Industrial PhD in AI, Neurology and Business Administration

Three-Year Industrial Doctorate | 100% Online | 180 ECTS

Study, Work and Create Measurable Industry Impact

A three-year, practice-integrated doctorate combining artificial intelligence with neurology, neuroscience, neuroimaging, biomedical signals, clinical decision support, neurorehabilitation, and responsible healthcare innovation. Candidates can continue working approximately 70% in their own company or professional environment while studying 100% online. The program combines weekly live Zoom sessions, structured guided self-study, weekly applied assignments, continuous feedback from professors, and individual doctoral supervision. From the beginning of the program, every candidate develops a concrete AI and neurology project that addresses a real clinical, scientific, technological, or organisational challenge in the candidate’s hospital, clinic, laboratory, research institute, health-technology company, or professional environment. The project is designed to contribute directly to neurological diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, monitoring, rehabilitation, patient safety, research productivity, operational efficiency, and responsible neurotechnology growth.

INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

Programe: Industrial PhD in AI, Neurology and Business Administration
Duration: 3 years
Total credits: 180 ECTS
Study format: 100% online
Starting dates: October 1 and March 1
Application deadlines: September 1 and February 1
Professional activity: Candidates may continue working approximately 70% in their company or professional environment
Courses: 9 courses, each lasting 8 weeks and carrying 10 ECTS
Live learning: Weekly interactive Zoom sessions with professors
Independent learning: Structured weekly assignments completed through guided self-study
Tuition fee: CHF 40,000 for the complete program
Payment plan: Four instalments of CHF 10,000 each

Program Description

The Industrial PhD in AI, Neurology and Business Administration is designed for experienced professionals who want to obtain a rigorous doctoral qualification without leaving their professional environment. It integrates advanced academic study with a concrete industrial doctoral project. Candidates use their workplace as a supervised research and innovation setting, connecting theory, data, technology, and organisational priorities. The program supports original scientific contribution while ensuring that doctoral work has practical relevance for neurology, neuroscience, neurotechnology, and healthcare. The program is structured to create measurable value for both the doctoral candidate and the participating employer or industry partner.

The online learning model is designed around the needs of working professionals. Each eight-week course includes live academic interaction, weekly readings and learning resources, an applied assignment, feedback from professors, and progress toward the candidate’s doctoral project. This structure makes doctoral learning manageable, academically guided, and directly transferable to professional practice.

Objectives of the PhD Program

Develop advanced expertise at the intersection of AI, neurology, neuroscience, and neurotechnology.
Design and validate responsible AI solutions for neurological research and clinical practice.
Conduct original, workplace-integrated doctoral research with measurable clinical and industrial value.
Improve diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, monitoring, rehabilitation, and neurological service delivery.
Translate research into practical innovation, scientific publications, patient benefit, and sustainable organisational growth.
Produce and defend an original doctoral dissertation of academic and professional relevance.

100% Online Industrial Study Model

Weekly live Zoom sessions with professors, researchers, and invited industry experts.
Structured guided self-study with readings, digital learning materials, templates, milestones, and clear assessment criteria.
One applied weekly assignment connected, wherever possible, to the candidate’s professional environment and doctoral project.
Continuous academic feedback, methodological guidance, research coaching, and individual supervision from professors.
Approximately 70% continued professional activity, enabling candidates to remain embedded in their organisation while completing the doctorate.
A cumulative assessment model combining weekly work, course projects, research milestones, publications, dissertation, and defence.

Program Content

The taught component consists of nine doctoral courses. Each course lasts eight weeks and carries 10 ECTS, for a total of 90 ECTS. The remaining 90 ECTS are allocated to the industrial doctoral project, research, publications, dissertation preparation, and defence.

Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Neurology — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Deep Learning, Generative AI and Foundation Models in Neurology — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Advanced Neuroscience, Neurology and Neurological Disorders — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
AI in Neuroimaging and Computational Neurology — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Biomedical Signals, EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
AI in Clinical Neurology, Precision Medicine and Neurorehabilitation — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Neuroleadership for AI-Driven Industrial Transformation — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Emotional Intelligence for Leadership, Teams and Organisational Performance — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS
Business Finance Management for Industrial Innovation and Growth — 8 weeks | 10 ECTS

Doctoral Research, Scientific Publications, Dissertation and Defence — 90 ECTS

The Industrial Doctoral Project

Every candidate develops a concrete AI and neurology project that addresses a real clinical, scientific, technological, or organisational challenge in the candidate’s hospital, clinic, laboratory, research institute, health-technology company, or professional environment. The project must combine an original doctoral research contribution with a practical implementation pathway. It should be developed in cooperation with relevant workplace stakeholders and supervised academically by ALSS professors.

A clearly defined organisational, clinical, scientific, technical, or market problem.
Original doctoral research questions and a rigorous methodology.
Access to appropriate data, expertise, infrastructure, and stakeholders.
Ethical, legal, regulatory, privacy, and information-security compliance.
Measurable indicators of impact, such as quality, patient benefit, efficiency, cost reduction, safety, innovation, research output, product development, or growth.
A realistic implementation, sustainability, and knowledge-transfer plan.

Business Finance Management develops competence in financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, cost management, investment appraisal, funding, valuation, risk and performance management for neurology services, AI diagnostic systems, neurotechnology, clinical research, rehabilitation programs and digital-health innovation.

Emotional Intelligence develops self-awareness, self-management, empathy, communication, resilience, conflict management and responsible stakeholder leadership.

Neuroleadership develops brain-informed leadership, strategic decision-making, motivation, learning, innovation and change-management competence.

