18Jan
PostgraduateCourse summary
Here’s your chance to be at the heart of innovation and discovery. The Professional Doctorate in Healthcare Science builds on your existing expertise so you can contribute to the latest evidence-based practice in your field. You’ll get to pursue a piece of practical, real-world research for your thesis. The course is delivered online with optional face-to-face contact sessions on campus. The flexible programme means you can tailor it to your own specialism, so it goes hand in hand with your day job. We attract a wide range of clinical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, healthcare scientists and those from allied health professions such as podiatrists and physiotherapists. Students’ projects have ranged from investigating the use of assistive technology to the assessment of the effect of exercise intervention in aging population. You could be delving into health-related data and clinical science, healthy lifestyles, medical devices, diagnostics and other aspects of applied health. Most students choose to carry out the research in their own workplace. You will have access to our specialist facilities on campus as well, including labs for gait analyses and biomechanics, human performance and physiology, sports therapy and strength and conditioning. We have designed a bespoke approach, with opportunities for one-to-one meetings with staff. The course delivery team also emulates the best interdisciplinary professional practice. It means we bring together expertise from across the University. You’ll be supported by our research-active academics, who are producing world-leading research in areas such as clinical biomechanics and health inequalities. Our strong health research portfolio also includes midwifery and nursing, along with innovative work exploring, healthcare and spirituality, and empowering patients. The programme is structured so there are two main entries. You can join us at Level 7 and decide whether to complete a certificate, MRes or the Professional Doctorate. If you already have a Masters qualification, you can go straight onto Level 8. We offer both full-time and part-time options (three years or five years), as well as September and January start dates. The Professional Doctorate is an ideal platform if you’re looking to pursue medical research, build your profile through published research papers or leadership opportunities.
Assessment method
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.
Entry requirements
To enter the Programme at Level 7, you’ll normally need an undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree or equivalent in a related field/discipline. However, if you don’t meet this requirement, prior related experience will be considered. For the modules at Level 7 there is a provision for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). To enter the Programme at Level 8, you’ll normally need a postgraduate (Master’s) degree or equivalent in a related field/discipline. However, if you don’t meet this requirement, prior related experience will be considered. If your first language is not English, you’ll need an IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in each discipline.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Staffordshire
College Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 2DE