StudyQA — PhD: Doctorate Professional Studies

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Description

This interprofessional course enables experienced professionals from all areas of health, social care, biomedical science and sport and exercise science to focus on their specific research interests and gain a professional doctorate award.

Professional doctorates are equivalent to PhDs but focus on the development of professional practice and suit the needs of experienced professionals.

Advanced level clinical, scientific and practice leaders are needed in all professional groups. These leaders need to be able to provide examples of excellence in their own fields, as well as communicating and collaborating effectively with other professions.

The professional areas of health, social care, biomedical science, and sport and exercise science interact and overlap in increasingly productive ways. In these areas the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice means that professionals need a sophisticated and critical understanding of a range of research methods and outputs.
You need the research skills to develop and use appropriate methodologies in your own areas of practice, as well as an understanding of the research perspectives of the professional areas you interact with.

This programme is supported by four of our research centres. They are

* Centre for Health and Social Care Research
* Biomedical Research Centre
* Centre for Sport and Exercise Science
* Sport Industry Research Centre

Professional doctorates are research degrees, like PhDs, but designed to develop your ability to work at the highest academic level in an applied professional context. They are more likely to include research into aspects of professional practice.

Modules

Review of professional learning and experience

This first module prepares and supports you for the doctorate. It challenges you to critically examine your past learning and experience, your current capabilities and your readiness for doctoral study. You consider your existing skill and knowledge base, and plan for your further academic and professional development. You also demonstrate how your objectives will be achieved through professional, academic and organisational activities.

Research for the working world

This enables you to explore, at some depth, aspects of the methodological, epistemological, organisational, practical and ethical issues associated with research at doctoral level. You are challenged out of your comfort zone of familiar perspectives on research, and critically engage with diverse approaches to research that other health and wellbeing professional groups and academic disciplines adopt.

Project planning 1 - literature review

In this module you develop a critical understanding and present a review of the theory, evidence and discourse within your chosen research area. If appropriate, we encourage you to submit this review of literature for publication in an academic journal.

Project planning 2-epistemology, research design and method

This allows you to develop your criticality and understanding of paradigms and methods relevant to your specific research interest. You justify a choice of paradigms and methods for your research project, and actively and reflectively engage with piloting your chosen data collection and analysis methods.

Critical professional practice and development

Throughout the four years of the professional doctorate you compile a portfolio of evidence of reflective advanced level professional practice. The format and structure of this portfolio may be influenced by guidelines and requirements of your professional body. Selected elements of this portfolio, including a critical commentary demonstrating doctoral level learning outcomes, are submitted for summative assessment at the end of four years.

Doctoral project

This requires you to take responsibility for the identification, implementation and management of a significant project of research or professional enquiry. You achieve new knowledge and identify innovative solutions to complex issues related to professional or organisational practice and development. Your project is written up and the project report will be examined, through submission and viva-voce exam.

Requirements

For entry to this course you need

* a masters degree from a subject in health or social care. Applicants with other academic or professional qualifications are considered individually on their merits. In such cases relevant academic and work experience, previous experience or training in research, or other experience that shows you are likely to be successful is taken into consideration.

* at least 3 years relevant professional experience. You should work in health or social care in the public, voluntary or private sectors to allow you to do work-based projects.

* to demonstrate your ability to manage your own learning, and the capacity to contribute to and benefit from the doctoral programme. You do this through interview, completion of application form and submission of a 2000 word rationale.

* access to the internet and email in order to fully benefit from the electronic means of support.

* you are advised to have an identified work-based supporter

* If English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability, to the following (or equivalent) minimum level of proficiency: an IELTS score of 7.0 and/or a TOEFL score of 620 (paper-based exercise) or 260 (computer-based exercise)

English Language Requirements

IELTS band: 7 TOEFL paper-based test score : 620

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa.

The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.