PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience
A Dual-Degree PhD Program in Neuroscience, Decision-Making, and Leadership
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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience at Monarch Switzerland represents a research-intensive doctoral program designed to explore the intersection of brain science, cognition, and leadership within complex organizational environments. As an advanced academic qualification, the program reflects Monarch’s commitment to developing scholarly practitioners capable of engaging with emerging neuroscientific insights while grounding their work in real-world managerial and governance contexts.
Positioned at the convergence of cognitive neuroscience, organizational behavior, and leadership studies, the program is intended for experienced professionals, consultants, coaches, and early-career academics who seek to deepen their understanding of decision-making, consciousness, and human behavior in organizational settings. It provides candidates with direct engagement with contemporary neuroscientific theories and debates, enabling them to critically interpret how neural processes shape leadership, perception, and strategic judgment.
At Monarch, doctoral research is understood as a process of reflective inquiry into the lived experience of individuals and institutions. Within this framework, candidates are encouraged to approach neuroscience not merely as a technical or experimental domain, but as an interpretive field that informs how human agents think, decide, and act within organizational systems. The program emphasizes the integration of neuroscientific knowledge with qualitative research traditions, ensuring that scientific insight is translated into meaningful contributions to management practice and leadership development.
A distinctive feature of the program is its focus on the relationship between conscious and non-conscious processes in decision-making. Drawing on foundational models such as dual-process theory and contemporary neuroscientific frameworks of cognition and consciousness, candidates explore how neural activity precedes and informs reflective judgment. This orientation enables a deeper understanding of managerial behavior, including the cognitive and emotional dynamics that underpin leadership effectiveness, ethical reasoning, and organizational culture.
Methodologically, the program is grounded in Monarch’s Standard Research Methodology, which prioritizes interpretive reasoning, meta-analysis, and ethically grounded inquiry. While primarily qualitative in orientation, candidates may incorporate interdisciplinary elements, including insights from cognitive psychology, neurobiology, and experimental research, where appropriate to their research objectives. The emphasis remains on developing explanatory depth and theoretical clarity, particularly in understanding how neuroscientific concepts can inform leadership practice and organizational policy. The program does not require prior training in neuroscience, but rather develops the candidate’s ability to interpret and apply neuroscientific insight within their professional and research context.
The program also reflects Monarch’s broader academic philosophy that research and professional practice are mutually reinforcing. Candidates are expected not only to engage critically with scientific literature but also to translate their findings into applied contexts, whether in executive leadership, coaching, or public intellectual engagement. In this respect, the PhD contributes to the evolution of the “reflective scholar-practitioner” who is capable of advancing both academic discourse and organizational effectiveness.
Consistent with Monarch’s European academic tradition, the program incorporates a dual-award progression through the Master-in-Passing (M.Phil.), ensuring that candidates develop rigorous competencies in research design, theoretical analysis, and scholarly writing prior to the completion of the doctoral dissertation. This structured pathway supports the development of intellectual independence while maintaining high standards of academic quality and methodological integrity.
Graduates of the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience emerge with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the evolving dialogue between neuroscience and management. They are equipped to advance understanding of human cognition in organizational contexts, inform leadership practice through evidence-based insight, and participate as thought leaders in shaping more reflective, ethical, and effective institutions.
Illustrative Research Areas
The following examples illustrate the breadth of research themes explored within the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience. These are indicative rather than prescriptive, reflecting Monarch’s open and interdisciplinary research philosophy.
