A life of intellectual

leadership and
influential scholarship.

PhD in Management
2010
 Your passport
to a prestigious
academic career
Imagine a highly respected, international
career – a life of intellectual stimulation,
creativity and freedom. It involves working
with the leading business thinkers, the best
practitioners and the brightest high-potentials.
Combining academic research and teaching
with real-world business impact, it truly is a
dream job that represents the best of both
worlds.

Next imagine that the doctoral degree you

need to launch this career is available in a
unique two-continent format. Take an elite
group of students from all over the world,
bring them to Europe and Asia – and then get
the leading experts in their fields to mentor
them. Add a full scholarship for tuition fees,
a generous living allowance, a formidable
placement record…and it really does sound
too good to be true.

Now stop imagining. The INSEAD PhD in

Management is a reality. And it’s proven to
be one of the most effective ways to launch a
career as a management professor.

2 3
 Contents
The PhD Programme
7 Celebrating 50 years of the Business School
for the World
8 Celebrating 20 years of the INSEAD
doctoral programme
11 An international academic career…in business
2
1 The INSEAD PhD difference
15 Structured for success around courses and
research, Europe and Asia
16 Who should apply?

Practical Information
6
2 The INSEAD PhD in detail
27 Joining a unique global community
29 Choosing a starting campus
30 Choosing an area of specialisation
34 Programme structure
37 Residence requirements and campus exchanges
38 Research and learning facilities
40 Admissions
41 Financial matters

