Postgraduate

Professional Doctorates

An alternative, internationally recognised doctorate qualification

Professional Doctorates are not new qualifications. They have been awarded since medieval times in professions such as law, medicine and theology. In fact, it is the PhD degree that is relatively recent, being introduced in this country only in the nineteenth century as a qualification for a subsequent academic career.

The University of Portsmouth offers a wide range of Professional Doctorates for professionals employed in both the public and private sectors (see full list of courses offered below). They are designed for professionals, who have an active interest in work-based research and professional practice issues, wish to attain the highest level of professional and academic achievement and develop their career.

The Professional Doctorate is recognised internationally as a qualification granted to those who have reached the highest level of professional and academic achievement in their field of endeavour.

On a personal level, the Professional Doctorate will offer personal fulfilment, professional development, career enhancement, and encourage reflective practice.

The programme aims to enhance personal development planning for continuing professional development and encourage an advanced level of critical, analytical, debating and publishing skills. It will provide a knowledge of the range of different research techniques.

Benefits to the workplace

The programme is predominantly work-based and the activities should benefit the practitioner's workplace. The decision to support an individual on this programme recognises their importance to the organisation. Through the projects undertaken it allows organisations to develop new processes and procedures that will be of benefit to the workplace.

These are part-time courses aimed at professionals who are in full-time employment. The programme is delivered in two parts. Part one comprises the taught element and is delivered over approximately two years, whilst part two is the professional research and development project component and takes between two to three years to complete.

Programme structure

Each course, regardless of the subject areas follows a common structure. Students normally enter the course with an appropriate Masters qualification that provides the knowledge and skills foundation for the doctoral level work. The doctoral programme is divided into two parts:

Part 1

Part 1 consists of formal learning that covers topics such as: research methods, professionalism, reflective practice and writing for publication and dissemination. These topics prepare students for the final unit of part 1 which is the Proposal for a Professional Research and Development Project.

Part 1 should take between 12 and 24 months to complete. Students are supported through this part of the programme by scheduled workshops, tutorials and group activities. A variety of assessment methods are employed so as to develop a range of individual and collaborative skills and knowledge.

Part 2

Part 2 consists of the Professional Research and Development Project in which students research a topic relevant to themselves as professionals and to their profession.

Part 2 normally takes between 2 and 4 years to complete. Students are supported during this part of the programme by at least two university supervisors, one of whom will act as a personal tutor. Tutors provide scheduled as well as telephone and e-mail support. In addition, nominated workplace advisors often also provide support. The final assessment involves the completion of a thesis, a presentation and a viva voce examination.

Professional Doctorate programmes offered for 2012

Programmes are offered in the following three broad subject areas:

  • Business Studies - leading to a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)
  • Criminal Justice Studies - leading to a Doctorate in Criminal Justice Studies (DCrimJ)
  • Health and Social Care- which includes the following pathways:
    • Biomedical Science - leading to a Doctorate in Biomedical Science (DBMS)
    • Chiropractic - leading to a Doctorate in Chiropractic (DChiro)
    • Health Science - leading to a Doctorate in Heath Science (DHealthSci)
    • Medical Imaging - leading to a Doctorate in Medical Imaging (DMedImg)
    • Nursing - leading to a Doctorate in Nursing (DNursing)
    • Pharmacy - leading to a Doctorate in Pharmacy (DPharm)
    • Social Work - leading to a Doctorate in Social Work (DSW)

For more information, please follow the links to the specific programmes.