Health & Social Care Doctorate(HSCD)

About the Course

The Doctor of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has been designed to meet the needs of social care professionals. You are likely to come from occupations within areas such housing, welfare support, residential care or supporting disabled children or adults. You should have several years of professional experience, perhaps at a senior level. You should desire to pursue an area of research related to, and drawing on, your professional work. Your research will create new evidence-based knowledge, practice and understanding that will bring benefits both to you and your wider professional community.

There is a strong emphasis on individualised learning and critical reflection. You will engage at an advanced level with varied academic and professional issues relevant to your own practice. You will develop the three key skills of independent learning, independent research, and sustained critical and self-reflexive analysis.

The programme is divided into two Phases. Phase One is the Taught Phase. You undertake three ‘strands’ of taught study, organised into six modules (20 credits each). You will also write substantial research Proposal (60 credits), during this Phase. The Proposal forms the foundation for Phase Two, the Research Phase. Here, you undertake a supervised thesis project, much like a traditional PhD student would.

Careers

DHSC students are usually experienced professionals. They come with a range of experience from a variety of occupations. Students may have worked within mental health, dementia care, education or housing and addiction services. All will be expected to reflect on their experience and the wider working environment.

The DHSC focuses on enabling our graduates to become researching professionals. For some, this means a move into Higher Education, but for many others, it is about taking a critical, evidence-informed perspective at a level within their professional setting, often with a view to promotion and advancing professional practice and knowledge in their area.

Normally a First or Upper Second Class Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject plus at least 3 years’ professional experience. Masters preferred.