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

Advance your research ambitions without pressing pause on your life in Japan. The Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD is designed for experienced professionals and curious scholars who want to formalise, deepen, and showcase their research capability while maintaining career momentum. Delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, this programme brings British academic rigour to your screen—wherever you are today, and wherever your work takes you tomorrow.

Build a powerful foundation in advanced research methods, critical inquiry, and scholarly writing that travels across borders and industries. Whether you are looking to sharpen your leadership edge, elevate your academic profile, or prepare for doctoral-level inquiry, you can do it with a modern online experience tailored to busy professionals living and working in Japan.

Awarded British degree, recognised internationally

Earn a respected British qualification backed by a tradition of excellence. The programme’s academic pathway is aligned with UK higher-education standards, enabling you to demonstrate internationally benchmarked research competence that resonates with employers, universities, and professional bodies worldwide.

For you, this means mobility—across roles, sectors, and borders. Whether your next step is leading an innovation project, moving into academia, or collaborating with global partners, a British award signals rigorous preparation and global readiness.

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

Your time is valuable. This programme is thoughtfully structured so that committed professionals can complete it in as little as 3–6 months, fully online. It’s a focused pathway that builds advanced research capability fast—without compromising academic depth or quality.

Move through a clear sequence that helps you frame research problems, select appropriate methodologies, and produce robust, publication-ready outputs. You will quickly convert experience into formal academic mastery that you can showcase immediately.

No fixed class times—study when it suits you

There are no mandatory live sessions or fixed-time logins. You decide when to watch lectures, contribute to discussions, and work on assessments—early mornings in Tokyo, evenings in Osaka, or during a quiet weekend in Sapporo.

This true-asynchronous model respects the realities of executive schedules, family commitments, business travel, and time-zone differences—empowering you to learn consistently, on your terms.

Learn anywhere—even offline—through our mobile app

Travel frequently across Japan or abroad? Our mobile app lets you download study materials and lectures for offline viewing. Study on the Shinkansen, at the airport, or between meetings—then sync automatically when you’re back online.

Seamless access across laptop, tablet, and phone keeps your learning flow intact, even on the move. Your research progress need never wait for a desk or a stable connection.

Open-book assessments that mirror real research

Instead of traditional question-and-answer exams, you’ll complete open-book assessments that reflect how research is actually done: analysing literature, justifying methods, interpreting data, and defending your reasoning with evidence.

This approach values critical thinking, scholarly rigour, and professional judgement—skills that translate directly into boardroom decisions, policy briefs, academic publications, and cross-functional leadership.

Guided by faculty educated at world-renowned universities

Learn from tutors and faculty who have graduated from leading institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their global perspectives and high-level expertise bring depth and relevance to your learning experience.

Expect thoughtful feedback, stimulating debate, and mentorship oriented toward impact—so you refine not only what you know, but how you think, write, and lead as a researcher-practitioner.

A global classroom: 130+ countries and influential alumni

Join a diverse cohort representing more than 130 countries. Build a network that spans industries, cultures, and continents—expanding your perspectives and opportunities. Our alumni community includes professionals working for international organisations like Mitsubishi Power, University of Tsukuba, Honda, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, Sony.

Manageable finances with flexible instalments

Plan with confidence. Programme fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly, interest-free instalments—helping you manage cash flow while you invest in your future.

This predictable structure makes high-quality, internationally recognised postgraduate education accessible without disrupting your personal or professional commitments.

From Japan to the world: outcomes that matter

Japan’s advanced manufacturing and mobility sectors thrive on precision, innovation, and continuous improvement. With enhanced research capability, you can drive R&D pipelines, strengthen product validation, and translate technical insight into stakeholder-ready evidence. Whether you work in automotive, robotics, industrial electronics, or materials science, you’ll be equipped to design studies, synthesise findings, and influence investment and go-to-market decisions with authority.

Digital transformation continues to accelerate across AI, semiconductors, cloud, and fintech. This programme helps you frame complex problems, test hypotheses ethically and methodically, and present actionable insights—skills that elevate your contribution in data science teams, innovation labs, and cross-border collaborations. From proof-of-concept to policy alignment, your research toolkit becomes a strategic asset across Japan’s technology ecosystem.

Sustainability and societal resilience are central to long-term competitiveness. Equipped with advanced research methods, you can lead initiatives in renewable energy, hydrogen, smart infrastructure, healthcare innovation, or climate-risk analysis. Communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, guide evidence-based decisions, and contribute to publications or standards that shape industry practice—locally and across international networks.

Your next chapter starts where you are

Wherever you live in Japan—and wherever your work may take you—you can start now. Combine international academic standards with real-world relevance, and amplify your impact as a researcher, leader, and collaborator.

Ready to explore the details, modules, and pathways? Request our course catalogue and take the first step toward your research future.