Doctor of Professional Studies

An Applied Dual Degree Program Integrating Professional Experience and Analytical Research

The Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is a doctoral-level program designed for experienced professionals and senior managers who seek to transform a significant managerial or organizational problem—drawn from their own experience—into a structured body of applied scholarly research. The program begins with the candidate’s professional reality and extends it through systematic inquiry, theoretical integration, and reflective synthesis, producing outcomes that are both academically rigorous and operationally effective. The DProf represents a professional doctorate that truly bridges experience, evidence, and innovation.

The Doctor of Professional Studies program emphasizes rigorous problem definition, evidence-based analysis, and solution-oriented application. Candidates investigate the contextual, behavioral, or systemic dimensions of their chosen managerial issue, engaging with established theories of management, leadership, and organizational practice. Depending on the nature of the problem, inquiry may take the form of empirical investigation—such as action research, case study, or mixed methods—or systems-based innovation that develops and validates analytical or computational models for managerial decision-making.

The culmination of the program is a doctoral manuscript demonstrating intellectual synthesis and practical resolution. Each submission must provide tested solutions, frameworks, and managerial recommendations that extend both professional understanding and academic insight. In doing so, the DProf develops candidates as reflective scholar-practitioners and innovative problem-solvers, equipped to design and implement effective solutions, influence professional practice, and contribute to the advancement of applied management scholarship.

Program Structure

The Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) at Monarch Business School Switzerland follows a clearly articulated milestone framework that integrates scholarly inquiry with professional problem-solving. Each stage advances the candidate from the identification and framing of a real-world managerial challenge through to the synthesis of validated solutions and the formal presentation of a professional doctoral manuscript.

Diagnostic → Proposal → Inquiry → Synthesis → Presentation

This developmental sequence positions the Doctor of Professional Studies  as a reflective-to-analytical continuum, guiding candidates from experiential insight toward the creation of evidence-based and operationally sound outcomes.

The structure is designed to foster both intellectual discipline and creative innovation, ensuring that candidates transform their practical experience or analytical insight into a substantive contribution of managerial and academic value. This structured and mentor-driven progression enhances methodological competence, critical analysis, and the capacity for reflective synthesis. Whether the inquiry centers on a lived managerial experience or the development of a new analytical or computational model, the Doctor of Professional Studies maintains the highest academic standards expected of a doctoral qualification.

Faculty supervision and institutional review ensure that every stage of research meets Monarch’s benchmarks for rigor, ethical integrity, and applied relevance, while preserving the professional flexibility appropriate for senior practitioners. The following phases outline the academic framework of the Doctor of Professional Studies, detailing the pathway from initial problem formulation to the completion and presentation of the doctoral manuscript before the Review Committee.

Diagnostic & Framing Stage

Candidates begin by articulating the managerial or organizational problem that will anchor their doctoral inquiry. This phase focuses on transforming personal professional experience into a clearly defined, researchable issue. Through the Research modules, candidates acquire competencies in applied research design, problem framing, and reflective writing. The output of this phase is a well-structured Problem Definition Brief that delineates scope, significance, and intended outcomes.

Proposal Development Phase

Building upon the diagnostic stage, candidates design the doctoral research proposal that sets the intellectual and methodological foundation for the study. This includes the identification of relevant theoretical frameworks, the selection of empirical or analytical methods, and the articulation of potential practical and scholarly contributions. The proposal must demonstrate both research feasibility and professional impact, receiving formal approval by the Academic Board before field inquiry begins.

Inquiry Phase

In this phase, candidates conduct the core fieldwork or systems-based investigation. Depending on the nature of the problem, the inquiry may involve:

  • Empirical engagement through action research, case study, or mini-ethnography; or

  • Analytical modeling, involving the creation and validation of new tools, metrics, or computational simulations.
    The goal is to generate, test, and refine applied knowledge that contributes to both improved practice and conceptual understanding. Candidates are expected to document iterative cycles of analysis and reflection that underpin the emerging solution.

Synthesis & Manuscript Phase

Findings from the inquiry are integrated into a doctoral manuscript that synthesizes evidence, theory, and professional reflection. The manuscript must articulate tested solutions, managerial frameworks, and implementation strategies, supported by critical analysis and methodological transparency. It should demonstrate how professional experience and academic reasoning converge to produce outcomes of transferable managerial value and scholarly merit.

