VENUES AND CALLS
September 2026
Spanish
Cam. Valdenigriales, S/N, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid
On-site
Full-time (4 years) and Part-time (7 years)
ESIC UNIVERSITY'S DOCTORATE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
The Doctoral Program in Business Administration and Management is oriented towards research within this framework, training business leaders and researchers with a solid academic and practical foundation to address the most complex challenges of organizations in a global environment.
The Program also provides training with methodological rigor in terms of research and allows future doctoral students to have a holistic, integrative and interpretative vision of the predictors, behaviors and results that favor business management that increases the competitiveness and wealth of societies through a correct strategic development and a strengthening of the commercialization of goods and services.
PROGRAMS
MODALITIES
Royal Decree 576/2023, of July 4, establishes that doctoral students admitted to the Doctoral Programs shall be enrolled annually and that studies may be pursued on a full-time basis, with the possibility of part-time studies on an exceptional basis.
Full Time Students
The duration of the doctoral studies will be a maximum of four years full-time, counting from the date of enrollment of the doctoral candidate in the program until the date of the deposit of the doctoral thesis. Before the end of the aforementioned period, if the application for the deposit of the thesis has not been submitted, the academic committee responsible for the program, upon request, may authorize the extension of this period for an additional year, under the conditions established in the corresponding doctoral program.
Part-time Students
The academic committee responsible for the doctoral program may authorize part-time doctoral studies. In order to apply for this modality, candidates will have to accredit some work activity. In this case, such studies may have a maximum duration of seven years from the date of enrollment in the program until the date of deposit of the doctoral thesis. Before the end of the aforementioned period, if the application for the deposit of the thesis has not been submitted, the academic committee responsible for the program, at the request of the doctoral candidate, may authorize the extension of this period for one more year, under the conditions established in the corresponding doctoral program.
This doctoral program is articulated around a main line of research, "Business and Strategic Marketing Management", allowing doctoral students to develop advanced research in management, innovation and marketing issues. Research projects will be linked to the following specific areas:
Under this scheme, the objectives linked to this line of research allow the development of new knowledge, practices and analysis perspectives, fostering scientific and business innovation and encompassing a multidisciplinary approach in different areas. The objectives that are framed within this line are the deepening of knowledge of:
- Business management and digitalization: Doctoral students will be able to explore topics such as the implementation of emerging technologies in business management, the impact of artificial intelligence on strategic decision-making, or the transformation of traditional business models towards more agile digital structures. Other areas of research include the automation of business processes and the integration of digital platforms to improve operational efficiency.
- Management, innovation and new business models: This line focuses on research into innovative strategies in business management, such as the development of new business models based on the collaborative economy, the creation of value through open innovation, or the transformation of organizations through disruptive innovation. It also includes the analysis of best practices for the adaptation of companies to constantly changing markets.
- Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems: Here, doctoral students will investigate aspects such as the creation and evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems, the impact of public policies on the promotion of entrepreneurship, or the role of incubators and accelerators in the success of new companies. They will also delve into the barriers and opportunities for entrepreneurship in emerging markets and their influence on local economic development.
- Strategy and impact of intangible assets management, marketing and corporate communication: In this line, research will be oriented towards the analysis of the value of intangible assets, such as corporate reputation, brand or human capital, and their impact on business competitiveness. Topics such as digital marketing, communication strategies in multichannel environments, and the role of corporate social responsibility in building a solid corporate image will also be addressed.
COMPETENCIES
Basic or general competencies
- CB11. Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
- CB12. Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
- CB13. Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
- CB14. Ability to perform critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
- CB15. Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
- CB16. Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, the advancement of the
- CB17. Ability to promote Open Science and Citizen Science, in accordance with Article 12 of the Organic Law 2/2023, of March 22, as a way to contribute to the consideration of scientific knowledge as a common good, through the evaluation of transversal activities carried out by the doctoral student related to different dimensions of Open Science and Citizen Science, as well as the training acquired in these disciplines in the form of micro-credentials or similar.