| Neural Correlates of Executive Decision-Making | Examine how neural processes influence executive judgment under uncertainty, including the interaction between conscious reasoning and non-conscious cognitive activity. |
| Cognitive Load & Leadership Performance | Investigate how cognitive overload affects leadership effectiveness in high-stakes environments, including its impact on decision quality, stress, and organizational outcomes. |
| Attention, Consciousness & Strategic Judgment | Explore the role of attention and conscious awareness in shaping strategic thinking, including how selective perception influences organizational decision-making. |
| Non-Conscious Processing & Bias | Analyze how non-conscious neural activity contributes to cognitive bias, influencing leadership behavior, judgment, and institutional decision processes. |
| Neuroscience-Informed Coaching | Develop frameworks for executive coaching grounded in neuroscientific insight, enhancing self-awareness, behavioral change, and leadership development. |
| Emotional Regulation & Leadership Effectiveness | Examine the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying emotional control and their impact on leadership performance, communication, and decision-making. |
| Cognitive Frameworks in Organizational Change | Investigate how cognitive models influence organizational transformation, including resistance to change, adaptation, and behavioral alignment. |
What You Will Archieve
The PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience is designed to cultivate the intellectual maturity, neuroscientific literacy, and reflective analytical capacity required of advanced researchers and scholarly practitioners operating at the intersection of brain science and leadership. The outcomes below represent the core developmental achievements candidates typically gain through the program’s structured, mentor-supported progression.
| Advanced Neuroscientific Literacy | Develop a critical understanding of cognitive and organizational neuroscience, including neural processes related to attention, consciousness, language, and decision-making in managerial contexts. |
| Interpretive & Meta-Analytical Research Mastery | Acquire advanced competencies in interpretive research, meta-analysis, and theoretical synthesis, enabling the integration of neuroscientific findings with lived organizational experience. |
| Decision-Making & Cognitive Insight | Develop the ability to critically evaluate how conscious and non-conscious neural processes influence judgment, leadership behavior, and strategic decision-making within complex environments. |
| Original Theoretical Contribution | Produce a rigorous and defensible theoretical contribution that advances understanding at the intersection of neuroscience, leadership, and organizational inquiry. |
| Ethical & Human-Centred Analysis | Examine the ethical, social, and organizational implications of neuroscientific insights, particularly in relation to governance, responsibility, and the human dimensions of management. |
| Advanced Academic Writing | Develop high-level academic writing skills enabling the production of coherent, analytically rigorous, and publication-ready research grounded in interdisciplinary scholarship. |
| Theory–Practice Integration | Synthesize professional experience with neuroscientific and scholarly insight, enhancing the practical relevance and explanatory depth of research in leadership and organizational contexts. |
| Scholarly Identity & Thought Leadership | Cultivate intellectual independence and reflective authority, enabling engagement as a thought leader contributing to academic discourse, coaching practice, and institutional development. |
Together, these developmental achievements provide the intellectual foundation, interdisciplinary perspective, and reflective maturity required to complete the doctoral dissertation and contribute meaningfully to the evolving dialogue between neuroscience and management.
Program Structure of the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience
The doctoral journey follows a clearly defined structure that reflects the intellectual and developmental progression of advanced research at the intersection of neuroscience, cognition, and organizational inquiry. The sequence of phases aligns with the research competencies articulated in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) for advanced doctoral study, supporting the development of high-level analytical reasoning, interdisciplinary integration, and independent scholarly contribution.
Each phase builds intentionally upon the last, guiding candidates from the acquisition of core methodological and theoretical competencies in cognitive and organizational neuroscience to the formulation of a research agenda grounded in contemporary scientific and philosophical debates. This progression culminates in the execution of disciplined inquiry and the formal defense of a doctoral manuscript that contributes meaningfully to both academic knowledge and professional practice.
Within this framework, candidates are progressively trained to interpret neuroscientific concepts, such as: attention, consciousness, neural processing, and decision-making—within organizational and leadership contexts. Emphasis is placed not only on understanding these processes, but on critically examining their implications for governance, human behavior, and institutional effectiveness. This ensures that research remains both scientifically informed and contextually relevant.
Methodologically, the program integrates Monarch’s Standard Research Methodology with interdisciplinary perspectives drawn from cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and organizational studies. Candidates develop the capacity to engage in interpretive analysis, meta-analytic reasoning, and theoretically grounded inquiry, while also identifying when and how empirical or experimental insights may inform their research design. The structured progression ensures increasing levels of conceptual clarity, explanatory depth, and methodological precision throughout the doctoral journey.