Presentation Stage

The program concludes with a formal presentation before the Review Committee. This stage synthesizes the research journey, evidencing both academic rigor and practical application. Candidates present their methodology, findings, and solution models while reflecting on the personal and organizational transformation achieved through the process. 

The structured progression of the Doctor of Professional Studies ensures that each candidate develops the full range of applied research, analytical, and leadership competencies expected of a doctoral-level professional. By the conclusion of the program, candidates demonstrate mastery in the design and execution of evidence-based inquiry, the capacity to translate experience into scholarly understanding, and the ability to deliver practical outcomes that enhance managerial effectiveness. Each graduate embodies Monarch Switzerland’s commitment to ethical leadership, reflective scholarship, and responsible management practice.

Key Program Features

• Practice-based doctoral pathway addressing real organizational challenges.
• Milestone structure: problem framing, inquiry design, intervention, and impact synthesis.
• Outputs oriented to implementation: thesis, executive briefings, and practice artifacts.
• Dual-track research design offering candidates the choice between empirical engagement and analytical modeling.
• Evidence-informed leadership with ethics, stakeholder value, and governance focus.
• Designed for working professionals; asynchronous, professionally paced progression.
• Senior faculty mentorship; opportunities to publish via MRPS and practitioner outlets.
• Applicable across corporate, public, and NGO contexts through cross-sector research design.

Program Features

The Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is designed for accomplished professionals who wish to transform complex managerial or organizational challenges into structured opportunities for applied scholarly inquiry. The program combines the intellectual rigor of doctoral-level research with the immediacy of executive problem-solving, ensuring that outcomes are both analytically robust and professionally actionable.

Delivered through a flexible, milestone-based framework, the DProf enables candidates to investigate real-world issues from their own professional context, integrating reflection, research, and synthesis into a coherent process of evidence-based innovation. This model ensures that scholarly inquiry remains grounded in practice and that each doctoral project produces measurable insights and tested solutions with enduring managerial value.

Problem-Centered DesignBegins with a significant managerial or organizational problem drawn from the candidate’s experience and develops it into an applied scholarly inquiry of broader professional relevance.
Solutions & Implementation FocusDelivers tested solutions—frameworks, playbooks, decision tools, and implementation pathways—designed for immediate executive use and transferability to similar contexts.
Methodological FlexibilitySupports empirical pathways (action research, case study, mixed methods, mini-ethnography) and systems-based innovation (analytical tools, computational models, simulations) with validation requirements for both.
Reflective Scholarship & SynthesisCultivates rigorous problem framing, theoretical integration, and reflective synthesis to produce outcomes that are academically rigorous and operationally effective.
Flexible, Mentor-Driven DeliveryDelivered with individualized faculty mentorship, enabling candidates to maintain professional responsibilities while sustaining steady doctoral progress.
Integrated RecognitionSuccessful completion also confers the Master-in-Passing (MA in Business Research), recognizing mastery of applied research design, analytical reasoning, and professional synthesis achieved within the doctoral journey.

Together, these features reflect Monarch’s commitment to advancing professional scholarship that bridges reflection, research, and real-world application. The DProf affirms that professional experience—when subjected to disciplined inquiry and theoretical integration—can yield scholarly insights of enduring practical significance. Each doctoral journey within the program embodies Monarch’s philosophy of ethical management and applied leadership, ensuring that every graduate emerges as a reflective scholar-practitioner capable of transforming experience into evidence-based, actionable knowledge that elevates both organizational performance and professional understanding.

Master-in-Passing

The Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) at Monarch Business School Switzerland incorporates a flexible and academically rigorous framework that recognizes both professional progression and scholarly achievement through the Master of Arts (MA) in Business Research. The MA serves as an integral milestone within the doctoral journey, affirming Monarch’s commitment to accessibility, academic excellence, and the advancement of applied professional research.

Master-in-Passing (Default Award)

Candidates who successfully complete all doctoral requirements are automatically granted the MA in Business Research in passing upon conferral of the DProf award. This recognizes mastery of applied research design, analytical synthesis, and professional interpretation achieved throughout the doctoral program, underscoring the integrated nature of Monarch’s dual-degree framework.

