Social Work (Professional Doctorate) DSW

School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law

Develop your leadership and applied research skills in professional practice with a professional doctorate in Social Work

Date of entry

September 2024

Start date
September 2024
Duration
48 months (part time)
Location
Dundee City Campus / Online

Through the active involvement of our Carer and User Group, you will be able to draw on the expertise of carers and those who use social work services.

Ranked in the top 10 in the UK for Social Work (The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024), the school prioritises applied interdisciplinary research, influencing policy and practice. Collaborative teams, spanning disciplines like Nursing, Medicine, Computing, and Psychology, engage with local and international partners, including government bodies, NGOs, and commercial sponsors. Key affiliations with the University of Dundee Graduate School, the Social Dimensions of Health Institute, and Research Councils enhance our impactful research.

Our Research centres are tightly focused and have a track record of international significance:

Overview of Professional Doctorates 

Our Professional Doctorates are designed for people already working in their fields who want to boost and refine their knowledge and skills in an academic setting. The programme has two parts: a two-year taught phase with classes worth 180 credits, and then a two-year research phase where you dig into issues related to your current field of work. At the end, you present and defend your thesis in an oral exam. Successful candidates will attain a doctoral degree that is equivalent to a PhD. 

Professional Doctorate researchers usually have a lot of hands-on experience and benefit from a structured teaching plan that helps them grow as scholars. The programme uses a mix of online and in-person classes, making it a good choice for people who work and want to study part-time. It's especially good for those who want to bring an academic or theoretical approach to their professional work.

Key features of Professional Doctorates 

  1. Part-time, spanning four years
  2. Blended approach, with remote delivery and two in-person teaching weeks each year in February and June
  3. Delivered in two phases: taught phase and research phase
Contact our enquiry team

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