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DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Financial Management
Finance people are trained to report the past. This online doctorate from Rushford Business School asks a harder question: can you prove why the numbers moved? Three years, 180 ECTS, and a thesis built on evidence rather than a hunch.
Quick Highlights
Rushford Business School
36 months
180 ECTS
100% online, asynchronous
Taught or research
DBA or PhD
Programme at a Glance
Degree AwardDoctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Awarding UniversityRushford Business School, Lucerne, Switzerland
SpecialisationFinancial Management
Duration36 months
Credits180 ECTS
Study Mode100% online, asynchronous and self-paced via e-Campus
Note: Duration will be based on your experience and it can be advanced bachelors too which differs from prospects to prospects
Programme Overview
About this Programme
There is a point in a finance career where the reporting is easy and the explaining is not. The board wants to know why margin slipped in one division and held in another, and the honest answer is usually a theory. This doctorate is about turning theories like that into findings that survive scrutiny.
The degree runs to 180 ECTS over about three years, entirely online and without set class times. A full 30 credits go on method before any thesis work starts, covering literature, research design and statistics. Candidates earlier in their management careers take the taught route and submit 20,000 to 25,000 words. Those with more than five years in a senior post take the research route, work with a mentor from early on, and submit 45,000 to 50,000.
Rushford Business School in Lucerne confers the award. The school points graduates towards senior financial posts, a move into a different industry, or lecturing at a university or business school, and lets candidates take the PhD title in place of the DBA if they prefer.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Beyond reporting the numbers
Research training aimed at explaining financial outcomes, not just recording them.
02
Statistics done properly
Business Statistics and quantitative method are taught modules, not assumed knowledge.
03
Survives a reporting cycle
Asynchronous delivery means year-end does not derail a term of study.
04
Lecturing is a named outcome
Rushford lists university and business school teaching among graduate destinations.
05
Service in place of a master's
A bachelor's with more than eight years of management is an accepted entry route.
06
DBA or PhD
The title can be switched on request before graduation, subject to how you were admitted.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Apply research methods to live financial questions
Collect primary and secondary evidence on business problems
Draw on financial management fundamentals to forecast outcomes
Present findings credibly to boards and senior committees
Reduce a complicated financial strategy to plain language
Take data from collection through analysis to presentation
Write to a standard that journals will consider
Construct a doctoral thesis and defend it orally
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
Senior Financial Management Roles
University or Business School Teaching
Transition into New Business and Industry Domains
Programme Structure
Your Journey, Year by Year
A structured curriculum that builds from foundations through to advanced study.
Stage 1 — Taught route
180 ECTS. For managers with fewer than five years in a leadership post.
- Business Management Track (30 ECTS) — Managerial Skills; Cutting Edge Leadership; Managerial Economics; International Business Environment; Accounting for Financial Reporting; Strategic Management: Integrating the Enterprise
- Specialization Track (30 ECTS) — six courses chosen from the specialisation track
- Research Track (30 ECTS) — Introduction to Academic Research; The Landscape of Literature Review; Research Design; Business Statistics; Designing a Quantitative Research Methodology; Designing a Qualitative Research Methodology
- Written Proposal Defence, 5,000 words (20 ECTS)
- Doctoral Residency (10 ECTS)
- Reflection & Minutes of the Meeting with Supervisor (10 ECTS)
- Report Writing (10 ECTS)
- Written Dissertation & Oral Defence, 20,000–25,000 words (40 ECTS)
Stage 2 — Research route
180 ECTS. For candidates with more than five years of management experience.
- Specialization Track (15 ECTS) — three subject courses
- Research Track (30 ECTS) — the same six research courses
- Written Dissertation Proposal, 5,000 words (30 ECTS)
- Reflection & Minutes of the Meeting with Supervisor (20 ECTS)
- Research Publication / Doctoral Residency (25 ECTS)
- Written Dissertation & Oral Defence, 45,000–50,000 words (60 ECTS)
Your Learning Partner
Why Study Through Maverick?
Students receive:
Dedicated academic support
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Flexible learning
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Assessment support
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Affordable instalments
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Career guidance
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Documentation assistance
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Why GCC Professionals Choose This Programme
Research your own books
The thesis can investigate a real financial question inside the organisation you work for.
Experience is a recognised route
Eight years of management plus a bachelor's opens the door without a master's.
