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DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Healthcare Management
Running a hospital is not the same as treating patients, and nobody really teaches the difference. This online doctorate from Rushford Business School gives you three years and 180 ECTS to study how your own health service actually works, and to prove what would make it better.
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
SpecialisationHealthcare 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
Most people who end up managing a health service did not train for it. They trained as a clinician, a pharmacist or an administrator, got good at the job, and were handed a budget and a team. This doctorate is for that point in a career. It takes what you already know about wards, clinics and supply lines, and teaches you how to test it properly instead of relying on instinct.
The programme runs to 180 ECTS over three years, all of it online and at whatever speed suits your rota. A third of the credit sits in research skills alone, because the end of the road is a dissertation you have to stand up and defend. Two routes are available: a taught route for those newer to management, ending at 20,000 to 25,000 words, and a research route for people with more than five years in charge, ending at 45,000 to 50,000.
Rushford Business School in Lucerne awards the degree. Its own guidance points graduates towards hospital administration, consultancy, and health policy and research work, in settings from clinics and long-term care homes to pharmaceutical firms and government bodies.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Written for clinicians turned managers
Built for people who learned health management on the job rather than in a classroom.
02
Test ideas instead of guessing
A third of the credit is research method, so service changes can be argued with evidence.
03
Works around a rota
Nothing is live. Study at 6am or after a late shift; the platform does not mind.
04
Six named settings
Hospitals, clinics, long-term care, pharma and medical devices, government, and the non-profit sector.
05
Experience can replace a master's
A bachelor's plus more than eight years of management is an accepted way in.
06
Choose your title
Candidates may ask for the PhD instead of the DBA before they graduate.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Apply research methods to real problems in health services
Run primary and secondary research on operational questions
Use healthcare management fundamentals to anticipate outcomes
Communicate with boards, clinicians and regulators
Explain a complicated strategy in plain words
Turn raw service data into readable reports
Write research good enough for peer review
Design a doctoral thesis and defend it out loud
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
Healthcare Administration
Healthcare Consulting
Healthcare Policy and Research
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
Your own ward is the case study
The thesis can look at a real service you manage rather than an imagined one.
Years on the job are recognised
A bachelor's and more than eight years in management is a formal entry route, which suits people promoted from practice.
Shift-friendly pacing
You decide the speed. A heavy month can be absorbed; a quiet one can be used.
DBA or PhD, your call
Worth thinking about if teaching appeals later. Entrants admitted on experience alone can only take the DBA.
Check the rules on the title
Rushford asks applicants to confirm what their own country allows before using "Doctor". Do that early.
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
I am a clinician, not a business graduate. Will I cope?
The entry rules do not ask for a business degree. A master's in any subject plus five years of management works, as does a bachelor's in any subject plus more than eight. What the programme does assume is that you currently manage something — people, a budget, a service — because the dissertation has to be built on a real problem.
Do I need a master's?
Not necessarily. Rushford operates Recognition of Prior Experience, so long service in a management role can stand in place of a master's. A bachelor's degree is still required. One catch worth knowing: anyone admitted this way can only receive the DBA, not the PhD.
Can I research my own hospital?
Yes, and most candidates do. This is an applied doctorate, so the work is meant to examine something real. Using your own employer makes the research useful, though it also means your conclusions will be read by people who already have opinions about them.
What proof of English is accepted?
A Medium of Instruction letter from your last university, or IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50 or Duolingo 90. You are exempt if English is your first language, if you were taught in English, or if you have spent two years working in an English-speaking organisation.
How long does it really take?
Three years is the stated length. The research route can run shorter because there is less taught content, and the taught route can stretch if work gets in the way. Finishing early does not reduce the fee; the remaining balance becomes 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.