Program Overview

Overview

The Professional Doctorate Public Health (Health Visiting) 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

• 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 organisation
• Possess a Master's qualification (or equivalent)

To make a full application, students 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 programmes) or managerial responsibilities (for management programmes)

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.

Structure

Course Structure

The Professional Doctorates 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

• Undertake a dissertation of 40,000 words on a subject relevant to the student's specialist area of practice

Fees and Funding

Home/UK Fee

Ł2,619 per year

International Fee

Ł10,313 per year

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 students the chance to tour the campus and accommodation, find out answers to questions about courses, graduate employability, student support, and more.

The University of Essex is committed to making a difference to local, national, and international health, social care, and voluntary services through education, research, and knowledge transfer. The staff operate an 'open door' policy and are available to discuss any concerns with students throughout the year.