A second career in teaching
Lecturing is one of the outcomes Rushford names, which appeals to finance professionals planning ahead.
Pick the title that fits
DBA or PhD, decided before graduation. Recognition of Prior Experience entrants receive the DBA.
Know your local rules
Rushford advises checking national legislation on the title "Doctor" before enrolling, not after.
Our Network
Diverse Alumni
Join professionals across leading organizations worldwide
Graduates placing at world-class organisations across aviation, energy, finance and government
Join our growing global network of industry leaders
Faculty Voice
Insights From Industry Experts
Real-world perspectives from the minds shaping global business education
Germany
Faculty Insight • 01
Prof. Alexander Schmidt
Alexander is a leader in AI and cloud integration, specializing in ethical AI strategy and financial services. He develops courses on Machine Learning, NLP, and AI ethics, driving tech business growth.
British
Faculty Insight • 02
Prof. Dr. David Mark Holliman
Dr. David Holliman, an educator with 15+ years of experience, is Chairman of Holliman Holdings, managing business operations in tourism, trading, asset management, and education
Jordan
Faculty Insight • 03
Prof. Dr. Othman Abu Khurma
Dr. Othman Abu Khurma, a passionate science educator with 18 years' experience in Jordan and the GCC, excels in designing engaging teaching materials, fostering dynamic discussions, enhancing learning for educators and students.
Switzerland
Faculty Insight • 04
Prof. Steve Alban Tineo
Prof. Steve, a global leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience, delivers corporate training and academic courses on negotiation, conflict resolution, mediation, and cross-cultural communication.
slovakia
Faculty Insight • 05
Prof. Veronika Knight
Veronika Knight delivers practical, human-centered learning experiences for corporate teams across the UAE and GCC. Her approach focuses on developing soft skills and encouraging meaningful behavioural change, helping learners apply their knowledge with confidence in the workplace.
Canada
Faculty Insight • 06
Shyma Mohaisen
Shyma brings over 10 years of teaching experience and a background at Microsoft, combining academic expertise with practical industry insights to support learners’ professional growth.
India
Faculty Insight • 07
Prof. Dr. Shanmugan Joghee
Dr. Shanmugan brings over 26 years of experience in management education and research across India and the UAE, with expertise in marketing, international business, research methods, and digital transformation.
Ukrainian
Faculty Insight • 08
Prof. Yana Nikitina
Prof. Yana Nikitina is an accomplished economist, lecturer, and researcher with a PhD in Economics and a Master’s in Education Leadership. She brings extensive experience in teaching Economics, Finance, Accounting, and Business, with a strong commitment to student-centred learning, research excellence, and professional development.
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Fees & Scholarships
Fees & Scholarships
Fee structure varies by intake and study mode. Select any option to receive the full details.
Admissions
Request the full fee structure
Speak to our admissions team for a personalised breakdown based on your intake and study mode.
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Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What roles does Rushford actually name for this programme?
Fewer than you might expect. Rushford writes about competing for high-level posts across many kinds of employer, about switching industry, and about moving into academia. No specific job titles appear anywhere on the page — no CFO, no finance director. We have reproduced the school's own wording rather than inventing titles to make the list look fuller.
Do I need an accountancy qualification?
No. Membership of an accountancy body plays no part in the decision; degrees and management service do. Qualifying combinations are a business and management master's on its own, any other master's alongside five years of management, or a first degree supported by eight-plus years.
How much statistics is involved?
Enough that it is taught rather than assumed. The Research Track includes Business Statistics along with separate modules on quantitative and qualitative design. For most finance candidates this is familiar territory, though academic method is not the same as management reporting.
Which English tests are accepted?
IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50 or Duolingo 90, or a Medium of Instruction letter from your previous university. Native speakers, those taught in English, and anyone with two years in an English-language workplace are exempt.
Can I take the PhD rather than the DBA?
Yes, by application, confirmed before or shortly after you complete the graduation requirements. Only one title is conferred. If you entered through Recognition of Prior Experience, the DBA is the only award open to you.
Enquire
Enquire About This Programme
Share a few details and our admissions team will reach out to guide you through the next steps.
Personal eligibility review
Guidance on fees & instalments
Application & study-mode support
Flexible study
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Speak to our admissions team today and take the first step toward a globally recognised degree.