Doctorate of Health and Social Care (D.HSC)

About the Course

The Doctor of Health and Social Care (D.HSC) is designed for experienced professionals who wish to transform health and social care practice through doctoral-level research. It is intended for practitioners, managers, leaders and policymakers working across health, social care, community services, welfare provision and related professional contexts who wish to generate original knowledge capable of informing practice, policy and organisational development.

The programme recognises that health and social care professionals possess substantial expertise developed through years of practice. The D.HSC provides a structured pathway that enables participants to build upon this professional experience whilst developing the advanced research skills, theoretical understanding and intellectual independence required of doctoral study.

Unlike a traditional PhD, the Doctor of Health and Social Care combines a taught phase with a substantial independent research project. This enables participants to develop confidence as researchers before progressing to the completion of an original doctoral thesis focused upon a significant issue within their professional field.

Throughout the programme, participants critically engage with contemporary professional issues, research methodologies, professional knowledge, ethics, governance and evidence-informed practice. The emphasis is on developing professionals who can use research to improve services, influence policy, challenge existing assumptions and lead meaningful change.

The programme is suitable for experienced professionals working across health and social care settings, including community services, social care organisations, healthcare providers, local authorities, voluntary organisations and third-sector agencies. Applicants are normally practitioners or leaders seeking to undertake research that has the potential to improve outcomes for individuals, communities and organisations.

The Doctor of Health and Social Care is a doctorate through practice rather than simply a doctorate about practice. It is designed for professionals who wish to investigate significant challenges emerging from their own professional contexts and to generate knowledge capable of informing innovation, service improvement and policy development.

Curriculum Overview

The Doctor of Health and Social Care is delivered in two phases.

Phase One: Taught Phase

The taught phase provides a structured foundation for doctoral study through six interconnected modules:

• Critical and Contemporary Issues
• Introduction to Research in Practice
• Literature Review in Your Specialism
• Research Methods
• Methodology and Methods in Your Specialism
• Research Proposal

These modules support students in developing advanced research knowledge, methodological expertise and a clear understanding of the educational issue they wish to investigate. All assessments are designed to contribute directly to the development of the doctoral research proposal.

The taught phase also encourages interdisciplinary discussion with professionals from a range of sectors, enabling participants to explore how research, evidence, ethics and professional judgement operate across different professional contexts.

Phase Two: Research Phase

Following successful completion of the taught phase and approval of the research proposal, students progress to the doctoral research phase.

Working with an experienced supervisory team, students undertake a substantial programme of original research focused upon a significant issue within education or a related professional field. The research phase culminates in the submission of a doctoral thesis and viva voce examination.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally hold a minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.

Applicants should also normally demonstrate a minimum of three years of sustained professional experience relevant to the proposed field of doctoral study. Professional doctorates are intended for experienced practitioners who can draw upon their professional knowledge and expertise to inform doctoral-level inquiry.

A Master's degree in a relevant discipline is desirable but not essential.

Applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic requirements may nevertheless be considered if they can demonstrate significant professional experience and the potential to undertake research at doctoral level.

All applicants will normally be required to attend an interview and discuss their proposed area of research with members of the Professional Doctorate team.

International Entry Requirements

International applicants should possess qualifications equivalent to the University's standard entry requirements and demonstrate a high level of competence in written and spoken English. Applicants whose first language is not English will normally be required to achieve IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, or an equivalent recognised qualification.

Teaching and Research

The Doctor of Health and Social Care is available through full-time and part-time study at Liverpool Hope University, alongside a Professional Doctorate International route delivered fully online. These flexible study options enable students from the UK and across the world to undertake doctoral study in a manner that reflects their professional and personal circumstances.

Teaching on the campus-based routes is delivered through a combination of face-to-face and online learning, including Saturday and evening teaching. The Professional Doctorate International route is delivered entirely online, enabling students to participate from anywhere in the world whilst remaining fully engaged in a vibrant doctoral learning community.

Throughout the taught phase, students engage with contemporary health and social care research, methodological debates, professional knowledge and critical issues affecting policy and practice. Teaching is discussion-based and research-focused, encouraging participants to draw upon their own professional experience whilst engaging critically with academic literature and current debates within the field.

Each student is supported by a specialist research mentor whose expertise aligns closely with their proposed area of research. Alongside module teaching, students maintain a professional learning journal which supports their development as reflective practitioner-researchers and helps them track their progress towards doctoral-level study.

Research projects are developed around the professional interests, expertise and aspirations of individual students. Participants are encouraged to investigate significant issues arising within their own professional contexts and to undertake research that has the potential to make an original contribution to knowledge, policy and practice. The programme supports students in developing rigorous, impactful and professionally relevant research capable of informing change within health and social care organisations and services.

UK/Channel Island Tuition Fees

Visit our Postgraduate research tuition fees page for full details

EU/Non EU International Tuition Fees

Visit our Postgraduate research tuition fees page for full details

Funding your studies

Students on this course may be eligible for doctoral loans to support the cost of study. Further information is available through the University’s funding and scholarships pages.

Careers

The Doctor of Health and Social Care is intended for experienced professionals seeking to enhance their influence within health, social care and related sectors.

Graduates develop advanced capabilities in research, critical analysis, leadership and evidence-informed decision-making. The programme prepares participants to contribute to service improvement, policy development and professional innovation through research-informed leadership.

Graduates may progress into senior leadership, strategic management, consultancy, policy development, professional education, service improvement and research leadership roles. Others use the qualification to support progression into higher education, professional training and specialist advisory positions.

The programme equips graduates to become confident producer-users of research capable of influencing practice, shaping policy and leading change within complex health and social care environments.