Offered by Golden Gate University Degree Granting

MBA & DBA Degree from Golden Gate University

A 36-month blended pathway for working professionals that combines an MBA and DBA from Golden Gate University, offering leadership development, doctoral research preparation and an optional San Francisco immersion to accelerate transition into senior roles.

Duration
36 Months
Learning format
Live Online
Program fee
₹12,00,000
Apply by
30 November 2026
Duration 36 Months
Mode Live Online
Program Fee ₹12,00,000
Apply By 30 November 2026

Program Overview

This blended 36-month pathway combines an MBA and a research-driven DBA from Golden Gate University to prepare experienced professionals for senior leadership, consulting and academic roles. The program pairs practical management training—delivered via live interactive sessions, case studies, projects and Harvard Business Publishing simulations—with doctoral-level research and a dissertation component.

Participants can choose from five concentrations (Finance, Business Analytics, Marketing, Leadership & Strategy, General) to tailor their MBA, and benefit from optional seven-day on-campus immersion in San Francisco to deepen industry exposure. Graduates receive dual degrees from Golden Gate University, WASC-accredited and AACSB-affiliated, and gain access to GGU’s global alumni network and career support resources.

Why consider this program

Key highlights and core differentiators that set this program apart.

Dual MBA & DBA awarded by Golden Gate University

WASC-accredited program with AACSB International membership

Optional 7-day San Francisco on-campus immersion

Blended delivery with live interactive sessions and Harvard Business Publishing simulations

Tailored concentrations across Finance, Business Analytics, Marketing, Leadership & Strategy and General

What you may gain

Core capabilities, strategic skills, and managerial frameworks you will acquire.

  • Earn an MBA and progress into a research-driven DBA from Golden Gate University to fast-track senior leadership and consulting roles.
  • Develop advanced strategic decision-making and research skills to solve complex organisational problems.
  • Apply analytics and data-driven frameworks across finance, marketing, operations and leadership through projects and case studies.
  • Gain global recognition and network access with optional San Francisco campus immersion and GGU alumni status.
  • Complete a streamlined 36-month pathway that combines practical management training with doctoral-level research preparation.

Program at a glance

Essential delivery mode, timeline, and candidate eligibility at a glance.

Career level
Mid-Level
Mode
Live Online
Language
English
Certification
Degree
Application status
Open

Curriculum / Course Content

Comprehensive breakdown of course modules, masterclasses, and hands-on projects.

- Units: 3

  • This course provides a foundational understanding of economics and business finance. It covers market dynamics, macroeconomic principles and key financial decision-making tools such as capital budgeting and time value of money. Learners apply concepts through projects and case studies to build practical skills.

- Units: 3

  • Introduces management and leadership theory and knowledge. Develops analytical and decision-making skills and organizational knowledge. Explores basic concepts of management and leadership and how organizational context impacts managerial and leadership actions.

- Units: 3

  • Focuses on marketing management and problem solving. Topics include methods for managing product positioning, pricing, distribution, and external communications. Students will learn about customer behavior, demand determination, and marketing research. They will be exposed to marketing in a variety of contexts, such as for-profit, nonprofit, Internet, and the global context.

- Units: 3

  • Students will learn the principles, terminology, organizational roles, and application of data analytics in the business, along with the principles and challenges of data strategy and management. They will be introduced to the multi-faceted toolkit of data analytics tools, which will be presented in more detail via the curriculum. Time will be spent understanding the CRISP-DM methodology for developing usable analytics and the implications of the Internet of Things.

- Units: 3

  • Introduces the concept of financial analysis in management decision making. Explores the financial techniques in analyzing business health, risks and returns, and capital investment decisions. Introduces valuation models and their roles in financial and business decisions.

- Units: 3

  • Introduces the managerial aspects of information technology in business organizations, including governance models for business and management of technology assets. Analyzes how information technology can help improve the productivity and efficiency of different functions within an organization to enhance performance. Examines emerging technology trends. Explores the use of information for improved decision-making and discusses the security challenges, privacy issues, and ethical conundrums facing managers in the digital enterprise.

- Units: 3

  • Explores operations management and its role in the broader supply chain management (OPSCM) concept in producing and delivering the firm’s products and services, with the emphasis on how OPSCM supports the firm’s core competencies and contributes to the achievement of its strategic objectives. Investigate how OPSCM processes are integrated through systems management to achieve internal and external optimization.

- Units: 3

  • Provides the framework for understanding the critical impact of the international, legal, political, social, environmental and cultural roles played by the business enterprise in conducting its business. Focuses on the obligations of the individual managers and the corporation as a whole.

- Units: 3

  • Introduces strategic analysis and design techniques from an integrated perspective. Addresses the roles that functions within an organization play in strategy formulation and implementation. Students will perform analysis and develop a strategy in response to an external and internal business environment. Examines the implications of strategy on the outcome of business entities.

- Units: 3

  • This hands-on course develops skills needed to be a successful team member and team leader. Students learn and apply the tools and techniques necessary to design, establish, and maintain high performing teams within organizations.

Learning format and experience

Format, class schedules, campus immersion details, and evaluation criteria.

