info@stedvarn.ch
Chamerstrasse 172, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
Build a doctoral enquiry around the knowledge, challenges and impact of your profession.
The Doctor of Professional Studies is an interdisciplinary professional doctorate for experienced practitioners whose research question does not sit neatly within a single conventional discipline. The programme begins with the candidate's professional domain and supports an original contribution to practice through advanced enquiry, critical reflection and a substantial doctoral project.
Follow the modules that make up this programme, from foundational theory through to independent research.
Professional Identity, Knowledge and Practice
Professional epistemologies, expertise, values and reflexivity.
Interdisciplinary Literature and Evidence
Building a coherent conceptual frame across disciplines.
Practitioner Research Design
Action research, evaluation, case study, design-based and mixed methods.
Ethics, Power and Professional Responsibility
Ethics, insider research, confidentiality, risk and accountability.
Innovation, Impact and Knowledge Exchange
From findings to adoption, evaluation and professional influence.
Doctoral Proposal and Confirmation
A defended proposal tailored to the candidate's professional field.
Professional Doctoral Project
A thesis or approved portfolio-plus-critical-commentary route demonstrating originality.
Viva Voce and Dissemination
Oral defence, corrections and outputs for professional and scholarly audiences.
Assessment is developmental and cumulative. It may include critical essays, evidence reviews, research-methods work, reflective analysis, a proposal and confirmation review, progress reports, a thesis or approved doctoral project, and a viva voce. The final submission is examined against published doctoral criteria, with independent input in accordance with Stedvarn's academic regulations. Attendance or professional seniority alone is not sufficient for an award.
See where this programme can take your career next.
The DProf supports senior professional practice, consultancy, innovation leadership, policy, knowledge exchange and organisational improvement across sectors. The relevance of the award depends on the candidate's field and the requirements of individual employers, professional bodies and jurisdictions.
Consolidate a body of advanced practice through original, doctoral-level enquiry.
Lead innovation, service redesign or policy change grounded in rigorous research.
Strengthen a strong professional evidence base with doctoral-level research capability.
To be considered for this programme, applicants should meet the following requirements.
A relevant Master's qualification or comparable advanced professional qualification
Normally at least seven years of substantial professional experience, including responsibility for complex practice, leadership, innovation or policy
A coherent professional problem capable of supporting doctoral-level enquiry
Evidence of readiness for advanced independent study and reflective practice
Applicants whose prior education or professional work has not been conducted substantially in English should normally provide evidence equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, or another form of evidence accepted by Stedvarn. The Institute may require an interview, writing sample or additional language support. Acceptance of alternative evidence is an admissions decision and is not an external language-test equivalence.
Relevant prior certificated or experiential learning may be considered through an individual academic assessment. Verified evidence is evaluated against the applicable doctoral outcomes and used to determine the applicant's route and assessment plan. Stedvarn may require further portfolio, written, research, oral or other assessment before confirming that the award outcomes have been met.
What this programme costs, what is included, and how payment works.
Fees are charged according to the programme and period of study. Where a programme is completed within the initial study period, no further tuition fee is payable beyond the applicable programme fee.
Annual Tuition Fee
The annual tuition fee covers up to 12 months of registration, academic supervision, assessment and access to Stedvarn Institute's learning resources. Candidates requiring additional time beyond their initial study period may continue their registration subject to the applicable continuation or extension fee.
Any additional fees applicable to a student will be communicated in advance.
Stedvarn Institute may offer approved students the opportunity to pay their tuition fees in agreed instalments. Payment arrangements are confirmed before enrolment and may vary according to the programme, study route and individual circumstances.
Important Information
What happens between submitting your application and receiving a formal offer.
Complete the online application form and select the exact programme title.
Upload the required academic, identity and professional documents.
Submit a 1,000-1,500 word outline explaining the professional context, the issue to be investigated, the proposed contribution, likely evidence and methodological direction.
Attend an online admissions interview if invited.
Respond to any verification, RPL or proposal-development request.
If successful, review the written offer, individual study conditions, fee schedule and private-award disclosure before accepting.
Fees & Payment
CHF 25,000 / £22,000 annually — Professional Doctorate / DBA
See the full fee breakdown, inclusions and payment options above under Tuition Fees & Payment.
Answers to some of the most common questions about this programme.
Private award — read before applying: This programme leads to a private institutional award issued by Stedvarn Institute, an independent Swiss-based private institute. Stedvarn is not institutionally accredited under the Swiss Higher Education Act (HEdA), and the award is not a Swiss federally recognised higher education qualification. Recognition and title use vary by employer, institution and jurisdiction. Applicants must check suitability for their intended purpose before enrolling.
Join our community of scholars and pursue advanced private doctoral-level research within an internationally oriented academic environment. Applications are open year-round.