Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from Shenzhen, China

From the heart of Shenzhen’s innovation ecosystem, transform your future with the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College. Designed for ambitious professionals who want to drive impact at the highest level, this programme empowers you to deepen your research expertise and advance your leadership without leaving Shenzhen, China.

Built to fit the rhythm of your life and career, the programme blends rigorous academic standards with remarkable flexibility. While you continue to contribute to your organisation and community, you’ll gain globally relevant research capabilities that translate across industries and borders, positioning you for executive roles, consultancy, and doctoral-level research.

Awarded as a British Degree, Recognised Internationally

Confidence in your credentials matters. This programme leads to a British award that carries international recognition—an academic hallmark respected by employers, institutions, and professional bodies across the globe. It signals that your learning meets the standards of a long-established, quality-assured higher education system.

Whether your ambition is to progress within multinational corporations, launch evidence-led ventures, or contribute research to the global knowledge economy, the international standing of a British qualification helps open doors and build trust with decision-makers anywhere you go.

Complete 100% Online in as Little as 3–6 Months

Momentum is everything. The Executive Diploma component is structured so that focused, disciplined learners can complete it fully online in as little as 3–6 months, enabling you to demonstrate advanced research competence and accelerate your professional trajectory without pausing your life.

With a clear pathway, supportive academic guidance, and purposeful assessments, you can rapidly turn your professional experience into academically grounded outputs—setting the stage for future doctoral-level work, publications, or strategic leadership contributions.

No Mandatory Live Attendance

Your schedule should serve your ambitions—not the other way around. This programme does not require your online presence at specific times and dates, giving you control over when and how you study. Your learning journey adapts to your workload, not vice versa.

Review lectures, contribute to discussions, and complete assignments when you’re at your best—early mornings, late evenings, weekends, or between meetings—so you never have to choose between career commitments and academic growth.

Study Anywhere—On the Move with Offline Access

Whether you’re in a Shenzhen co-working space, traveling for business across the region, or working from home, your classroom goes with you. Our mobile app lets you download study materials and watch lectures offline, ensuring uninterrupted progress even when connectivity isn’t guaranteed.

From airport lounges to coffee shops, your learning remains seamless. Micro-learning windows become productive study sessions, turning everyday moments into steady academic advancement.

Open-Book Assessments That Value Real-World Thinking

Complex problems rarely have single “correct” answers. Instead of classical question-and-answer exams, the programme uses open-book assessments that invite you to integrate theory, research methods, and real-world evidence. This mirrors the way senior leaders and researchers actually work.

You’ll practice structuring arguments, evaluating sources, and crafting insights that are academically robust and professionally actionable—cultivating capabilities that translate directly into boardrooms, project rooms, and research forums.

Guided by Faculty Trained at World-Renowned Universities

Excellence attracts excellence. Learn from tutors and faculty who bring scholarship and practice from institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their mentorship helps you refine your research focus, strengthen your methodology, and elevate your thinking.

This diversity of scholarly heritage gives you access to a broad spectrum of perspectives, ensuring your work is sharpened by global standards and enriched by cross-disciplinary insights.

A Truly Global Network of Peers and Alumni

Join a diverse student body representing over 130 countries and connect with alumni contributing at leading organisations around the world—including Tencent, ICBC Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, AIA, Sinopec, Petrochina, CNOOC, RYB Educations, JKFZ Cambridge International School , SAIC, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Siemens, Sony. Your cohort becomes a powerful professional network and a source of lifelong collaboration.

Flexible Payment with Up to 18 Monthly Instalments

We believe access and excellence should go hand in hand. Our fees can be spread over up to 18 monthly interest-free instalments, making it easier to invest in your future without placing undue strain on your cash flow.

This approach supports professionals who are balancing multiple priorities—career growth, family commitments, and personal development—while ensuring that quality learning remains within reach.

Why This Programme Works Brilliantly from Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a global powerhouse in technology, hardware, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The programme’s research-driven approach equips you to investigate complex challenges—from supply chain resilience and product innovation to responsible AI and data governance—and translate findings into strategies that accelerate growth in fast-moving sectors.

With fintech and digital ecosystems flourishing in the Greater Bay Area, your advanced research skills can help you lead initiatives in payments, platform economies, cybersecurity, and regulatory innovation. The ability to frame questions rigorously, analyse data ethically, and present evidence persuasively is a decisive edge in Shenzhen’s competitive landscape.

As global firms expand R&D, sustainability, and cross-border operations across South China, your capability to design and conduct high-quality research positions you to influence policy, product roadmaps, and transformation programmes. Whether you’re in tech, finance, logistics, or education, this credential supports a trajectory toward senior strategic roles, consultancy, or research leadership.

Imagine the Next Chapter of Your Career

Picture yourself leading with clarity—able to design research that answers consequential questions, communicate insights to senior stakeholders, and guide decision-making with confidence. From Shenzhen, you can accomplish all this without compromising your professional commitments.

If you’re ready to move from expertise to authority, from experience to evidence-led impact, this programme offers the structure, guidance, and credibility to help you make that leap.

Request our course catalogue to explore modules, timelines, and next start dates—and begin your journey today from Shenzhen, China.