Doctorate
DProf
Campus:
Online
Duration:
2
to 3
Years
Credits:
180 ECTS
Awarded By:
Rushford Business School, Switzerland
Program Overview
A practice-based doctoral qualification for owners, entrepreneurs and senior executives at CEO and Director level.
The Professional Doctorate (D.Prof) is a uniquely tailored, practice-based programme for owners, entrepreneurs and top-level senior managers positioned at CEO and Director level, working within a global business context. The qualification is positioned as academically equivalent in level to a traditional doctorate in the business landscape. D.Prof is a flagship concept that recognises the achievements of entrepreneurs, business owners, industrialists, academicians, philanthropists and senior-level management executives around the globe, conferring on them appropriate professional qualifications. It is a doctoral-level degree for experienced professionals who want to translate their industry expertise into greater credibility, leadership and influence. Candidates draw their research question from their own practice and context, take an existing concept or problem in their industry, conduct research and recommend proposals or solutions. Candidates also draw on scholarly literature, so the work contributes to professional practice and to scholarly knowledge alike. The programme combines professional reflection, research development, applied investigation, thesis preparation and final assessment. Doctoral work is presented as a portfolio rather than a conventional dissertation, allowing candidates to step outside the boundaries of the traditional research-writing framework. Recipients are carefully selected by the Board & Senate of Rushford Business School Switzerland after a diligent examination of their nomination and doctoral portfolio.
Next Start Date:
01 Nov 2026
Deadline:
31 Oct 2026
Talk to Us
Exclusive Recruitment Partner (India & USA)
Global Strategic Knowledge & Delivery Partner
Program Information
Program Curriculum
Age: Applicant should be 35 years of age or above.
Entrepreneur: A well-established business set-up over a minimum period of 5 years.
Senior executive: A senior management position for the last 10 years with a multinational organisation.
Philanthropist: Has made a recognised contribution to society.
Qualification: A relevant Master’s or Bachelor’s qualification is optional.
Referees: Four referee letters from employers or shareholders of the organisation currently or previously worked for (optional).
• Candidates should demonstrate substantial professional, entrepreneurial, business-ownership or senior management experience.
• Exceptional professional profiles may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to review.
• Documents found to be materially false, fraudulent or unverifiable may result in rejection or a request for clarification.
Candidate document checklist
- Completed D.Prof / Rushford application form
- CV / professional profile
- LinkedIn profile, where available
- Passport / government ID copy
- Passport-size photograph
- Educational documents, where applicable
- Professional certificates, where applicable
- Evidence of professional / business experience
- Awards, achievements or professional accolades, where applicable
- Nomination letter (candidate-provided, using the approved sample)
- Recommendation / reference letters, where applicable
- Other relevant supporting documents
To know the fees for this program, please contact our partner Maverick Business Academy.
Who is D.Prof for?
Entrepreneurs ; Business Owners; Industrialists; Academicians; Philanthropists; Senior Executives
Key Benefits
01 Real impact on the industry
02 Wider networks and status
03 Economical and effective
04 Entry to a prestigious professional business qualification on par with academia
05 Exclusive Maverick access to Business boot camps, PhD and DBA pathways, global conferences, seminars and workshops.
06 Practical pedagogy
07 Build a strong profile Publish your work as a doctoral portfolio and strengthen your professional profile.
08 Innovator and disruptor
Enquiry
The recruitment team introduces D.Prof, explaining eligibility, structure, fees and the admission process. A CV or LinkedIn profile may be reviewed informally for an initial eligibility discussion.
Application and Maverick review
The candidate submits the completed application form with supporting documents. Maverick reviews the professional profile, experience and suitability against the entry requirements, and obtains any clarification needed.
Recommendation and Rushford acceptance
Maverick submits its formal Review and Recommendation Letter. Rushford reviews the file and, subject to approval, issues the official Acceptance Letter. Target: 5-7 working days, subject to complete documentation.
First payment and onboarding
The candidate pays the first instalment (40%) within 48 hours of the Acceptance Letter and shares the payment confirmation. Maverick then sends the welcome communication and doctoral portal access, including research resources, e-books, case studies and templates.
Exclusive Recruitment Partner (India & USA) for this program
More Information
We focus on your development!
Real World Simulations
Various courses are accompanied by simulations in which you are given a situation that you must resolve based on what you learnt in the program and your experience. There are usually no right or wrong answers in simulations. They are to make you understand how a situation may unfold in the real world and prepare you to make the right decisions.
Personality Assessment
As an incoming student at Rushford you will undergo a personality assessment using a validated tool for MBTI® (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) to help you unlock the potential of personal growth. It is a groundbreaking framework that empowers you to hone your skills, identify strengths and differences, and lay the groundwork for an enriching journey of self improvement.
Networking Events
We understand the importance of networking in building a successful career. That's why we offer a range of networking events to help our students connect with industry professionals and build the relationships that can lead to new opportunities.
People & Tech Skills
Both people and technology skills are essential for success in today's world. We have entered in a new era of business and management wherein the paradigm of interaction between people and machines is changing and evolving at a rapid pace. What was relevant 5 years ago is not as relevant today. At Rushford, we offer you an ungraded skillset of both people skills and technology skills so that you can better appreciate how to operate in this new paradigm and be prepared for the landscape change that is inevitable in the coming years.
My mentor helped me see new perspectives in solving business problems and rightly guided me all along until the completion of my
program.
The experience, training and knowledge I gained was key to improving my personal skills and enriching my professional and training project.
Half of my learning was a result of my mentor helping me to see the contrasts and similarities between what I was studying in
class versus what happened in the real world.
I am working as joint managing director in Aquatek Sanitary Fittings Pvt Ltd. I have learnt a lot about the market flow and it helps
me to understand the need of the market.
The contents and curriculum are at par with the global reputed universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Joining Rushford was the best decision for me.
