Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from Austria

Transform your expertise into influence from the heart of Europe. The Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, empowers you to push the boundaries of knowledge without pausing your life in Austria. Built for ambitious professionals, this advanced, internationally applied programme blends rigorous scholarship with the flexibility modern careers demand.

This is a pathway designed for momentum—letting you develop a world-class research profile, sharpen your voice as a scholar-practitioner, and translate theoretical mastery into real-world impact. While the programme’s theory is globally applicable, your learning journey remains deeply personal: self-paced, fully online, and supported by a global academic network that travels with you—wherever your work and life take you.

A British degree recognised worldwide

Awarded under the British academic tradition, your qualification carries international credibility—backed by the University of Gloucestershire and delivered through Robert Kennedy College’s digital-first learning environment. A British degree signals rigorous standards, clear academic progression, and a research ethic that resonates across borders.

Whether you are engaging with European institutions in Vienna, collaborating with global companies in Linz or Graz, or presenting at conferences across the continent, the British degree recognition helps your achievements speak a language employers, universities, and professional bodies worldwide understand.

100% online, completed in as little as 3–6 months

Designed for decisive professionals, this programme can be completed fully online in as little as 3–6 months, depending on your pace and prior experience. The streamlined structure empowers you to build advanced research competencies quickly—without compromising quality or depth.

Fast, focused, and flexible, the timeline is ideal if you’re preparing for doctoral progression, advancing into senior research roles, or formalising your expertise to accelerate your career. You set the tempo; the platform and faculty support your momentum.

No fixed online class times

There are no mandatory live sessions or fixed-time commitments. Your study schedule shapes itself around your workday, family responsibilities, and personal rhythm—early mornings in Innsbruck, late nights in Vienna, or weekends in Salzburg.

This asynchronous model enables deep focus and genuine absorption of complex research concepts, methodology, and critical reasoning—exactly when you’re at your best.

Study anywhere—mobile app with offline access

Learn from anywhere in the world—even while on the move. Our mobile app lets you download study materials, watch lectures offline, and keep your research ideas flowing on train rides, flights, or between meetings.

From Austria’s alpine towns to global hubs, your classroom is wherever you are. Your progress is synced across devices, so you never lose continuity in your work, your insights, or your momentum.

Open-book assessments that reflect real-world scholarship

Instead of traditional, memory-based exams, you’ll engage in open-book assessments that mirror authentic research practice: evaluating sources, constructing arguments, synthesising literature, and defending methodology.

This approach rewards analytical thinking over recall, encouraging depth, originality, and academic integrity. It’s a format aligned with how advanced researchers actually work—critically, creatively, and with disciplined use of evidence.

Guided by faculty from world-renowned universities

Your learning is facilitated by tutors and faculty who have graduated from globally respected institutions, including Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. They bring scholarly precision, international perspective, and hands-on mentorship to your journey.

With feedback that challenges and elevates your thinking, you’ll sharpen your research questions, strengthen your methodological approach, and raise the impact of your work—benefiting from the breadth of their academic and industry experience.

A global classroom: 130+ countries, influential alumni

Join a vibrant international cohort that spans more than 130 countries. You’ll collaborate with professionals from diverse sectors and cultures, broadening your perspectives while building a network that extends across continents.

Our alumni have taken their learning into roles at international organisations including Uniqa, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, Sony—proof that rigorous online study can open doors at the highest level.

Manageable finances with flexible payments

Invest with confidence and control. Programme fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest-free instalments, helping you plan your cash flow while you progress academically.

This flexibility allows you to prioritise your development without putting professional or personal plans on hold—a practical pathway to a prestigious qualification.

From Austria to global impact: how this programme elevates your career

Austria’s dynamic finance and insurance ecosystem—home to major insurers, banks, and a growing fintech and risk analytics scene—rewards advanced research capability. With this programme, you can deepen expertise in evidence-based decision-making, quantitative and qualitative methods, and publishable research practices that translate into roles in risk management, compliance, ESG reporting, and strategic analysis. The ability to frame complex problems, test hypotheses, and defend recommendations will set you apart in Vienna’s competitive corporate landscape.

In Austria’s high-value manufacturing and engineering sectors—spanning automotive, electronics, and advanced materials—research literacy drives innovation. Your training in research design, literature synthesis, and methodological rigour equips you to lead R&D initiatives, champion Industry 4.0 projects, and collaborate across technical and managerial teams. Whether you’re in Graz, Linz, or beyond, you’ll bring a structured, publication-ready approach to process improvement, product development, and data-driven transformation.

Austria’s public sector and international ecosystem—with policy institutions, NGOs, and intergovernmental bodies—values professionals who can assess impact, evaluate programmes, and produce well-founded policy briefs. The programme’s emphasis on defensible methods and scholarly communication strengthens your credibility with stakeholders, enabling you to influence policy, secure partnerships, and contribute to high-level dialogues across Europe and the wider world.

Ready to take the next step?

You can begin from anywhere in Austria and study on your schedule—without compromising ambition, family, or career. Build a research profile that resonates internationally, connect with a truly global cohort, and unlock opportunities across sectors.

Request our course catalogue to explore curriculum details, admissions information, and the next available intakes.