Professional Doctorate in Health
- About the programme
- What is a Professional Doctorate?
- Qualifications available
- Structure and timeframes
- Entry requirements and cohort start dates
- Fees
- Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) route
- Programme Specifications
- Director of Studies: message and video
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Student profile
About the programme
The Professional Doctorate in Health combines academic excellence with flexible and innovative design and delivery. It provides health and social care professionals worldwide with lifelong learning in a manner that suits their professional and personal commitments.
Designed to meet your needs as a potential leader in healthcare practice, you can:
- Expand your understanding of policy and practice in the context of international healthcare systems and service
- Carry out independent research and understand research methods whilst remaining in your practice area
- Choose your learning style within a flexible environment amongst a multi-professional community
- Study in an understanding, stimulating and inspiring environment
- Develop as an expert practitioner to become a leader in your field
The Units from the initial phases of the Professional Doctorate also contribute to the PG Dip/MSc in Research in Health Practice.
What is a Professional Doctorate?
- In-service
- Assessed by final thesis but also account taken of developments en-route
- Students typically
- older
- part time
- must be based in practice
- Formal research training
- Graduates aspire to more senior roles in their practice base
- Cohort-based
- Research topic develops
- Pre-service
- Assessed by final thesis
- Students typically
- younger
- full time
- not based in practice
- Research training has informal and formal elements
- Graduates often aspire to career in academia
- Individual
- Research topic pre-determined
Qualifications available
- PG Certificate, PG Diploma and Masters in Research in Health Practice
- Doctorate in Health
The School for Health has a wide range of CPD units available for study from most programmes. Please click here for more information.
Structure and timeframes
The programme consists of three phases: as a guideline, Phase One and Phase Two each take a year to complete, and Phase Three involves the research activity and writing up, taking a minimum of one year.
Visit the unit catalogue to view each individual unit description.
NB: The School for Health reserves the right to change the programme content at any time.
Entry requirements and cohort start dates
Cohorts start in September every year. Applications can be submitted throughout the year. You are also welcome to make informal inquiries to the programme team.
The Professional Doctorate is open to a wide range of health professionals, who have an active interest in practice based research and professional practice issues.
The programme is suitable for those who wish to develop their careers within the health arena, and we welcome those working toward the Consultant Practitioner status within the NHS.
International students looking for a taught doctorate experience in health may also apply.*
To join the professional doctorate programme, participants will need to satisfy the general admissions regulations of the University for a postgraduate award and these are as follows:
An honours degree at 2:1 or its equivalent from a recognised overseas institution
Five years post qualification, graduation or registration experience in an appropriate practice context (this would normally be a post in practice in a health, social care, education or clinical/medical context)
Applicants are asked to submit an application form, and supporting documents, available to download from this web page.
*Those applicants whose first language is not English must normally provide written evidence (certified by the awarding body) that they have achieved a standard of English considered by the University of Bath to be at least equivalent to one of the following: IELTS overall score 7.0 with not less than 6.5 in each of the four components TOEFL (paper based test) 600 with not less than 60 in each of the three bands, and a score of not less than 4 in the TWE; TOEFL (computer-based test) 250, with not less than 25 in each of the three bands, and a score of not less than 4 in the TWE; TOEFL (internet test) 100 with not less than 24 in each of the 4 bands.
Fees
Fees for 2010/11 academic year* - new students:
| New students | Home | Overseas |
| Payment per annum | £3000 | £4500 |
About the fees
*Please note, these fees are subject to confirmation by the University in May 2010. These fees apply to students commencing after 01 August 2010.
The payment per annum fee for students commencing after 01 August 2010 are for every year of study taken, whether it is 4 or 8 years. Students who have finished data collection and are writing up can apply to the Research Students' Committee to pay the reduced continuation fee, if they require reduced supervision, after year 5.
Course fees can be paid instalments either every twelve or six months (September & April) and students will be invoiced.
Fees are normally reviewed in May of each year therefore after your first instalment subsequent instalments will be at the prevailing rate, i.e. the fee for the current academic year in which you are paying the instalment. The University reserves the right to change fees at any time and will ensure that all programme members to who increases are applicable, are notified in advance of any changes.
Fees for current students:
|
PHASE |
Payment by instalments |
|
Phase One |
£3530 |
|
Phase Two |
£3530 |
|
Phase Three* |
2 x £2470 |
|
Total |
£12,000 |
*Overseas students located outside the EU will be subject to an additional cost of £1,690 at Phase Three, associated with the cost of identifying and supporting a practice-based supervisor based internationally so the total cost here will be £13,690.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) route
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) criteria may apply to those applicants who have previous learning experience and academic credits. APL claims are considered on a case by case basis. Please contact the School for Health for further details. See also the FAQs page.
Message from Director of Studies
What can a higher degree in research do for you in practice?
Increasingly healthcare practitioners are being steered towards qualifications in advanced practice to progress their career opportunities and support NHS services. However, a higher degree with a research focus may prove to be a better option for many. Such degrees have a greater emphasis on skills that enable you to evaluate health research, understand and apply the principles of evidence based practice and conduct novel and meaningful research at the practice coal face. Additionally, you will understand how research relates to your profession and fits within local and national organisational and policy arenas.
These highly transferable skills will develop your critical thinking, project and resource management, team working, leadership, and professional conduct. Training in these areas not only enhances your personal attributes and career opportunities but additionally benefits the institution in which you work and the healthcare community at large.
With busy working lives, time away from work for personal study becomes all the more difficult. Distance learning courses offer the ideal solution. You can study at your own pace and in your own time, with support from highly qualified tutors and fellow students.
Considering all of this, what is stopping YOU doing a higher degree in research?
David Wainwright, Director of Studies, Professional Doctorate
Frequently Asked Questions
Take a look at the video clips! Meet the Director of Studies, Dr David Wainwright. Listen to him answer some of your FAQ's.
For further information on the programme, visit the FAQs page.
PD Student Profiles
Find out more about our Alumni or current students here.
Dr Helen Pryce, Programme Director, MSc Rehabilitative Audiology, Centre for Hearing and Balance