4 5
 Celebrating 50 years
of the Business School
for the World
This year is an important milestone
for INSEAD as we celebrate half a
century of success. Fifty years ago,
INSEAD pioneered the concept of
international business education and
we’re still innovating across all of
our programmes, not to mention our
cutting-edge research.
This anniversary year, the school will
bring together over 1,000 degree
candidates (MBA, Executive MBA and
PhD) and more than 9,000 executives
from the world’s leading companies
across two equal-status campuses on
two continents. With our equally diverse
faculty, who also happen to be 150 or so
of the world’s leading business experts,
INSEAD is an extraordinary community.
We’ve come a long way, growing
globally alongside business itself.
Since settling in Asia at the turn of
the millennium, we’ve added two
new centres in the Middle East and
developed strategic alliances in the
USA and China. Meanwhile, our alumni
network has grown to connect nearly
40,000 exceptional people in 160
countries. We have truly become The
Business School for the World.
6 7
Now, more than ever, the world needs
exceptional business thinkers capable
of challenging conventions, researchers
with transcultural insights, creative
problem solvers trained through
exposure to diverse viewpoints and
rigorous methodologies…people like
INSEAD PhD graduates.
Our PhD programme is at the heart of
the school’s strategy. It’s not just about
commitment to the best of research or
even about placing our graduates in
academic posts at the very top schools.
INSEAD PhD alumni take our message
of innovation, entrepreneurship and
diversity to the rest of the world and,
in so doing, they are making an even
greater impact on global business than
ever before.
Thus we celebrate not simply our story
so far but also the fact that INSEAD, our
PhD programme and our exceptional
alumni are positioned for a second half
century of success.
Frank Brown
Dean of INSEAD
 Celebrating 20 years
of the INSEAD
doctoral programme
It is a great honour to have become
Dean of INSEAD’s PhD programme, just
as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
INSEAD is without doubt the most
vibrant and dynamic institution I have
ever known. But it is also uniquely
diverse. It’s the only leading business
school to have two full campuses on
two continents. And in both locations,
everyone is in a cultural minority.
Yet INSEAD’s diversity is not just
international. Faculty and students come
from such a wide range of professional
and academic backgrounds that
everyone has access to a multitude of
different experiences.
This unique environment nurtures
research that is both thoroughly solid
and highly innovative. It’s a combination
that makes the INSEAD PhD very
special indeed and creates a passion for
research that is infectious. As a result,
this is a place where groundbreaking
ideas are born.
8 9
For an academic, there is nothing more
satisfying than watching bright students
reach their full potential seeing them
graduate from acquiring knowledge to
generating knowledge themselves. This
is exactly what happens over the course
of the PhD programme.
It is therefore hardly surprising that,
over its first two decades, INSEAD has
attracted PhD candidates of the highest
calibre. From the very beginning, its
graduates have achieved extraordinary
career success. Today, our alumni
community includes many prominent
academics at the world’s very best
institutions.
Those who join the INSEAD PhD
programme today thus become part
of a strong tradition of excellence and
can look forward to being the standard
bearers for a third great decade.
At INSEAD, you will better understand
the world - and through this, expand
your world.
Professor Nils Rudi
Dean, INSEAD PhD Programme
 An international academic
career…in business
“The best job in the world.”
This is how faculty members at INSEAD and other
business schools describe their work.
The academic life
Our professors talk above all about the variety
of their work: the fascination of research; the
thrill of orchestrating bright minds in the
classroom; the creative stimulation of top
international conferences and visits to other
institutions…the challenge of juggling the
complementary but very different activities
of research and teaching.
They also talk about the freedom and
flexibility. Of course, there’s hard work and
high pressure too. But when you’re pursuing
your own interests and passions, it’s even
more worthwhile. Salaries are also highly
competitive with top industry professions.
So far, so typical of an academic career
at a world-class institution perhaps. But
specialising in a business discipline brings
added benefits.
All the benefits of business
Business school research and teaching are
rooted in the real world, so their impact is
significant. As well as developing bright
young minds, management professors attract
10
top executives into the classroom to expand
the frontiers of business practice. Business
faculty are often able to participate directly in
business too as consultants, board members
or even entrepreneurs.
Yet, over the years, it has become apparent
that there is a long-term shortage of true
talent of men and women capable of applying
academic rigour to real-world management
issues.
What’s more, the continued globalisation
of business, coupled with the search for
alternatives to the traditional American
model of management, has created an even
greater demand for newly trained business
academics with an international mindset.
In other words, if you have a strong
undergraduate record in virtually any
discipline, an enquiring and creative mind
and a fascination with business, all you need
is the right training to start your international
career in business academia. And, we firmly
believe that the best training of all is the
INSEAD PhD Programme in Management.
11
 The INSEAD PhD difference
Business needs leadership. This much is well-known.
But it also needs thought leadership...
As globalisation accelerates and old
paradigms fall, business looks to great minds
with the courage, detachment and rigour yet
close understanding of the issues to think
differently.
And nothing encourages difference
like diversity. Hence the philosophy of
excellence through diversity on which
INSEAD’s PhD in Management is founded.
Close relationships with world
The only two-continent program- experts…
me… Perhaps most important of all, the
