Doctorate of Business
Administration in
Data Sciences &
Artificial Intelligence
Offered by Rennes School of Business
in collaboration with INSOFE
Admissions are in Progress
Next Cohort: February 2023
No. 1 by AIM
World’s first Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) Degree in Data Science
The Global Doctorate in Business Administration in Data Science is a 3-year executive doctoral programme that provides the highest postgraduate qualification without interrupting the careers of our participants.
This programme is designed for senior managers with extensive professional experience who work on leading their organizations towards digital success.
The Global DBA is a seamless amalgamation of Business Management and Artificial Intelligence where participants will learn applications of AI, strategy development, and resolution of project failure operations.
The graduates of INSOFE-Rennes School of Business are the future Thought Leaders who can plan, deploy, and implement critical short, medium, and long-term initiatives successfully.
“This joint DBA in Data Science puts together two key elements essential for a quantitative jump in your career. The solid research training from Rennes School of Business coupled with the deep expertise in Data Science and AI brought by INSOFE.
In a changing world where knowledge is a highly prized commodity, there was no better time to embark on a degree. And this DBA program equips you with the tools to come up with innovative solutions for business and society.”
Dr. Thomas FROEHLICHER,
Director General & Dean, Rennes School of Business
75+ World-Class Faculty
DEAN
Professor
Professor
Professor
“These new-age, disruptive skills transform the candidates to thought leaders who will take on critical responsibilities within the organization in designing, leading, and driving digital transformation activities.”
Dr. Dakshinamurthy V Kolluru,
Group CEO - INSOFE
Curriculum
The courses on Data Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and Business Management of the Global DBA are offered online in a synchronous manner (unless specified otherwise) with optimum classroom intervention.
Most DBA programmes just have online videos for students to watch and learn from. This is the only DBA to provide over 450 hours of classroom instruction and interaction with experienced industry professionals.
Year 01
Foundations
(Stats and optimization)
(36hrs/0credits)
Q1
Research methodology and process,
Qualitative and Mixed Research Methodology,
Quantitative Research Methods
(24 hrs each, RSB)
Foundations
(AI and ML)
(36hrs/0credits)
Q2
Digital strategy
(24hrs/6credits)
Digital technologies
for managers
(36hrs/0credits)
Q3
Future of work, workplace and work force
(24hrs/6credits)
Data science
applications
(36hrs/6credits)
Q4
Research preparation workshop
(24hrs/6credits)
Patent survey
Thesis Proposal Defence
Year 02
Thesis support
workshops
(24 hrs)
Q1
Thesis support
workshops
(24 hrs)
Q2
Thesis Proposal Defence
Creating value
from research
(24hrs/6credits)
Q3
Thesis Proposal Defence
Thesis support
workshops
(24hrs)
Q4
Year 03
Thesis support workshops (24 hrs)
Q1 to Q4
AI & ML Research seminars
(the student must
attend at least 10 seminars and
present their research once.
(6credits)
Application Process
Master’s Degree Graduates Work Experience: 5 Years
Or
Bachelor’s Degree Graduates Work Experience: 8 Years
Programme Benefits
- A highly balanced coursework in data science, research methods, and business management
- Design, develop, and deploy AI based blueprint to solve domain specific business problems
- Create production diagrams to enable ease of organizational communication
- Present at a global conference and publish your work in reputed journals
- Access to the Rennes School of Business digital library
- Build a highly respected, in-demand profile
- Receive the highest degree a university can confer
Thought Leaders' Demographics
INSOFE’s DBA currently has 80+ students, making it one of the largest executive doctoral programs in data science. With students from 20+ different countries working on different research topics, it is the most diverse and multicultural data science doctoral program that one can be part of.
Fees & Financing
| Rennes School of Business Direct Application |
Enrollment through INSOFE | |
|---|---|---|
| Program Fees |
$45,000 or €38,000 + 2 weeks accommodation in Paris |
$35,500 or €30,000 + 2 weeks accommodation in Paris |
| Scholarship | Up to the discretion of Rennes School of Business | Guaranteed €8,000 scholarship |
| Loan Assistance | 100% education loan assistance from 13 leading banks |
The Global DBA Programme tuition can be paid all at once or according to the following payment schedule, when you enrol through INSOFE.
1st year: €10,000
2nd year: €10,000
3rd year: €10,000
Loan Assistance
Advisory Session
Dr. Venkatesh Sunkad conducts the information sessions for the Doctorate of Business Administration MS in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. As one of the architects of the program, a research advisor, and professor, he will walk you through the course, its content, opportunities, and fees in detail.
24
JAN
2023
The next information session 9:00 PM IST
What is the DBA programme?
