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Frequently asked questions on professional doctorates

What is a professional doctorate?

It is a doctoral research degree, equivalent in status and challenge to a PhD. It comprises a minimum of four years part-time study and allows you to use the title 'Dr'. The nine awards are:

  • Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy (DCP)
  • Doctor of Health Care (DHC)
  • Doctor of Health Promotion (DHP)
  • Doctor of Midwifery (DMid)
  • Doctor of Nursing (DNursing)
  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOccT)
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (DPharm)
  • Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
  • Doctor of Podiatry (DPod)

The professional doctorate programme offers you the advantage of multi-professional peer support throughout your studies. Regular study days will use seminars and workshops to explore issues of scholarly and research interest, and also provide time for action learning set meetings and personal supervision.

See staff supervisor areas of expertise:

What would a professional doctorate do for me?

The professional doctorate in health and social care is a programme of research-based professional development for experienced health and social care practitioners, managers and academics.

The aims of the programme are to enable you to:

  1. gain a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an area of professional practice
  2. develop the ability to critically evaluate and challenge, in an innovative, substantive and original manner, current professional health and social care policies and practice;
  3. conceptualise, design and implement a research study for the generation of new knowledge, application or understanding at the forefront of the profession, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems
  4. gain a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and practice-based enquiry
  5. make an original contribution to practice knowledge that extends the forefront of the discipline and merits publication
  6. disseminate research outcomes clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences to inform innovation and better ways of working within their professions, and foster research activity;
  7. continue to undertake and lead on practice-based research and development at an advanced level, contributing to the development of professional knowledge and practice for the benefit of their clients.

On successful completion of the professional doctorate programme you will be able to:

  1. examine their professional knowledge, attitudes and skills through questioning, critical reflection and debate;
  2. critically evaluate innovations and policy initiatives affecting professional practice in general and specific contexts;
  3. design and use methodologies appropriate for use in the work-based setting;
  4. respond ethically, reflexively and reflectively to their role in the research process;
  5. inform the practice of their own profession with the best of current knowledge and practice in their discipline;
  6. provide an original and innovative contribution to the knowledge base of their professional discipline;
  7. contribute to the advancement of practice within their areas of professional responsibility, through dissemination of their work, and the planned implementation of change;
  8. provide professional leadership and to model autonomous research practice within their own discipline.

What does 'doctoral level' mean?

Research-based study at doctoral level is expected to lead to the generation of original knowledge, and this implies a greater intolerance of closure and resolution of issues and controversies, and a correspondingly higher level of tolerance for complexity and uncertainty. We would expect, for example:

  • Compared to work at masters level, a keener and more critical reading of research literature with the ability to differentiate and evaluate between competing schools of thought;
  • The capacity to bring to bear multiple perspectives for understanding professional issues (e.g. political, ethical, cognitive, historical, methodological);
  • A view of professional practice as merely the temporary resolution of competing demands and needs;
  • A view which suggests that we have a temporary 'lease' on professional knowledge, rather than control over it;
  • A sense of intellectual curiosity and an acceptance of change.

If this sounds a bit daunting, remember you will be ably guided by two experienced supervisors.

Who will I be studying with?

A central feature of this programme is that you will be studying with students from a broad range of healthcare backgrounds. The group experience provides opportunities to learn about your practice through close comparison with other professionals.

How much time will I need to find?

You will need to allocate approximately 15 hours for study each week throughout the programme. In addition, you will need to allocate time for supervisory meetings and module attendance at the university. Supervision meetings often use a mix of face to face, skype and teleconferencing. Throughout the programme, you will attend and present at the two-day annual doctoral student conference. Obtaining study leave from work will significantly ease the burden of finding all this time.

Do I need a research topic to start the course?

Yes! You will need to come with an idea of what you would like to research. This initial idea may well alter as you move through the programme.

What are additional costs on top of course fees?

You may need to consider travel and accommodation costs for attendance at the university for modules, study days, supervision and for the annual conference. There will be additional costs to support your studies for books, reprographics, tape recorders, travel and subsistence, printing and binding of your thesis, etc.

What are the fees?

The fees for this part-time course for home and international students can be found on the Doctoral College tuition fees page.

 

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