Program Overview

The Professional Doctorate in Social Work at the University of East London is a post-qualifying, five-year part-time course specifically aimed at senior professionals working in all fields of health and social care. This course is unique among London-based universities.

You will be studying at one of London's most culturally diverse universities, giving you the chance to add your own unique experience and expertise to those of other students and academics with equally different national and international personal and professional backgrounds.

UEL's Doctor of Social Work course offers you the opportunity to draw on this rich and vibrant research culture as well as the extensive research experience and expertise of our academic staff, at least two of whom will serve as your supervisors.

The design of the course is intended to maximise the flexibility to undertake study whilst working. The course consists of two stages. In Stage One or the Taught Phase, you will study four compulsory modules. These modules focus on the development of research design, methodology, ethics and management in the first, and piloting and registration in the second, year of the programme. They are designed to enable you to transition into Stage Two or the Thesis Phase.

Stage Two of the course consists of the supervised completion of the research study and its write up to formulate the final thesis for submission and examination. This follows the same rules and guidelines as a PhD thesis.