Masters Degrees (Health Science)

This postgraduate qualification is designed for those with an academic or professional interest in mental health science and the biological and psychological underpinnings of this discipline. It equips students with the necessary skills to critically evaluate the current literature, discuss contemporary issues and communicate a critical understanding of key topics in mental health science.

Those who qualify from this programme, will have carried out an academically rigorous research project, and have developed the skills and knowledge that are relevant for pursuing a research career, for employment, and to inform professional practice.

Key features of the course

•Develops knowledge and understanding of key topics (stress, anxiety, depression, psychosis and dementia)
•Explores current issues and research at the forefront of mental health science
•Develops skills that are essential for a critical understanding and needed for professional practice
•Culminates with an in-depth individual research project in an area of mental health science.

This qualification is eligible for a Postgraduate Loan available from Student Finance England.

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to mental health science (S826)
• Core topics in mental health science: psychosis and dementia (SD816)
• MSc project module for MSc in Mental Health Science (SXH810)

Modules should be studied in the order listed above. The project module can only be taken after completion of the first two modules.

The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time.

Credit transfer

If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

Read less

Through advanced studies in a specialised focus subject, the Master of Health Sciences offers you an opportunity to pursue research in health sciences.

The Master of Health Science is for graduates who have successfully completed a Bachelor of Health Science with a major and wish to take advanced studies in this area.

If you have completed the Bachelor of Health Science without a major and want to do postgraduate study, you’ll need to obtain permission from the Director of Health Science Programme. Please see the Contact tab.

Careers

Career opportunities include public health and promotion of health, consultancy and advisory positions, working with iwi authorities, quality assurance, and research.

Read less

Why take this course?

The Professional Doctorate is an alternative pathway to a doctorate qualification. It is a rigorous programme of advanced study and research, designed specifically to meet the needs of commerce, industry and professional groups and is the professionally oriented counterpart to the more theoretical PhD. It enables you to study a specific subject to the same depth as PhD students, but also to apply learning to your professional practice.

What will I experience?

The Faculty of Science offers a suite of Professional Doctorates. You will be supervised by experienced researcher-practitioners with extensive applied experience.

On this course you will:

Gain advanced research skills through the completion of a doctoral level programme of research
Be supervised by staff who have a wealth of experience in research and applied practice in sport, exercise and health science
Develop advanced ethical, communication, and consultancy competencies in applied sport, exercise and health science practice

What opportunities might it lead to?

On a personal level, successful completion of the Professional Doctorate will offer personal fulfilment, professional development, career enhancement and encourage reflective practice.

The programme enhances personal development planning for continuing professional development. It encourages an advanced level of critical, analytical, debating and publishing skills, plus knowledge of the range of different research methods encountered in professional practice. Further to this, you will have the opportunity to research, with appropriate supervision, a professional issue/topic to generate findings and/or implications for the improvement of you own, or others delivery of that profession. As such, the benefits of the qualification extend to the broader organisation and profession.

Across many organisations (e.g. professional bodies for sport, exercise and health; NHS), a Professional Doctorate is now viewed as a necessary academic qualification for attaining higher level posts.

Module Details

This is a part-time course, which has been specifically designed so that it can be available to sport, exercise and health professionals from all over the country, to fit with the demands of full-time employment. The course structure is only offered in a part-time mode and is divided into two parts:

Part 1

This is the taught component of the programme, which will equip you with the skills you will need in preparation for Part 2. Part 1 consists of four units:

Professional Review and Development
Advanced Research Techniques
Publication and Dissemination
Proposal for Professional Research and Development
Attendance for Part 1 will be in six study blocks of three days duration spread over two academic years. Typically, you will be required to attend the University for up to 18 days for the whole of Part 1.

Part 2

This is the research and professional development component. It comprises one or two pieces of practice-based research, linked with a commentary demonstrating the relevance of the research to both practice and the practitioner. The nature of this study may include pure basic research or applied research related, for example, to a management or educational setting. This should normally take between 24 and 48 months to complete. Attendance for Part 2 will only be required for tutorials, seminars and oral presentations.

Assessment will be by a thesis, an oral presentation and a viva voce examination.

The University offers Accreditation for Prior Learning (APL), for applicants with previous learning experience and other academic achievement, which could be taken into account for some of the units of study. Claims will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Programme Assessment

You will be assigned one or more university supervisors, depending on the area of research and professional development. Access to specialist advisors in the workplace will be required for Part 2 of the programme and will vary according to the area of investigation. We have excellent support systems for our Professional Doctorate students and you will be assigned a Personal Tutor for Part 1 as well as two Supervisors for Part 2 of the course.

There are further opportunities to attend Research Seminars and Workshops organised by the University's Graduate School.

