Yes, both doctorates must meet the standards set by the UK Quality Assurance Agency.

You can study in any area of research offered by the Faculty of Science and Technology. Areas of particular strength at present include (i) the Built Environment, (ii) Forensic Science (iii) Equine Science and (iiii) Sustainability. Within the context of the discipline you can study in the areas of, for example, professional practice, policy making, resource allocation and management of the discipline. However, any area that develops the practice of the profession may be suited to a Professional Doctorate. The key aspect is that your doctorate must improve your professional practice and show at least the potential to improve that of your organisation.

In Stage 1 of the programme you will work with a core team of senior faculty members who are experienced doctoral supervisors, including Ian Frame, Mike Cole and Charlotte Nevison. As you work through Stage 1 you will identify the subject of your thesis in more detail and a supervisory team will be developed in preparation for the submission of your research proposal and your undertaking the primary research.

The Professional Doctorate is not a laboratory based doctorate as a traditional doctoral award might be. It will, however, involve primary research and data collection. Your workplace environment is your laboratory in which you will be collecting data.

You will have 24/7 access to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which contains all of the necessary support materials for you to progress through Stages 1 and 2. This also contains the facility for peer to peer support. There are excellent digital library facilities. The Faculty offers a series of workshops to support your research. Further materials are also available through the Research Development and Commercial Services web sites and you will work with your supervisor in identifying which of these you need. Personal support is available from your team or the course leader via e-mail or telephone.

There is a requirement that you meet your supervisors at least monthly when you are conducting your research and if you are not based on campus the expectation is that this is using Skype or Microsoft Communicator. You are required to attend the campus based research student training on an annual basis, and a visit by your supervisor will be made to you each year if you are off site. This is to ensure that you receive the necessary support and are making the necessary progress.

In Stage 1 you are assessed via three 7,000 word research papers that lead into the development of your research proposal. At the start of Stage 2 you will submit your proposal for undertaking the primary research. About halfway through Stage 2 you will undertake your confirmation of candidature - this is to demonstrate that your work is progressing and you can write and articulate your work at doctoral level. Finally, you will be assessed at the end of Stage 2 via submission of your thesis and a viva voce examination.

The duration of the programme varies depending on the synergy between you work practice and your doctorate. If there is a good match, the doctorate can be completed in 3 to 4 years. The maximum duration permitted is 6 years.

Yes, at the end of Stage 1 (18 months) you can graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice. In Stage 2 you can graduate early with a Masters of Professional Practice (MProf).

Anglia Ruskin's research degree fees are subject to annual review.

The most recent fees can be found online.

You can apply for this course online.

For more information about our range of opportunities, please contact the Programme Director, Ian Frame, or the Faculty Director of Research, Prof. Mike Cole.