The INSEAD PhD is the only such program-
me to run across two equal-status campuses
on two continents in France and Singapore.
And the school’s exchange programme with
The Wharton School in America adds the
option of a third.
…the most culturally diverse in the
world…
Sometimes it feels more like studying on five
continents, as the student body is the most
international in the world. A typical intake has
as many nationalities as it has participants,
each bringing a different perspective to the
debating table. The faculty is also one of the
most international at a top business school.
…and yet the most intimate.
INSEAD may be one of the largest and most
prestigious postgraduate business schools
in the world, but the PhD programme
12
All this and full financial sup-
port…
As well as moral and intellectual support,
INSEAD offers generous funding. Almost all
remains small and intimate. With a maximum
PhD students benefit from our scholarships
of twenty or so places a year, shared across
and living allowances, which come with
our two campuses, the student body is close
very few strings attached – although it goes
and supportive.
without saying that we have high expectations
of our students.
Everyone knows everyone else, regardless
of their specialist subject. And with partners
and children encouraged on campus, there’s
…followed by outstanding career
a definite family feel.
potential.
Given all these INSEAD differences, it’s
hardly surprising that our graduates go on
to obtain academic positions at the best
business schools and universities worldwide.
Our placement record is truly excellent.
relationships with our faculty are close too.
INSEAD’s professors are the world experts
in their fields, yet their strong ethos of
support, collaboration and mentorship is
distinctive.
Whether in the first two years of classes,
or the following period of independent
research, the insights and guidance of the
world’s best teachers and researchers are
always available to our PhD students.
...in a stimulating interdisciplinary
environment.
INSEAD is also unusual in taking an
interdisciplinary approach. Professors and
PhD students don’t simply work across two
continents. They also collaborate across
academic areas, offering an even greater
breadth of research opportunities and
different perspectives.
13
 Structured for success
around courses and
research, Europe and Asia
The PhD programme has been carefully
designed to nurture high achievement.
Once you make it through the rigorous
selection process, there are exciting challen-
ges ahead. And after only four to five years at
INSEAD, you can look forward to launching
an exciting career in academia.
Next, two (or maybe three) years
First, two years to lay the founda- to become one of the leading
tions experts in your field
As a successful applicant, you’re not only
offered a broad choice of specialist areas
(Decision Sciences, Finance, Marketing,
Organisational Behaviour, Strategy, Techno-
logy and Operations Management). You can
also choose whether to begin the program-
me in France or Singapore. Both campuses
offer almost identical opportunities. These
are the first of many choices to come.
The first two years teach the fundamentals of
business in interdisciplinary classes, with the
addition of specialist courses in your subject
and further specialisation, again according
to choice. You’ll also receive intensive trai-
ning in research methodologies, culminating
in the production of a formal research paper.
During the early years, you’re encouraged to
spend one eight-week period on the other
INSEAD campus. You can also decide to
14
switch campuses permanently. And even if
you decide to stay put, you’ll certainly attend
some video-conferenced classes, held simul-
taneously and seamlessly on two continents.
As an official PhD candidate, you now work
with your faculty advisor to define your dis-
sertation topic and pursue truly independent
research. By the end of your third year at
INSEAD, you should have your proposal ap-
proved and be well on course to complete
your dissertation in the next year or two if
needed.
Added inspiration comes from regular semi-
nars led by resident and visiting faculty and
attended exclusively by professors, research
staff and PhD students. There’s a strong in-
terdisciplinary tradition at INSEAD, which sti-
mulates an extra level of research creativity.
By the time you attend the graduation cere-
mony in June, you should already have made
your final INSEAD choice that is: which other
leading institution is going to be best for the
next phase of your academic career.
15
 Who should apply?

Our standards are high, but extremely broad. Diversity is

what INSEAD is about, after all. But there’s one thing that all
successful applicants have in common. And that’s the desire
to pursue a successful career in academia.

Apart from that essential requirement, we’re
first of all seeking people with a proven
academic record, whatever their subject
background. Second, we’re looking for
the creativity and independent thought
necessary to become a great researcher.
Third, the ability to work in the English
language is a necessity.
Fourth, we require evidence of motivation
and drive, which are prerequisites for
successful independent research.
them). Nor do we have a preference for any
particular undergraduate area of study.
What does that mean in practice? Well,
you might well be a fresh graduate in a
business-related discipline. Or you might
have developed an interest in business
research through a master’s or a few years’
work experience. However, some of our best
students have come straight from degrees in
mathematics, IT, science or even the arts, but
with a strong interest in business as a future
field of academic study.

If it helps to know what we’re not looking
for, we don’t ask for a degree in business,
a master’s, an MBA or work experience
(although, of course, many successful
applicants come with an MBA, an MSc
or a successful business career behind
16
If this sounds like a good fit for you, read
on to get more details about the choices on
offer, to find out how to apply for them… and,
most importantly, to hear from the people
who have already benefited from the unique
INSEAD PhD programme.
17
 Elena Belavina (Russia)
Third year
Technology and Operations Management

“I have 70 smart people from all over the world and all
backgrounds to talk to about my research, my thoughts
and my life.”

