ESGCI DBA: Fees, Eligibility and India Validity
The ESGCI DBA is a 3-year online doctorate. Below are its fees, eligibility, credits, refund and deferral terms, and what it means for you in India.
Is an online DBA valid in India? Not automatically.
- It is not a PhD, and it cannot be used anywhere a UGC-recognised PhD is required.
- It is usable in India only if UGC grants an equivalence certificate under the UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025, notified 4 April 2025. Programmes from unrecognised institutions, unaccredited programmes, or franchise arrangements are not eligible.
- On 28 October 2022, UGC and AICTE publicly warned that online doctoral programmes offered by edtech companies with foreign institutions are not recognised.
- Outside India, a DBA from a university accredited in its home country is recognised there as a professional doctorate.
Not sure a DBA will hold up for your goal? Get a free check before you pay any booking amount.
Get the free DBA checkESGCI DBA at a glance
| Provider | ESGCI |
| Programme | DBA |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Fee | ₹6,50,000 without immersion, ₹8,14,000 with immersion |
| Booking amount | ₹25,000 |
| Total credits | 180 ECTS |
| Additional certificate | ESGCI certificate |
| Live sessions | Yes |
| Recordings | Yes |
| Attendance required | 75% |
| Campus immersion | Campus immersion available |
| Alumni status | Yes |
| Degree format | Soft copy and physical degree |
ESGCI DBA fees
- Without immersion: ₹6,50,000
- With immersion: ₹8,14,000
- Booking amount: ₹25,000
Deferral: Deferral allowed. If the batch has already started, a 5% additional programme fee is charged and the learner moves to the next batch.
Refund policy: Refund available any time before the cohort commencement date.
Fees are indicative, taken from provider information collected in November 2026, and change by batch. Talk to our counsellor for the current fee and any available scholarship.
Eligibility and structure
Eligibility: Master's degree, or bachelor's with 3+ years of experience; diploma considered with 8+ years of experience.
- Total credits: 180 ECTS
- Live sessions: Yes
- Recordings: Yes
- Attendance required: 75%
- Campus immersion available
Accreditations and memberships as stated by the provider
edifyedu.in has not yet independently verified these with each accrediting body. Talk to our counsellor before relying on any of them.
- ACBSP
- FMHE
- QUALIPI
The franchise question
Before you pay, ask in writing whether this DBA is delivered through a franchise or partner arrangement. If it is, it is not eligible for UGC equivalence. Talk to our counsellor to check this for ESGCI.
Who it suits
- Your profile meets its stated eligibility: Master's degree, or bachelor's with 3+ years of experience; diploma considered with 8+ years of experience.
- You can budget ₹6,50,000 without immersion, or ₹8,14,000 with it.
- You want the option of a refund until the start date: refund available any time before the cohort commencement date.
- Your goal does not depend on a UGC-recognised PhD.
Who should skip it
- You need a UGC-recognised PhD for any purpose, including teaching at an Indian university.
- Your qualification or experience falls short of: Master's degree, or bachelor's with 3+ years of experience; diploma considered with 8+ years of experience.
- You cannot commit to 75% attendance in live sessions for 3 years.
Compare with the other five online DBAs
| Programme | Lowest fee | Credits | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate University DBA | ₹10,65,000 | 56 (12 foundation + 12 concentration + 32 dissertation) | Refund before cohort start |
| Rushford Business School DBA | Talk to our counsellor for the current fee | 180 ECTS | Refund before cohort start |
| SSBM Executive DBA | Talk to our counsellor for the current fee | Talk to our counsellor | Refund before programme start |
| EIMT DBA | ₹6,50,000 | 180 ECTS | USD 300 application fee non-refundable; refunds per provider schedule |
| Birchwood University DBA | ₹6,00,000 | 60 ECTS | No refund policy |
Frequently asked questions
What is the fee for the ESGCI DBA?
₹6,50,000 without immersion, ₹8,14,000 with immersion, with a booking amount of ₹25,000. Fees are indicative and change by batch. Talk to our counsellor for the current fee and any available scholarship.
What is the eligibility for the ESGCI DBA?
Master's degree, or bachelor's with 3+ years of experience; diploma considered with 8+ years of experience.
How long is the ESGCI DBA?
3 years, with live sessions, recordings and a 75% attendance requirement.
Is the ESGCI DBA valid in India?
Not automatically. It is not a PhD, and it is usable in India only if UGC grants an equivalence certificate under the 2025 Equivalence Regulations. Programmes from unrecognised institutions, unaccredited programmes, or franchise arrangements are not eligible. Ask in writing whether ESGCI delivers it through a franchise or partner arrangement.
What is the refund policy for the ESGCI DBA?
Refund available any time before the cohort commencement date. Deferral allowed. If the batch has already started, a 5% additional programme fee is charged and the learner moves to the next batch.
Does the ESGCI DBA include campus immersion?
Campus immersion is available. It adds ₹1,64,000 to the fee: ₹6,50,000 without it, ₹8,14,000 with it.
Free, no commission
Free DBA Shortlist and Validity Check
- Eligibility check against each programme's criteria
- Current fee, with and without immersion
- The franchise or partner route question, answered for your shortlist
- Refund and deferral terms explained before you pay any booking amount