The program contains three dedicated 10-ECTS courses in Neuroleadership, Emotional Intelligence and Business Finance Management. Together, they enable candidates to lead AI transformation, develop high-performing teams and build financially sustainable strategies for industrial implementation and growth.

Benefits and Return for Students

Student value and professional return. The program is designed to produce a direct return for the candidate through advanced expertise, career progression, stronger leadership capability, a recognised doctoral research profile and a workplace project that demonstrates measurable professional impact.

Continue working approximately 70% in a company, hospital, research centre, laboratory, pharmaceutical organisation, technology enterprise or other relevant professional environment while completing the doctorate.
Earn a doctoral qualification through a flexible 100% online structure with live Zoom sessions, guided weekly self-study, structured assignments and continuous professor supervision.
Apply each course directly to a real workplace challenge, allowing academic learning to strengthen current professional performance and career advancement.
Develop advanced expertise in artificial intelligence, the program specialisation and business administration, supported by dedicated study in Neuroleadership, Emotional Intelligence and Business Finance Management.
Build leadership capability for interdisciplinary teams, organisational change, innovation, ethical decision-making and communication with technical, clinical, executive and regulatory stakeholders.
Produce a concrete Industrial Doctoral Project that can become a demonstrable professional achievement, innovation portfolio, business case, implementation plan or scalable solution.
Strengthen research, publication, analytical, financial and strategic-management competence for senior leadership, consulting, academic, innovation and research-and-development roles.
Expand international professional networks through interaction with professors, specialists, industry practitioners and fellow doctoral candidates.

Benefits and Return for Industry and Employers

Industry value and organisational return. The candidate’s research is expected to contribute to practical organisational and sector growth through a concrete project with defined objectives, implementation milestones and indicators such as quality improvement, productivity, cost savings, revenue potential, risk reduction, innovation capacity or improved stakeholder outcomes.

Retain and develop a high-potential professional who remains active in the organisation while undertaking advanced doctoral education.
Receive a concrete, supervised Industrial Doctoral Project focused on a real organisational or sector challenge rather than a purely theoretical research topic.
Translate AI research into implementable improvements in products, services, processes, quality, safety, decision-making, customer or patient value and organisational performance.
Generate measurable value through innovation, productivity improvement, cost control, revenue opportunities, investment evaluation, risk reduction and more effective use of data.
Strengthen internal capacity in AI, research methodology, Neuroleadership, Emotional Intelligence and Business Finance Management without removing the candidate from the workplace.
Improve collaboration between scientific, technical, clinical, operational, financial and executive teams through evidence-based leadership and communication.
Create research outputs, prototypes, validation studies, implementation roadmaps, business cases and intellectual assets that may support long-term organisational and industry growth.
Build a stronger culture of continuous learning, responsible innovation, ethical AI governance and evidence-based management.

Who Is This Program For?

The program is suitable for neurologists, physicians, neuroscientists, psychologists, neurotechnology specialists, biomedical engineers, medical-imaging professionals, rehabilitation specialists, clinical researchers, data scientists, AI specialists, and healthcare leaders. It is particularly valuable for professionals who want to lead AI-enabled transformation while remaining active in their current organisation.

Admission Requirements

• A recognised master’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant academic or professional field.
• Evidence of research ability and readiness for doctoral-level study.
• A preliminary industrial doctoral project idea or research proposal.
• English-language proficiency appropriate for doctoral study.
• Relevant professional experience and access to a suitable workplace or industry environment are strongly recommended.
• Bridging study may be required depending on the applicant’s previous academic background.

Why Study at ALSS?

• A flexible doctoral model designed for working professionals.
• 100% online delivery with regular live academic interaction.
• Evidence-based curricula connecting scientific research with workplace application.
• International professors, experts, and professional networks.
• Continuous guidance and personalised doctoral supervision.
• A direct focus on research impact, innovation, and organisational growth.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate advanced and systematic knowledge of AI and neurology-related science and practice.
• Critically evaluate current research, methods, technologies, and professional evidence.
• Design and conduct original workplace-integrated doctoral research.
• Develop, validate, and responsibly implement advanced AI solutions.
• Translate doctoral findings into measurable organisational and industry value.
• Publish research and communicate findings to academic, professional, regulatory, executive, and public audiences.
• Exercise autonomy, ethical judgement, leadership, and accountability in research and innovation.

Tuition and Payment

Total program fee: CHF 40,000.
The tuition fee may be paid in four instalments of CHF 10,000 each. The exact due dates and contractual conditions are defined in the enrolment agreement. Any optional external costs, such as specialised software, third-party data access, laboratory work, travel, or conference participation, are communicated separately where applicable.

Application

Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae, academic qualifications, identification documents, evidence of English proficiency where required, and a preliminary doctoral research or industrial project proposal.
Apply or request further information: info@alss-edu.ch | www.alss-edu.ch
Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland (ALSS)
Leutschenbachstrasse 95, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0)44 308 35 22

Apply Online Here

Certification / Accreditation / Degrees

The Academy of Leadership Sciences Switzerland (ALSS) is a registered higher education institution in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.

ALSS is certified by eduQua, the Swiss quality label for continuing education institutions.

All Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs, together with ALSS courses and programs, are included within the scope of the eduQua certification and have undergone the corresponding quality certification process.

Official verification of eduQua certified institutions: https://alice.ch/en/certified-institutions/

ALSS is a member of ACBSP (USA) and has been granted accreditation candidacy status https://acbsp.org/.

Upon successful completion, participants receive a diploma or degree awarded by ALSS. All Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees are issued and recognized by ALSS as the awarding higher education institution.