While academically rigorous, the program maintains flexibility appropriate for experienced professionals and scholar-practitioners. Candidates advance through a series of defined learning and research milestones, each supported by faculty mentors and reinforced through research workshops, designed to cultivate intellectual independence while maintaining consistent academic oversight. This balance allows candidates to remain engaged in their professional environments while pursuing advanced doctoral research.
Institutional review and academic guidance are embedded throughout all phases of the program, ensuring that each stage of development meets Monarch’s standards of scholarly excellence. Candidates are expected to demonstrate increasing autonomy in their research, culminating in a doctoral contribution that reflects both scientific insight and reflective interpretation of human behavior in organizational contexts.
The following phases outline the academic framework of the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience, presenting a clear and structured pathway from foundational preparation through to advanced inquiry, manuscript development, and final defense of the doctoral degree.
Preparatory Phase
The Preparatory Phase establishes the intellectual and methodological foundation for doctoral study, equipping candidates with the competencies required for advanced research at the intersection of neuroscience and organizational inquiry. During this stage, candidates complete a series of Research Skills courses designed to develop both analytical rigor and conceptual clarity in approaching complex human and organizational phenomena.
These courses introduce candidates to research design, qualitative and interpretive methodologies, academic writing, critical thinking, and the philosophy of science, while also providing orientation to the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive and organizational neuroscience. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how neuroscientific concepts—such as cognition, attention, and decision-making can be interpreted within broader organizational and leadership contexts.
The Preparatory Phase also fosters the development of critical awareness in engaging with scientific and theoretical literature. Candidates learn to evaluate sources across disciplines, including management studies, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience, and to position their thinking within ongoing academic debates. This stage is essential in preparing candidates to move beyond descriptive understanding toward reflective, theory-informed inquiry.
By the conclusion of this phase, candidates will have developed the methodological competence, academic discipline, and conceptual grounding necessary to formulate a coherent and viable doctoral research proposal aligned with Monarch’s standards of scholarly rigor.
Proposal Phase
Building upon the foundation established in the Preparatory Phase, candidates enter the Proposal Phase, where they begin the formal design of their doctoral research within the domain of organizational and cognitive neuroscience. At this stage, candidates move from conceptual orientation to the structured articulation of a research agenda that integrates neuroscientific insight with organizational and leadership inquiry.
Under the guidance of a advising professor, candidates participate in the Research Proposal Perfecting Module, an individualized mentorship process aimed at refining the scope, coherence, and academic rigor of the proposed study. Particular emphasis is placed on the formulation of a clear and viable research question, the integration of interdisciplinary literature: including: cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and management theory, and the justification of an appropriate methodological approach aligned with Monarch’s Standard Research Methodology.
Candidates are also required to articulate the theoretical, philosophical, and ethical dimensions of their research. This includes clarifying how neuroscientific concepts, such as: consciousness, neural processing, and decision-making, are being interpreted within the context of human behavior, leadership, and organizational systems. Careful attention is given to defining the boundaries of inquiry, including assumptions, limitations, and the practical “doability” of the research within the scope of the doctoral program.
The Proposal Phase culminates in the formal submission and academic review of the Research Proposal. Upon approval by the Administration, candidates transition from structured coursework into the independent research stage of the doctoral journey, having established a clear, defensible, and methodologically sound foundation for their inquiry.
Research Phase
The Research Phase marks the transition from proposal design to active inquiry, where candidates engage directly with the investigation of cognitive and organizational phenomena. Under faculty supervision, candidates implement their approved research design, conducting fieldwork, interpretive analyses, case-based inquiry, or theoretically grounded investigations appropriate to their chosen methodological approach.