The Professional Doctorate consists of coursework and research and is credit based. The coursework component will build on professional expertise by exposing you to challenging and innovative ideas in your field.

Assessment is by coursework including preparation of an article for publication, a research proposal, and oral presentations. This should normally take 24 months to complete.

Student Destinations

The programme is predominantly work-based and the activities will benefit your workplace/profession. The decision to support an individual on this programme recognises their importance to the organisation and the projects undertaken should allow your organisation to develop new processes and procedures that will be of benefit to the workplace. We would also expect this course to be appealing to those interested in pursuing a career in academia (i.e. research, lecturing) in addition to, or as a potential option, to applied practice in the domain of sport, exercise and health science.

Read less

The MSc in Applied Exercise and Health Science builds on expertise at Canterbury Christ Church University to deliver a programme of academic and practical study. Drawing upon cross ­School, Faculty, and University expertise, as well as our industry links, the programme aims to produce graduates with a detailed academic knowledge, which is supported by an advanced practical skill set that has the potential to expand employment opportunities within the industry.

Visit the website: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/applied-exercise-and-health-science.aspx

Course detail

The MSc is set in the context of the current health climate, where there is an emphasis on the need to develop quality health services for all ages across the health and social sector. Poor lifestyle habits including physical inactivity are associated with the prevalence of certain chronic diseases and this programme aims to develop graduates who can critique current thinking in these areas, and through advanced scholarship develop ideas to progress this field. The technical skill sets that are required in this field will also be fully explored by you on the programme. The technical and practical work should be viewed on the programme as part of an advanced academic experience, developing the abilities to plan, collect, analyse and interpret advanced data in this field.

Suitability

The course is designed for those who wish to work or undertake further study in the exercise and health industry.

Specifically, the course offers you the opportunity to study a breadth of topic areas, but also an element of self­direction in the topics and practical skills that you would wish to enhance and be assessed on.

The course is of particular relevance, though not exclusive, to recent graduates of sport and exercise science, health science, or related disciplines.

Content

• Research methods
• Promoting Health and Wellbeing
• Psychology of Exercise and Health Behaviour Change
• Physical Activity in Health and Disease
• Health and Exercise with Special Populations
• Advanced Laboratory Techniques
• Dissertation

Format

You will be taught on the MSc in Applied Exercise and Health Science using a range of different learning events. These will include group lectures, seminars, and laboratory classes. Lectures may consist of tutor­ led sessions, and internal and external speakers who are research and/or practice active. The learning schedule and methods of delivery are designed to build a learning community around the topics of discussion, draw in student experience as a partner in the learning and teaching process, and will provide significant support for the transition to this level of study. The variety should allow students to maximise their potential in an environment stimulated by research­led and research­enhanced delivery.

Assessment

Summative assessments will be individual in nature (group work will be conducted in a formative environment), and will comprise 20 credit modules of practical assessment, case study presentation, critical review, oral presentation, examination, essay, portfolio and exam. There is a maximum of two assessments on each of the modules, to ensure a focused assessment timetable. The dissertation module will ensure a wide variety of ethical issues are considered in the proposal assessment phase, with a choice of submission ‘type’ for the dissertation document (thesis, or paper in the style of an appropriate academic journal).

What can I do next?

This programme is designed to enhance the employment prospects of those that want to work in applied exercise and health sciences by developing both academic knowledge and an advanced practical skill set for varied roles within this industry.

The course is suited for those interested in careers such as exercise rehabilitators, exercise physiologists, health care scientists, health improvement specialists, or various roles in the health and fitness industry or further study.

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/how-to-apply/how-to-apply.aspx

Funding

-Masters Loans-

From 2016/17 government loans of up to £10,000 are available for postgraduate Masters study. The loans will be paid directly to students by the Student Loans Company and will be subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.

For more information available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/funding-your-postgraduate-degree.aspx

-2017/18 Entry Financial Support-

Information on alternative funding sources is available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/2017-18-entry-financial-support.aspx

Read less

The Master of Health Science (Developmental Disability) is designed for practitioners from diverse backgrounds in disability services, including medical, nursing, dental, allied health therapies, social work, behavioural science and educational professions to develop specialist knowledge in the field of developmental disability.

Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy. People living with developmental disability, across their lifespan, confront many issues, especially in communication, physical and mental health, learning, family life, social inclusion, sexuality, self-help, and independent living.

Underpinned by theory, scholarship and research, this program looks to expand the knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by people with developmental disability, and enhance the skills of professionals to respond to the challenges faced by the sector.

The Master of Health Science (Developmental Disability) is taught by world-class leaders in the field who are committed to advancing health and social policy and practice solutions to enable affected individuals and their families to participate fully in society.