Personal skills and abilities
- CA01. Perform in contexts in which there is little specific information.
- CA02. Find the key questions to be answered to solve a complex problem.
- CA03. Design, create, develop and undertake novel and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.
- CA04. Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.
- CA05. Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity and make judgments with limited information.
- CA06. Intellectual critique and defense of solutions.
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Doctoral students (both TC and TP) will have to take a certain number of training hours. All activities are compulsory, except for the mobility activity, which is optional. This activity may be carried out throughout the entire PhD program up to a total of 720 hours.
MANDATORY TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Specialization courses in research
Doctoral students will be offered advanced training in the fields of academic research. Two courses will be given per academic year, with a maximum duration of 20 hours per course, adjusted to the contents of each one. These courses will be distributed throughout the different years of the Program. Each doctoral student must complete a total of six courses during the entire Program. It is recommended that full-time doctoral students (TC) take two courses per academic year, while part-time doctoral students (TP) should attend one course per academic year.
| Description | Hours |
|---|---|
| Preparation of a doctoral thesis | 10h |
| Sources of information | 10h |
| Methodology and qualitative techniques applied to academic research. | 15h |
| Methodology and quantitative techniques applied to academic research I | 15h |
| Methodology and quantitative techniques applied to academic research. | 15h |
| Elaboration and follow-up of research projects | 5h |
Research seminars
TC students must attend all seminars organized annually and actively participate in the discussions. TP students may attend a minimum of one seminar during the entire academic year within the period of their research. There will be 2 research seminars each academic year with a duration of two hours each. They will be multidisciplinary seminars (including all the specialties of the program). Each seminar will be different and there will be an equal distribution among the different lines of specialization.
Teachers' seminars
The research carried out by the professors of the Doctoral Program and the research groups of the Faculty in each of the lines of the program will be presented and discussed, as well as research experts from outside the Program. Professors of recognized national and international prestige will be present.
Submission of scientific communications to national and international congresses dedicated to aspects of business management.
All students in the Doctoral Program must participate as speakers in at least one international conference of recognized prestige within the specialty in which their research project is framed. To do so, they must submit a proposal to a congress/conference. TC students are recommended to attend in the second or third year. TP students are recommended to attend in the last years of the development of their research project.
Acceptance of an article in a reputable publication
Full-time and part-time students. All students in the PhD Program must publish an article indexed in Journal Citation Reports (JCR) or Scimago Journal Rank (SJR/Scopus) at any time during the development of their research project. It is recommended to start preparing from the second year onwards.
OPTIONAL TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Research stay in foreign centers
This modality is intended to obtain the international mention. It is voluntary and can be carried out, preferably, from the second year onwards. During the doctoral period, the doctoral student may carry out one or more stays in international centers for periods of a minimum of 2 weeks and a total of between 3 and 6 months at the end of the Program. In the case of part-time students, the fragmentation of these stays will be facilitated so that they can adapt them to their specific situations.
ENTRY PROFILE AND TRAINING COMPLEMENTS
The ideal profile for students interested in this Doctoral Program is that of a candidate who has completed an Official Master's Degree in a related discipline, specifically in the field of Business Management (MBA). In addition, previous studies leading to this program must include at least 6 ECTS credits in quantitative methodological training.
In terms of language requirements, the candidate is required to demonstrate a level of English equal to or higher than B2, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This condition applies both to students whose mother tongue is not Spanish and to international students. The accreditation of the level of English can be done through an official certification or, failing that, through a certified level test offered by ESIC Idiomas.
TRAINING COMPLEMENTS
Students coming from areas of knowledge unrelated to the area that is specific to the program: Business Management (MBA) must take up to a maximum of 24ECTS in these areas of knowledge. These credits will be taken through subjects of the Official Master's Degrees of ESIC University, which, in any case, will not be activities that are part of the Doctoral Program.