This stage emphasizes disciplined execution and reflective engagement, ensuring that the interpretation of data, whether experiential, conceptual, or informed by interdisciplinary sources, remains closely aligned with the research objectives. In the context of organizational and cognitive neuroscience, candidates are encouraged to critically examine how neural processes, cognition, and behavior intersect within leadership, decision-making, and organizational environments.
Throughout this phase, candidates continue developing the first three chapters of their dissertation, refining the theoretical framework, literature review, and methodological positioning in light of emerging insights. Particular attention is given to maintaining coherence between neuroscientific concepts and their application to human and organizational realities, ensuring that interpretations remain both scientifically informed and contextually meaningful.
The Research Phase culminates in the completion of fieldwork and preliminary analysis, establishing the empirical and conceptual foundation upon which the final doctoral manuscript will be constructed.
Fieldwork Phase
The Fieldwork Phase represents a critical bridge between the conceptual design of the research and the final synthesis presented in the doctoral dissertation. At this stage, candidates move beyond preparatory inquiry into the structured execution of their research within real-world organizational and professional contexts.
Building upon the approved research proposal and initial analytical groundwork developed during the Research Phase, candidates engage directly with the phenomena under investigation. Depending on the nature of the study, this may include interviews, case-based inquiry, observational analysis, or reflective professional engagement. The emphasis is placed on capturing lived experience and examining how cognitive and neural processes manifest within leadership, decision-making, and organizational environments.
Within the context of Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience, the Fieldwork Phase plays a particularly important role in translating theoretical and neuroscientific constructs into meaningful interpretive insight. Candidates are expected to critically explore how concepts such as attention, consciousness, and non-conscious processing are expressed in practice, ensuring that their research remains grounded, relevant, and methodologically sound.
This stage requires disciplined execution and ongoing reflective analysis. Candidates refine their analytical lens as insights emerge, while maintaining coherence between their theoretical framework, methodological approach, and empirical observations. Careful attention is given to ethical considerations, data integrity, and the practical feasibility of the research process.
The Fieldwork Stage culminates in the completion of data collection and the development of a structured analytical foundation. This foundation serves as the basis for the Dissertation Phase, where findings are synthesized, interpreted, and articulated into a coherent and original scholarly contribution.
Dissertation Phase
The Dissertation Phase represents the synthesis of the entire doctoral journey, where candidates consolidate their research into a coherent and original scholarly contribution at the intersection of neuroscience, cognition, and organizational inquiry. Drawing on findings developed during the Research Phase, as well as the evolving theoretical and interdisciplinary framework, candidates complete the final chapters of the dissertation: presenting analysis, discussion, and conclusions that demonstrate intellectual depth, methodological rigor, and originality of thought.
At this stage, particular emphasis is placed on the integration of neuroscientific concepts with organizational and leadership contexts. Candidates are expected to articulate how their research contributes to a more refined understanding of cognitive processes, such as: attention, consciousness, and decision-making, and their implications for human behavior within institutional environments.
The Dissertation Phase also involves a comprehensive review and integration of earlier work, ensuring that the manuscript reflects full coherence between theoretical positioning, research design, and interpretive analysis. This includes revisiting assumptions, refining conceptual clarity, and strengthening the explanatory framework in light of the research findings.
The outcome is a doctoral dissertation that contributes meaningfully to academic discourse while reflecting the candidate’s development as an independent and reflective researcher. Upon completion of the manuscript, candidates proceed to the Presentation Phase, where they formally present and defend their work before the academic or review committee.
Presentation Stage
The final phase of the doctoral program culminates in the Viva Voce, the formal oral defense of the dissertation before the Academic Committee. This stage represents the candidate’s ability to clearly articulate and critically defend their research findings, methodological choices, and theoretical contributions within the broader context of neuroscience, organizational studies, and established scholarship.
In the context of Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience, candidates are expected to demonstrate not only conceptual clarity but also the capacity to explain complex relationships between neural processes, cognition, and human behavior in organizational settings. This includes the ability to justify interpretive frameworks, respond to interdisciplinary critique, and situate their work within ongoing scientific and philosophical debates.