This program tackles some of the difficult questions in developmental disability, including sexuality, end-of-life issues, and parenting to ensure that people receive the support they need in these crucial aspects of their life that are all too often overlooked.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

With practical experience opportunities built into the curriculum, this programme is aimed at those who wish to build careers as exercise physiologists or exercise specialists within private or public healthcare, health promotion, or the health and fitness industry.

About the programme

Physical inactivity is a major factor in the national and international epidemic of preventable diseases. The programme examines the
effectiveness of exercise health interventions and investigates the use of exercise as a tool to assess future health risks. It will equip you with the high-level skills required to implement and interpret exercisebased data. With a strong emphasis on research, practical experience is also a key part of this programme.

Modules will look at analysis of individual’s behaviour towards their exercise and health choices, utilising network analyses as a novel method of investigation. Strong emphasis is placed on health screening and the understanding of medical data, covering the theory and interpretation of the tests that patients with chronic lifestyle diseases undergo.

There is also a strong focus on research informed practice. Modules include the design and implementation of exercise and health research, and in the data analyses of such research. These units are key not only in enhancing your ability to find, interpret and critically appraise literature from an expert standpoint, but also prepare you for your MSc project.

Practical experience

Opportunities exist to gain practical experience within specific modules and, if appropriate, within your MSc project.

Your learning

Postgraduate Diploma
• Research Methods for Exercise and Health Science
• Health Behaviour and Network Analyses
• Epidemiology and Health Screening
• Data Analyses for Exercise Science
• Applied Strength and Conditioning
• Exercise Prescription for Special Populations

MSc

Upon successful completion of the taught modules, students will undertake a project which leads to the MSc award.

Further study

Graduates from the programme may wish to pursue further studies i.e. a PhD within the area of exercise and health.

Our Careers Adviser says

Careers for graduates include exercise physiologist or exercise specialist with the NHS, in community health provision, and the private sector.

Note: To obtain the MSc, students will usually take 9 months to gain the Postgraduate Diploma and then normally an additional 3 months of study to gain the MSc, from the date of commencement of the project.

Industry expertise

UWS School of Science and Sport academics are experts in their field, many with international profiles in science, health and sport and experience with organisations such as the Olympic and Commonwealth bodies, the Scottish Football Association and the Welsh Rugby Union. We also work with a range of partners including Glasgow School of Sport, the Scottish Football Association and we have links with organisations such as Sport Scotland, BASES, UK Sport and many more.

First-class facilities

Our Institute for Clinical Exercise and Health Science provides the underpinning science for our sport programmes. Newly developed
facilities, spanning four floors of the Almada Building at Lanarkshire Campus, are equipped to carry out cutting-edge research and deliver state-of-the-art instruction.

Labs and learning areas include an exercise physiology laboratory, strength and conditioning laboratory, exercise biochemistry laboratory, blood analysis laboratory, EMG-ECGUltrasound laboratory, biomechanics laboratory, social psychology laboratory, a computer laboratory equipped with the latest in student research and learning software,
along with a traditional sports hall.

Students can have supervised access and experience with:
• health assessment
• ergometric fitness assessment
• protein analysis in blood and tissues
• RNA and DNA analysis
• electromyography, electrocardiography, and ultrasonography
• sports event management
• commercial fitness practice
• community fitness intervention
• sport performance analysis
• social and psychological analysis
• coaching practice

Read less

General Information

The Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) degree is a professional degree designed to give the graduate strong research methodology skills that can be applied to their academic and clinical interests. The program is adapted towards students who have an MD and want to gain research experience by applying epidemiological and statistical methods to a major paper under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students pursue course work in clinical research skills. These skills will include survey and questionnaire design and analysis, systematic reviews, clinical trial design, data analysis and presentation. Qualitative as well as program and economic evaluation methodology courses are available. The underlying precepts for all courses are critical thinking skills. There will be an opportunity to explore health policy and population health concepts but not in depth due to the limited number of credits needed to graduate.

Quick Facts

- Degree: Master of Health Science
- Specialization: Health Sciences
- Subject: Health and Medicine
- Mode of delivery: On campus
- Program components: Coursework + Major Project/Essay required
- Faculty: Faculty of Medicine

Master of Health Science

The M.H.Sc. program is designed to provide graduate education primarily for physicians. The emphasis is on the application of rigorous methodology to the study of health issues in populations, spanning assessment, and policy development and assurance.

Course work is in a wide variety of topics: etiologic research; data base analysis; assessment of diagnostic tests; clinical trials; policy analysis; utilization studies; investigations of occupational and environmental health issues. The program's goal is to enhance the students' development of critical thinking and skills in research design and conduct.

Read less

The MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology is a one-year full-time degree that provides core training in the basic skills of epidemiology and statistics, followed by detailed lectures on the global burden and determinants of disease. The course is open to graduates in medicine, biomedical science and other numerate disciplines. 