The Global Doctorate of Business Administration in Data Sciences & Artificial Intelligence (DBA) in Data Science is a part-time 3-year executive Doctoral programme architected for working professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives to achieve a doctoral degree without disrupting their careers.
This online Global DBA focuses on teaching rigorous foundations courses in Data Science and approaching business problems through the lens of artificial intelligence thereby enabling candidates to conduct research in specialised areas.
The aim of the programme is to train individuals to become VPs, Consultants, CXOs, and stand out as business Thought Leaders in their niche fields.
Is the DBA Programme equivalent to a PhD, if so, can I call myself a Doctorate?
Yes, you can! The Doctorate of Business Administration in Data Sciences & Artificial Intelligence is equivalent to a PhD degree and is also globally recognized such that our future Thought Leaders can add the title of ‘Dr.’ to their names upon successfully graduating from the programme.
What is the difference between the DBA and a PhD Programme?
The primary goal of the DBA is to advance professional practices, prepare individuals to carry out applied research, and contribute to policy at the workplace or in the wider industry context. The DBA is designed for experienced managers and offers the opportunity to take your business and management knowledge to a higher level.
The PhD, on the other hand, offers the opportunity to undertake in-depth academic research to contribute to the advancement of knowledge. The DBA is a doctoral qualification just like the PhD, however, it is directly linked to the world of business.
How unique is the DBA Programme and what are the benefits of pursuing the DBA Programme that is jointly offered by INSOFE and Rennes School of Business?
The Doctorate of Business Administration in Data Sciences & Artificial Intelligence jointly offered by INSOFE and Rennes School of Business is designed such that our students come up with solutions to real world problems in collaboration with several mentors to build products which can be patented.
The rigorous coursework (in both business and data science) in-depth conversations with mentors, and numerous workshops ensure that our students’ thesis is exceedingly innovative and sought after by industry experts.
What are the Accreditations of Rennes School of Business?
Rennes School of Business is a Global School of Management in France, recognized worldwide as one of the Top Business Schools with a triple-crown accreditation - EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB.
Do students from non-technical backgrounds with limited Data Science and ML knowledge enrol in the DBA programme?
Yes, we have students from both technical and non-technical backgrounds enrolled in the programme. All the data science knowledge required for the doctoral degree will be taught to you and you do not require any prior data science experience to apply to the programme.
Who is eligible to apply to the Global DBA programme?
Applicants with a master's degree and 5 years of work experience will be given a preference over all other candidates. However, applicants with a bachelor's degree and minimum 8 years of work experience will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you’re interested in examining business problems through the lens of artificial intelligence and if you want to develop innovative solutions to real world problems, then this is the programme for you.
I am not a manager, am I still eligible to apply to the programme?
The Global DBA is focused on senior professionals, being a manager is not a prerequisite for the programme eligibility.
Is the work experience criteria only applicable to the field of data science?
No, individuals with diverse professional experience from different industries are eligible to apply to the Global DBA program.
Your admission to the program is contingent on clearing the admission criteria of Rennes School of Business and INSOFE.
What is the duration of the Global DBA?
The Global Doctorate of Business Administration in Data Sciences & Artificial Intelligence is a 3-year part-time executive programme.
Thought Leaders of the programme are expected to complete all the coursework, publish their ideas, present at a global conference, and defend a thesis.
What is the delivery format available for the Global DBA programme?
Majority of the Global DBA classes are offered online. However, students will be required to travel to Rennes School of Business campus in France to complete some of the research courses and thesis defence(s).
When are the admission deadlines for the programme?
Admissions for the Global DBA are accepted three times a year, students can enrol in any one of the cohorts in a year.
What is the Application process for the Global DBA programme?
- Submit an online application, research proposal, and other supporting documents (check below) at https://apply.rennes-sb.com/login
- Pay registration fee of €100* to Rennes School of Business
- Clear an interview session with the deans of Rennes School of Business and INSOFE
Student’s candidature will be assessed by the joint admission committee of INSOFE and Rennes School of Business.
Admission to the Global DBA will be offered only to candidates who satisfy the admission criteria of both Rennes School of Business and INSOFE.
What are the documents that are to be submitted during admission?
- ID proof
- Educational certifications (bachelor’s degrees onwards)
- Relevant work experience letters from the organisations
- Research proposal - this is not your dissertation proposal
Can I start my research immediately after enrolling in the programme?
No, you need to complete 1 year of coursework and pass the qualifier exam before starting your research.
What is the qualifier exam?
The qualifier exam is a measure of your data science knowledge and is used to assess whether you can build a blueprint of an industry problem through the use of ML principles.
You need to pass the qualifier exam within the first year of enrolment in the program.
What will happen if I cannot pass the qualifier exam?
You will be given 3 attempts to pass the qualifier exam after which you will no longer be eligible to remain in the Global DBA program.
