Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) (DSW)

About the Course

The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is designed for experienced social work professionals who wish to enhance practice, leadership and service development through doctoral-level research. It is intended for qualified social workers, managers, leaders and practitioners working across statutory, voluntary and independent sectors who wish to generate original knowledge capable of informing practice, policy and organisational change.

The programme recognises that social workers develop substantial professional expertise through practice. The DSW provides a structured pathway that enables participants to build upon this experience whilst developing the advanced research skills, theoretical understanding and critical reflection required of doctoral study.

Unlike a traditional PhD, the Doctor of Social Work 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 social work practice, leadership or policy.

Throughout the programme, participants critically engage with contemporary professional issues, research methodologies, professional knowledge, ethics, and evidence-informed practice. The emphasis is on developing reflective practitioners capable of using research to improve services, influence policy and contribute to professional and scholarly debates.

The programme is suitable for experienced practitioners working across children's services, adult services, safeguarding, community services, criminal justice, health and social care, voluntary organisations and related professional contexts. Applicants are normally seeking to undertake research that emerges directly from their professional practice and experience.

The Doctor of Social Work is a doctorate through practice rather than simply a doctorate about practice. It is designed for professionals who wish to investigate significant challenges arising within contemporary social work and social care and to generate knowledge capable of informing professional practice, policy development and service improvement.

Curriculum Overview

The Doctor of Social Work 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 issue they wish to investigate. All assessments are designed to contribute directly to the development of the doctoral research proposal.

The taught phase encourages interdisciplinary dialogue between professionals from a wide range of sectors. Participants examine how common challenges relating to leadership, ethics, evidence, professional authority, organisational decision-making and change management manifest across different professional settings. This interdisciplinary environment provides a rich context within which students can refine and develop their own doctoral research projects.

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 social work, social care or a related professional field. The research phase culminates in the submission of a doctoral thesis.

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. For the Doctor of Social Work, applicants would typically have substantial experience within social work, social care, safeguarding, community services, criminal justice, health and social care, or related professional contexts.

A Master's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university (or an equivalent qualification from outside the UK) is desirable.

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. Such applicants may be asked to submit a written review of a contemporary issue relevant to their field that demonstrates critical understanding and the capacity for doctoral study.

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 Social Work 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 research, methodological debates, professional knowledge and critical issues affecting professional practice. A distinctive feature of the programme is its interdisciplinary nature. Students study alongside professionals from a wide range of sectors, creating opportunities to explore how questions of evidence, ethics, leadership, professional judgement and organisational change emerge across different professional contexts. Teaching is discussion-based and research-focused, encouraging participants to draw upon their own professional experience whilst engaging critically with academic literature and contemporary debates.

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, professional practice and policy development. The programme supports students in developing rigorous, impactful and professionally relevant research capable of informing change within social work, social care and related 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 Social Work is intended for experienced social work professionals seeking to deepen their professional expertise and enhance their influence within social work, social care and related sectors.

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

Graduates may progress into senior leadership, strategic management, consultancy, workforce development, policy development, professional education and research leadership roles. Others use the qualification to support innovation, organisational development and professional advancement within social work and social care settings.

Graduates of the Doctor of Social Work are independent researchers and professional leaders who have generated original knowledge through rigorous doctoral inquiry. They are equipped to influence professional practice, inform policy development and contribute authoritatively to debates concerning social work, social care and contemporary society.