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Overview

The Professional Doctorate Health Care Education is a specialist qualification designed for individuals in or aspiring to senior professional appointments in practice, education, or management in health or social care. This program demonstrates the ability to perform at the level of 'expert' within a specific area of specialization.

Program Details

• Start Date: October 2026
• Study Mode: Part-time
• Duration: 5 - 6 years
• Location: Colchester Campus
• Based In: Health and Social Care (School of)

The aim of the course is to provide a unified approach to theory and practice within a professional context. The learning is structured to allow the development of skills both in the workplace and within the university environment. Depending on individual circumstances, the study can be undertaken over the course of between 4 and 7 years.

Structure

• Course Structure: The program is flexible and can be completed between four and seven years, with decisions about the duration based on individual need, professional commitments, and funded support.
• Components and Modules: The course includes various components and modules, such as:
  • Health and Social Care - Research
  • Literature Review and Critical Appraisal
  • Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation
  • Professional Portfolio 1 and 2
  • Theory and Method in Health Research

Teaching

• Taught Modules: Underpin research activities and meet identified deficits within the knowledge base.
• Portfolios: Creation of two portfolios of learning chronicling the development of expert practice.
• Dissertation: Undertake a dissertation of 40,000 words on a subject relevant to the specialist area of practice.

Fees and Funding

• Home/UK Fee: ｣2,619 per year
• International Fee: ｣10,313 per year
• Scholarships and Financial Support: There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• Registered with a UK regulatory body (where appropriate)
• Currently employed in management, practice, or education, or in a senior position in a health or social care organization
• Possess a Master's qualification (or equivalent)
• Employment in a senior position within a health or social care organization

To make a full application, candidates need to:

• Complete the University's online application form
• Provide two academic references
• Provide academic transcripts/certificates
• Provide a language certificate (if relevant)
• Provide a 500-word personal statement
• Attach a 300-word description of clinical practice (for clinical programs) or managerial responsibilities (for management programs)

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Candidates should get in touch with any questions about the qualifications accepted.

Research Areas

The School offers guidance and supervision in a wide range of areas, including:

• Analysis of large-scale surveys
• Clinical decision making
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Consumerism and consumption in health care
• Educational psychology
• Health-related social movements
• Health services research
• Interpretative policy analysis of health care
• The third sector and health care provision
• Political economy of health care
• Professional/clinical education and practice
• Qualitative methods
• Quantitative methodologies and analysis of large-scale datasets (panel and cohort studies)
• Service evaluation and development
• Social inequality and health
• Social organization of health care
• Understanding and application of research in health settings

Our Expert Staff

The School of Health and Social Care has an excellent reputation for research and teaching, with multi-professional staff having both clinical and academic expertise. Many staff members work with local National Health Service (NHS) organizations and other local agencies, enhancing their grasp of contemporary links between academic research, major issues of the day, and practice.

Specialist Facilities

• Research seminars are held within the School, allowing students to present their research to other staff and students in a supportive environment.
• The Proficio professional development scheme provides unique opportunities to acquire a set of specialist professional skills and expand subject knowledge.

Your Future

The program offers doctoral preparation that integrates professional expertise and academic rigor. Upon completion, graduates will have the skills necessary to make significant contributions to local and national health and social care provision through critical appraisal of current practice. The networks developed during the program facilitate self-development, enabling graduates to engage in critical reflection upon practice, work, and lead within complex, multi-professional environments where they can demonstrate expert decision-making.