During my master’s, I realised how attractive the academic

lifestyle was. It wasn’t just the freedom to organise my
Background: own time that appealed, but also the freedom to think. It’s
BSc and MSc in applied so much more rewarding to research ideas that you’ve
mathematics and physics, developed yourself.
specialising in systems
programming and IT Although I loved maths, I was also fascinated by people.
management, Moscow Technology and Operations Management seemed the
Institute of Physics and perfect way of combining both interests – and INSEAD
Technology clearly had one of the best departments in the world. It
turned out to be even better than I’d imagined once I got
here.

I admit it was a challenge to change direction. That first

year was crazy! I learnt a huge amount, but sometimes
it’s an advantage to be new to a field and to have no
preconceptions. It also helped to have the mentorship of
senior students who had already been through it all.

There’s a real interdisciplinary PhD community at INSEAD.

I have 70 smart people from all over the world and all
backgrounds to talk to about my research, my thoughts and
my life. I couldn’t ask for a better support network.

18 19
 Moqi Xu (Germany)
Fourth year
Finance
“Our research should result in a better understanding of
how to do business.”

Academia versus “the real world”? There is no “versus”.

Our research should result in a better understanding of
Background: how to do business. I’m looking forward to achieving
Diploma in finance, this through teaching and research. There’s no greater
Leipzig Graduate satisfaction than seeing students successfully apply the
School of Management ideas that you taught them, though I’m also hoping that my
(Germany); MBA in research on investment behaviour in CEO election cycles
will result in better governance. In this way, my current work
finance, Tulane University is not much different from my previous job as a strategy
(USA); two years in consultant – only that my results apply in general rather
strategy consulting than to the particular firm that hired me.

Of course, my methods of working changed along with

my career. My research projects are much more detailed
and take years rather than weeks. My advisor, Theo
Vermaelen, invests an enormous amount of time and
effort in my academic development, much more than my
previous mentors could afford. Nevertheless, I am the one
responsible for my progress – there is no direct, day-to-
day supervisor, as you would find in a more conventional
business career.

At INSEAD, we are well connected to the finance

community. Paris, Singapore and nearby London, Frankfurt
and Zurich host a vast pool of financial professionals to
discuss ideas and recent deals. The PhD programme
provides financial support for conferences and other
educational pursuits. And many of us visit other universities
– I just came back from a summer at the University of
Chicago with some challenges to my own view of market
efficiency.
20 21
 Dr Hakan Ener (Turkey)
Assistant Professor
IESE, Spain

“I’d heard about how Asia was the world’s rising economic
power, but I saw it for myself at the Harbour Front area in
Singapore.”

I had never really been anywhere east of my home country,

Turkey, so the time I spent in Singapore as part of my
Background: INSEAD PhD was an eye-opening experience. I’d heard
BA in economics and about how Asia was the world’s rising economic power, but
MBA, Bogazici University, I saw it for myself at the Harbour Front area in Singapore,
Istanbul; work as a which is a key cargo transit point for trade between the
research associate; whole continent and the rest of the world. The volume of
PhD in strategy, INSEAD cargo waiting to be shipped to Europe, America and Africa
(2009) was simply mind-boggling.

Half of our world lives in Asia, and I became familiar with

this continent only after INSEAD made it possible to do part
of my doctoral research there. As I graduate from the PhD
programme and move on to work as an Assistant Professor
of Entrepreneurship, I know I’ve received the best doctoral
education for developing a global vision as a scholar.

I would encourage all PhD applicants to consider stepping

outside their comfort zone and to do part of their doctoral
work in a different country: it is very stimulating for the
mind. And, of course, if you choose to study at INSEAD it’s
also very easy to achieve!

22 23
 Dr Julie Battilana (France)
Assistant Professor
Harvard Business School

“I’m a big believer that the most innovative people are

those who have been embedded in different cultures.”
Before INSEAD, my trajectory was very French. I was
destined to spend my career in the French university
Background: system, but INSEAD opened the door to a new world for
BA in sociology and me. It felt like a wonderful international bubble – but in
economics, MA in my own country. And my dissertation was on the British
political sociology and National Health Service. Quite simply, there’s no other
MSc in organisational school that’s as diverse.
sociology and
public policy, Ecole Why is that so important? Well, it’s a source of richness,
Normale Supérieure particularly in the classroom. You get exposed to so
de Cachan (France); many different approaches, ideas and perspectives from
MSc in management professors and colleagues alike. It helps in research too.
and economics, HEC I’m a big believer that the most innovative people are those
(France); joint PhD in who have been embedded in different cultures. That’s why
organisational behaviour I’m here in the U.S. today. You have to practise some of the
from INSEAD (2006) theories you teach!
and in management and
economics from Ecole There’s no doubt that INSEAD has an amazing track record
Normale Supérieure de in placing its PhD graduates. And I’m collaborating on
Cachan (2006) research with several of them. If there’s one thing that I’ve
recently come to appreciate about INSEAD, it’s the strong
intellectual and social network that the school has given me.

