Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study from Beijing, China
Build the research skills to take your ambitions further without putting your life in Beijing on hold. The Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, offered online in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, gives you a flexible way to develop advanced research capabilities and apply them to questions with international relevance.
A British degree with international recognition
Studying with a British university can add an internationally recognised academic perspective to your professional profile. The University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College partnership brings that perspective to learners wherever they live, including Beijing.
For professionals whose work crosses borders, British academic credentials can help communicate the depth of their learning to an international audience. The research skills developed through the programme can also support ambitions that extend well beyond any one country or industry.
Make progress in as little as 3–6 months, entirely online
The Executive Diploma can be completed 100% online in as little as 3–6 months, allowing you to work toward an academic goal without relocating or stepping away from your existing commitments in Beijing.
That focused timeframe can make an ambitious next step feel achievable. Your pace will depend on your circumstances, but the online format lets you bring advanced study into the life and career you have already built.
Study on your schedule
Your workday may involve colleagues in several time zones, changing project deadlines or family responsibilities. The programme does not require you to be online at specific times and dates, so you can plan your study around those demands.
Use an early morning, a quiet evening or a productive weekend to engage with the material. This flexibility helps you give research the attention it deserves without organising your life around a fixed class timetable.
Keep learning wherever you go
You can study from Beijing, elsewhere in China or anywhere your plans take you. Whether you are working from home, visiting another office or travelling internationally, your learning can remain part of your routine.
The mobile app lets you download study materials and watch lectures offline. You can make use of travel time and continue learning even when a reliable internet connection is not available.
Explore ideas through open-book assessments
Rather than relying on classical question-and-answer exams, the programme uses open-book assessments. You can consult relevant materials while developing your responses, placing the emphasis on understanding and applying ideas.
That approach reflects the way complex professional and research challenges are often addressed: by examining evidence, evaluating different perspectives and building a considered argument.
Learn from faculty with global academic experience
Engage with tutors and faculty who have graduated from world-renowned institutions, including Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel and Washington University in St. Louis.
Their varied academic backgrounds can introduce you to different ways of framing questions and evaluating evidence. As you refine your own approach, that breadth of experience can be a valuable source of insight and inspiration.
Join a network spanning more than 130 countries
Studying alongside people from more than 130 countries can broaden the conversations around your work. Different professional experiences and viewpoints can help you see how research questions resonate across cultures, organisations and markets.
Alumni work for organisations including Tencent, ICBC Bank, ICBC Standard Bank, AIA, Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC, RYB Education, JKFZ Cambridge International School, SAIC, the United Nations, Google, the ICRC, the World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Siemens and Sony.
Plan your investment with monthly instalments
The programme’s fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest-free instalments. Spreading payments over time can make it easier to plan for study alongside your other commitments.
With a clear payment schedule, you can focus on what you want to achieve: developing your research capabilities and putting new ideas to work.
Bring advanced research skills to Beijing’s industries
Beijing’s technology sector offers rich opportunities to ask better questions about artificial intelligence, digital services and organisational change. For graduates working in technology or related fields, advanced research skills can help turn a promising idea into a structured investigation supported by evidence.
In finance and professional services, the ability to evaluate information critically can be equally valuable. Beijing-based professionals can apply research methods to questions about risk, customer behaviour, operations or emerging business models—then communicate their findings clearly to decision-makers.
Beijing is also a centre for education, public institutions and international collaboration. Whether your interests lie in learning outcomes, policy, sustainability or cross-border cooperation, the programme’s research foundation can help you examine complex issues with greater rigour and share insights that travel beyond your immediate setting.
Take the next step from Beijing
Your location need not limit the reach of your ideas. Request our course catalogue to explore the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD and discover how online study could fit your plans.