How do I choose my research topic?
Students will attend several workshops on implementation and innovation, conducted in a problem agnostic manner. As part of the workshops students will be asked to identify whether an industry problem is solvable by ML or not.
The problem selected under these workshops will serve as the basis for the Global DBA.
You will receive guidance from the course mentor on how to select appropriate industry problems and receive peer-feedback on the plan and solutions you draft to address the problem.
Apart from receiving guidance from the course mentor, your advisor and thesis committee will also provide feedback on the work developed at INSOFE.
How do I choose my academic advisor?
Students will be assigned an academic advisor based on their research interest and thesis they plan to develop.
How do I choose my committee?
INSOFE will assign a thesis committee consisting of a Rennes School of Business and INSOFE faculty. Student can choose an industry expert to be a part of the committee.
What is the time commitment required to pursue this programme?
Individuals enrolled in the Global DBA will be required to spend a minimum of 10 hours a week on classes and assignments.
This is a rigorous doctoral programme with part-time online classes to accommodate working professionals and their work commitments.
What is the defence process like for the Global DBA?
Participants must qualify a proposal defence in their 2nd year where their thesis committee will approve their research plan. Following this, participants will work on developing their research thesis and defend the final product at the end of the programme.
What is the tuition fee structure of the Global Doctorate in Business Administration?
The complete Global DBA programme tuition cost is: €30,000*1. This can be paid all at once or according to the following payment schedule.
- 1st year: €10,000;
- 2nd year: €10,000;
- 3rd year: €10,000;
Can I extend my DBA Programme?
Yes, but only under exceptional circumstances. You will be allowed to extend your DBA for a maximum of 1 year, after your request is assessed and approved by the programme directors at both INSOFE and Rennes School of Business.
Tuition fees for the extended year will be an additional €7,500*2 following which the student will not be eligible to continue in the programme if they haven’t completed all the coursework, publication requirements, global conference presentation, and successfully defended their thesis in the given time frame.
2 Subject to change
Is my travel to France and accommodation included in the tuition fees?
No, the fee structure does not include travel and accommodation to France. Students are responsible for the costs of travel, accommodation, and subsistence.
Travel to France is not an optional choice nor can the work be completed online; students will be required to visit Rennes School of Business to complete a part of their coursework and their defence.
Will there be any financial assistance provided?
INSOFE has tie-ups with 13 different leading banks in India. Indian students will be assisted by the programme advisory team in applying for an education loan from one of these banks. Overseas citizens and other foreign national citizens will need to talk to the academic advisors who will guide them based on their specific requirements and situation.
Can my company sponsor me?
Yes! We encourage company sponsorships. Employer-sponsored education is mutually beneficial for both the company and the employee.
By sponsoring tuition for an outstanding employee, organisations can retain and motivate high performing employees, reduce the cost of hiring new employees with the academic degree (Global DBA), upgrade the skills of existing employees, and enable knowledge transfer sessions within the company.
Additionally, this will be a great attraction for new employees to choose an organization that sponsors employee’s education to work at.
What type of VISA is granted? Will I get a post-study VISA/ work VISA post completion of the Programme?
The Global DBA students will get complete assistance in applying for a visa to pursue the programme at the Rennes School of Business, France. However, students are not allowed to stay in France, post-completion of the study. There will be no visa extension.
Where are the classes delivered?
Classes are offered at all INSOFE locations, India (Hyderabad, and Bangalore) and Rennes School of Business, France. Most classes are online to accommodate working professionals and minimize disruption to their workload.
Will the DBA be awarded by INSOFE or Rennes School of Business?
Upon the completion of all the programme requirements, the Doctorate of Business Administration in Data Sciences & Artificial Intelligence degree will be degree will be awarded by the Rennes School of Business, France.
All our DBA students will hold a global Doctoral degree!
Will any study materials or reference books be provided?
The lecture notes and study materials to complete the coursework will be provided during the Global DBA course of study.
Additionally, Rennes School of Business has a comprehensive collection of print, digital, and media resources along with access to databases such as EBSCO, ScienceDirect, WILEY, DOAJ, Emerald Insight, and JSTOR.
Under the guidance of the supervisors, the onus is on the student to find the appropriate literature related to their problem statement and complete their thesis in the given time frame.
Tell me more about the Alumni Status post-completion of the DBA programme?
As a Global DBA student, you will have both Rennes School of Business & INSOFE alumni status which can help maintain good networking with experienced faculty, students, and management.
Can I combine the travel to France for coursework and proposal defence?
No, you may not. Rennes School of Business requires you to travel to their campus in Paris for 1 week in the 1st year to attend some of the research classes.
Additionally, you need to travel to the same location for your proposal defence in your 2nd year.