24 25
 The INSEAD PhD Joining a unique global community
in detail INSEAD: The Business
School for the World
When you join the INSEAD PhD
taking Executive
programmes.
Education

A broad-based alliance with the

faculties in the world. They are
also among the very best in their
respective fields.
programme, you become part Wharton School in the USA and
of an extraordinary worldwide a dual-degree Executive MBA The PhD community
You’ve seen the big picture. You’ve heard the enthu- community. As one of the world’s with Tsinghua University in China The close-knit but growing PhD
leading and largest graduate expand INSEAD’s horizons yet community at INSEAD currently
siasm. Now for the full details. The more you know
business schools, INSEAD brings further. But in reality the INSEAD numbers around 70 members,
about the programme, the more we believe you’ll together people, cultures and community extends to the entire plus in many cases their families.
want to apply. ideas from around the world world, with approximately 40,000 Although it is INSEAD’s smallest
to change lives and transform alumni working in 160 countries, and most selective programme, it
organisations. many of them with active national is still exceptionally diverse.
alumni associations.
Participants and locations Currently, it consists of approxi-
INSEAD’s worldly perspective Faculty mately 35% women and 34 na-
and cultural diversity are reflected As a PhD student you will come tionalities, with students from all
in all aspects of our research into daily contact with participants academic backgrounds, not just
and teaching. In the course of who come from all continents to business. Entrants range from
a typical year, the school’s two study alongside you at INSEAD. young graduates fresh out of uni-
campuses in Asia (Singapore) But most important of all, you versity to business professionals
and Europe (Fontainebleau, will form close relationships with with a few years of work expe-
France) and our two research INSEAD’s outstanding faculty: rience behind them.
centres in the Middle East (Israel 145 resident professors from Average GMAT 742
and Abu Dhabi) are attended by 32 countries. Themselves PhD
Median Quantitative GRE 800
around 1,000 MBA and Executive graduates from the world’s top
schools, they are not only one of Average age 26
MBA participants, together with
up to 9,500 business leaders the most diverse business-school Number of nationalities 34

PhD Student Nationality 2009-2010

10
9
9
8
8
7

No. of students
6
5
5
4 4
4
3 3
3
2 2
2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1
1

Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
China
Colombia
France
France/Canada
France/USA
Germany
Germany/Bulgaria
Greece
Hungary

India
Iran
Ireland/UK
Italy
Japan
Kazakstan
Korea
Lithuania
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Singapore
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
UK
Ukraine
USA
Country

26 27

An outstanding placement
record
From its very beginning, the
INSEAD PhD programme has
achieved a very impressive
placement record. Today
its graduates can be found
throughout the world teaching
and researching at the
best business schools and
universities. Over the years,
PhD graduates have been
ambassadors for INSEAD
and have played a key role
in ensuring its reputation
as one of the world’s best
graduate business schools.
28
North America :
Boston University, Carnegie
Mellon University, Chicago GSB,
Georgia Tech, Harvard Business
School, Richard Ivey School
of Business, McGill University,
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Northwestern, New
York University, Stanford, UCLA,
University of California Berkeley,
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton, Yale University
Europe
ESMT Berlin, ESSEC, HEC, IESE,
IMD, Koç (Istanbul), London
Business School, University of
Amsterdam, Universitat Pompeu
Choosing a starting campus
Europe: a large campus in a
small, historic town
As students progress through the
programme, campus choice is
generally guided by the location
of faculty members or research
projects. Both campuses offer
exactly the same opportunities
and the programme is fully
integrated across the two sites.
It really is one school – and
one programme – but with two
campuses. Indeed, most faculty
and PhD students tend to spend
time in both places. But at the
beginning, choosing a base
is usually a matter of personal
preference.
Europe: a large campus in a small,
historic town, Fontainebleau is a
picturesque French town of some
18,000 inhabitants. Famous for its
beautiful forest, its Renaissance
château and bustling market, it’s
a great and affordable place to
Fabra, SAID (Oxford University),
Tilburg University
Asia
CIEBS, Hong Kong University of
Science and Technology, Interna-
tional University of Japan, Keio Uni-
versity, Kobe University, Nanyang
Technological University, National
University of Singapore, Seoul
National University, Singapore
Management University, Sydney
University, Yonsei University
To view the complete list of
graduates and placements, visit
www.insead.edu/PhD/careers-
placements.
live. So are the many charming
villages around it. The town’s
extensive shopping, restaurant
and sporting facilities are close
to campus. And Paris, with all its
famous attractions, is only 60 km
away – just 45 minutes by train.
The INSEAD campus is within
easy walking distance of the
town’s residential areas. Nestling
at the edge of the forest, it is the
largest of INSEAD’s international
locations and hosts hundreds
of MBA, Executive MBA and
Executive Education participants
at nearly all times of the year.
Asia: a smaller city campus
in a vibrant business hub
Singapore is a colourful city state,
with a multicultural population of
around 4 million. It has become
one of Asia’s most important
financial and high-tech poles. The
city’s shops and restaurants are
famous throughout the world, but
it is also a thriving cultural centre.
Accommodation: many
options
Most INSEAD PhD students live
in apartments not far from the
campus, which is situated at
the heart of Singapore’s rapidly
developing ‘knowledge hub’.
The modern INSEAD campus
is situated in the greenery of
the Buona Vista area some 25
minutes from the airport and
10 minutes from the financial
district. Although smaller than its
sister campus in Fontainebleau,
the quality of faculty, teaching
and research is identical. People
who know both campuses say
that Singapore has the same
distinctive INSEAD atmosphere
and experience as Fontainebleau,
but on a more intimate scale.
For more information, visit
www.insead.edu/campuses/.
29
 Choosing an area of specialisation
Before applying to
INSEAD, you must choose
an area of specialisation.
The choices are as follows.
Decision Sciences
Decision Sciences is an
interdisciplinary field that draws
on economics, forecasting,
statistical decision theory, and
cognitive psychology. Broadly
speaking, Decision Sciences
addresses three fundamental
and inter-related questions.
First, how should a “rational”
person make decisions? This
‘normative’ question is at the heart
of economics, and often serves as
a baseline for evaluating human
decision making.
Second, how do people really
make decisions? Recent
research has explored the ways
in which people are “boundedly
rational,” and utilise rules of
30
thumb and shortcuts to formulate
judgments and to choose among
alternatives.
Finally, given what we know about
rational decision making and
actual behaviour, how can we help
people, especially managers,
improve their decision-making?
Researchers employ a variety of
techniques to improve decision
making, ranging from sharpening
statistical intuition to quantitative
decision analysis.
The Decision Sciences area at
INSEAD includes an intellectually
diverse faculty that tackles the
above questions from many
perspectives, bringing together
traditions in mathematics,
statistics, economics and
psychology. Research interests
and expertise include risk
management, decision making
under uncertainty, statistics
and forecasting, operations
research, revenue management,
negotiation and auction analysis,
and behavioural decision theory.
The faculty regularly publishes in
top academic journals in various
fields. Our graduates have been
placed in top programmes such
as IESE, National University of
Singapore, Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology and
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, to
name a few.
Finance
The Finance group at INSEAD
has a strong reputation as a
world leader in its field. Around
20 resident faculty members
offer expertise in a wide variety
of areas, together with close
supervision.
INSEAD provides an outstanding
environment for finance
scholarship given the school’s
traditionally strong position in
management disciplines and
its exceptional commitment to
intellectual diversity.
Research interests of applicants
could be either theoretical or
empirical, and include (but are
not limited to) asset pricing,
international finance, asset
management, corporate finance,
household finance, behavioural
finance and corporate
governance.
Recently, the Finance area has
successfully placed PhD
graduates in a variety of excellent, research productivity in the making. The group as a whole is to excellence in research and
research-oriented schools, leading journals in the field, with interested in exploring important teaching.
including: Massachusetts Institute balanced strengths in the various questions using a range of the
of Technology, University of aspects of the discipline. oretical lenses, such as economics, Potential research interests of ap-
Southern California, Georgia psychology and behavioural plicants include (but are not limi-
Institute of Technology, University INSEAD provides an outstanding decision theory. ted to), organisational networks,
of North Carolina in the US; ESSEC environment for marketing organisational ecology, deci-
(France) and the University of scholarship. The diverse and In the last five years, our PhD sion making in organisations,
Amsterdam in Europe; Nanyang research-active faculty, the programme has successfully institutions and organisations,
Business School (Singapore) in behavioural lab in Paris and the placed graduates in a variety organisational competitiveness,
Asia. This confirms the reputation virtual lab on our campus on of leading schools around the organisational identities, diver-
of an innovative research group Second Life provide the intellectual world, including the University sity in organisations, cross-cultu-
with a strong track record of environment and support, as well of California, Berkeley, Carnegie ral management, teams in orga-
developing promising young as the infrastructure, necessary Mellon University, London nisations, careers, interpersonal
scholars. to obtain a PhD and to become a Business School, HEC (Paris), networks, negotiations, and inter-
scholar in the field. Boston University and the Hong personal communication.
Marketing Kong University of Science and
The Marketing group at INSEAD Potential research interests Technology, thus confirming our The group as a whole is open
has an outstanding reputation. of applicants include (but strong reputation. to research on individuals in
With over 15 resident faculty, are not limited to) marketing organisations, organisational
the group is among the most strategy, marketing in virtual Organisational Behaviour structures and processes, and
diversified and dynamic in the worlds, marketing and health, The Organisational Behaviour organisational relations with
world. It was recently ranked consumer behaviour, consumer area at INSEAD has world- other organisations and society
10th in the world in terms of learning, and consumer decision leading faculty and a commitment at large.
31