To support this process, candidates complete a Defense Preparation Course, which provides structured guidance in synthesizing complex research arguments, engaging with academic critique, and communicating the relevance of their work to both scholarly and professional audiences. Emphasis is placed on clarity of expression, intellectual coherence, and the ability to translate advanced research into meaningful insight.
Successful completion of the Viva Voce marks the culmination of the doctoral journey and the formal conferral of the PhD, recognizing the candidate’s achievement as an independent researcher and contributor to the evolving dialogue between neuroscience and management.
The structured progression of the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience ensures that each candidate develops the full range of scholarly, analytical, and interdisciplinary competencies expected of an advanced doctoral researcher. By the conclusion of the program, candidates demonstrate mastery of independent inquiry, critical interpretation, and the ability to integrate neuroscientific insight with organizational and leadership contexts. They contribute original perspectives to the evolving dialogue between brain science and management, while embodying Monarch Switzerland’s commitment to ethical reflection, human-centred research, and the advancement of responsible, evidence-informed leadership.
Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway (Optional Extension)
For candidates whose academic and professional ambitions extend beyond the completion of a single doctoral manuscript, Monarch offers the option to progress from the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience into a Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway in combination with the Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management (DANM).
This pathway is designed for individuals who seek not only to advance theoretical understanding of cognitive neuroscience in leadership and organizational contexts, but also to translate these insights into applied practice. It reflects Monarch’s philosophy that rigorous research and professional application are complementary stages in the development of advanced scholarly practitioners working in areas such as leadership development, executive coaching, and decision-making science.
The dual pathway is structured sequentially. The PhD dissertation establishes a robust theoretical and interpretive foundation grounded in neuroscientific approaches to human behavior, cognition, and organizational dynamics. Upon completion, candidates extend this work into a second applied doctoral manuscript within the DANM, focusing on the practical application of neuroscience in management—particularly in areas such as leadership decision-making, cognitive performance, behavioral insight, and organizational effectiveness.
Candidates are not required to satisfy two doctoral standards simultaneously. Rather, the PhD serves as the intellectual anchor, while the DANM provides the applied extension—allowing for the development of frameworks, models, and professional tools that emerge directly from original research in cognitive and organizational neuroscience.
Entry into the Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway is subject to academic review and is recommended for candidates who demonstrate strong research capability, conceptual clarity, and the capacity for sustained doctoral-level inquiry across both theoretical and applied domains.
Learn more about the Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway → (link)
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Program Delivery & Admissions
- Delivery Mode: Online / Hybrid
- Format: Flexible / Asynchronous
- Admissions: Rolling Admissions
- Start Date: 1st of Each Month
- Pace: Standard & Extended Paths
- On-Site Workshops: Optional
- Location: Switzerland
Academic Foundations of the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience
The PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience at Monarch is grounded in rigorous scholarly inquiry at the intersection of neuroscience, cognition, and leadership, emphasizing original contribution, methodological integrity, and reflective engagement with complex human and organizational phenomena.
| • | Milestone-based doctoral framework supporting independent and interdisciplinary scholarly inquiry |
| • | Requirement for original theoretical contribution integrating neuroscience and organizational research |
| • | Structured Fieldwork Stage bridging theoretical design and real-world inquiry |
| • | Integrated M.Phil. (Master-in-Passing) in Business Research as the foundation of doctoral training |
| • | Multi-advisor supervision model supported by research workshops and academic mentorship |
| • | Emphasis on ethical, human-centred, and reflective scholarship in leadership and decision-making |
| • | Participation in Monarch’s global research community and scholarly dialogue in neuroscience and management |
Flexible Doctoral Structure for Professional Scholars
Monarch’s doctoral programs are intentionally designed for working professionals, combining academic rigor with a flexible, hybrid study structure that supports sustained progress and successful completion.