Study format

Mode and time commitment

Mode
Live Online
Duration
36 Months
In-person experience

Campus component

Optional on-campus immersion in San Francisco, USA — 7 days On-campus Immersion with meals; Lectures & Group mentoring sessions; City tour

Learning approach

How you will learn

  • Live & interactive sessions
  • Case studies and industry projects
  • Simulations from Harvard Business Publishing Education
  • Dissertation workshops and qualifying exam training workshops
  • Concentration selection workshops and group mentoring sessions
  • Blended delivery with recorded content (English subtitles available)
Assessment

How learning is evaluated

  • Project- and case-study-based assessments integrated in courses
  • Qualifying exams for progression to doctoral research
  • Dissertation as a capstone doctoral requirement
  • Workshops and training to prepare for qualifying exams and dissertation submission

Eligibility and admissions

Eligibility criteria, work experience requirements, and admission steps.

Who this program is for

  • Working professionals aiming to transition into C-suite roles.
  • Senior managers seeking to become domain experts or move into consulting.
  • Experienced professionals preparing for research-driven leadership roles (MBA followed by DBA).

Eligibility criteria

  • Bachelor's Degree with minimum 50% in any specialization.
  • Candidates must hold a valid Bachelor's degree (as restated in FAQs and Eligibility sections).
Minimum qualification
Graduate

Admission and selection process

Admission criteria

  • Candidates must hold a valid Bachelor’s degree (minimum 50%).

Selection criteria

  • Admission panel reviews the Statement of Purpose and candidate profile to assess fit.
  • Shortlisted candidates receive an offer letter.
  • To confirm candidature, pay the minimum block amount of INR 25,000.

Alumni connection

Graduates gain official alumni recognition and lifetime networking privileges.

Gain GGU alumni status and join 70,000+ alumni worldwide; access to job portal and offline networking events.

Important Dates

Key application deadlines, batch commencement dates, and intake schedules.

Application Deadline 30 November 2026
Program start date22 December 2026
Program end date (embedded schedule)21 December 2029

Date notes

Program dates shown include a program schedule range embedded in site data (start: 2026-12-22; end: 2029-12-21). Admission deadline and start dates are cohort-specific—refer to your offer letter for exact timelines.

Fees and Financing

Tuition fees, flexible installment schedules, and available financing options.

Total Programme Fee₹12,00,000
Fee or instalmentAmountDue date / termsNotes
Program Fee₹12,00,000—0 Tax applicable; Pay as you learn with annual installment plan; 12 months No-cost EMI available; Pay upfront and get additional waiver
Immersion Fee₹2,25,000—Inclusive of taxes; 7 days On-campus Immersion with meals; Lectures & Group mentoring sessions; City tour
Program package block amount (to reserve seat)₹25,000—Minimum block amount required to reserve seat

Fee notes

Fee inclusions and tax:

- Program Fee: INR 12,00,000 — 0 Tax applicable (page states 0 Tax applicable). - Immersion Fee: INR 2,25,000 — inclusive of taxes; includes 7-day on-campus immersion with meals, lectures, mentoring and city tour.

Payment, instalment & block amount:

  • Pay as you learn with annual installment plan; 12 months No-cost EMI available; pay upfront and get additional waiver (page statements). - Minimum block amount to reserve seat: INR 25,000 (embedded programPackageBlockAmount: 25000).
  • Student must pay the full fee within seven (7) days of payment of the deposit amount or batch start date, whichever is earlier; otherwise the admission letter will be rescinded.

Refund & cancellation:

  • Refunds may be claimed within the duration mentioned on the Offer Letter by submitting the refund form via the "My Application" section; no refund is applicable once the program has started, including if payments are incomplete and the student could not be enrolled in the chosen batch.
  • Refund requests must be submitted via the prescribed refund request form and will be processed within 30 working days after approval by the Academic Committee.

Financing options

12 months No-cost EMI available; Finance and No Cost EMI options provided by third-party financial institutions (terms subject to change).

Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries about the program, admissions, curriculum, and policies.

Candidates must hold a valid Bachelor’s degree.

Completing these programs from GGU can lead to career opportunities in corporate leadership, academia, consulting, entrepreneurship, research, the public sector, and more. It will offer high-level strategic and operational advice to businesses, backed by deep industry knowledge and analytical skills.

The admissions process is completely online. The following are the key steps in the application process

Step 1: Complete Application

Fill in details of your education, work-experience and submit your Statement of Purpose

Step 2: Application Review

Admission panel reviews the SOP and candidate profile to assess fitment

Step 3: Receive the Offer Letter

Shortlisted candidates are sent the Offer Letter

Step 4: Reserve Your Seat by INR 25,000/-

Pay a block amount to reserve your seat, pay the balance amount subsequently

Post successful completion of this program, you will be awarded a MBA & DBA degree from Golden Gate University

Refund Policy:

  1. You can claim a refund for the amount paid towards the Program within the duration mentioned on the Offer Letter, by visiting www.upgrad.com and submitting your refund form via the "My Application" section under your profile. You can request your Admissions Counsellor to help you in applying and withdrawing for a refund by sending them an email with reasons listed. There shall be no refund applicable once the program has started. This is applicable even for those students who could not complete their payment, and could not be enrolled in the batch opted for. However, the student can avail pre-deferral as per the policy defined below for the same.
  2. Student must pay the full fee within seven (7) days of payment of the deposit amount or batch start date, whichever is earlier; otherwise, the admission letter will be rescinded.
  3. Request for refund as per point no. 1 of the refund policy must be sent via email in the prescribed refund request form. The refund will be processed within 30 working days of submitting the duly signed refund form, after being duly approved by the Academic Committee.
Certificate Details

Post successful completion of this program, you will be awarded a MBA & DBA degree from Golden Gate University.

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