Professional Doctorate FAQ's

What is a Professional Doctorate? 

A Professional Doctorate is an advanced postgraduate degree often likened to a PhD. A PhD’s aim is to predominantly develop a student’s academic research skills whereas a Professional Doctorate focuses on developing a student’s ability to apply research to a professional environment. A Professional Doctorate gives students the opportunity to develop their career to a doctoral level with a focus on a specific field or industry such as Education. 

 

Who can do a Professional Doctorate? 

Doctoral students are often working professionals with experience in their specific field. This is because the research conducted by Professional Doctorate students is based on their specific profession. This research and the degree as a whole, enables graduates to advance in their careers and move into higher positions than they would’ve been able to access previously.  

 

How would I learn on a Professional Doctorate? 

At Northumbria we teach part time, with the Professional Doctorate in health, education and society being taught over weekends to accommodate for workplace demands. Generally speaking, a Professional Doctorate is more flexible than a traditional PhD as, its teaching time is based around a student who is a professional in their field. One of our own Professional Doctorate students, Jen Curran said “The study was formed of weekend lectures/discussions, which were always highly interactive and being in a small group meant we could ask questions and puzzle through things together” when describing her learning experience.  

 

How long is a Professional Doctorate? 

A Professional Doctorate can range from anywhere between two and eight years depending on if it is part-time or full-time. Most Professional Doctorates will be done part time due to the work commitments that students have alongside completing their degree. Northumbria’s Professional Doctorate in Health, Education and Society is a five-year part time course. 

 

 

What are the benefits of doing a Professional Doctorate? 

Studying a Professional Doctorate allows you to gain the skills necessary to make positive changes and address any problems present in your industry. The people that you meet during your studies also provide you with a professional network that spans industries and a support system during your studies. Current student Julie Alderson said that the best part of her Professional Doctorate was “being part of a small community of learners who were able to support each other through the journey”.   

 

What are the entry requirements? 

Universities may differ in their entry requirements, so it is important to make sure that the Professional Doctorate on offer at that university is accessible to you with the qualifications you have. For our Professional Doctorate in health, education and society, Northumbria asks for: 

A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree normally in a relevant subject area or equivalent 

A professional qualification/ registration 

Normally the equivalent of at least 2 year’s verifiable relevant practical experience of working in a professional capacity, excluding any experience gained as part of first-degree studies. 

And lastly, if you’re thinking of studying a Professional Doctorate at Northumbria here is a bit of advice from one of current students Paul Hobrough “Just do it. Don’t delay as you will not be disappointed.” 

 

So, what are you waiting for? Apply now