About This Course
The Professional Doctorate as a distanced learning pathway with e-learning modules seeks to offer an alternative route for advanced practitioners in the UK and overseas to gain an applied doctoral-level qualification and consolidate both their learning and expertise, as well as gain new insights and theoretical perspectives. It builds on contemporary research evidence underpinning applied practice, health behaviour and health related policy in relation to dementia care from the disciplines of mental health and health and social care management.
The Professional Doctorate is aligned with contemporary UK and Wales-based policy imperatives guiding the development of dementia care and responds to the educational requirements of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other NHS organisations in the UK. The Professional Doctorate provides a distanced learning pathway with e-learning modules and access to the Research Summer School to provide a flexible mode of learning, involving partnership with the student’s host organisation. It also provides a range of exit awards that provide opportunities for tailoring a bespoke programme of postgraduate education for clinicians and those seeking development towards the Professional Doctorate.
Main aims of the programme:
To provide students with a rigorous framework for the development and synthesis of empirical, professional and organisational knowledge linked to ageing and dementia as the basis for the development of enhanced health and social care services.
Intended programme outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding
- An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specific issues at the forefront of theory and practice in students’ professional fields linked to ageing and dementia that enables them to critically evaluate research and provide possible alternative hypotheses.
- A comprehensive understanding of relevant research and scholarly approaches applicable to practice and service improvement linked to ageing and dementia, with an informed knowledge of how the results of this application may improve health and social care practice and develop research ideas/policy.
- The intellectual capability to advance practice through research and scholarly activity.
Subject-specific skills
- Effectively articulate the concepts and the context of their professional work.
- Select appropriate methods for advancing thinking within the context of health and social care practice and services linked to ageing and dementia.
- Demonstrate the skills necessary for planning practice and service improvement activities, monitoring implementation activity and evaluating impact linked to ageing and dementia.
- Acquire the transferable skills and qualifications relevant to progress towards their proposed career pathway.
- Effectively articulate the concepts and the context of their work linked to ageing and dementia.
- Resolve complex organisational and practice issues within the context of the workplace, taking into consideration budgetary, political, strategic, ethical and social issues linked to ageing and dementia.
Cognitive (thinking) skills
- Provide a level of critical thinking that develops and advances new ideas
- Demonstrate an ability to conduct a critical enquiry synthesising theoretical, empirical, professional and ethical perspectives.
Key skills
- Develop transferable skills commensurate with the Research Councils' Joint Statement on Training Requirements for research students.
- Adopt high-level skills in identifying and enhancing personal and professional leadership capacity.
‘Ageing & Dementia@Bangor’/Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC).
The research activity embedded in ‘Ageing & Dementia@Bangor’/DSDC which has a particular focus on resilience and the importance of evaluating and developing health and social care in ageing as well as dementia. In particular, it includes a representation of dementia and ageing within a family and network context. As part of the research centre there is a vibrant group of postgraduate research projects examining a wide range of areas linked to ageing and dementia, ranging from developing compassionate dementia care in healthcare practice, to exploring how best to improve discharge from hospital into care homes.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
Core modules:
(Postgraduate Cert) 60 Credits
- e-Research (20 Credits)
- Social networks and communities for Health and Wellbeing (20 Credits)
- Successful Ageing, Resilience and wellbeing (20 Credits)
(Postgraduate Dip) 60 Credits
- Creative Approaches to Ageing (20 Credits)
- Positioning Dementia Care (e) (20 Credits)
- Evidence for Improvement (20 Credits)
Optional Selection (60 Credits):
- Managing transitions and Rehabilitation (20 Credits)
- Communication in Dementia Care (e) (20 Credits)
- Managing complex transitions (e)(20 Credits)
- Culturally Sensitive Care (e) (20 Credits)
- Advancing Professional Knowledge (20 Credits)
- Introduction to Health Economics (20 Credits)
- Trials in complexity (20 Credits)
- Basic Trial Design (20 Credits)
- Applied Evaluation and review (20 Credits)
Additional Exit Award
If students wish to exit the programme rather than complete the Doctorate Professional the relevant exit award will be to complete a dissertation option: MSc in Ageing and Dementia Resilience (60 Credits)
Entry Requirements
Students will be expected to be working in a role which has the capacity to support achievement of the course aims and objectives, and to be able to demonstrate organisational support.
Admission by undergraduate degree
Successful completion of Bachelor degree (minimum 2:ii) with significant experience in health service development. Students will be expected to be working in a role which has the capacity to support achievement of the course aims and objectives, and to be able to demonstrate organisational support.
Admission by Experience: Mature student status
A candidate may be considered for acceptance provided that they have relevant work experience and have strong references and personal statement. Usually, under such circumstances, the candidate would be invited for an interview where circumstances allowed (e.g. face-to-face, Skype, telephone).
English Language Requirement
IELTS: 6.5 (with no element below 6.5) is required.