The course is now open to applications for admission in October 2018. All applications received by the deadline of Monday 8th January 2018 will automatically be considered for all relevant competitive University funding opportunities, including the Clarendon Fund, Medical Research Council funding, and various College funds.

For further details about eligibility and the application process, please contact our Graduate Studies Office via [email protected].

Course structure

The course will provide advanced training in epidemiological principles and procedures and the statistical analysis of epidemiological data, critical appraisal, study design and protocol development together with advanced knowledge and understanding of the global burden of disease and its determinants. This is an intensive course with 15-20 hours of contact time per week throughout the taught component of the course.

The curriculum consists of thirteen compulsory modules:

•            Introduction to Global Health Science

•            Principles of Epidemiology

•            Principles of Statistics

•            Non-communicable Diseases

•            Communicable Diseases

•            Maternal and Child Health

•            Health Economics

•            Clinical Trials and Meta-analysis

•            Nutritional Epidemiology

•            Implementation Strategies

•            Genetic Epidemiology

•            Record Linkage and Bio-informatics

•            International Research Ethics

In addition a series of weekly 'masterclasses' is scheduled in which internationally-recognised senior scientists in population health from Oxford, and elsewhere, will give seminars on selected topics. These sessions will be outside of the structure of the core modules, and are intended to provide the students with stimulating materials to integrate population health thinking and perspectives.

Pattern of teaching, learning and supervision

The teaching is delivered through a range of methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, student presentations, self-directed learning and study.

During the first two terms there are a series of formative assessments designed to enable teaching staff to monitor student progress. These marks do not contribute to the final marks. All students are provided with detailed feedback that will enable them to improve their learning by helping them identify their strengths and weaknesses.

There are four summative assessments in total. At the end of the Easter break this includes the submission of a data set analysis and report, and an extended essay. At the beginning of the third term there are two examinations involving two written papers comprising multi-component questions.

Following the written examinations students will undertake a research placement, leading to a dissertation. The purpose of the research placement and dissertation is to develop and deepen an appreciation and understanding of epidemiological concepts and skills learned during the course and to apply to a real world situation through independent study.

Read less

Why take this course?

The University of Portsmouth was one of the first institutions to respond to the rapid changes within health and social care by offering a Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care Disciplines programme. This programme started in October 2000, and has been highly successful in its delivery to these professionals.

The Professional Doctorate is an alternative pathway to a doctorate qualification. It is a rigorous programme of advanced study and research, designed specifically to meet the needs of commerce, industry and professional groups and is the professionally oriented counterpart to the more theoretical PhD. It enables students to study a specific subject to the same depth as PhD students, but also allows them to apply learning to their professional practice.

What will I experience?

The Faculty of Science offers seven health and social care programmes at doctorate level:

Doctorate in Biomedical Science (DBMS)
Doctorate in Chiropractic (DChiro)
Doctorate in Health Science (DHealthSci)
Doctorate in Medical Imaging (DMedImg)
Doctorate in Nursing (DNursing)
Doctorate in Pharmacy (DPharm)
Doctorate in Social Work (DSW)

These routes are taught together and this enables students in each cohort to benefit from the experience of others and provides a unique inter-professional learning environment.

The Professional Doctorate is open to a wide range of health and social care professionals, who have an active interest in practice-based research and professional practice issues, wish to attain the highest level of professional and academic achievement and develop their career within the health and social care arena. Relevance and application of the research to the professional environment will be a pivotal feature of the programme and reflection on practice will be integral to the learning process.

This course is recognised internationally as a qualification granted to those who have reached the highest level of professional and academic achievement in their field of endeavour.

What opportunities might it lead to?

On a personal level, successful completion of the Professional Doctorate will offer personal fulfilment, professional development, career enhancement and encourage reflective practice.

The programme aims to enhance personal development planning for continuing professional development and encourage an advanced level of critical, analytical, debating and publishing skills, plus knowledge of the range of different research methods encountered in professional practice.

Within the National Health Service (NHS) a Professional Doctorate is now being seen as an essential academic qualification for attaining higher level posts within the NHS Agenda for Change career framework.

Module Details

This is a part-time course, which has been specifically designed so that it can be available to health and social care professionals from all over the country, to fit with the demands of fulltime employment. The course structure is only offered in a part-time mode and is divided into two parts.

Attendance for Part 1 will be in six study blocks of three days duration spread over two academic years. Typically, students will be required to attend the University for up to 18 days for the whole of Part 1. Attendance for Part 2 will only be required for tutorials, seminars and oral presentations.

