Anglia Ruskin University

Course Overview

Our suite of Professional Doctorates is one of the first programmes of its kind in the UK. Specifically designed for professionals who are already working full-time in industry, this programme offers an innovative and flexible alternative to a traditional PhD.

By allowing candidates to fit their studies around their work and family life the programme enables practising professionals to utilise their expertise and experience to carry out groundbreaking research in their field at doctoral level.

This course is aimed at experienced professionals. The professional doctorate can be applied to any area in science and technology but we have particular strengths in the areas of: built environment; biological conservation; equine and sport science and forensic science.

Additional Programme Information

The course can lead to a Professional Masters (MProf) (20 - 36 months) or the full Professional Doctorate (48 - 60 months) upon completion of a thesis, depending on your performance.

The programme is structured to offer candidates maximum flexibility enabling busy professionals to create a schedule that fits around their existing commitments. The programme is supported but five Saturday workshops and five supervisory sessions each year, with the rest of the programme delivered online.

The workshops allow you to present your research to a critical multi-disciplinary audience of supervisors and fellow professionals in a supportive, no-threatening environment. These workshops also provide the opportunity to build lasting relationships with other industry practitioners.

Supervision and support

The programme is structured to offer candidates maximum flexibility enabling busy professionals to create a schedule that fits around their existing commitments. The programme is supported by a series of workshops which can be attended on campus. International candidates are required to come to the UK at least once per year to work with their supervisors. The programme is also supported by our 24/7 virtual learning environment and by online face to face meetings with supervisors via Skype and Communicator.

Stage 1 - Takes 16-24 months leading to a Professional Diploma in Professional Research.

Stage 2 - Takes 20-36 months (following completion of Stage 1) leading to a Professional Masters (MProf) or the full Professional Doctorate upon completion of a thesis.

Funding

Aside from self-funding or funding by your employer, charities and trusts (competitively sought after, as are Research Council Awards), or career, graduate, and professional study loans may be available. Click: www.family-action.org.uk for information on educational trusts, or click: www.gov.direct.uk for bank loans at competitive rates. Alternatively, visit your local high street bank for more information.

Special features

Although you are required to attend just five workshops a year, our distance learning environment means you will have full support of our experienced supervisory staff throughout the entire programme. And you just as importantly, you will be part of an online community of professional doctorate candidates, each carrying out research in a related field. So not only will you enjoy the support of your peers, you will also be encouraged to challenge each other's thinking and explore new areas and ideas.

Career development and training

Our university offers a wide range of training to support your research studies. This training is delivered by our Research, Development & Commercial Services (RDCS) Department. You will find that some of the training is compulsory to support important milestones within your program of study. Other training opportunities are offered to provide you with any additional skills that you may need.

In addition to training, our Faculty holds an Annual Research and Scholarship Conference. Research students are given the opportunity to present their research in the form of either papers or posters. Delegates can also participate in a wide variety of workshops and presentations at the conference. Not only can students hone their presentation skills, but our conference also offers great networking opportunities with faculty staff, students, representatives from other departments and researchers from around the world.

Finally, each of our departments offers our PhD students the opportunity to present at lunchtime seminars. Departments plan a series of seminars throughout the academic year giving students the opportunity to present their work to colleagues from across the university.

Applicants are expected to have extensive professional experience in the industry, together with the opportunity to undertake research related to their current role and organisation. Direct entry requires a Masters degree but we offer a pre-entry Understanding Research programme for those without.