Professional Doctorate in Healthcare Science Professional Doctorate

The Professional Doctorate in Healthcare Science enables you to enhance your practice through research, innovation and leadership. By integrating your professional expertise with research-led enquiry, you’ll push the boundaries of your discipline and contribute to the latest evidence-based practice.

Healthcare science thrives on innovation and discovery, and this Professional Doctorate will give you the opportunity to develop research and lead change.

The programme will provide a unique opportunity for you, to combine your expertise and academic endeavour to explore practical real-world issues in your chosen field through a bespoke framework of research training. The programme structure allows for inter-professional work and study which is an indicator of high-quality innovative programmes. The combination of research expertise and experience of research supervision across the academics that form the course delivery team, strengthens the programme both emulating and modelling the best inter-disciplinary professional practice.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: Professional Doctorate Healthcare Science

Part-time study

You can choose to study the course part-time over three years if you enter the programme at Level 7. In this case you are expected to complete 180 credits at Level 7 in the first two years of the programme. This will then follow by completing 360 credits at Level 8 over the remaining 3 years.

If you enter the programme at Level 8, the whole duration is 3 years. 

Blended learning

You can choose to study the course full-time over three years if you enter the programme at Level 7. In this case you are expected to complete 180 credits at Level 7 in the first year of the programme. This will then follow by completing 360 credits at Level 8 over the remaining 2 years.

If you enter the programme at Level 8, the whole duration is 2 years.

Course content

The programme at Level 7 includes taught, self-directed and self-selected components, which are assessed with a focus on the application and impact of learning.

Level 7 Modules:

• Developing Leadership and Project Management skills (30 Credits)
• Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodologies (30 Credits)
• Research Ethics and Governance (30 Credits)
• Critical Appraisal and Translational Research (30 Credits)
• Elective (Negotiated content) Module (60 Credits total)

The programme at Level 8 entails an extended piece of research, together with the supporting modules that you need to perform this research to the highest standard. Your research, presented as a thesis, will be examined through viva by experts in the field.

In most cases the research topic will be a practical problem relevant to your profession and field of practice and can be carried out in your own organisation.

Level 8 Modules: 

• Literature Review and Research Proposal (60 Credits)
• Developing Advanced Clinical Research Practice and Dissemination (60 Credits)
• Doctoral Research Thesis and viva (240 Credits)

Careers

The course is aimed at clinical and healthcare professionals who are seeking to develop leadership skills in their chosen area. It is also suitable for those who are looking to refocus or change their career path. 

The course can also provide the graduate with necessary skill sets to pursue an academic or research career in the healthcare sciences or related fields.

The programme is vocationally focused award and adapted to address the needs of a broad range of clinical practitioners including physicians, surgeons, and related healthcare professionals and scientists such as those working in life science industries e.g. biomedical and clinical sciences, biologics, bio-pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and companion diagnostics, clinical trials, medical devices, process transfer technologies and contract research organisations. Other related areas will be assessed on application but may include bioanalytical and forensic services.

The programme is also suited for Allied Health Professionals such as: Physiotherapists, Prosthetists and Orthotists, Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Sports Therapists, Sports and Exercise Scientists and Strength and Condition instructors/ coaches together with Physical Activity Scientists. Professionals within Clinical Bioinformatics, Physical Sciences and biomedical Technology and Physiological Sciences are also encouraged to apply.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

While the course is blended learning most of the content across different modules is delivered online. You are expected to attend the occasional face to face contacts on campus throughout the course. Depending on the modules you study, teaching may be delivered through a range of activities, for example through webinars and presentations, interactive lectures and group or individual tutorials.

Throughout the course you have direct access to the University’s research facilities, by prior arrangement.

Assessment

The taught modules will be assessed individually. There may be more than one element of assessment for a module that should be submitted for each module on or before the submission date set for each piece of assessment. The pass mark for all taught modules is 50%.

For the Doctoral Research Thesis, the submission of the thesis comprising up to 50,000 words that is approved by the Principal Supervisor is required. The assessment of Thesis will be through Viva that is oral examination of the thesis by external and internal examiners.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

• Study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills)
• Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
• Academic writing (including how to reference)
• Research skills
• Critical thinking
• Revision, assessment and exam skills (including time management)

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

Feedback on marked work will be provided within 20 working days after the submission date. This will be in the format of formal written feedback with points focused on areas of the work you have excelled in and also areas that you could improve on. Your mark will be available through your private Portal in Virtual Learning Environment and there will be narrated remarks through your document that will give you very specific constructive feedback.