| • | Designed specifically for working professionals balancing full-time responsibilities |
| • | Hybrid doctoral modality: primarily remote study with optional on-campus scholarly workshops |
| • | Rolling admission with no fixed start dates |
| • | Milestone-based progression rather than semester lockstep |
| • | Ongoing remote access to academic supervision and research platforms |
| • | Extended duration (part-time) pathways with reduced periodic tuition |
| • | Continuation periods @50% fees available when additional time is required. |
Open Research Domains
| • | Monarch welcomes doctoral research across all professional and academic domains. Candidates are not limited to predefined topics or subject lists. |
| • | Your research interest whether emerging, interdisciplinary, or highly specialised will be developed, refined, and academically aligned during the Research Proposal phase. |
| • | Faculty mentorship ensures that your chosen domain supports both doctoral-level rigor and professional relevance, enabling a high-impact applied or theoretical contribution. |
Program Features
The PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience at Monarch Switzerland is designed to provide both intellectual depth and interdisciplinary relevance at the intersection of neuroscience, cognition, and leadership. The program’s features reflect Monarch’s commitment to individualized mentorship, academic rigor, and the integration of scientific insight with real-world organizational practice within a flexible structure suited to working professionals.
Each element of the program is intentionally designed to support the development of independent research capability, neuroscientific literacy, and reflective analytical thinking. Emphasis is placed on understanding human behavior through both scientific and interpretive lenses, ensuring that candidates are equipped to engage critically with emerging research in cognitive neuroscience while contributing meaningfully to leadership, decision-making, and organizational effectiveness.
| Scholarly Focus | The PhD emphasizes original contribution to knowledge at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, leadership, and organizational behavior, with a focus on advancing theoretical understanding of decision-making, consciousness, and human cognition in management contexts. |
| Faculty Supervision | Candidates benefit from a structured supervision model combining faculty mentorship and research workshops. Rather than relying on a single-supervisor approach, candidates engage with multiple academic advisors throughout the program, gaining diverse perspectives that strengthen methodological rigor, interdisciplinary insight, and scholarly development. |
| Flexible Structure | The milestone-based format accommodates working professionals, allowing candidates to progress at a manageable pace while maintaining professional commitments in leadership, coaching, or organizational roles. |
| Research Phase | During the research phase, candidates engage in sustained inquiry and critical reflection that connects neuroscientific theory to organizational practice. The program encourages exploration of how cognitive and neural processes influence leadership behavior, decision-making, and institutional dynamics, while promoting engagement with contemporary research through publication, conferences, and scholarly dialogue. This ensures that doctoral work remains both scientifically informed and contextually relevant. |
| Dual-Degree Framework | The program incorporates Monarch’s integrated degree structure, recognizing progression and completion through the Master-in-Passing (M.Phil.) in Business Research and Master-in-Exit (M.Phil.) pathways. This structure acknowledges mastery of research design, analytical reasoning, and interdisciplinary synthesis developed throughout the doctoral journey. |
| Global Research Access | Candidates gain access to Monarch’s international scholarly community, digital research resources, and doctoral mentorship network, supporting global engagement in research related to neuroscience, leadership, and organizational studies. |
Together, these features embody Monarch Switzerland’s philosophy of doctoral education: one that unites scholarly independence with intellectual discipline, interdisciplinary insight, and ethical purpose. Candidates emerge not only as researchers capable of producing original knowledge at the intersection of neuroscience and management, but as reflective scholar-practitioners equipped to influence leadership, decision-making, and organizational thought on a global scale.
Master-in-Passing
The PhD in Organiztional & Cognitive Neuroscience at Monarch Switzerland incorporates a flexible and academically rigorous framework that recognizes both progression and completion through the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Business Research. The M.Phil. serves as an integral element of the doctoral journey, reflecting Monarch’s commitment to accessibility, progression, and academic integrity within advanced management research.
