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DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Human Resource Management
HR spends a lot of its time being asked to prove things. Rushford Business School's online DBA in Human Resource Management turns that into the qualification: 180 ECTS, three years online, and a dissertation on a people problem your organisation actually has.
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
SpecialisationHuman Resource 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
Every HR director eventually meets the question that policy cannot answer. Why did retention drop in that function and not the others? Rushford's DBA in Human Resource Management is built for people who want to answer that properly, with 30 ECTS of research design, statistics and literature review sitting ahead of the dissertation rather than bolted on at the end.
One qualification, two ways in. Candidates still building their management record study the taught modules alongside the HR specialisation and close on a dissertation of 20,000 to 25,000 words. Those already past five years in charge go straight towards research, pick up a supervisor early and write something closer to 45,000 to 50,000. Delivery never changes: online, asynchronous, self-paced.
Rushford Business School in Lucerne awards the qualification, and candidates can request the PhD title instead of the DBA before graduation, subject to one condition about how they were admitted.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
People decisions, evidenced
Thirty ECTS of research method, so retention, engagement and structure arguments arrive with data behind them.
02
No career break
Asynchronous online delivery means the doctorate runs alongside the HR role rather than interrupting it.
03
Pathway matched to experience
Coursework under five years in post, research over five. Both total 180 ECTS.
04
Long service is an entry route
Recognition of Prior Experience allows a bachelor's plus more than eight years of management to replace a master's.
05
Research your own organisation
The applied dissertation can investigate a live people problem where you work.
06
DBA or PhD
Candidates may request the PhD award instead, confirmed before graduation.
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 human resource 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
Human Resources Manager
Talent Management
Organisational Development
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
Built around multinational teams
Applied research lets the dissertation examine the workforce you actually manage, which in the Gulf usually means a multinational one.
Experience opens the door
Eight years in charge, with a first degree behind you, is enough on its own. Useful for HR leaders who learned by doing.
Self-paced across three years
No fixed class times. The research pathway can finish sooner; the coursework route can absorb a heavy quarter.
DBA or PhD
Matters if you might teach one day. Enter on experience alone, though, and the DBA is what you get.
Verify the title locally
Different countries police the title differently. Rushford tells applicants to confirm their own position first.
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 in HR required?
Not in HR, and not necessarily at all. Applicants come in with a master's in business and management, with a master's in some other field plus five years or more of managerial experience, or with a bachelor's and upwards of eight years. Only the final route carries a limitation: the award is the DBA.
Can I take the PhD award instead of the DBA?
Yes, on application. The choice is settled before or just after the graduation requirements are complete, and a single title is awarded. Worth repeating the one exclusion: Recognition of Prior Experience entrants are eligible for the DBA alone.
What can I research?
Rushford's DBA is an applied doctorate, so the dissertation investigates a real organisational problem rather than a theoretical one. Many candidates use their own employer as the setting, which makes the work more useful and also more exposed, since the findings have to stand up to a defence.
What English evidence do you accept?
A letter confirming your last degree was taught in English usually settles it. Otherwise the bar is IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50 or Duolingo 90. Native speakers are exempt, as is anyone educated in English or with two years' service in an English-language organisation.
How flexible is the schedule really?
Genuinely flexible on the academic side — e-Campus holds the material, nothing is timetabled and you decide the speed. The constraint is financial instead: clear the requirements ahead of schedule and the outstanding balance falls due there and then.
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.