.

Strategy

INSEAD’s Strategy faculty offer diverse expertise in areas such as competitive strategy, M&A, alliances, international management, and corporate governance. PhD candidates benefit from a broad range of research opportunities and global perspectives.

Technology and Operations Management

INSEAD’s Technology and Operations Management (TOM) group has a perfect PhD placement record at top global institutions. The group leads research in innovation, supply chain management, healthcare, and sustainable operations, including closed-loop systems and humanitarian logistics.