Part 1

This is the 'taught' component of the programme, which will equip students with the skills that they will need in preparation for Part 2. Part 1 consists of four units, namely:

Professional Review and Development

Advanced Research Techniques

Publication and Dissemination

Proposal for Professional Research and Development

Part 2

This is the research and professional development component and comprises one or two pieces of practice-based research, linked with a commentary demonstrating the relevance of the research to both practice and the practitioner. The nature of this study may include pure basic research or applied research related, for example, to a management or educational setting. This should normally take between 24 and 48 months to complete.

Assessment will be by a thesis, an oral presentation and a viva voce examination.

The University offers Accreditation for Prior Learning (APL), for applicants with previous learning experience and other academic achievement which could be taken into account for some of the units of study. Claims will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Programme Assessment

Each student will be assigned one or more University supervisors, depending on the area of research and professional development. Access to specialist advisors in the workplace will be required for Part 2 of the programme and will vary according to the area of investigation. We have excellent support systems for our Professional Doctorate students. All students are assigned a Personal Tutor for Part 1 as well as two Supervisors for Part 2 of the course.

There are further opportunities to attend Research Seminars and Workshops organised by the University's Graduate School.

The Professional Doctorate consists of coursework and research and is credit based. The coursework component is designed to help build on professional expertise by exposing students to challenging and innovative ideas in their field.

Assessment is by coursework (including preparation of an article for publication and a research proposal) and oral presentations. This should normally take 24 months to complete.

Student Destinations

Those students completing the MRes Science course will have moved to the next level of qualifications with the advantages that this offers in terms of learning and employability. They will also be in an excellent position to apply for any related doctoral training programme, research assistant positions, graduate teaching positions, or general research related roles.

Read less

This course will be held at the Medway Campus

- https://www.kent.ac.uk/locations/medway/

The Professional Doctorate in Sport, Exercise and Health Science is a specialist programme designed for experienced sport, exercise and health practitioners who would like to undertake research that is relevant and applied to their area of professional practice.

Through a combination of individually tutored modules and your own research, you develop your academic and professional knowledge and acquire a range of advanced research skills. The professional doctorate programme culminates with the submission of your doctoral thesis or portfolio on a topic that advances your area of professional knowledge or practice.

Visit the website https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/158/sport-exercise-and-health-science-professional-doctorate

About the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is one of the most exciting and innovative sports schools in the UK.

The School is based on the University’s award-winning Medway campus and has well-equipped, state-of the-art sports science laboratories, sports therapy clinic, sports rehabilitation gymnasium and respiratory clinic.

The University of Kent has recently benefited from the development of Medway Park, an £11 million project to create a regional centre of sporting excellence that was an approved pre-Olympic training camp venue for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Medway Park has hosted a number of major sporting events, such as the Modern Pentathlon World Cup and European Championships.

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences offers both taught and research postgraduate courses in Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.

Study support

- Postgraduate resources

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has recently invested heavily in its equipment and other resources, and has world-class sports therapy and sport science facilities. Campus facilities include a 12-couch teaching clinic and state-of-the-art sports science laboratories. There is a wide range of equipment, including motorised and non-motorised treadmills, cycle ergometers, an isokinetic dynamometer, and blood and gas analysis equipment. In addition, at Medway Park, the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has its own cutting-edge sports therapy clinic, rehabilitation gymnasium, sports science laboratories and a respiratory clinic.

There is also a hypoxic environmental chamber, and analytical chemistry, respiratory testing and psychobiology laboratories. These specialist rooms have been set up with over £700,000 of new equipment, including an anti-gravity treadmill, a 3D video analysis system, 2D force pedals, ultra-sound imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy and a gait analysis system.

The School operates a commercial sports injury and rehabilitation clinic, respiratory clinic and sports performance services from Medway Park to support elite athletes, regional squads and local residents. As a postgraduate student, you have the opportunity to develop your professional skills as you work with clients in the clinic and laboratory under staff supervision.

- Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in leading scientific journals. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise; American Journal of Sports Medicine; Journal of Applied Physiology; and British Journal of Sports Medicine.

- Researcher Development Programme

Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme (http://www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/skills/programmes/tstindex.html) for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subjectspecific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

Careers

Our programmes have been developed and designed to provide students with the required knowledge and skills to work autonomously in the field of sport science and sports therapy. The programmes provide opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate both specialist academic and transferable skills such as good communication, problem solving, critical analysis and the ability to work independently to a high standard. The programmes also aim to give you the opportunity to build long-term careers within your chosen field.

