Overview
The Professional Doctorate in Health Studies (DHS) is an alternative to the traditional PhD route to doctoral level studies that is designed to provide a path to the highest level of clinical academic scholarship appropriate to experienced health-sector practitioners. The course is designed for healthcare professionals who are looking not only to provide clinical excellence but also contribute to practice development and improvement in their healthcare sector/professional discipline.
The programme will build upon your professional experience and your potential as a change agent within your practice setting. During the programme you will develop the necessary research skills and capabilities to enable you to initiate, implement, evaluate and deliver ‘real-world’ evidence-based solutions to current clinical practice challenges. The programme will provide flexible opportunities to further the development of advanced clinical practice-skills as well as cognitive skills, at postgraduate level, by offering taught modules from the Faculty’s extensive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio that will complement your academic progression. Throughout the programme you will be encouraged to develop as a scholarly practitioner, bringing advanced discipline and professional knowledge to your practice setting. Through undertaking the programme you will demonstrate your capabilities as an evidence-based practice-centred change agent. It is designed to prepare you for work in sectors requiring advanced professional postgraduate-level skills and in careers across academia, research and leadership in your profession / discipline.
The current, national healthcare quality drivers (clinical effectiveness, patient experience, quality improvement and patient safety) underpin the transformative philosophy of the DHC programme for both you and your employer. The content and sequencing of modules and workshops are constructively aligned to develop knowledge and skills commensurate with the fast-paced changing nature of healthcare. The choices available, through the Faculty CPD portfolio of modules, enable you to develop and work flexibly and collaboratively within the inter-professional and multi-agency environment of current (and future) healthcare provision. This programme will produce postgraduates who are able to operate at the highest level of practice by providing a part-time route for middle / senior / advanced healthcare practitioners and Clinical Scientists, currently working in a professional health sector institute / practice in the UK.
You will be part of a cohort who will progress through the programme as an inter-disciplinary group and develop as a community of practice. Each cohort is supported by a team of academic staff from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences who will work with, support and assess you as you progress through the programme. The DHS is a structured programme which is assessed throughout, providing you with a supportive and adaptable environment in which to undertake your professional development needs and work-based research. The programme is designed to provide a coherent, connected but flexible programme of doctoral-level study
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityCourse information
To enable you to meet the needs of your workplace whilst embracing your professional development, academic study and research, the course is divided into 3 phases and has been specifically designed to offer flexibility by allowing you to study part-time for up to five years.
Due to the nature of the programme the expectation is that you will undertake between 15-20 hours per week of learning / development and, latterly, data collection/analysis. You will be engaged in a variety of activities throughout the programme that will be individually tailored to your learning and skills-development needs. This is undertaken whilst continuing to work in your professional role.
It is anticipated that you will have negotiated work-release to permit attendance and completion of your programme. This will enable you to conduct your work-based research within your employment, accumulating key research experiences and expertise, enabling practical application of learning with impact to your field of professional healthcare/clinical science practice and developing research-knowledge to support your thesis and research portfolio submissions.
Modules
In more detail...
This programme will give you the opportunity to expand and develop clinical, leadership and academic career pathways beyond those currently available to Masters graduates. This programme is designed to be highly flexible to, where possible, accommodate changing career demands and development needs of the individual.
The use of a cohort-approach to the DHS pathway ensures that post graduate researchers on the programme develop “peer-support community” that stays together throughout their learning-journey to completion of their studies. This approach enhances the learning experience, through peer-collaboration and development of professional networking with other health professionals and clinical scientists that promotes a supportive ‘research community’ and a sense of ‘belonging’ throughout the programme. To facilitate all aspects of development you will be provided with supervisors selected for their subject expertise, methodological expertise and experience in supervising Doctoral Candidates alongside the work-placed / clinical mentors. You will also be given the opportunity to work with your Director of Studies and fellow students, to determine what approach works best to maximise the “peer-support community”.
Development of research methods and data analysis expertise, writing and critiquing skills, clinical, leadership and academic skills relating to the individuals discipline and work-place needs. To explore and develop an original area of clinical/work-based practice research.
In phases 1 and 2, learning activities will involve face-to-face and a selection of online and blended activities such as; lectures, taught classroom sessions, group seminars, directed reading, practical activities, workshops, digital learning activities, simulation sessions, case-studies, online activities, portfolio and reflective writing pieces, academic writing/outputs/publications, conference presentations/posters, self-directed practice hours, peer-group support sessions, tutorials and supervisory meetings.
As you progress through the programme to phase 3 there is a transition of activities from the university campus towards work-based projects and data collection activities.
Throughout the programme, peer-group support sessions (virtual and/or face-to-face) are encouraged and regular/monthly supervisory meetings scheduled to enable a continuous review of your learning and career development needs. They also provide structured, responsive support to enhance progression and development, throughout the programme, to facilitate your transition towards being an independent researcher. The supervisory sessions may be face-to-face in the University or, where appropriate, on site in the workplace or via digital platforms.
You will be required to complete a draft project plan and development plan once you are registered on the programme. This will inform your Research Degree Development Agreement (RDDA) which must be confirmed within the first three months of the first enrolment period and by the end of the first month in every subsequent year.
Each year, a Progress Review Panel (PRP) will be held (within month nine of the enrolment period) and will assess the relevance and feasibility of the proposed research project plan and review the agreed deliverable/output for the year and confirm progression. You will have the option, after successful completion of phase 2 and a work-based research project (180 credits), to leave the programme with a Masters by Research in Health Studies (MScR).
The DHS will be awarded after a successful defence of the final thesis consisting of a portfolio of work completed as part of the programme. You will be required to submit a thesis for examination. The thesis will conform to the Postgraduate Research Thesis & Submission Information & Guidance document and can take the form of either a traditional thesis of up to 50,000 words or, where the supervisory team, the work-placed / clinical mentor and you consider it necessary, a thesis of 40,000 words can be supplemented by an accompanying research portfolio of 10,000 words that details your research development including, where appropriate, research outputs/activities.
You will also be required to defend your research in a viva voce examination in accordance with the Postgraduate Research Examinations and Awards Procedure.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
International experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
| Year | Fees |
|---|---|
| Year 1 (60 taught credits) at P20 | £3,066 |
| Year 2 (60 taught credits) at P20 | £3,066 |
| Year 3 Research Degree Fees at R11 | £2,375 |
| Year 4 Research Degree Fees at R11 | £2,375 |
| Year 5 Research Degree Fees at R11 | £2,375 |
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
You will have the option to continue to progress within your current senior career pathway or consider incorporating an academic career component to your ongoing development.
Where our graduates work
Graduate from our portfolio of postgraduate courses take key roles as Advanced, Specialist and Consultant clinical practitioners as well as academic, research and consultancy roles in HEIs and Industry.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
