Program Overview

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Overview

The Professional Doctorate in Speech and Language Therapy 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 undertake significant personal development and research within a specialist area of practice.

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 academic environment. Over the course of 5 years (with an additional period of completion of up to 1 year if required), students will prepare two extended essays chronicling their personal development over the program of study. In tandem, students will study taught modules at the University of Essex, which provide expertise in qualitative, statistical, and other research methods required for researching healthcare.

At the end of the program, students will have prepared a 40,000-word research study that makes an original contribution to their own area of practice. Regular one-to-one meetings with a supervisor will help develop research topics and plans and discuss progress on research. A full list of research interests can be found on the staff pages.

School of Health and Social Care

The School is proud to work closely with the Service User Reference Group (SURG), made up of service users, carers, and volunteers who share their first-hand experiences of health and social care. This collaboration helps design courses that put the needs of patients and clients at the heart of what the School does. SURG members are involved in course application processes, often form part of interview panels, support the delivery of teaching sessions, and participate in research activity.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• The Professional Doctorates are only open to UK applicants (except for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology).
• Applicants need to be registered with a UK regulatory body (where appropriate).
• They should also be currently employed in management, practice, or education, or in a senior position in a health or social care organization, and possess a Master's qualification (or equivalent).
• Employment in a senior position within a health or social care organization is required.

To make a full application, applicants will 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 their 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. Applicants should get in touch with any questions about the qualifications the University accepts.

Structure

Course Structure

The Professional Doctorates can be studied over 5 years. The Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure, including details of all optional modules.

Teaching

• Taught modules underpin research activities and meet identified deficits within the 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

• 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

This course is only available to applicants from the UK or EU. Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Scholarships and Financial Support

There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.

What's Next

The University holds Open Days for all applicants throughout the year. These events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex and give the chance to:

• Tour the campus and accommodation
• Find out answers to questions about courses, graduate employability, student support, and more
• Talk to the Fees and Funding team about scholarship opportunities
• Meet students and staff

If the dates of organized events aren't suitable, applicants can get in touch to arrange an individual campus tour.

Related Courses

• PhD Speech and Language Therapy
  • Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
  • Location: Colchester Campus
• MPhil Speech and Language Therapy
  • Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
  • Location: Colchester Campus