Study from where you already are
Fully online and asynchronous, so the programme runs from Dubai, Riyadh or Doha without a visa application or a resignation letter.
DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Quality Management
Most quality programmes die at the measurement stage. Rushford Business School's online DBA in Quality Management spends 180 ECTS teaching you to prove improvement rather than claim it, then makes you defend the proof. Three years, entirely online, from wherever you currently work.
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
SpecialisationQuality 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
Six Sigma and Lean give you a method. A doctorate asks a harder question: how do you know it worked? Rushford's DBA in Quality Management puts 30 ECTS into research design, statistics and literature review before the dissertation begins, because the difference between a quality improvement and a quality story is usually the evidence behind it.
Credit is split across two routes, both adding up to 180 ECTS. Under five years in a management post and you follow the coursework option, pairing the business core with the quality specialisation and closing on a dissertation of 20,000 to 25,000 words. Past that mark and the research option applies instead: a supervisor from the outset and a final submission three times the length.
Rushford Business School in Lucerne awards it. Candidates can ask for the PhD title instead of the DBA, with one exception that depends on how you were admitted.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Evidence over anecdote
Thirty ECTS of research method before the dissertation, so improvement claims can be tested rather than asserted.
02
Runs around the job
Asynchronous online delivery. No fixed class times, no relocation, no pause in the career that made you worth admitting.
03
Two pathways
Coursework for earlier-career managers, research for those with five years or more. Both land at 180 ECTS.
04
Experience counts as entry
Recognition of Prior Experience means a bachelor's plus eight years of management can replace a master's.
05
DBA or PhD
The title is a decision you make before graduation, not one handed to you.
06
Swiss-awarded
Rushford Business School, Lucerne. Its online division holds eduQua certification, Switzerland's quality label for continuing education.
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 quality 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
Quality Manager
Process Improvement
Six Sigma
Lean Management
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
Long service is an entry route
Eight years of management experience on top of a bachelor's is a recognised route in. Useful for Gulf professionals who built the career first.
Research your own operation
The dissertation can investigate a live quality problem inside your organisation rather than a case study someone else wrote.
Pace set by you
Self-paced delivery. The research route can finish inside three years; the coursework route can absorb a bad quarter at work.
DBA or PhD
Relevant if teaching is part of the plan. The caveat: Recognition of Prior Experience admissions are eligible for the DBA only.
Check the title rules locally
Rushford tells applicants to verify their own country's legislation on using "Doctor". Do that 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
Is a master's degree required?
No, though a bachelor's is non-negotiable. You may enter with a business and management master's, with a master's in anything else plus over five years managing people or process, or on experience alone: a bachelor's and more than eight years in management. That last route is capped at the DBA award.
Can I take the PhD award instead?
You can ask, and the request is normally handled around the point you finish. Rushford confers one title, not both. Anyone whose place came through Recognition of Prior Experience is outside this option and graduates with the DBA.
Does the programme cover Six Sigma and Lean?
Rushford names quality management, process improvement, Six Sigma and Lean Management among the areas graduates move into. The doctorate sits above the tool level: the research track trains you to design studies and test whether an intervention actually changed anything.
What English evidence is accepted?
Four ways to satisfy it. Submit a Medium of Instruction letter; sit one of IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, PTE or Duolingo and reach 5.5, 58, 555, 50 or 90 respectively; qualify as a native speaker; or show that your schooling, your degree or two years of your working life were conducted in English.
How is it delivered?
Entirely online through Rushford's e-Campus in an asynchronous format, so there are no fixed class times. Most candidates finish within three years. Completing early makes the remaining fees payable at that point.
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.