From 2009 we offer an additional
sub-specialisation in Entrepre-
neurship, which is open to stu-
dents applying to Organisational
Behaviour. Students taking this
option will take courses in Entre-
preneurship, as well as Strategy.
They may also write their disser-
tation under the supervision of
faculty from INSEAD’s entrepre-
neurship area. The courses in en-
trepreneurship research are also
available as electives for students
in other specialisations.
Graduates of the Organisatio-
nal Behaviour PhD programme
are found in leading institutions
around the world including Har-
vard Business School, London
Business School, McGill Univer-
sity, Seoul National University and
CEIBS.
Strategy
The Strategy group at INSEAD
has a strong reputation as one
of the best in the discipline. With
over 20 tenure-track faculty, the
group is particularly diverse and
has correspondingly eclectic in-
terests and influences.
Potential research interests of ap-
32
plicants could include (but are
not limited to) competitive stra-
tegy, mergers and acquisitions,
alliances, international manage-
ment, innovation and knowledge
management, strategy formula-
tion and execution, and corpo-
rate governance.
The group is open to research in
both strategy content and stra-
tegy process, using a wide range
of theoretical lenses, such as eco-
nomics, sociology, psychology
and organisational theory.
In recent years, the PhD program-
me in Strategy has successfully
placed graduates in a variety of
research oriented schools in-
cluding Wharton (twice), Boston
College, HEC (Paris), IESE, Pur-
due and the University of Califor-
nia at Irvine, and National Univer-
sity of Singapore, thus confirming
our reputation.
Technology and Operations
Management
The Technology and Operations
Management group at INSEAD
has a very strong reputation in-
deed. With 16 resident faculty, the
group is a leader in supply chain
management, new product de-
velopment, and information sys-
tems in management. The group
includes four editors at the jour-
nal Management Science and is at
the forefront of research.
Potential research interests of
applicants include (but are not
limited to) supply chain manage-
ment, new product development,
behavioural operations, disaster
and humanitarian logistics, health
care operations, product take-
back and sustainable production,
and service operations.
Interdisciplinary research is also
encouraged and there are fre-
quent joint research projects with
areas outside, including Marke-
ting, Strategy, Finance, Innovation
and Organisational Behaviour.
The group is strong in multiple
research methods, including ma-
thematical modelling, econome-
trics and surveys, multiple case
studies, and experiments with
human subjects.
Over recent years, graduates have
been placed at a variety of top
schools, including Carnegie Mel-
lon, Georgia Institute of Techno-
logy, HEC (France), International
University of Japan, National Uni-
versity of Singapore, Northwes-
tern, Purdue University, Singapore
Management University, UCLA,
University of Illinois at Urbana
Champaign and Wharton.
For more information about
faculty and research in all
of the above areas visit
www.insead.edu/faculty.
33
 Programme structure
We won’t deny that it’s
very hard work indeed.
But the INSEAD PhD pro-
gramme could represent
four or five of the most
fulfilling years of your life.
Years 1 and 2
Courses
The first two years consist
primarily of course work, distin-
guished by an inter-disciplinary
approach and an early emphasis
on in-depth training in the basic
disciplines underlying mana-
gement (such as economics,
behavioural sciences and re-
search methodology).
Many classes are video-confer-
enced between campuses for a
unique two-continent educatio-
nal experience. Some courses
assign projects or assignments to
be completed during the course,
others conclude with an exami-
nation or project work.
The year is divided into 5 tea-
ching periods of 8 weeks (7.5
weeks of course work followed by
an examination period), allowing
ample time for reading and re-
flection. The summer period is
largely devoted to research and
study. All instruction is in English.
The core curriculum is com-
posed of a set of four required
core courses that are common
to all fields of specialisation. In
addition to the core course re-
quirements, each field of specia-
34
lisation lists a set of requirements
which must be met by students to
qualify in that field. For the com-
plete lists, please refer to our PhD
website at:
www.insead.edu/PhD/program-
me_structure.htm.
In exceptional circumstances,
candidates may be exempt from
certain courses in which they can
demonstrate extensive knowled-
ge. Alternative work is usually
proposed in such cases.
Instructed Research Prac-
ticum
The Instructed Research Practi-
cum (IRP) is a distinctive feature
of the first two years at INSEAD.
The aim is for the student to learn
and practise the major steps in-
volved in conducting a research
study and progressing it towards
publication, over the equivalent
of three to four months’ full-time
work. The output of the IRP should
be one or two major pieces of a
research study – not necessarily
a complete publishable paper,
but one or two major components
that clearly have the potential to
lead to a high-quality paper.
Performance reviews
These are carried out by the
PhD Committee, consisting of
INSEAD faculty, at the end of
each year. The purpose is to
determine whether sufficient
progress is being made and to
give constructive feedback.
The Field Comprehensive mes 5)
Examination
This is the final task of the first proposal
part of the INSEAD PhD pro-
gramme. The exact format of the
examination varies according to
the area of specialisation, but will
generally involve both written
and oral elements.
Research paper require-
ment
In order to enter the third year
of the PhD, that is, to advance to
full PhD candidacy, all students
must write a research paper of
their own. This should be a sin-
gle-authored piece of work with
the potential for publication, pos-
sibly building on the work of the
Instructed Research Practicum.
Students must also give a pre-
sentation of the research paper
to faculty members. After this,
the paper is read by two INSEAD
professors who give it a pass or
fail grade.
Moving up to full PhD
candidacy
The PhD Committee, consisting
of INSEAD faculty (from all areas
of specialisation), ultimately de-
termines whether students who
have met all the requirements for
the first two years (course work,
Instructed Research Practicum,
Field Comprehensive Exami-
nation, and research paper) as
well as ascertaining the student’s
potential to conduct scholarly
research and complete a disser-
tation, can advance to full PhD
candidacy.
Years 3 and 4 (and someti-
Research and dissertation
Dissertation research begins im-
mediately on admission to PhD
candidacy. Each student works
towards defining a topic, in consul-
tation with faculty members,
and forms a personal Disserta-
tion Committee. This consists
of at least four faculty members,
three of whom must be INSEAD
resident faculty.
Under the close supervision
of a faculty advisor, each
student prepares a dissertation
proposal about for submission
to their Dissertation Committee.
The proposal defines both
the precise topic and the
methodology of research.
Approval of the proposal is a