Find out how to apply here - https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/apply/

Read less

The University of Worcester’s Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) is a professional doctoral degree designed to enhance health leadership and professional practice. The programme is designed to provide an opportunity for health professionals to work creatively by analysing and synthesising research literature, and their own research evidence, to understand their own professional contexts more critically and to find solutions to key challenges in their working environment. In doing so it is envisaged that our students will become (and ultimately lead) communities of practice within their profession.
The Professional Doctorate award is distinct from the PhD award in the following respects:
• There is a considerable weighting given to a taught component which comprises an integral and key part of the programme, and the assessment of the taught component contributes directly towards the final award.
• The thesis produced by Professional Doctorate students will make an original contribution to knowledge within the relevant area or areas of professional practice.
The benefits of the DHSc are both organisational and personal. The evidenced-informed insights and new knowledge generated are likely to impact greatly: the participants undertaking the DHSc broadening and deepening their professional outlook.

Why Worcester?

Our DHSc programme offers you:
• Academic rigor: You will gain a deeper understanding of your chosen subject area with a challenging combination of research training and supervised research.
• A wide variety of research interests: We have a strong mix of academics with a high degree of professional and personal experience enabling you to get the most out of both the taught and research element of your programme.
• Excellent supervision: You will benefit from a professional and challenging relationship with your supervisory team, drawn from experienced professionals working at the forefront of their disciplines.
• Resources: Access to the University of Worcester’s virtual resources and to the state of the art library facilities at our new £60 million library.
• Networking opportunities: Because of the way that the taught element is structured and organised, the programme offers the enrichment opportunity of working alongside other health professionals, educational specialists and business executives forming a ‘community of practice’.

The benefits to your organisation

• Access to vital ‘cutting edge’ thinking.
• The opportunity to significantly enhance your organisation’s innovative capacity.
• The opportunity to offer senior health practitioners the chance for further career development.

Course aims

The DHSc Programme aims to develop health professionals’ ability to integrate rigorous academic/critical analysis with practical relevance and application to enable them to become more effective evidence-based practitioners and to contribute to the development of their profession through the furtherance of knowledge.

Course delivery

The Professional Doctorate is designed for busy working professionals so the taught programme begins with a one-week workshop followed by ten in depth teaching blocks delivered either by face-to-face meetings or by virtual tutorial, delivered over an 18 month period, to complement your workload.
Although described as a ‘taught’ programme, the DHSc is delivered through a process of critical engagement between academic staff and participants. The learning process includes lectures, facilitated discussions and participant presentations, as well as online interaction and workshops focusing on aspects of professional culture and the research process. These activities will be informed by participants’ knowledge, experience and contexts and focused upon exploring research questions and issues brought to the programme by those involved.
The research stage of your programme usually takes 2-3 years to complete and will culminate in the production of a 50,000 word thesis that will be examined by viva voce. It is expected that you will commence the thesis stage of the programme following notification that you have passed the taught element of the programme.

Module summary

• The Researching Professional
The purpose of this module - stretching across the length of the taught component of the professional doctorate - is to consider, in a holistic sense, the nature of ‘knowledge’, its generation and management in various contexts, and the relationship of this to your professional culture, identity and role. The multiple factors - at a macro, meso and micro level - which shape knowledge and organisational cultures will be critically explored. How knowledge is constructed and used, as well as how evidence and research informs, shapes and reshapes practices and professional self-identity within this, will all be critically evaluated within this module.
• Project Development, Planning and Management
This module develops further the rationale for your doctoral research project, drawing appropriately on relevant literature, conceptual or theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. A key aspect of the module is a focus on the practical aspects of conducting a piece of research. Specifically the module will equip you with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to plan, initiate, manage and write your doctoral research project.
• Research Methods and Design
This module will reflect on the variety of methods available to complete doctoral level research. You will discuss relevant and appropriate knowledge and skills required, including literature searching at doctorate level, critical reading, identifying and defining the research question, methodological and analytical processes involved in completing the research process, and research ethics associated with particular methods. You will be introduced to a variety of research methods dependent on the interests, circumstances and expertise of the participant cohort. Throughout this module, you will have the opportunity to compare and contrast research paradigms and approaches, consider the implications for your own research question and develop a design, including the formation of a research question.

How to apply

We are now recruiting for a January 2018 start. All applicants must complete the application form http://www.worc.ac.uk/professionaldoctorate and submit this to the University of Worcester’s Research School. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2017 with interviews being held at the end of November.

Read less

The Master of Biomedical and Health Science is a coursework degree to be undertaken in key research areas in the sub-Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

The focus in your initial year will be on research methods and practices. You will undertake coursework units in pedagogical and research skills training, and engage in specialist theory units. Your second year involves a full-time research project and internship under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. The internship will equip you with skills highly valued by employers.

The intention of the Masters program is to provide students with flexibility, a core Monash value enunciated in the "Monash: The Next 10 years" strategy document, and to gain an understanding of the nature of workplaces and their associated values, routines and cultures and to develop and refine skills and professional capacity for work.