Master-in-Passing (Default Award)
Candidates who successfully complete all doctoral requirements are automatically granted the M.Phil. in Business Research in passing upon conferral of the PhD. This recognizes mastery of research design, theoretical framing, and analytical competence achieved throughout the doctoral program, and affirms the integrated nature of Monarch’s dual-degree structure.
Master-in-Exit (Terminal Award)
Candidates who wish conclude their studies prior to the completion of the PhD program for personal, professional, or research-related reasons may qualify for the M.Phil. as a terminal award by submitting a completed five-chapter master’s thesis. The M.Phil. in this form does not require an original contribution to knowledge, distinguishing it clearly from the doctoral award. Rather, it represents a complete and academically defensible qualification that affirms the candidate’s ability to conduct structured research and engage critically with management scholarship at a high level.
Through both the Master-in-Passing and Master-in-Exit pathways, Monarch Switzerland ensures that every candidate’s academic effort culminates in a meaningful qualification. This dual structure reflects Monarch’s commitment to combining scholarly excellence with human understanding, recognizing the diverse ways in which individuals contribute to the advancement of management knowledge.
Program Research Philosophy
The PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience at Monarch emphasizes independent scholarly inquiry at the intersection of neuroscience, cognition, and leadership, grounded in the European tradition of critical reflection and theoretical contribution. Candidates are encouraged to explore how neural processes, consciousness, and human behavior shape decision-making and organizational life, moving beyond purely technical or reductionist interpretations of the brain.
Doctoral research at Monarch values intellectual autonomy, methodological rigor, and interpretive depth. Candidates are supported in developing a distinctive scholarly voice—one capable of integrating neuroscientific insight with reflective analysis of lived experience, contributing to a more human-centred and ethically grounded understanding of leadership and management.
Admission & Entry Requirements
Admission to the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience is selective and based on academic preparation, professional experience, and demonstrated research potential. Applicants must normally hold a recognized master’s degree or equivalent qualification and show capacity for independent, critical inquiry. Prior research or publication experience is advantageous but not required.
Experienced managers and professionals holding a bachelor’s degree may also be considered for admission upon the recommendation of the Dean, where their professional achievements and leadership record are deemed to provide sufficient equivalence for doctoral-level study.
Applications are reviewed by the Academic Board to ensure alignment between proposed research areas and Monarch’s supervisory expertise. Candidates are expected to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, maturity, and a clear sense of purpose in pursuing advanced scholarly inquiry.
Tuition for the PhD in Organiztional & Cognitive Neuroscience
All doctoral programs at Monarch Switzerland follow a milestone-based structure designed to support the research, writing, and analytical demands of advanced scholarly inquiry. Tuition is assessed on a quarterly basis for the duration of the candidate’s active registration, ensuring uninterrupted access to supervisory guidance, academic resources, and institutional support throughout the research process.
Extended Duration (Part-Time) Study with Reduced Periodic Tuition
Candidates may elect to pursue the PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience through an extended duration (part-time) study pathway, which results in reduced monthly or quarterly tuition payments compared to the standard full-time study timeline, as total program tuition is distributed over a longer period. This option is designed for candidates balancing doctoral research with professional responsibilities, while maintaining full academic standing, identical supervision standards, and the same degree outcomes as the standard pathway.
Under the standard full-time study timeline (36 months), tuition is payable at €3,250 per quarter, with an optional monthly payment arrangement of €1,083 to support financial planning. Candidates electing the extended duration (part-time) pathway (60 months) benefit from a proportionally lower tuition structure, with quarterly payments of €1,950 or a monthly equivalent of €650, while retaining uninterrupted access to supervisory and institutional services.
Continuation Periods With Reduced Fees
Candidates who require additional time beyond the standard (36 months) or extended (60 months) study timelines may continue their registration under Monarch’s continuation policy, assessed annually at 50% of the regular tuition rate. This framework preserves academic standing and uninterrupted access to supervisors, research platforms, and administrative services while allowing candidates the necessary time to complete their dissertation responsibly and at an achievable pace.
