No relocation, no career break
Asynchronous online delivery means the programme runs from Dubai, Riyadh, Doha or Muscat without touching your visa status or your job.
DBA · Doctorate
DBA in Supply Chain Management
Supply chains fail quietly, then all at once. Rushford Business School's online DBA in Supply Chain Management gives you three years, 180 ECTS and a dissertation to work out why, using your own organisation as the evidence and without leaving the job that raised the question.
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
SpecialisationSupply Chain 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
A doctorate is not a bigger master's. The master's taught you what good supply chain practice looks like; this one asks you to prove something about it. Rushford structures the 180 ECTS around that shift, moving from a management core and a research track into a dissertation that has to survive an oral defence. The subject matter is procurement, logistics and the architecture of the chain itself, but the real work is method, which is why the research track runs to 30 ECTS on its own.
There are two routes through it. The coursework pathway suits people earlier in their management career and finishes with a 20,000 to 25,000 word dissertation. The research pathway is built for candidates with more than five years behind them, assigns a doctoral mentor early, and ends at 45,000 to 50,000 words. Both are delivered entirely online and asynchronously, so the pace is yours to set.
Rushford Business School in Lucerne awards the qualification. Whether it reads DBA or PhD on the certificate is a decision you make before graduation, and there is a condition attached to that choice worth reading properly.
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Study without relocating
Delivered entirely online and asynchronously. No campus, no visa, no gap on the CV where a career used to be.
02
Two routes to the same award
Coursework for earlier-career managers, research for those with more than five years in post. Same 180 ECTS, different shape.
03
A bachelor's can be enough
Recognition of Prior Experience means a master's is not mandatory. A bachelor's plus eight years of management experience opens the door.
04
DBA or PhD, your call
Every doctoral candidate may request the PhD award instead of the DBA. One title only, confirmed before graduation.
05
Applied research, not abstract
The dissertation investigates a real organisational problem. Most candidates use their own employer's.
06
Swiss-awarded
Rushford Business School, Lucerne. Its online learning 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 supply chain 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
Supply Chain Manager
Logistics Manager
Procurement
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 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 pathway
180 ECTS. For candidates with more than five years of management experience.
- Specialization Track (15 ECTS) — three subject specialisation 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
Three years, at your own pace
You set the speed. The research pathway can finish in under three years; the coursework route can stretch if a quarter goes badly at work.
Eight years of experience counts
The bachelor's-plus-eight-years entry route recognises Gulf managers who built a career before they got round to a master's.
Your employer's problem is the thesis
Applied research means the dissertation can investigate something happening inside your own organisation rather than a hypothetical one.
You choose DBA or PhD
Useful if you are weighing a move into teaching. One caveat: candidates admitted through Recognition of Prior Experience can only receive the DBA.
Check your own jurisdiction
Rushford advises applicants to verify national rules on using the title "Doctor". Worth doing before you enrol, not after.
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
Do I need a master's degree to apply?
Not always. Rushford runs three entry routes: a master's in business and management; a master's in any other subject backed by more than five years of managerial work; or a bachelor's in any subject backed by more than eight years. The third route is Recognition of Prior Experience, and it comes with a restriction — it leads to the DBA only, never the PhD.
Can I receive a PhD instead of a DBA?
Yes. Every doctoral candidate may request the PhD title in place of the DBA, and the decision is locked in before or immediately after the graduation requirements are met. Only one of the two is ever conferred. The exception is candidates admitted through Recognition of Prior Experience, who receive the DBA.
What English language evidence do I need?
The easiest proof is a Medium of Instruction letter from the university you last attended. If that is not available, the accepted scores are IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 58, TOEIC 555, PTE 50 or Duolingo 90. Three groups skip the test entirely: native speakers, anyone schooled or degree-educated in English, and anyone with two years behind them in an English-language organisation.
How long is the dissertation?
It depends on your pathway. The coursework route ends with a 20,000 to 25,000 word dissertation and oral defence. The research route, aimed at candidates with more than five years of management experience, runs to 45,000 to 50,000 words.
Is the programme genuinely part-time friendly?
Everything runs on Rushford's e-Campus, asynchronously, so nothing is timetabled against a clock in another country. Three years is the usual span. Should you finish ahead of that, whatever is still owed falls due immediately, so budget and diary need planning together.
Who awards the qualification?
Rushford Business School, Lucerne, Switzerland. Its online learning division is certified by eduQua, the Swiss quality label for continuing education and training, and the school holds a five-star QS Stars rating for teaching and for online learning.
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?
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