The work undertaken in this degree must contribute significantly to the knowledge and understanding of a field of study of direct concern to the Faculty. Additionally, it must demonstrate your capacity to carry out independent research. In the second year, you will complete a literature review, assist in the planning of a research project, conduct the research project, and write a thesis.

Visit the website http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/biomedical-and-health-science-m6003?domestic=true

Specialisations

Infectious diseases and population health
This specialisation provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the most important, prevalent, emerging or neglected diseases affecting humans and conduct research to address that question in the second year of study, by generalising and integrating discipline knowledge gained in the first year of study. The emphasis is on those diseases affecting resource-poor or low and middle income countries and you will use a variety of research techniques and methodologies to address this question.

Neuroscience
This specialisation provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the relationships between brain processes and behaviour and conduct research to address that question in the second year of study, by generalising and integrating discipline knowledge gained in the first year of study. The emphasis is on the relationship between brain and behaviour, in health and/or disease, and you will use a variety of research techniques and methodologies to address this question.

Regenerative medicine and stems cells
This specialisation provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the repair or replacement of damaged human tissues and organs in health and disease and conduct research to address that question in the second year of study, by generalising and integrating discipline knowledge gained in the first year of study. The emphasis is on the cells, factors, other biological building blocks, and bioengineered materials and technologies that assist the body's regenerative capacity, and you will use a variety of research techniques and methodologies to address this question.

Cardiovascular diseases
This specialisation provides you with the skills to formulate a research question on the role of the cardiovascular system in health and disease and conduct research to address that question in the second year of study, by generalising and integrating discipline knowledge gained in the first year of study. The emphasis is on dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system in disease or how disease impacts on the cardiovascular system, and you will have the opportunity to use a variety of research techniques and methodologies, from the cellular level though to integrative physiology and pharmacology, including the whole animal, to address this question.

For more information visit the faculty website - http://www.study.monash/media/links/faculty-websites/medicine

Find out how to apply here - http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/biomedical-and-health-science-m6003?domestic=true#making-the-application

Read less

This course provides the opportunity to explore the impacts that environmental health stressors (threats) have on the physical health and social well-being of individuals and communities. It comprises a twelve-month course leading to a Masters Degree in Public and Environmental Health Sciences.

The ethos of the course is to provide international students with the skills and knowledge to work within a range of organizations including national or local government, health services, commercial companies and private consultancies. The course is led by experienced Environmental Health Practitioners supported by external lecturers who are recognized specialists in their fields. You will have opportunity to be taught by and supported in their own research dissertations by the research scientists within the Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management.

A virtual learning platform has been introduced to allow students to identify hazards and risks within an industrial environment. The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health for international students. It is taught in conjunction with the MSc in Environmental Health.

This programme is aimed at International students. If you are a UK/EU student, please see the equivalent Environmental Health MSc programme.

The course is taught using formal lectures; workshops; group work; case studies; practical simulations , industrial/commercial visits; and student centered learning. The virtual learning platform provides students with a hands- on opportunity for problem –solving. It supports building the foundation of competence through the knowledge and skills required by the CIEH, and provides an accredited pathway for science-based graduates to become environmental health practitioners. It is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

About the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences has a renowned history for international excellence in research and teaching.
Our postgraduate programmes are shaped by research that addresses global grand challenges across the fields of geography, planning, earth sciences, environmental science, occupational health and safety, and environmental and public health. With policy- and practice-focused teaching, all our programmes have high employability outcomes.
We offer excellent facilities for postgraduate study including extensive map and archive facilities, earth imaging laboratory, stable-isotope laboratory (SILLA), environmental library, fully digital drawing office, and state-of-the-art laboratories for environmental chemistry, sedimentology, ecology, groundwater and palaeobiology. Our diverse range of programmes will provide you with a thorough understanding of the discipline, high-quality training and skills development, and access to our expert staff and extensive facilities.
Our graduates go on to forge careers in areas that matter – from environmental consultancies and the hydrocarbon industries, to urban planning, policy roles in NGOs and government regulatory services – and make a real contribution to global challenges. Many graduates also go on to study for PhDs.

Funding and Scholarships

There are many ways to finance your postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. To see what funding and scholarships are available, please visit: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

Open Days

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at our on-campus open days.
Register to attend at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit

Virtual Open Days

If you can’t make it to one of our on-campus open days, our virtual open days run regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit: http://www.pg.bham.ac.uk

Read less

This programme is aimed at students working towards a career in research. Two thirds of this programme is spent in the execution of a supervised individual research project within one of the research groups in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience. The remaining third of the programme consists of a research skills module and an optional module which may be selected from a list containing further research skills or subject related academic modules.

In recent years, research and knowledge exchange in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience has developed significantly, largely due to the success in Research Assessment Exercise 2008 and our revised Research and Knowledge Exchange strategy bringing together our core research themes.