requirement for entry to the
fourth year, by the end of which
many students will complete
their dissertations.
In line with many other
international institutions, INSEAD
now offers a discretionary fifth
year of funding for selected
students who have not been able
to complete their dissertations in
four years.
Teaching and soft-skills
training
Throughout the programme,
PhD students may be offered
workshops in skills such as wri-
ting, presenting and applying for
academic jobs. There is also a
requirement to complete a cer-
tain amount of training in tea-
ching skills. Some opportunities
to teach classes may also be
available.
Submission and defense of
the dissertation
The dissertation is the culmina-
tion of doctoral study. It is inten-
ded to represent independent
and original research work of a
publishable standard. Students
are expected to complete and
submit it during their fourth or
fifth year. They then enter a rigo-
rous evaluation process.
Permission to defend the disser-
tation must first be granted by
the Dissertation Committee. Fol-
lowing the oral defense, which is
open to all INSEAD faculty and
PhD students, the Dissertation
Committee will meet again to
determine whether any revisions
are required. Once these have
been implemented, the Disser-
tation Committee will grant their
full approval via a written report
to the PhD Committee. If the qua-
lity of the dissertation is deemed
acceptable, the PhD Committee
makes a final recommendation
to the PhD Dean to award the
degree. It is a necessarily rigo-
rous and demanding process in
keeping with the reputation of the
INSEAD programme.
Award of the PhD degree
Following the recommendation
of the PhD Committee, the
PhD Dean grants the degree
on behalf of the entire INSEAD
faculty. The degree is awarded
by INSEAD, under its own name
and responsibility, at an end-of-
year ceremony in the historic
Château de Fontainebleau. It is an
occasion for successful graduates
to celebrate with friends, family,
faculty and colleagues, before
moving on to an exciting new
career.
35
 Residence requirements
and campus exchanges
Students are expected to
spend a minimum of three
years in residence.
Learning how to divide
time between course
work and research is an
essential part of the trai-
ning. This also means en-
gaging in full-time study,
research and conferences
during July and August.
Transferring between
INSEAD locations
During the first two years of the
programme, most students will
spend some time on the INSEAD
campus that is not their origi-
nal base. Although there are set
times for short campus chan-
ges, INSEAD takes a flexible
approach. Many students choo-
se to spend longer or shorter
periods of time on the other
campus, depending on the loca-
tion of faculty members or their
own family commitments. Perma-
nent campus switches are also
possible.
PhD students also have the
opportunity to spend time at
INSEAD’s centres in Abu Dhabi
and Israel, if there is a benefit to
their research.
36
The INSEAD-Wharton
Alliance
INSEAD’s alliance with the
Wharton School in the US is part
of a major strategic partnership
between the two schools.
Exchanges and visits of doctoral
students are a major pillar of
this long-standing relationship.
Students registered in one of
the two institutions can register
and gain credit for courses taken
at the other institution, after
completing their first year of
studies. Some financial aid may
be available through the Alliance
Center for Global Research and
Development.
Exchanges with and visits
to other institutions
INSEAD may enter exchange
programmes with other aca-
demic institutions, allowing
students to attend certain courses
there or to carry out research.
This is subject to the approval
of the PhD Dean. In such cases,
tuition fees and living expenses
are generally covered by the
home institution.
Visits to other institutions may
be also be approved for specific
periods to enable students to
undergo specific training in
topics for where there are relevant
experts outside INSEAD.
37
 Administrative Research and learning
and academic facilities
structure Libraries and information Technology
services All new PhD students
The PhD Dean is
Both INSEAD campuses have ex-
responsible for the
tensive library facilities. In Fontai-
smooth running of the nebleau, the Georges and Edna
programme, assisted Doriot Library has long been at the
by a small, friendly and heart of the campus, while the new,
helpful administrative high-tech Tanoto Library in Singa-
team working across both pore is rapidly attaining the same
campuses. Together, they status. PhD students in Singapore
administer admissions, also have access to the nearby li-
financial issues, courses, brary of the National University of
academic performance Singapore.
and academic regulations,
working across both As well as comprehensive collec-
campuses. They also tions of books, the two libraries
provide advice and provide access to around 10,000
practical support for printed and electronic periodicals
moving to a new country. and 40 database resources – on
and off campus.
The PhD Committee
is chaired by the PhD All this is supplemented by a com-
Dean and consists prehensive inter-library loan ser-
of faculty members vice.
who are involved in
Both libraries are open 24 hours
the programme. The
a day 7 days a week (though with
Committee is responsible
limited services outside normal
for procedural issues
office hours). All PhD students re-
concerning students
ceive library training on arrival
(such as admission, at INSEAD, with additional indivi-
courses, award of degree, dual sessions available on request
leave of absence), for throughout the year.
the implementation of
the policies governing See www.insead.edu/library for
the programme, and for more details.
making recommendations
about changes in these Seminars and workshops
policies. Faculty seminars and workshop
series are an integral part of the
INSEAD research culture.
Doctoral students are expected to
take an active part in these activi-
ties at the earliest opportunity.
38
are given
laptops with integrated video-con-
ferencing devices to communicate
across campuses. Both campuses
also provide extensive additio-
nal computing facilities and user
support. The two sites are networked
seamlessly together, and the latest
video-conferencing technology
is used to run both classes and
meetings.
The INSEAD Social
Science Research Centre
in Paris (ISSRC)
Behavioural research in manage-
ment is heavily empirical, which
means conducting studies in a highly
controlled laboratory setting. The
INSEAD Social Science Research
Centre in Paris offers the ideal envi-
ronment for this kind of research.
The state-of-the-art facility in
the Latin Quarter in Paris is now
processing over 200 research
participants per week. The cen-
tre welcomes all behavioural re-
searchers at INSEAD – faculty and
PhD students – across all acade-
mic areas. It has the facilities to
run different kinds of studies, ran-
ging from survey questionnaires to
computer-controlled behavioural
experiments.
The ISSRC provides the infrastruc-
ture to do world-class behavioural
research in organisational behaviour,
consumer behaviour, decision scien-
ces,experimental economics,and be-
havioural finance. It is a tremendous
resource, which has set a benchmark
for other business schools.
39
 Admissions
Places on the INSEAD PhD
