Professional doctorates are not new qualifications. They have been awarded since medieval times in professions such as law, medicine and theology, but until recently had been overshadowed by the pure research based PhD. With the increased interest in developing doctoral programmes which are linked to professional development, interest in professional doctorates has returned. The School of Health and Bioscience currently runs several well recognised and established, IBMS (Institute of Biomedical Science) accredited degree programmes in biomedical science. These BSc (hons) and MSc programmes attract large numbers of students each year. The professional doctorate is a natural extension to these programmes and offers an alternate pathway to a doctorate qualification. It consists of two parts, an initial taught component followed by a work-based research project.

The programme is flexible and offers working professionals the opportunity use research carried out at their place of work to improve their professional practice. Core modules are intended to help students plan and execute their own research project. The core modules can be completed mainly at their place of work through case studies and other distance based activities and assignments. It is intended that the activities within the programme would also be of benefit to the practitioner’s workplace.

For entry to this programme, students are required to have at least a second class undergraduate honours degree in Biomedical Science from a UK university. Students MUST be currently employed in biomedical sciences. Students can, at the programme tutor's discretion, be admitted with lower classifications if they have suitable professional qualifications or appropriate experience related to the proposed programme of study.

For overseas students in addition to an appropriate degree, there is a requirement for an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher (or equivalent).
An interview will normally be required for admission onto the programme.

Applicants whose qualifications do not conform to the above criteria may still be admitted to the programme at the admission tutors discretion. This will also normally involve an interview. Applicants may be considered for accreditation of prior experiential learning (AEL) on the basis of relevant experience, following established University procedures. Applicants with prior-certified learning, (at postgraduate level) that closely matches the specified learning outcomes of modules in the taught part of the programme may be able to claim exemption via agreed university procedures. No exemption can be claimed against the core or research part of the programme or in situations where a professional body excludes it.

At least two members of academic staff will review each application before a decision is made.

Student learning is encouraged through participation in a wide variety of activities which can be carried out at your workplace. However students will also be encouraged to attend specialist lectures, seminars, workshops and external visits and to make full use of web-based learning. Each module consists of reading material and a series of self-check and interactive tasks in which students discuss the issues raised in each module in the light of their own teaching context and educational background. In addition to online discussions, which involve the module tutor on a weekly basis, students also have access to their module tutor directly via our virtual learning environment, UEL plus.

The optional taught modules are assessed through course work and examination. The core skills and planning modules are assessed through coursework culminating in the production of a research proposal. The major project is assessed through thesis and oral examination.

The professional doctorate is aimed at practising professionals who wish to acquire the highest level of professional and academic achievement. Students have to be employed in Biomedical Science to take part in the programme as it is expected that the project will be carried out at the workplace.

The professional doctorate is a recognized step on the career path towards advanced practitioner grades in the NHS (see figure below, adapted from the IBMS website). The figure indicates where diplomas in expert and extended practice sit in the framework of the Institute of Biomedical Science’s professional qualifications and also shows how these qualifications link to University academic qualifications. The career path from basic grade Biomedical Scientist (with a certificate of competence), to Advanced Specialist is paralleled by increasingly higher academic qualifications. A professional doctorate will assist the individual to gain access to these higher grades.

The research project will be work based appropriate to the student’s biomedical science speciality. The length of the interim reports and final dissertation are given below.

• A project proposal (3000-6000 words) prepared during the Research preparation and planning module. This is presented to the Academic Board Research Degrees Review Sub-Committee (ABRC)
• A 40,000 word thesis that will be assessed by an oral examination. External and internal examiners with appropriate high level expertise in the subject will perform the assessment.

Registration of your research component can only take place following approval by the ABRC of your suitability to undertake research, of the programme of research, of the supervision arrangements and of the research environment. These approvals require appropriate academic judgement to be brought to bear on the viability of each research proposal.

Candidates for a Professional Doctorate must, prior to the submission of the research derived assessment, successfully complete all assessed elements from the taught part of the programme.
Once you have started the research stage of the programme, progression will be formally reviewed annually by a Panel comprised of staff with appropriate academic and professional expertise who are independent of the candidate’s supervisory team. The School’s Research Degrees Sub-Committee and the Research Degrees Review Sub-Committee monitor the reports from these Panels.

The examination of the research component of the Professional Doctorate has two stages: firstly the submission and preliminary assessment of the research; and secondly its defence by oral examination.

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Biomedical scientists are found working in the NHS, in government and private laboratories and in industry. The research and specialist training you receive in the DBMS programme will help you in progress in your elected career.

Students will be supported by a supervisory team including a Director of Studies and one or two additional supervisors. It is intended that one of the supervisory team will be a practising specialist based at the workplace.

The Graduate School is responsible for providing a focus to the support of our postgraduate research students and for our institution’s research and scholarly strategy.

Students will be encouraged to present their research work at meetings such as the biannual IBMS meeting or any other national or international meeting considered appropriate. This will enhance the standing of the student and of their workplace