IIM Sambalpur gathers 50 executives from 6 countries for PhD-DBA dual degree
By TUF News Desk · Published 5 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Fifty senior professionals from six countries spent three days in Sambalpur this week as part of a doctoral programme that hands out two degrees at the end. The Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur welcomed its newest Executive PhD and Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) cohort alongside scholars from the two earlier batches, during an induction and immersion programme held from October 30 to November 1.
The programme is run with IAE Bordeaux University School of Management in France. Scholars who finish it receive an Executive PhD from IIM Sambalpur and a DBA from IAE Bordeaux. The institute describes it as India’s first dual-degree doctoral programme built for working professionals, people who want to do research at doctoral level without stepping away from their careers.
Three cohorts, one room
The 50 scholars are spread across three batches. The newest cohort, for 2026 to 2029, has 14 senior professionals in roles such as executive director, chairman, director, vice president and founder and chief executive. They come from multinational and Indian organisations in technology, automotive, consulting, renewable energy and engineering.
The 2025 to 2028 cohort has 20 professionals with experience in technology, finance, defence, energy and healthcare. The founding 2024 to 2027 cohort has 16 scholars from organisations including the Adani Group, NTT DATA, HPCL, Korn Ferry, Google and LAVA International.
The three groups cover India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
What the immersion covered
Director Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal welcomed the 2026-2029 cohort at the start of the three-day event. The keynote address came from Dr Rajiv Kohli, John N. Dalton Memorial Professor at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary in the United States.
For working professionals weighing a doctorate, the structure matters as much as the degree title. A programme like this one asks applicants to hold down a senior job and a research workload at the same time, so the time commitment, the residency requirements and the thesis expectations deserve a close read before applying. Our guide on how to choose a university in India sets out the questions worth asking about any programme, from faculty strength to what the degree actually qualifies you for.
IIM Sambalpur itself is a relatively young institute, founded in 2015, and it was ranked 34th among management institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework in 2025. Our guide to rankings in India explains what NIRF measures and where its limits lie, which helps when comparing a specialist doctoral programme against a general management ranking.
Why a dual doctorate appeals to executives
A DBA differs from a traditional PhD in its audience. It is aimed at practitioners who want their research to feed back into how organisations are run, and pairing it with an Executive PhD from an Indian institute gives scholars a credential recognised on both sides of the collaboration.
Details of the programme, including eligibility and the application process for future cohorts, are published on the official IIM Sambalpur website. Doctoral admission timelines and requirements change between cohorts, so the official site is the place to check for the next intake.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIM Sambalpur Executive PhD-DBA dual-degree programme?
It is a doctoral programme for working professionals run by IIM Sambalpur with IAE Bordeaux University School of Management in France. Scholars who complete it receive an Executive PhD from IIM Sambalpur and a Doctorate in Business Administration from IAE Bordeaux.
How many professionals are part of the programme?
Fifty senior professionals from six countries are enrolled across three cohorts: 14 in the 2026-2029 cohort, 20 in the 2025-2028 cohort and 16 in the founding 2024-2027 cohort.
Who is the programme meant for?
It is designed for senior working professionals, including company chairpersons, managing directors, chief executives, founders, senior government officials and defence professionals, who want a doctorate without leaving their jobs.
Where can I find official details about IIM Sambalpur’s programmes?
The institute publishes programme details and admission notices on its official website, iimsambalpur.ac.in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IIM Sambalpur Executive PhD-DBA dual-degree programme?
It is a doctoral programme for working professionals run by IIM Sambalpur with IAE Bordeaux University School of Management in France. Scholars who complete it receive an Executive PhD from IIM Sambalpur and a Doctorate in Business Administration from IAE Bordeaux.
How many professionals are part of the programme?
Fifty senior professionals from six countries are enrolled across three cohorts: 14 in the 2026-2029 cohort, 20 in the 2025-2028 cohort and 16 in the founding 2024-2027 cohort.
Who is the programme meant for?
It is designed for senior working professionals, including company chairpersons, managing directors, chief executives, founders, senior government officials and defence professionals, who want a doctorate without leaving their jobs.
Where can I find official details about IIM Sambalpur's programmes?
The institute publishes programme details and admission notices on its official website, iimsambalpur.ac.in.
Sources: Edex Live, Asianet News, UNI