programme are limited
to around 20 each year in
total, so the admissions pro-
cess is highly competitive.
Nevertheless, we encou-
rage all those who feel they
have the right skills, poten-
tial and motivation to apply.
We also welcome campus
visits, email communica-
tions and phone calls from
those interested in finding
out whether they have the
right profile.
General requirements
INSEAD’s policy is to admit the most
promising candidates, irrespective
of nationality, race, religion, sex
or background. Candidates must
hold a university degree from an
accredited academic institution,
and have a working oral and written
knowledge of English.
Above all, candidates need to pos-
sess both the ability to engage in
high-quality research and the com-
mitment to an academic career at
an international level. Candidates
are assessed on the basis of outs-
tanding intellectual ability, motiva-
tion, faculty recommendations, and
the personal characteristics requi-
red of an international academic
career. Approximately 20 candida-
tes are admitted each year.
There is no particular requirement
concerning fields of study at the
undergraduate level, but standard
postgraduate entry tests are used
40
to assess general ability (see
below) and, if necessary, level of
English. Candidates with a weak
mathematical background will
be encouraged to undertake
remedial studies before entering
the programme.
Application procedure
The deadline for application is
usually in early December of
the year preceding admission.
An interview may subsequently
be requested. Candidates are
advised of admissions decisions
by mid March and the programme
commences in September. All
applications should be made
online at www.insead.edu/PhD/
admissions/online_application.
cfm. As for any PhD programme, it
is a time-consuming process which
should not be underestimated.
A complete application includes:
• The application form (including
a statement of purpose and
photograph)
• Certified copies of all university
diplomas
• Official transcripts of grades
• GMAT or GRE score report
(see below)
• TOEFL score report (see below)
• Three letters of recommendation
from faculty or scholars on the
applicant’s academic ability
and potential for research and
teaching
• A small application fee (currently
€50) to cover administrative costs.
Test requirements
All applicants are required to take
one of two tests: either the Gradua-
te Record Examination
General Test (GRE), administered
by the Educational Testing Service
(ETS), Princeton,
USA; or the Graduate Management
Admission Test (GMAT), adminis-
tered by Pearson VUE, Boomington,
USA. Both tests may be taken at va-
rious locations around the world.
We strongly encourage applicants
to take one of these tests in the
fall before their application at the
latest. Six to eight weeks should
be allowed for ETS and Pearson
VUE to send test scores to
INSEAD.
The Codes Centres for the PhD
Programme are: 3244 (GRE) and
DL3-S8-08 (GMAT). Their vali-
dity for purposes of application to
INSEAD is five years. Applications
cannot be considered without a
test score.
For further information, please
contact ETS or Pearson VUE:
GRE: Educational Testing Service,
P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, USA-NJ,
08541-6000
website: www.GRE.org.
GMAT: Pearson VUE, 5601 Green
Valley Drive, Suite 300, Blooming-
ton, USA-MN 55437
website: www.GMAC.com.
The codes for the INSEAD PhD
Programme are: 3244 (GRE) and
DL3-S8-08 (GMAT).
The INSEAD PhD is taught ex-
clusively in English and is highly
participatory, requiring well-de-
veloped written and verbal skills.
Applicants whose native language
is not English are required to take
the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL), unless their
university degree is from an insti-
tution where the curriculum was
exclusively taught in English.
The TOEFL is administered by
ETS, and is given at specified lo-
cations around the world. For IN-
SEAD purposes, TOEFL tests are
valid for two years. Test scores
should be reported directly to the
INSEAD PhD Programme using
the code 3244.
For further information, contact:
TOEFL Services, P. O. Box 6151,
Princeton, USA-NJ 08541
website: www.toefl.org.
Financial matters
In practice it is rare for
students to fund tuition
from their own resources.
Successful applicants who
do not obtain funding
from other sources (such
as scholarships from their
home country) are usually
eligible for full INSEAD
tuition scholarships.
Generous stipends towards
living expenses are also
available. This means that
few students have to bear
the financial burdens
typically associated with
postgraduate study.
Tuition fees
Although there are tuition fees
(€30,000 per year/SGD65,000) for
the first two years of the program-
me and dissertation fees (€5,000
per year/SGD12,000) after advan-
cement to candidacy until gradua-
tion, almost all students are offered
tuition scholarships.
Living expenses
Financial assistance through
INSEAD fellowships is available on
the basis of demonstrated need and
merit. A full INSEAD fellowship pro-
vides not just tuition fees but also
an annual living allowance, which
currently ranges from €18,780
to €23,880 in Fontainebleau and
SGD44,000 to SGD60,000 in Sin-
gapore. INSEAD fellowships are
available during the first five years
of studies (for a full 12 months) and
renewed annually dependent on
satisfactory progress.
Nevertheless, candidates are ex-
pected to seek external financial
support where available. Students
with partial financing are eligible
for complementary INSEAD fel-
lowship funding.
INSEAD gratefully acknowledges
the support of corporate sponsors
and external institutions, which
have provided fellowships and en-
dowments for doctoral study at IN-
SEAD over the past 20 years.
Accenture (UK) Limited; Arthur D.
Little; Associazione Borsisti Marco
Fanno; Banca Nazionale del Lavoro
SpA; Bank Austria Creditanstalt
AG; Bank of Ireland; Bank of Spain;
Canon Foundation; CAPES; CERISDI,
Palermo (University); CIM; Com-
merzbank; Crédit Agricole Suisse;
Crédit Suisse Group; Deutsche
Bank AG; Deutsche Zentral-Genos-
senschaftsbank; Dresdner Bank AG;
Economic Development Board of
Singapore; Euroforum Escorial SA;
F.R.S.-FNRS; Finnish Cultural Foun-
dation (Suomen Kulttuurirahasto);
Fondazione IRI; Fundação para a
Ciência e a Tecnologia; General
Electric Finance; General Elec-
tric Foundation; HSBC Holdings IE
Business School; ING Group;
INSEAD Alumni Fund; INSEAD
Gesellschaft Deutschland; JNICT;
Lee Foundation; Luzenac Group;
Monetary Authority of Singapore;
Rothschild Group; NatWest; Sasa-
kawaYoung Leaders Fellowship
Fund; Skandinaviska Enskilda Ban-
ken; Société Générale; The Boston
Consulting Group; The Institute of
International Finance, Inc.
All the donors who contributed to
The Erin Anderson Excellence in
PhD Education Fund.
Individual donors
Hans Berg; Roderick Chamberlain;
Marc Coladon; Hervé de Carmoy;
Andrew de Csillery; Benoit Galland;
Gabriel Hawawini; Bruno Meyenho-
fer; Ludo Van der Heyden.
41
 Notes

42 43
INSEAD Europe Campus
PhD Office
Boulevard de Constance,
77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France
Tel: (33) (0)1 60 72 42 93
Fax: (33) (0)1 60 74 55 93/00
E-mail: phd.info@insead.edu

INSEAD Asia Campus

PhD Office
1 Ayer Rajah Avenue
Singapore 138676
Tel:(65) 6799 5389
Fax: (65) 6799 5445
E-mail: phd.info@insead.edu