Professional Doctorate - Health And Social Sciences

This course is for high-flying experienced professionals working in health and social sciences. It addresses the requirements of the many health and social science disciplines for a doctoral level of study, enabling the development of an experienced and researching professional, with high level skills in research, communication, leadership and consultancy, to meet the requirements and challenges of health and social science practice in the 21st century. The professional doctorate is designed to produce professionals who are competent and confident to use their skills to tackle emergent problems in their practice, whether this is in clinical practice, management, or academia.

EXIT AWARDS: Doctor of Health Sciences (D Health Sci) or Doctor of Social Sciences(D Soc Sci) or Doctor of Health and Social Sciences (D Health Soc Sci)

Delivery: Initially attendance at QMUfollowed mainly by individual learning

Single Modules: It is not possible to study single modules

Duration: Full-time: 2 - 3 years; Part-time: 4 - 5 years
Start date: September
Application deadline: The deadline for all overseas applicants who require a visa to study in the UK should apply no later than the 30th June 2013.
Teaching, learning and assessment: The pattern of study will be set out by the student within an individual learning action plan (LAP) and agreed with the Programme Leader and their own Director of Studies. The LAP will take account of each individual student’s prior learning, professional experience and consistency with the aims and learning outcomes of the course. You will normally commence with work-related project work before progressing to the doctoral thesis.Your learning will be facilitated through a mix of seminar presentations/ lectures and workshops. At this level, the term 'teaching' is inappropriate as students are independent learners who direct the focus of their studies. Web-based classroom tools (webCT) will also be used to facilitate discussion groups online and as a specific learning framework for some modules. Summative and formative assessment will maximise opportunities for: problem solving; analysis and synthesis of material; project planning and implementation; construction of written reports; reflection and reflective analysis; and assimilation and presentation of evidence. Assessment strategies are designed to ensure rigour of academic thinking and to promote the achievement of your personal and professional goals, augmenting individuals’ experiences and expertise. The cohort approach supports doctoral level development, pertinent both to your individual practice and to the wider professional arena.
Teaching hours and attendance: A full-time student will only need to attend QMU for the equivalent of three weeks, delivered over three separate week blocks. Part-time students attend for the equivalent of two of these week blocks.You will also be required to carry out a significant amount of independent learning, and take your plans forward with some supervisory support.
Links with industry/professional bodies: This is a high-level academic award, extremely relevant to the professional arenas within health and social sciences. Doctoral graduates are in a position to pioneer and transform professional developments. In addition, any work-related project is carried out in conjunction with the student’s workplace, ensuring partnership working with all involved, and communication with peers, professional colleagues and policy makers.