Research is carried out at national and international levels, undertaken with a variety of partners including the NHS, industry and other UK and overseas universities. Research is concentrated in research groups, including the internationally recognised Institute for Health and Human Development.

Other research groups in the School focus on Medicines Development, Human Motor Performance, Infection and Immunity and Applied Sports Science.

This programme has been designed to allow students to gain a Masters award primarily through completion of a substantial research project and will appeal to students hoping to pursue a career in scientific research. Research projects are undertaken within the established research groups providing an opportunity to participate in, and contribute to, ongoing projects.

Read less

The MSc Health Policy will develop your understanding of, and critical engagement with, key challenges in health policy. Both state and non-state actors grapple with how best to promote the health of communities and populations, including the most effective strategies for preventing disease, ensuring efficient and high quality health care, and reducing health inequalities.

These challenges extend beyond the traditional domain of the health sector, requiring engagement with economic and social policy and a range of non-state actors including third sector organisations, commercial interests and international agencies.

The MSc in Health Policy is designed for individuals interested in a wide range of health-related roles including government and international agencies, health advocacy, health administration and health care delivery, consultancies, advisory roles, the commercial sector, and health-related research. Within the programme there is scope for you to specialise in either health systems or health inequalities, or to follow a broad policy stream.

The Health Systems stream is ideal for those seeking to work in health care policy, planning or management, in either the public or private sectors. It will expose you to different models of health care financing, purchasing and delivery, equipping them to engage with key contemporary challenges and debates including how to achieve sustainable health care financing, the role of the state in health care, the appropriate mix of public and private provision, and how best to achieve the goals of equity, efficiency and quality in health care delivery.

The Health Inequalities stream is ideal for those seeking to engage with health disparities both between and within countries, particularly those relating to inequities in social structures and power. In this stream you will explore evidence and policy responses to health inequalities across a range of axes, including class/socioeconomic position, ethnicity/race and gender, and will consider how health and its determinants are shaped by a range of influences including social and economic policy, commercial power and political conflict. This stream is particularly suited to those interested in working in policy, advocacy and research settings with a focus on health equity.

You may also elect to follow a broad policy stream within the MSc Health Policy, rather than specialising in health systems or health inequalities. This stream equips you with an understanding of how health policy fits within broader approaches to social and economic policy, and is particularly suitable for individuals wanting to work in public policy, advocacy or research.

Our students come from countries at all levels of economic development and from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, with many using the MSc as an investment to develop their careers or move into a more policy-focused role. While the programme has a strong policy focus, it also includes an academic orientation so is good preparation for further research at PhD level.

The MSc programme is situated within the Global Public Health Unit, which is located in University’s School of Social and Political Science rather than a medical school. This reflects our programme’s reach across traditional boundaries, linking policy analysis, public health, social policy, economics, sociology, medicine and epidemiology. The MSc programme offers innovative research-led teaching that draws on academic expertise from all these disciplines, while also benefitting from close links with the Centre for Population Health Sciences in the University's medical college.

Programme structure

You will complete one compulsory course and a number of option courses.

Following the taught courses, you will work towards an independently researched dissertation.

Learning outcomes

This programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge and critical skills you need to play a senior role in health policy, advocacy and research.

Specific aims are to:

• Have a critical understanding of core concepts and frameworks relevant to health policy and population health.
• Be aware of key contemporary challenges to health and the role of the state and other actors in seeking to address these.
• Have a critical awareness of the links between health policy and broader social and economic policies, including the extent to which health objectives may complement or be in tension with other social goals
• Understand different models of health care financing, purchasing and delivery, and be able to draw on these in critically appraising the roles of different actors in the development and implementation of health policy and in a diverse range of health systems reforms (Health Systems stream)
• Understand the social determinants of health and health inequalities, and apply this understanding in critically evaluating different approaches to improving health and reducing health inequalities (Health Inequalities stream)

Career opportunities

This programme is intended to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue employment positions in policy, advocacy and research roles relevant to health policy. Most students use the MSc as an investment to develop their careers or move into a more policy-focused area, including jobs with health agencies or consultancies, government departments, international organisations and third sector organisations. By combining an advanced degree from a world-leading university with expertise in an innovative field relevant to multiple policy agendas, students who successfully complete our programmes are well placed to secure interesting positions within an often very competitive area.

Our graduates in recent years have moved on to a range of exciting employment and research positions. These include positions with health departments and other government ministries in both high-income and developing countries; with agencies and donor organisations working in health care and health promotion; with international organisations and consultancy; research positions examining health systems for the European Union and other levels of regional governance; and employment in commercial sector organisations including pharmaceutical and other health-related companies.

All students have access to the Edinburgh University Careers Service during the programme and for two years after graduation.

Read less