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"The PhD Program for Executives is like a great journey: life-changing and career-boosting. The students dive into their research topics. To ensure that the journey leads to success, we support them with tailor-made coaching." Prof. Dr. Markus Kittler, Academic Director
The internationally oriented doctoral program "PhD Program for Executives" integrates international academic standards and economic relevance and is aimed at executives and managers from all over the world who wish to apply state-of-the-art research expertise and academic knowledge to complex economic issues. The doctoral program is offered jointly by MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® in Innsbruck, the Antwerp Management School and the University of Antwerp. The academic degree of PhD is awarded by the University of Antwerp.
If you have any questions about the study program, please contact us.
The PhD Program for Executives is a four-year research-oriented part-time program for executives that combines relevant knowledge and research skills with current challenges in the participants’ sector.
The PhD Program for Executives develops the research competence of decision makers and managers and links scientific approaches to current challenges and questions in management. It thus closes the gap between scientific PhD studies and practice-oriented professional doctorates (e.g. DBA).
The program was developed to meet the special requirements of decision makers and to make their expertise available for research. It combines academic approach, intellectual inspiration and practical applicability at the highest level. Managers and executives are enabled to develop scientifically interesting questions based on relevant problems from their own professional background, to expand their research and methodological competence and to conduct scientific research. The core of the doctoral program is the writing of a dissertation, which has to be defended at the University of Antwerp.
The research topics follow the needs of the participants and cover a wide range of areas of economics, management and business. The participants are connected with the corresponding research centers and laboratories. They benefit from the intellectual input of their research group and work closely with the supervising lecturers and professors.
The individual research is integrated into a four-year program. With eleven three-day seminar sessions (on campus), which alternate between Innsbruck and Antwerp, the program can be completed on a part-time basis. Students can continue their profession full-time.
Stage 1 is expected to last approximately 15 months. Participants acquire in-depth knowledge about quantitative and qualitative management research methods. Considerable attention will also be devoted to literature search and review and to the skills needed to transfer knowledge. They gain broad insights into their specialization through being embedded in the relevant research centers or research labs of the respective university. Every intake is developed according to a "cohort" principle with a network of faculty supervising, guiding and advising the entire intake. Successful completion of all modules and assignments provides all the elements required for an academically robust PhD research proposal.
With the acceptance of their PhD research proposal and the appointment of a PhD supervisor, participants progress to stage 2. Over a period of approximately 33 months, participants proceed with their research, write and eventually defend a doctoral dissertation. During this stage, participants are expected to grow their competencies in presenting, discussing and publishing their research. Participants are expected to attend doctoral Research Colloquia and seminars on academic publishing, writing teaching cases and facilitate case study discussions in academic and business environments.
Program Director
Mag. Susanne E. Herzog
MCI Head of Executive Education & Development
Academic Director
FH-Prof. Dr. Markus Kittler
MCI Senior Lecturer
Prof. Dr. Bart Cambré
Vice Dean, Antwerp Management School / Belgium; Chair of Methods in Economic Research, University of Antwerp / Belgium
Steffi Weil, PhD
China-Europe Business Studies & PhD Program for Executives, Antwerp Management School / Belgium
FH-Prof. Dr. Simon Czermak
MCI Senior Lecturer, Cohort Coach (2018) PhD Program for Executives
Dr. Lucy Rattrie CPsychol, Ph.D.
Consultant & Lecturer in the Division of Management, Work and Organisation, University of Sterling / Scotland; Psychologist; Cohort Coach (2019) PhD Program for Executives
Jorge Arturo León y Vélez AvelarThe Nature, Extent and Effectiveness of CSR Communication using Social Media in Mexico
Alexander PavelkoLanguage Impact on Prosocial Behaviour
Rosa Paulina López PérezBuilding upon the “Intuitive Judgement and Intuitive Outcome Framework“: Understanding Intuitive Misses
Fernanda CanaleFamily Influence on Family Firms' Ambidextrous Orientation
Maysam AyoubIntra-firm Audit Quality Variation
Leeya HendricksValue Co-Creation in B2B Digital Technology Platforms
Dima BraitehThe Impact of the Paradoxical Leadership Behavior on the Employee Well-Being in the context of Organizational Change
After completion of the doctorate and successful defense of the dissertation, the University of Antwerp awards the academic degree of "PhD" (Doctor of Philosophy or philosophiae doctor).
Beyond their studies, graduates benefit from a strong network of renowned lecturers from science, business and society. The networking with international students promotes contacts and creates international acceptance.
The PhD Program for Executives was submitted to the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ) in accordance with § 27 para. 1 and registered by the AQ in accordance with § 27 para. 6 HSQSG. The registration of the program in accordance with § 27 para. 6 HS-QSG does not ascertain equivalence with Austrian study programs and similar Austrian academic degrees. Graduates awarded with an academic degree from Belgium are entitled to use it in accordance with § 88 para. 1 of the 2002 law governing universities. The academic degrees awarded by the University of Antwerp are therefore recognized foreign degrees in Austria and may be used in official documents in accordance with § 88 para. 1a of the 2002 law governing universities.
What is most important for a successful PhD thesis? Write it! Make writing a habit.
Prof. Dr. Markus Kittler, Academic Director of the Executive PhD Program in Management at MCI
The part-time program "PhD Program for Executives" is aimed at senior-level managers and decision-makers who
The current participants come from Europe, the USA and Central America and bring along impressive CVs. They greatly appreciate the fact that this novel PhD Program for Executives can be perfectly reconciled with their lives and career planning. The general prerequisites are a relevant Master’s degree and at least 10 years professional experience in a management position.
The University of Antwerp (UAntwerp), the Antwerp Management School (AMS) and the Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) only admit participants to the PhD Program for Executives with the intrinsic motivation and willingness to contribute to academic research and to become the next generation business leaders. Candidates must hold an MBA, a Master‘s degree, or an equivalent degree from an accredited academic institution and must have at least ten years of professional experience in the field of management. The program is taught in English thus an excellent knowledge of oral and written English is required.
You will need to upload the following documents*:
By applying and/or registering for the PhD Program for Executives, you give the University of Antwerp, the Antwerp Management School and the Management Center Innsbruck the formal consent to check all of the provided credentials and documents. Once your application file has been accepted, intake interviews will be organized to get a better insight of your motivation and perseverance. All applicants are requested to present their initial research topic during an interview with one or more faculty members of the Executive PhD Program.
After successfully defending the doctoral dissertation, participants will be rewarded with the PhD degree (Doctor of Philosophy) conferred by the University of Antwerp.
Graduates are able to generate and share academic knowledge within their own professional and academic networks. They master methods and instruments of economic research in order to apply them to challenges in their professional environment.
Our graduates profit from our strong network of recognized lecturers from science, business, and society, even beyond their studies. The exchange with international students also improves their own network and creates international acceptance for the benefit of all our students.