Master-in-Exit (Terminal Award)

Candidates who choose to conclude their studies prior to completing the DProf may qualify for either the MA in Business Research or, alternatively, the Master of Professional Studies (MProf) as a terminal award.

  • The MA in Business Research recognizes scholarly proficiency in applied research methods, analytical reasoning, and evidence-based inquiry within a management context.

  • The MProf emphasizes the applied practice of management and professional reflection, demonstrating mastery in synthesizing real-world experience, research, and actionable outcomes that advance professional understanding.

The choice of terminal award enables candidates to align the degree with their professional trajectory and prior academic background. Neither form requires an original theoretical contribution but each demands a substantial applied manuscript that demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to conduct rigorous inquiry, integrate professional knowledge, and produce implementable recommendations of organizational value.

Through both the Master-in-Passing and Master-in-Exit pathways, Monarch Business School Switzerland ensures that every candidate’s scholarly engagement culminates in a meaningful and recognized qualification. This flexible dual-degree model embodies Monarch’s philosophy of applied doctoral education—uniting research excellence, ethical reflection, and professional synthesis to foster responsible, evidence-based advancement in management practice.

Professional Doctoral Philosophy

The Doctor of Professional Studies treats scholarship as disciplined practice. Candidates transform organizational problems into structured inquiry, generating actionable insights communicated in executive language and grounded in ethical responsibility.

Designs are credible and transparent; interpretations are rigorous yet pragmatic; recommendations are implementable and measurable. The objective is responsible impact—knowledge that improves decisions, capabilities, and outcomes across complex stakeholder systems.

Admission & Entry Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is based on demonstrated professional achievement, managerial competence, and the capacity to engage in reflective and applied research. The program is designed for executives, consultants, entrepreneurs, senior practitioners, and professionals who wish to investigate and formalize their practice through doctoral-level inquiry leading to actionable managerial and organizational outcomes.

Applicants typically hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution. However, experienced professionals or managers with a bachelor’s degree and substantial professional experience, or those holding recognized professional qualifications or designations, may also be considered for admission. At the discretion of the Dean, candidates without a formal academic qualification may be admitted on the basis of demonstrated professional excellence and a portfolio of practice recognized as equivalent academic capital.

Applications are reviewed by the Academic Board to ensure alignment between each candidate’s professional background, proposed area of inquiry, and available supervisory expertise. Candidates are expected to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, critical reasoning, and reflective capacity, along with a clear motivation to apply doctoral-level learning to the advancement of management practice and organizational innovation.

Tuition

All doctoral programs at Monarch Business School Switzerland follow a milestone-based structure designed to accommodate the research and writing demands of advanced professional and academic inquiry. Tuition is assessed on a quarterly basis for the duration of the candidate’s active registration in the program.

The quarterly tuition fee for the Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf) is €3,250, payable at the beginning of each academic quarter. Candidates may alternatively request a monthly payment schedule to support financial planning and ensure continuity of study. This approach provides ongoing access to supervisory mentorship, academic resources, and institutional services throughout all phases of the doctoral journey.

The standard duration of the DProf program is 24 months. Candidates who require additional time beyond this period may continue their registration on an annual extension basis at 50% of the regular tuition rate. This continuation rate applies to all subsequent 12-month extensions, enabling candidates to complete their doctoral manuscript and presentation at their own pace while maintaining full academic standing.

Detailed information regarding tuition fees, administrative charges, and payment procedures is provided within the Application and Information Package, available upon request.

Who Should Apply

The DProf is designed for practitioners who seek a doctoral pathway that converts experience into evidence-based leadership and demonstrable organizational value.

•Executives and senior managers leading transformation, turnarounds, or scale-ups.
•Entrepreneurs and owners seeking structured, ethical, and sustainable growth levers.
•Consultants and advisors aiming to formalize methods and codify IP through research.
•Public/NGO leaders aligning mission, governance, and measurable public value.
•Senior professionals pursuing thought leadership with implementation at scale.
Monarch Business School Switzerland crest – PhD in Business Research program