Professional Doctorate in Health, Education and Society
5 Years Part-Time | January Start

This Professional Doctorate in Health, Education & Society is a research rich, experientially focused advanced qualification. As such, our teaching places an emphasis on developing you into a well-informed and autonomous learner, who can make sound judgements relating to practice within your professional domain.

 You will spend the first two years in structured teaching before going on to carry out your research with the guidance of our teaching and supervision staff.

In Year 1 you will be introduced to the academic literacies required to perform successfully in higher education, such as research methodologies and knowledge construction. This will instil you with confidence when it comes to research and critical thinking.

In Year 2, you will be given greater flexibility with the opportunity to engage in the practicalities of research project design. You will further develop your critical thinking skills and be encouraged to take responsibility for your own study by developing your research project idea.

In years 3, 4 & 5, you will capitalise on the academic experiences of the previous two years, synthesizing your learning and experience to conduct a research project and produce a thesis of 55 - 60,000 words. This capstone assignment will demonstrate autonomous learning, academic rigour, self-directed purpose, and intellectual ambition.

Each module is assessed against clearly defined learning outcomes. In many assessments, you can customise the topic towards your specific area of interest. 

Assessment methods include a peer presentation, poster presentation (individual), stakeholder workshops with a Q&A, and a written literature review.

Full details on the modules for each year of the programme can be found below.

The teaching team on this course consists of qualified educators and practitioners, who boast extensive experience, research and knowledge in a variety of contexts across Health, Education and Society. Each will bring their expertise to the classroom to enhance your learning experience.

With many years’ experience supporting professional doctorate students, our expert team will be there as a support through every step of the programme, ensuring students leave with confidence and a full understanding of policy and practice as it relates to their profession.

A personal tutor and a supervisor, with appropriate experience and expertise, will support you through your post graduate research (PGR) project. Tutorial support will be available during each module, should you wish to use it.

The course is based at Coach Lane Campus, where you will have access to broad range of learning resources including lectures, seminars and workshops directly informed by practitioners. Additional facilities include a high-performance Sports Centre, Students’ Union, Library and IT suites.

You will have access to our CITY CAMPUS University Library and well-equipped working space, The Hub, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module handbooks, assessment information, lecture presentation slides and reading lists.

The programme is designed to support you to develop knowledge and skills sequentially, providing theoretically grounded research philosophies, policies and methods of enquiry.

One of the key features of this programme is developing the academic literacies required to perform successfully in higher education. You will learn about research design, including methodology, methods and ethics. Not only this, but you will also be taught how to present and disseminate your research.

This focus on impactful research will equip you with the skills to make a strong case for policy change within your profession, and enhance your ability to succeed as an early career researcher.

You will be inspired by ongoing staff research and industry experience, aligned to the tutor with the most relevant expertise to support you through your research project.

The thesis will be a central element with you being encouraged to focus on areas of specific interest to your practice and how theories and concepts impact on your practice. This will be informed and supported by the research interests of the team.

On completion of this course, you will possess the ability to shape policy and practice, in addition to holding the attributes required to be an innovator within your own professional environment. You will have identified an area of research and shown how it can make a real impact in your field.

This course provides both practical and theoretical content that reflects the professional requirements of your field, designed for those wishing to enhance their practical and research skills.

You will combine academic studies with work-based development of specialist skills and reflection including personal practices and behaviours. You will graduate with the skills and knowledge to help drive service improvements and become a trailblazer within your career, fully equipped for an influential role within an organisation. You will have developed skills that reflect many of the component features of employability, making you a desirable practitioner and leader.

To further enhance your future opportunities, we offer ongoing career development support in the form of career guidance, CV advice, portfolio building and interview preparation. This course will also allow you to develop key employability skills such as organisation, time management and leadership.