Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from Thun, Switzerland

Transform your career and research trajectory with the online Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, delivered in exclusive partnership between University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College. From your home in Thun, Switzerland, you can join a truly international learning experience designed for ambitious professionals who want to think bigger, publish better, and lead with evidence.

This programme equips you with advanced research capabilities that travel with you—skills you can apply across sectors, borders, and cultures. Whether you seek to deepen subject mastery, elevate your leadership credibility, or open doors to doctoral-level inquiry and impact, you will study with a global cohort while enjoying the freedom and flexibility to learn from where you are.

Awarded a British degree that is recognised internationally

Graduate with the prestige of a British award conferred through an exclusive partnership between University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College. A British qualification is an internationally recognised signal of academic rigour and professional readiness, enhancing your credibility across markets and disciplines.

From global corporates to NGOs and startups, employers worldwide understand and value the standards behind a British degree. Your credential will stand out on CVs, business cards, proposals, and publications—opening doors, creating trust, and positioning you to lead and influence.

Complete 100% online in as little as 3–6 months

Your time is valuable. This programme is designed to be completed fully online, with a streamlined path that enables motivated professionals to finish in as little as 3–6 months. Dive deep, progress with momentum, and achieve a meaningful milestone in your research journey—without pausing your life or career.

Every learning block is intentionally structured to accelerate your mastery while keeping quality at the forefront. You’ll advance through focused milestones, consolidate your outputs, and emerge with a rigorous portfolio of work that demonstrates your readiness for doctoral-level thinking and application.

No mandatory live sessions—study on your schedule

We understand that modern professionals juggle projects, teams, families, and travel. That’s why this programme does not require online presence at specific times and dates. Access lectures, resources, and discussions when it suits you, and shape your weekly rhythm around your priorities.

Asynchronous learning means you never have to choose between an urgent meeting and your academic goals. You control your timetable—and your progress—without sacrificing the richness of interaction and feedback you’ll receive along the way.

Learn anywhere—even offline with our mobile app

Study from anywhere in the world, even while on the move. Our mobile app lets you download study material and watch lectures offline—ideal for train commutes between Thun and Bern, a flight abroad, or quiet moments by Lake Thun.

This always-with-you learning ecosystem helps you convert small pockets of time into steady progress. Read, annotate, and reflect on your schedule—and return online to submit assignments or engage with your cohort and faculty.

Open-book assessments that mirror real-world practice

Instead of classical question/answer exams, you will engage in open books assessments. These assess your ability to synthesise, apply, and evaluate information—just as you would in a leadership, consultancy, or research role—rather than testing short-term memory.

Open-book formats foster critical thinking, ethical referencing, and the capacity to build well-argued, evidence-based positions. You will graduate with a portfolio that reflects how you actually work: researching deeply, reasoning clearly, and communicating persuasively.

Learn from faculty educated at world-renowned universities

Be mentored by experienced tutors/faculty who graduated from institutions like Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their diverse backgrounds bring both academic depth and real-world insight to your learning experience.

Beyond guidance on methodology and literature, you’ll receive nuanced advice on framing research questions, publishing, and translating findings into strategy and decision-making—insights shaped by global education paths and professional practice.

A diverse cohort with a powerful global network

Join a learning community that spans continents, industries, and perspectives. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths—expanding your worldview, sharpening your arguments, and connecting you to peers who can open doors across sectors and borders.

Our student base includes professionals from over 130 countries, with alumnis working for international organisations like Credit Suisse, Universite de Lausanne, Nestle, UBS, Chubb, Zurich, Novartis, Roche, International School of Central Switzerland, institut monte rosa, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, Sony.

Flexible payments to fit your plan

Education should accelerate your future, not hold it back. Our fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest free instalments, helping you balance investment with other commitments.

This flexible approach supports smart budgeting while you focus on building advanced research capabilities that can immediately lift your professional profile and impact.

How this programme empowers professionals in Thun, Switzerland

Precision engineering and advanced manufacturing: The Thun region benefits from a strong tradition in engineering, mechatronics, and high-precision production. The research design, data analysis, and critical evaluation skills you develop will help you lead process improvements, implement evidence-based innovations, and validate technology strategies—enhancing productivity, quality, and sustainability in local SMEs and beyond.

Tourism, hospitality, and experience innovation: As a gateway to the Bernese Oberland, the area around Thun thrives on tourism, events, and outdoor experiences. With advanced research competencies, you can analyse visitor behaviour, optimise pricing and capacity, evaluate sustainability initiatives, and design data-informed experiences—supporting destination competitiveness and resilient, year-round tourism models.

Public sector, infrastructure, and defence-adjacent services: The region’s institutions and service providers rely on policy analysis, programme evaluation, and operational research. This programme equips you to structure and test evidence-based recommendations, assess outcomes, and communicate findings to diverse stakeholders—valuable capabilities for roles in administration, procurement, logistics, and strategy.

Start where you are—grow where you want to go

From Thun, Switzerland, you can connect to a world-class online learning community, develop advanced research confidence, and signal your readiness for doctoral-level work and leadership. Your ideas can travel globally—your studies don’t have to.

Ready to take the next step? Request our course catalogue and discover how the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD can help you create meaningful, measurable impact.