Detailed information regarding billing cycles, payment procedures, and administrative policies is provided in the official Application and Information Package, available upon request.
The global tuition table for all programs may be viewed here.
Who Should Apply
The PhD in Organizational & Cognitive Neuroscience welcomes reflective professionals and academics who seek to deepen their understanding of human cognition, decision-making, and leadership within organizational contexts. The program is designed for individuals who wish to integrate scientific insight with lived experience and contribute to the evolving dialogue between neuroscience and management.
| • | Senior executives and leaders seeking deeper insight into decision-making and cognitive performance |
| • | Executive coaches and consultants integrating neuroscience into leadership development and practice |
| • | Academics and researchers pursuing interdisciplinary inquiry across neuroscience, psychology, and management |
| • | Professionals in HR, leadership development, and organizational design exploring human-centred approaches to performance |
| • | NGO / IGO professionals engaged in governance, policy, and behavioral insight at institutional levels |
| • | Scholars committed to ethical, reflective, and human-centred research in leadership and decision-making |
Doctoral Graduate Profiles
Dr. Louise Delaney – Ireland
PhD in Business Research – Doctor of Leadership
Dr. Louise Delaney entered the doctoral program with more than twenty years of senior management experience in the multinational technology sector in Ireland. Her background includes leading high-performance sales, operations, and innovation teams within major U.S. technology subsidiaries—experience that provided a strong foundation for a research inquiry focused on leadership culture as a mediating factor influencing innovation in complex, fast-moving environments. Her dissertation, “Leadership Culture as an Antecedent to Innovation: A Qualitative Study of American Multinational Technology Subsidiaries in Ireland (2020–2024)”, employed interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the lived experiences of leaders navigating innovation expectations under shifting organisational and global conditions.
The study integrated both primary and secondary data and articulated a multi-layered framework of structural, cultural, and adaptive enablers that support innovation capacity within U.S. technology subsidiaries operating in Ireland. Dr. Delaney’s research provides subsidiary leaders with a diagnostic tool to assess innovation readiness, offering clear guidance on how leadership culture can either catalyse or constrain innovation performance—insights that are increasingly vital as Ireland continues to position itself as a strategic hub for technology inward investment.
Drawing on her doctoral findings, Dr. Delaney now advises multinational subsidiary organisations on cultivating innovation cultures in the post-pandemic era, focusing on lived-experience data gathered directly from leaders in the field. Her work helps strengthen subsidiary thought-leadership and future-proof leadership practices amid height.
Dr. Renier Krige – South Africa
PhD in Organisational Dynamics
Dr. Renier Krige entered the PhD in Organisational Dynamics program with over two decades of executive and consulting experience across multiple sectors, including energy, aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. His extensive background in organisational development, human capital strategy, and performance architecture provided a strong foundation for a research inquiry centred on the behavioural and structural dynamics driving brand loyalty within complex multi-national environments. His dissertation— titled “Organisational Dynamics: The Impact of Human Capital in Creating Brand Loyalty in a Multi-National Agricultural Context”—employed a mixed-methods design that integrated primary and secondary data analysis, reflecting Monarch’s emphasis on scholarship grounded in lived organisational experience.
His study articulated a nuanced understanding of how organisational dynamics enable human capital capabilities to contribute to brand loyalty—particularly within the context of perishable agricultural goods—while offering clear insights into leadership behaviour, capability development, and strategic alignment.
Dr. Krige continues his professional work UniFruiti SA, where he advises organisations on executive talent management, human capital frameworks, organisational diagnostics, and performance navigation. The doctoral research enriches his practice by providing a refined theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding how human capital systems interact with organisational structures to shape stakeholder perceptions and brand outcomes. His trajectory exemplifies Monarch’s commitment to producing reflective scholar-practitioners capable of both intellectual and organisational influence.