Doctorate in Health and Social Care


School of study	School of Health and Social Work

Entry requirements
The entry requirements for the programme are:
- A Master's degree (normally at least 2:1 or above) in a relevant subject.
- An honours degree (normally at least 2:1 or above) in an appropriate discipline.
- A commitment to attend (either online or face to face) induction, guided learning and tutorial support up to three times per year of the programme (a maximum of six days).

About the course

A University of Hertfordshire research degree is an internationally recognised degree signifying high levels of achievement in research. The course develops extensive subject expertise and independent research skills that are honed over an extended period, depending on the level of the award.

The Doctorate in Health and Social Care (DHaSC) is a programme of advanced study, uniquely designed to develop the research and leadership capacity of health and social care practitioners and professionals. The core purpose of the programme is to foster the development of research which complements practitioners and policy professionals. This programme is suitable for staff working across all levels of seniority in health and social care.

How to apply

Please contact the Programme Leader, Dr Chaz Simpson (c.m.simpson@herts.ac.uk) to discuss the application process and obtain guidance to inform the completion of the needed Research Proposal which must accompany any application.

When applying you need to complete and supply the following documents to the University of Hertfordshire Doctoral College:

Download an application form and supply to the Doctoral college.
Copies of higher qualification(s) certificates (with transcripts), and one form of photo ID (passport, or driving license etc).
IELTS entry requirements is normally 6.5, TOEFL 550 (213 CBT) or equivalent for overseas students.

Teaching methods

The programme normally takes five to six years to complete and offers flexibility if circumstances change throughout your period of study. A combination of both online and on-campus research resources and supervision gives you the opportunity to study from home or workplace and attend the University up to three times per year. This course combines guided learning with intensive doctoral supervision, allowing you to produce a focused research programme leading to the submission of a dissertation.

Course experts

Programme Leader Chaz Simpson

Find out more about Programme Leader Chaz Simpson

What’s next for my career?

By undertaking a PhD at the University of Hertfordshire, you will gain:

an internationally recognised research qualification
advanced subject expertise at postgraduate level
research skills through practice and extensive research experience.

Employers are consistently looking for high caliber graduates with advanced skills who can demonstrate an intensive level of independence through research.