Level. The Diploma in Applied Leadership Studies (DAL), is a (post-)graduate programme in applied leadership studies, offered at either a post-bachelor or post-master's level. The distance education is supplemented by one residence module offered in executive seminar mode. The entire DAL curriculum accounts for minimum 90 ECTS (36 US credits). The DAL + M.A. combined is of 120 ECTS (48 US credits). 

Audience. The programme is aimed at professionally active individuals who wish to undertake practice-oriented studies in leadership, towards a graduate diploma of the institute, possibly  followed by a master's degree in leadership. The average work experience or career of our DAL students is seven years (range is four to twelve years). About 40% of the DAL students already holds a prior master's degree (MBA, MSc,... ); another 45% holds a bachelor degree. The remainder 5% holds a doctoral degree, and take the DAL to prepare a major career change.

Individual study. In the online-based distance learning mode, most of the DAL course units are offered in an asynchronous or self-paced mode (not cohort-based). Course participants start and complete the courses individually, in harmony with their professional agendas and personal lives, thus with flexible course completion timings, yet within an overall curriculum completion timeframe. Throughout the entire programme each participant benefits from personalised study guidance and e-coaching provided by a leadership expert faculty member, and experienced in distance learning.

MA path. The DAL + M.A. programme can be attended on a single track or dual track basis. In the dual track the master's phase is started immediately after the DAL curriculum has been completed. There is also a PhD in Leadership degree path, after the master's degree (see > PALS programme). 

Source. The entire and unabridged DAL curriculum and the M.A. programme's 'Twelve Works' structure originate from the conceptual original knowledge base of The THIERRY Graduate School of Leadership of Belgium. The entire programme, the first one of its type in Europe, has a proven track record of success (it was launched in 2002). Under the association framework between the institutions, THIERRY and INSIL share human and educational resources for the distance learning course delivery and for the study guidance and coaching. 

Language. English is the language of instruction and in all of the course materials of the DAL courses. The personalised study guidance and coaching is also in English. For bilingual students with French mother-tongue the coaching can be offered in both languages.

Residence. Of the ten course units in the DAL curriculum, there is one residence module. It integrates intensive face-to-face interaction between students and faculty, plus the courses and workshops that cannot be experienced to their fullest extent in distance learning nor virtual classroom environments. The residence course unit comprises 60 face-to-face hours, taking place during the one-week intensive summer residence programme, and/or during special residencies in France or Belgium, or regional ones held in other locations around the world (the latter contingent on the number of attendees in/from a given geographical region, and in a given year).      

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