Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from New Zealand (Aotearoa)

Dream bigger from where you stand. From the coasts and cities of New Zealand (Aotearoa), you can step into an elite British academic journey through the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD—designed to elevate experienced professionals into influential researcher-practitioners and thought leaders. Delivered in exclusive partnership between the University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, this transformative pathway blends academic rigour with the flexibility modern leaders need.

Start shaping original, globally relevant insights while you continue to live and work at home. One of the first steps is to explore the Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, a programme whose theory translates across borders and sectors so you can create impact wherever opportunity arises. With an online learning experience built for mobility, you can advance your credentials without compromising your career, family, or lifestyle.

Awarded a British Degree Recognised Internationally

Elevate your credibility with a British award known for quality, academic depth, and high standards of scholarship. The University of Gloucestershire confers a qualification that travels well—opening doors in multinational organisations, government, higher education, and industry. The prestige of a British degree signals peer-reviewed scholarship, methodological integrity, and a readiness to contribute at the highest levels.

For globally oriented professionals, international recognition matters. Whether you aspire to consult across regions, lead complex initiatives, or publish research with worldwide reach, this credential helps you be taken seriously from Auckland to Zurich. It communicates both intellectual rigour and applied relevance—an ideal combination for modern leadership.

Fast-Track Your Ambition: 100% Online in as Little as 3–6 Months

Momentum matters. The online structure enables a focused, intensive route that can be completed in as little as 3–6 months, depending on your pace. By focusing on advanced research methodology, scholarly writing, and proposal development, you move quickly from ambition to output—without detours or downtime.

This efficient progression is ideal for senior professionals who want results soon: elevated credibility, sharpened research capability, and a solid platform for further doctoral-level work or advanced research leadership. It’s a timely upgrade to your profile and a meaningful step forward in your career.

Study on Your Schedule—No Fixed Live Sessions

Your calendar is already full. That’s why the programme is designed without the need to be online at specific times or dates. Access learning materials, assignments, and faculty feedback when it fits—early mornings, late nights, or between meetings—so you can keep life balanced while your goals accelerate.

Asynchronous learning does more than save time; it supports deeper thinking. Engage with readings, lectures, and research tools at your natural rhythm, then return with fresh perspectives. This flexibility keeps you productive and reflective—key ingredients for high-quality research.

Truly Mobile Learning: Anywhere, Even Offline

Whether you’re in Wellington, Queenstown, or on a flight between cities, your campus travels with you. Our mobile app lets you download study materials and watch lectures offline, so poor connectivity never interrupts your progress. Your research momentum stays intact—on the move and on your terms.

Work from a café, a client site, or while travelling. Annotate readings, draft proposals, and keep pace with assignments wherever you are. With learning designed for mobility, your lifestyle becomes a strategic asset, not a barrier.

Open-Book Assessments that Reflect Real Research

Real-world research isn’t a memory test; it’s a test of judgment, synthesis, and analytical clarity. That’s why this programme uses open-book assessments instead of classical question-and-answer exams. You’ll reference sources, evaluate evidence, and argue persuasively—exactly as you would when producing impactful, practice-oriented scholarship.

Expect to be challenged to design methods, critique literature, and frame research questions that matter. Open-book does not mean easy; it means authentic. The outcome is practical capability you can deploy immediately in your professional and academic projects.

Learn from Faculty Educated at World-Renowned Universities

Excellence is contagious. Your tutors and faculty include graduates of some of the world’s most respected institutions, such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, the University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their mentorship blends exacting academic standards with pragmatic, industry-aware insight.

Receive feedback that sharpens your thinking, stretches your methodology, and strengthens your writing. This is guidance that goes beyond passing: it’s about becoming the kind of researcher whose ideas shape boardrooms, classrooms, and communities.

Join a Global Network from 130+ Countries

Surround yourself with peers who bring diverse perspectives and real-world challenges to the conversation. Students join from more than 130 countries, and alumni work for leading organisations including ANZ, AIA, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, and Sony.

Collaborate across time zones and sectors to test your ideas, expand your professional circle, and discover opportunities you may not find locally. This is a community that energises and accelerates careers—one conversation, project, or introduction at a time.

Flexible Payment with Interest‑Free Instalments

Invest in your future without disrupting your present. Our fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest‑free instalments, helping you align your cash flow with your career plans. It’s flexibility designed to keep your momentum strong from application to graduation.

This approach reflects our commitment to practical access: big ambitions, thoughtfully financed. Your goal is to advance your contribution and your career; our goal is to make that path clear and manageable.

Advance Your Impact in New Zealand (Aotearoa)

New Zealand thrives on innovation—across technology, creative industries, and high-value services. With advanced research skills, you can shape strategies in areas like agritech, fintech, digital health, and smart manufacturing. From Auckland’s tech corridors to Christchurch’s engineering hubs, rigorous research capability lets you lead transformation, secure partnerships, and scale ideas that compete on the world stage.

The nation’s growth also hinges on sustainability and resilience. Advanced research literacy empowers leaders in energy, agriculture, aquaculture, and supply chains to design evidence-based solutions for productivity, decarbonisation, climate adaptation, and biodiversity. You’ll be equipped to evaluate data, assess risk, and propose interventions that align performance with long-term stewardship.

Public sector agencies, NGOs, and healthcare providers rely on high-quality research to inform policy, service design, and equity-focused outcomes. With enhanced methodological expertise and doctoral-level writing, you can contribute to priority areas like health innovation, biosecurity, infrastructure, and emergency management—delivering insights that translate into better decision-making and measurable impact for communities across Aotearoa.

Ready to take the next step? Request our course catalogue and discover how this online pathway can fit seamlessly into your life in New Zealand (Aotearoa) while opening doors around the world.