Study from the Gulf, without moving
Fully online and asynchronous. No relocation, no visa change, no gap in a marketing career that took years to build.
DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Marketing
Marketing budgets get approved on conviction and cut on evidence. Rushford Business School's online DBA in Marketing spends 180 ECTS on the evidence side, finishing with a defended dissertation. Three years, fully online, built for people already holding the brand.
Quick Highlights
Rushford Business School
36 months
180 ECTS
100% online, asynchronous
Coursework or research
DBA or PhD
Programme at a Glance
Degree AwardDoctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Awarding UniversityRushford Business School, Lucerne, Switzerland
SpecialisationMarketing
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
By the time you are senior in marketing, the hard part is no longer the campaign. It is defending the reasoning behind it to people who control the budget. Rushford's DBA in Marketing commits 30 ECTS to method, evidence and prior scholarship for exactly that reason, then sends you into a dissertation that has to survive an oral defence by people who will not take the conclusion on trust.
Two routes exist. The coursework pathway suits marketers earlier in their management career and ends at 20,000 to 25,000 words. The research pathway is for candidates with more than five years in post, assigns a doctoral mentor early, and runs to 45,000 to 50,000. Both total 180 ECTS and both are delivered online and asynchronously.
Rushford names chief marketing officer and vice president of marketing among the roles graduates move into, alongside consultancy. The school also allows candidates to take the PhD award instead of the DBA, which is worth knowing if teaching is part of the plan.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
A route towards CMO
Rushford names chief marketing officer and VP of marketing among the roles its graduates move into.
02
Defensible marketing decisions
Thirty ECTS of research method, so brand and spend arguments rest on evidence rather than conviction.
03
No career break
Asynchronous online delivery. The doctorate runs alongside the role instead of replacing it for three years.
04
Two pathways
Coursework for earlier-career marketers, research for those with five years or more in post.
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Experience as an entry route
Recognition of Prior Experience allows a bachelor's plus eight years of management to replace a master's.
06
DBA or PhD
Candidates may request the PhD title instead, confirmed before graduation. One title only.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Apply research methodologies to real business problems
Conduct primary and secondary research into business challenges
Predict outcomes using deep marketing fundamentals
Command business communication at senior level
Articulate complex strategy clearly and without padding
Build reports from data collection through to visualisation
Produce research capable of peer-reviewed publication
Design and defend a doctoral thesis
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Vice President of Marketing
Marketing Manager
Brand Manager
Product Manager
Digital Marketing
Marketing Consultant
Programme Structure
Your Journey, Year by Year
A structured curriculum that builds from foundations through to advanced study.
Stage 1 — Coursework pathway
180 ECTS. For marketers with under five years in a management post.
- Business Management Track (30)
- Specialization Track, six courses (30)
- Research Track (30)
- Written Proposal Defence, 5,000 words (20)
- Doctoral Residency (10)
- Reflection & Minutes with Supervisor (10)
- Report Writing (10)
- Written Dissertation & Oral Defence, 20,000–25,000 words (40)
Stage 2 — Research pathway
180 ECTS. For candidates with more than five years of management experience.
- Specialization Track, three courses (15)
- Research Track (30)
- Written Dissertation Proposal, 5,000 words (30)
- Reflection & Minutes with Supervisor (20)
- Research Publication / Doctoral Residency (25)
- Written Dissertation & Oral Defence, 45,000–50,000 words (60)
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
Aimed at the senior end
Rushford names CMO and VP of marketing among graduate destinations, which is the level most Gulf marketing leaders are working towards.
Your own brand problem as the thesis
Applied research means the dissertation can investigate something live inside your organisation.
Eight years counts
A bachelor's plus more than eight years of management experience is a recognised entry route in its own right.
Keep the teaching option open
The PhD award can replace the DBA on request. Those admitted on experience in place of a master's take the DBA.
Check your national title rules
Rushford advises applicants to confirm their own country's legislation on using "Doctor" before enrolling.
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.
Request Fee StructureNo commitment required. We'll connect you with an advisor.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this get me to CMO?
No qualification guarantees a role. What Rushford states is that DBA in Marketing graduates are well equipped for leadership positions such as chief marketing officer or vice president of marketing, and that some move into consultancy instead. The doctorate is evidence of research capability at senior level; the appointment is still an appointment.
Do I need a master's degree?
A master's is useful but not a hard requirement. Rushford admits applicants holding a business and management master's, applicants with a master's in another field plus five years or more of managerial work, and applicants with only a bachelor's provided they bring more than eight years of management. The last of those caps the award at DBA level.
Can I be awarded a PhD instead?
Yes. All doctoral candidates may apply for the PhD award in place of the DBA, confirmed before or immediately after graduation requirements are met. Only one title is conferred. If you were admitted through Recognition of Prior Experience, the DBA is the only award available to you.
What English evidence is required?
Either a Medium of Instruction letter from your previous university, or a test score: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50, Duolingo 90. You will not need either if English is your first language, if you studied in English at school or degree level, or if you have worked two years in an English-language organisation.
How much writing is involved?
More than most people expect. The coursework pathway ends with a 20,000 to 25,000 word dissertation and an oral defence; the research pathway runs to 45,000 to 50,000 words. There is a 5,000 word proposal before either.
Enquire
Enquire About This Programme
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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.