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Delivered online and asynchronously, so the doctorate runs alongside a role in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain or Kuwait.
DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Operational Management
Operations is the part of the business that has to work on a Tuesday. Rushford Business School's online DBA in Operational Management gives it three years of research attention, 180 ECTS and a defended dissertation, without asking you to step away from running anything.
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
SpecialisationOperational 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
Running operations well and explaining why it works are different skills, and only one of them survives a change of management. Rushford's DBA in Operational Management is built around the second. The specialisation sits inside a 180 ECTS structure where research design, business statistics and literature review take a full 30 ECTS, ahead of a dissertation that has to hold up in an oral defence.
Pick the route that matches your record. Less than five years running a function and the coursework option fits, blending the management core with operational subjects before a dissertation of 20,000 to 25,000 words. More than five and the research option opens up, with supervision arranged at the start and a submission reaching 45,000 to 50,000 words. Everything is asynchronous.
Lucerne-based Rushford Business School confers the qualification, and the certificate can read PhD rather than DBA provided you ask in time.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Built for people still on shift
Asynchronous delivery with no fixed class times, so study slots into the hours operations leaves you.
02
A real problem, properly investigated
Applied research. The dissertation can take a live operational failure and work out what actually caused it.
03
Pathway matched to experience
Coursework under five years in post, research over five. Same credit total, different workload shape.
04
A bachelor's plus eight years
Recognition of Prior Experience means long service can stand in for a master's degree at entry.
05
Two possible titles
Candidates may request the PhD award instead of the DBA, confirmed before graduation.
06
Swiss-awarded
Rushford Business School, Lucerne. The online learning division holds eduQua certification.
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 operational management 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
Operations Manager
Supply Chain Manager
Logistics Manager
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 managers with under five years in 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
Fits an operations diary
There are no fixed class times. Study moves when the shift pattern, the shutdown or the peak season moves.
Eight years of service opens the door
A bachelor's plus more than eight years of management experience is a formal entry route, not an exception.
Research what you already manage
The applied dissertation can investigate an operational problem inside your own organisation.
DBA or PhD, decided by you
Worth considering if university teaching is on the horizon. Recognition of Prior Experience entrants receive the DBA only.
Confirm the title rules where you live
Whether you may style yourself "Doctor" is a matter of local law. Settle that question before you enrol.
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
How is this different from the DBA in Supply Chain Management?
They are separate Rushford programmes with the same 180 ECTS architecture and the same entry rules. The difference is the specialisation track and the research focus: operational management looks at how the organisation runs internally, supply chain management at the flow of goods and suppliers through it. Candidates choose one.
Do I need a master's degree?
A master's helps but is not compulsory. The three doors in are a business and management master's, any master's plus five-plus years of managerial experience, or a bachelor's plus eight-plus years. Choose the experience route and the PhD option closes; you would be studying for the DBA.
Can the award be a PhD?
It can. Candidates nominate DBA or PhD before graduation and the school issues whichever was chosen — a single award, not a dual one. The one group without the choice is those admitted on experience in place of a master's; for them the DBA stands.
What English evidence do you accept?
Rushford accepts a Medium of Instruction letter in place of a test. Where one is needed, the thresholds are modest by doctoral standards: 5.5 on IELTS, 58 on TOEFL iBT, 555 on TOEIC, 50 on PTE, 90 on Duolingo. Exemptions cover native speakers, English-medium education, and two years inside an English-speaking workplace.
How long does it really take?
Thirty-six months is the design. The research pathway can finish sooner. Completing early brings the remaining fees forward to that point, and taking longer follows the agreed instalment plan, so the timeline has a financial shape as well as an academic one.
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.