Students may take these complementary courses during the first academic year of the doctoral program. Part-time students may take them during the first two academic years.
The Official University Master's Degrees that will offer complementary training and will be treated preferentially are the Official Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and the Official Master's Degree in Marketing Management:
Official Master in Business Administration (MBA)
- Business and Strategy (6 ECTS # first semester)
- Business Finance (6 ECTS # first semester)
- Marketing Management (6 ECTS # first semester)
Official Master's Degree in Marketing Management
- Scientific Research Methodologies (3 ECTS # first semester)
- Competitive and consumer intelligence (3 ECTS # first semester)
The following is a summary of the complementary training policy according to the entry profile:
| Additional admission profiles | Training complements | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects by profile | ECTS credits of the subjects (by profile) | Degree (if applicable) where these courses are taught (by profile) | Brief description of the contents, training activities and evaluation system of the courses (a web link may be included if applicable). | |
| Students who have passed an Official Official Master's Degree in Business Management MBA with at least 6 ECTS in Research. | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Students who have passed an Official Master's Degree in Business Management MBA WITHOUT at least 6 ECTS in Research. | Scientific Research Methodologies (3 ECTS # first semester) Competitive and Consumer Intelligence (3 ECTS # first semester) | Research Subject(s) of 6 ECTS | Official Master's Degree in Marketing Management | Learning the elaboration of the theoretical framework and the design and analysis of questionnaires with SPSS software. A case is made going through the whole process and defended in the classroom. |
| Students who have passed an Official Master's Degree in Mathematics (595), Physics (385), Engineering (495-565), Statistics and Operations Research (265). | Business and Strategy (6 ECTS # first semester) Corporate Finance (6 ECTS # first semester) Marketing Management (6 ECTS # first semester) | 18 ECTS Business Management courses | Official Master in Business Administration (MBA) | You learn the principles of business organization and strategy, marketing and finance through case studies and applied problem solving. It is then defended in class. |
| Students with an Official Master's Degree in Social Sciences or areas that are not specific to the Program | Business and Strategy (6 ECTS # first semester) Business Finance (6 ECTS # first semester) Marketing Management (6E CTS # first semester) Scientific Research Methodologies (3 ECTS # first semester) Competitive and Consumer Intelligence (3 ECTS # first semester) | Business Management subjects of 18 ECTS and Research subjects of 6 ECTS. | Official Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and Official Master's Degree in Marketing Management | Business. You learn the principles of business organization and strategy, marketing and finance through case studies and applied problem solving. It is then defended in class. Research. Learning the elaboration of theoretical framework and design and analysis of questionnaires with SPSS software. A case is made going through the whole process and defended in the classroom. |
Job opportunities
The Doctoral Program in Business Administration and Management offers a wide variety of career opportunities, both in academia and in the business sector. This advanced degree opens doors to leadership, consulting and teaching positions, among others:
Senior management consulting
Academic and research career
Innovation management and digital transformation
Management in financial institutions
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA
- In accordance with the provisions of articles 6 and 7 of Royal Decree 99/2011 of January 28 and its subsequent updates including RD 576/2023, of July 4, which regulates official doctoral studies and section 7 of the ESIC University Regulations on Official Doctoral Studies, the following requirements for access to the Doctoral Program in Business Management and Management at ESIC University are established:
- Holding an official university degree or equivalent Spanish degree, provided that at least 300 ECTS credits have been passed in these courses and accrediting a level 3 of the Spanish Framework of Qualifications for Higher Education.
- To be in possession of a degree obtained in accordance with foreign educational systems belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), without the need for its homologation, which accredits a level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, provided that such degree entitles the holder to access to doctoral studies in the country where it was issued. This admission will not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party nor its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral studies.
- To be in possession of a degree obtained in accordance with foreign educational systems outside the EHEA, without the need for its homologation, after verification by the university that this accredits a level of training equivalent to that of the official Spanish Official Master's Degree and that it qualifies in the country of issue of the degree for access to doctoral studies. This admission will not imply, in any case, the homologation of the previous degree held by the interested party nor its recognition for purposes other than access to doctoral studies.
