Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from Barcelona, Spain
Advance your career without pressing pause on your life in Barcelona. With the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, you can elevate your expertise, credibility, and global impact from where you live and work, shaping research that travels across borders and industries.
Delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, this programme empowers you to master advanced research methodologies, design robust studies, and communicate your findings with authority. It blends academic excellence with the flexibility of a modern, fully online experience—so your ambitions can move forward at your pace, from your place.
Barcelona is your base, the world is your context. As you learn, you will be building an international research toolkit—one you can apply to complex challenges across sectors and continents. Whether your next step is executive leadership, consulting, entrepreneurship, or academia, you will be ready to lead with evidence, insight, and confidence.
Earn a British Degree Recognised Worldwide
Your credential matters. This programme awards a British qualification from the University of Gloucestershire—an assurance of academic quality that is respected by employers and institutions across the globe. A British degree signals rigorous standards, intellectual independence, and research integrity.
Whether you are engaging with multinational firms, NGOs, government agencies, or leading universities, a British award communicates credibility. It makes introductions easier, international mobility smoother, and leadership aspirations more attainable.
Graduate Sooner: 100% Online in as Little as 3–6 Months
Your time is precious. The programme is built for momentum, allowing you to complete the Executive Diploma component 100% online in as little as 3–6 months. You will progress through focused, high-impact learning that fits alongside your professional schedule.
Every activity is designed to translate directly into real-world value—quickly. You can apply frameworks at work the same week you learn them, accelerating both your studies and your career outcomes without waiting years to see results.
True Flexibility: No Mandatory Live Sessions
We respect your agenda. There are no compulsory live classes at fixed times, which means no late-night calls, no rushed commutes, and no scheduling conflicts with clients or family. Study when your energy and calendar align.
Asynchronous learning lets you engage deeply at your best hours—early morning, late evening, or between meetings. You control your study rhythm while still accessing a vibrant online community, tutor guidance, and rich learning resources.
Learn Anywhere — Even Offline with Our Mobile App
Life is mobile—and so is your learning. Study from anywhere in the world, whether you are at home in Barcelona, between offices, or on a train. Our mobile app lets you download materials, watch lectures offline, and keep your momentum wherever work and life take you.
Travel often or prefer to study on the move? Go offline with confidence. Your progress syncs when you are back online, so your learning stays continuous, resilient, and fully under your control.
Assessment That Mirrors Real Practice: Open-Book, Applied, Insight-Driven
Instead of memorisation-heavy exams, you will engage in open-book assessments designed to mirror real research practice. Use your sources, demonstrate critical thinking, and produce work that reflects how evidence-based decisions are made in the real world.
Open-book does not mean easier—it means smarter. You will be challenged to synthesise, evaluate, and apply, developing a level of mastery that employers and peers recognise instantly.
Learn from Faculty Trained at World-Renowned Universities
Quality mentorship elevates your thinking. Our tutors and faculty have graduated from leading institutions including Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. They bring global perspectives, research excellence, and practitioner insight.
You will not just learn the what—you will learn the why and how from scholars and professionals who have stood where you stand, and who know what it takes to drive advanced research in complex, fast-moving environments.
Join a Global Community Across 130+ Countries
Who you learn with matters. Our cohorts are richly diverse, connecting professionals from more than 130 countries. This gives you a genuine window into international practice, fresh perspectives on your research questions, and a powerful network that endures beyond graduation.
Our alumni work with and within leading global organisations, including Santander, Iberdrola, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, Sony.
Manageable Payments: Up to 18 Monthly Interest-Free Instalments
Invest strategically in your future. Our fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest-free instalments, helping you align learning with cash flow while you continue to work and advance.
This approach puts a high-calibre British programme within reach—so you can focus on mastering research, building influence, and shaping your next chapter.
From Barcelona to the World: Career Advantages You Can Activate Now
Barcelona’s innovation economy is a powerful launchpad for research-driven leaders. From the 22@ innovation district to global events like Mobile World Congress, the city is a magnet for technology, data, AI, and digital transformation. Advanced research skills will help you design and validate strategies, lead evidence-based initiatives, and communicate results that resonate with international stakeholders—from scale-ups to multinationals.
Barcelona’s commitment to sustainability and smart urban development opens opportunities in mobility, energy, and circular economy projects. With this programme’s rigorous methodologies, you can evaluate impact, guide policy, and inform investment across green transition initiatives—skills that are in demand among utilities, engineering firms, public agencies, and forward-thinking consultancies.
Healthcare, life sciences, logistics, tourism, and creative industries all thrive in Barcelona’s globally connected ecosystem. As a graduate, you can leverage your research expertise to optimise customer experience, improve operational performance, craft data-backed strategies, and publish thought leadership that elevates your profile across the Mediterranean and European markets.
Your Next Step
You bring the ambition; we provide the structure, mentorship, and flexibility to help you convert potential into influence. Build a globally portable research profile while living and working in Barcelona—and let your ideas travel farther than you ever thought possible.
Request our course catalogue to explore modules, timelines, and how this exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College can accelerate your goals.