Health Science

We aim to prepare healthcare professionals to contribute to the science and practical development of healthcare services. Graduates are expected to be able to:

• Synthesise knowledge from the health sciences and other academic disciplines for application in a substantive specialised practice area of a healthcare profession;
• Design, conduct and direct research studies in the specialised area;
• Analyse and evaluate concepts, theories and models that are related to health practices from different perspectives;
• Disseminate knowledge through scholarly publication, formal teaching and the provision of expert mentoring and vision for the substantive specialised area; and 
• Integrate knowledge and use evidence to influence health policy and decision-making through collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts at the organisational, local and national levels.

PolyU is the first local university to initiate this professional doctoral programme, which is at the highest level of healthcare education. Unlike many traditional PhD programmes that focus on research, the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) is a professional doctoral programme with a primary focus on the practice of the profession. The programme prepares experienced healthcare professionals to further develop their competence for leadership roles in advanced professional practice or for clinical-track faculty membership. The DHSc is recognised as a terminal professional degree for the healthcare discipline, and graduates have earned the right to use the title of 'Dr' before their names. The mixed-mode study pattern provides flexibility for students to engage in a full- or part-time study load.

The programme covers 8 Doctoral Subjects, including 4 Compulsory Subjects and 4 Elective Subjects, and a Doctoral Thesis. The Compulsory Subjects aim to provide students with a core foundation in healthcare concept analysis, research and knowledge translation within the reality of the ethical-sociological-economic context of healthcare provision.

The Elective options and the Doctoral Thesis allow students to develop an individualised programme of study for acquiring, appraising, synthesising and applying knowledge in a substantive specialised area. The mentored research experience serves to strengthen students' skills in the conduct of disciplinary enquiry.

Candidates are required to complete the coursework requirement with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above and a Doctoral Thesis to be eligible for the award of Doctor of Health Science.

Students can choose to graduate with the following awards/specialisms:

• Doctor of Health Science (generic award)
• Doctor of Health Science (Medical Imaging and Radiation Science) 
• Doctor of Health Science (Medical Laboratory Science)
• Doctor of Health Science (Nursing)
• Doctor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy)
• Doctor of Health Science (Optometry) 
• Doctor of Health Science (Physiotherapy)
• Doctor of Health Science (Prosthetics and Orthotics)

To be eligible for the specialism concerned, students should complete a thesis related to that specialism plus a 3-credit specialty subject. Furthermore, they should hold a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree in a relevant discipline or possess professional qualification in a relevant discipline to fulfil the registration requirements of certain professions.

Compulsory Subjects

• Concept Analysis in Health Care
• Health Care Ethics
• Advanced Quantitative Methods
• Health Economics or Issues in Health Sociology 

Elective Subjects

• Advanced Statistics in Health Care Research
• Advanced Methods in Qualitative Health Care Research
• Advanced Study in Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Information Technology in Health Care
• Evidence Based Practice
• Independent Study in a Substantive Specialty
• Gender and Health
• Health and Social Policy Analysis
• Health Systems: Management and Organization
• Pain Management: A Multidimensional Approach
• Other Elective Options (e.g. specialty subjects, or subjects offered by PolyU's other professional doctoral and postgraduate programmes subject to the approval of the Programme Leader)

Requirements

• A Master's degree in a health-related discipline or the equivalent; 
  AND
• At least 5 years of substantial professional health care experience.
• If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purpose. 
• Transcript / Certificate

Scholarships

• Research studentship with a stipend of HK$15,000 per month (subject to revision) for full-time research students based on academic merit (subject to the decision of the Department) 
• One extra year of studentship for students with outstanding academic performance 
• Tuition scholarships for students with outstanding academic records