- Be in possession of another doctorate or doctorate degree.
- Likewise, university graduates who, after obtaining a place in training in the corresponding entrance exam to specialized health training positions, have passed with a positive evaluation at least two years of training in a program for obtaining the official degree in any of the specialties in Health Sciences, may also be admitted.
- Royal Decree 99/2011 allows doctoral students from previous programs to join the new doctoral programs after admission by the university, in accordance with current regulations. In addition, Graduates, Architects or Engineers with the Diploma of Advanced Studies or research sufficiency, according to Royal Decrees 778/1998 or 185/1985, may also be admitted to the doctoral studies regulated by this decree.
The following scale is established for access to the doctoral program in Business Administration and Management:
| Criteria | Score | Score breakdown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade point average | Up to 25 points | 10 points for an average passing grade. 20 points for an average grade of "B". 25 points for an average grade of "A". | File |
| Average master's degree grade and degree matching with the areas of knowledge of the program. | Up to 40 points | 15 points for an average passing grade. 30 points for an average grade of "B". 40 points for an average grade of outstanding. A 50% weighting will be applied to those Masters that are not specific to the subject of the Program and require the student to attend Complementary Training. | File |
| Accredited English level higher than B2 | Up to 10 points | 10 points for accredited English level of C1 or higher. | Language certificate |
| Professional and/or international experience | Up to 25 points | 10 points for each year of professional or academic experience. 20 points for each year of professional or academic experience in international environments. | Curriculum |
To begin the admission process to the Doctoral Program in Business Management, the candidate must send the required documentation to doctorados@esic.university.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT UDP
ESIC's Professional Development Unit is made up of a team of professionals dedicated to boosting your professional career, whether you are studying in the classroom or as an Alumni. You can count on the UDP if you need to enter the world of work, as they have their own employability portal, although they also collaborate with international portals, fairs and employability events.
We have +6,400 internship offers with more than 3,000 job offers in which more than 2,000 students have completed internships. Some companies: BBVA, Telefónica, Warner Bros, Mapfre, Amazon.
INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY OPTIONS
Mobility is crucial for the academic, professional and personal growth of a doctoral student, providing comprehensive training and increased competitiveness in the world of research.
In line with this objective, the training activity Optional research stay in foreign centers actively promotes and expressly recommends the realization of these activities. ESIC University will provide advice and funding for doctoral students' stays in foreign centers through pre-doctoral fellowships.
Argentina
Belgrano University
China
China Foreign Affairs University
South Korea
Inha University
Ecuador
Casa Grande University
Estonia
Estonian Business School
India
Woxen University
Israel
Bar-Illan University
Mexico
Panamerican University
Peru
ESAN University
Taiwan
National Dong Hwa University (NDHU)
APPLICATION
To formalize the application, the following documentation must be sent to doctorados@esic.university:
- Updated resume
- Certified copy of undergraduate degree (or bachelor's degree)
- Certified copy of the academic transcript of the degree (or bachelor's degree)
- Certified copy of the Master's degree academic certificate (or similar)
- Certified copy of the official Master's degree
- Letter issued by the university verifying that the studies give access to doctoral studies (in case of foreign degrees).
- Photocopy of ID card (Spaniards) or passport (foreigners)
- To certify the equivalent of B2 in English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Proof of the equivalent of B2 Spanish of the MCERL, in the case of non-Spanish speakers.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
Financial issues should not be an obstacle that prevents you from achieving your goals. Make sure you have a training with a future.
- - National mobility
- - International students
- - Academic excellence
- - Enrolled siblings
- - Alumni
- - Large family
- - Single-parent family
- - Entrepreneurship
- - Diversity Scholarship
- - ESIC study grants
- - Doctorates
- - Agreement with educational centers
- - ESIC CFGS Students
- - Agreement with companies