Program Overview

Overview

The Professional Doctorate Nursing is a postgraduate research course offered by the University of Essex. This course is designed for individuals who are in, or are aspiring to, a senior professional appointment in practice, education, or management in health or social care.

Course 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 students to develop their skills both in the workplace and within the academic environment.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the Professional Doctorate Nursing, applicants must:

• Be registered with a UK regulatory body (where appropriate)
• Be currently employed in management, practice, or education, or in a senior position in a health or social care organisation
• Possess a Master's qualification (or equivalent)

Applicants must also provide:

• Two academic references
• Academic transcripts/certificates
• A language certificate (if relevant)
• A 500-word personal statement
• A 300-word description of their clinical practice (for clinical programmes) or managerial responsibilities (for management programmes)

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University of Essex accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. International applicants should contact the Graduate Admissions team for more information.

Structure

Course Structure

The Professional Doctorate Nursing can be studied over 5 years. The programme specification provides more detail about the structure, including details of all optional modules.

Teaching

• Taught modules underpin research activities and meet identified deficits within the student's knowledge base
• Students create two portfolios of learning, chronicling the development of expert practice
• Portfolios are constructed from the specialist application of generic outcomes in areas such as risk and diagnostic reasoning
• Portfolios are submitted at the end of year one and year two

Dissertation

• Students undertake a dissertation of 40,000 words on a subject relevant to their specialist area of practice

Fees and Funding

Home/UK Fee

• ｣2,619 per year

International Fee

• ｣10,313 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study. There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

What's Next

The University of Essex holds Open Days for all applicants throughout the year. These events provide an opportunity to find out more about studying at Essex, tour the campus and accommodation, and meet with staff and students.

Applicants can apply for the course online and should check the University's website for information about necessary documents and deadlines. The University aims to respond to applications within four weeks.