Trade is the day job here
Gulf careers are built on cross-border business, which is precisely the material this doctorate works on.
DBA · Doctorate
DBA in International Business
Trading across borders means living with rules, currencies and customs that keep moving. Rushford Business School's online doctorate gives you 180 ECTS and three years to study one slice of that problem properly, and a thesis to show for it.
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
SpecialisationInternational Business
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
Anyone who has opened a market in another country knows the textbook version is thin. Contracts behave differently, a partner who looked reliable turns out to answer to someone else, and a rule changes halfway through the quarter. This doctorate asks you to pick one of those problems and study it seriously, rather than filing it under experience.
Work totals 180 ECTS across roughly three years, delivered online with no fixed timetable. Thirty of those credits are spent purely on how to do research — reading the existing literature, choosing a method, handling statistics — before the thesis begins. Newer managers follow the taught route and write 20,000 to 25,000 words; those with over five years of experience take the research route, get a mentor early, and write 45,000 to 50,000.
The award comes from Rushford Business School in Lucerne. Its own description points at senior posts in international business, a shift into a different industry, or teaching at a university or business school, which is the route a fair number of candidates have in mind from the start.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Built for cross-border work
Aimed at managers whose problems involve more than one legal system, currency or culture.
02
A recognised step into teaching
Rushford names university and business school lecturing as a destination for graduates.
03
No timetable to miss
Study is asynchronous, which matters when your week already crosses several time zones.
04
A way to change industry
The school presents the degree as a bridge into new business domains, not only promotion in place.
05
Experience counts as entry
More than eight years of management alongside a bachelor's is an accepted route in.
06
Two possible titles
The PhD can replace the DBA on request, confirmed before graduation.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Apply research methods to genuine commercial problems
Gather primary and secondary evidence on business questions
Use international business fundamentals to judge likely outcomes
Hold your own in senior cross-border discussions
Set out a complex strategy in language people follow
Move from raw figures to a report that reads clearly
Produce work of publishable academic standard
Build a doctoral thesis and defend it in person
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
Senior Roles in International Business
University or Business School Teaching
Transition into New Business and Industry Domains
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
Nothing to attend
Asynchronous study means travel weeks and quarter-ends do not cost you a class.
Opens a teaching door
Lecturing is one of the destinations Rushford names, useful if you want a second track alongside industry.
Long service is a way in
Eight years of management with a bachelor's is recognised, which fits managers who rose before studying further.
DBA or PhD
You choose the title before graduation. Candidates admitted on experience alone are limited to the DBA.
Confirm local title rules
Rushford tells applicants to check their own country's law on the word "Doctor" first. Sensible advice.
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.
01
/
08
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
The career list looks vague. What does Rushford actually promise?
Very little, and that is worth saying plainly. The official page talks about competing for high-level roles, moving into a new industry, or teaching at a university or business school. It does not list job titles the way the marketing or quality pages do. We have reproduced exactly what the school says rather than inventing posts to fill the gap.
Is a master's degree compulsory?
No. Three routes exist: a master's in business and management; a master's in any subject with more than five years of managerial experience; or a bachelor's in any subject with more than eight years. The last of these is Recognition of Prior Experience, and anyone admitted that way is eligible for the DBA only.
Can I get the PhD title instead?
Yes, if you ask. The decision is confirmed before or just after you meet the graduation requirements, and only one of the two titles is awarded. The exception is Recognition of Prior Experience entry, which carries the DBA alone.
What English evidence do I need?
A Medium of Instruction letter, or IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50 or Duolingo 90. Waivers apply to native speakers, to anyone taught or degree-educated in English, and to two years spent working in an English-language organisation.
How much writing is involved?
A 5,000 word proposal first, then either a 20,000 to 25,000 word thesis on the taught route or 45,000 to 50,000 on the research route. Both finish with an oral defence, which tends to be the part people underestimate.
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.