DPP Doctor of Public Policy

Professional doctorates are doctoral-level qualifications, equivalent to traditional PhDs. They are rigorous programmes of advanced applied study and research, specifically designed to meet the needs of practising professionals. They provide a framework for the integration of professional expertise and scholarly inquiry to explore specific areas of interest.

This course provides comprehensive analysis on public sector reforms, including evidence-based policy and practice. It supports creating greater capacity within the public and voluntary sectors to conduct, commission and evaluate research as a contribution to the achievement of public goals. You will be assigned two supervisors who will support and guide you throughout the course.

The flexible nature of the course allows you to study while also meeting your career commitments and the needs of your employer. For example, if your employer requires regular feedback, we will build this into the course for you. You can also tailor the course to suit your needs and research interests by choosing modules that align with your thesis.

The School of Sociology and Social Policy undertakes cutting-edge local, national, international and cross-national research through its research staff that work across the disciplines of sociology, social and public policy, criminology, cultural studies and social work.

By combining and synthesising these disciplines around common interests and issues, we produce theoretically innovative and empirically robust knowledge that is valued by the academic community, policymakers, professionals and service providers.

In your first year, you will study 120 credits of taught modules; this will be over years one and two for part-time students.

Exemption from these modules is subject to approval, providing that you hold the required skills and knowledge covered in the modules at an equivalent level, because of prior training or experience.

The remaining period of study (years two and three for full-time students, years three to six for part-time students) will be spent writing a 60-80,000-word thesis. This should offer an original application of knowledge in the area of public policy and should demonstrate an ability to integrate rigorous academic analysis with practical relevance and application.

To facilitate the link with professional practice and your workplace, the thesis may cover up to three discrete but inter-related projects. Where the thesis covers more than one topic, the minimum number of words for each topic is 20,000. You will also need to present a viva voce examination on your thesis.

This module provides an applied, critical and informed understanding of policy-making and policy analysis in government.

It examines key concepts, models and theories of policy-making and policy analysis, and illustrates them by examining policy-making in Britain and other countries.

This module will cover models of management and governance in the public sector.

It will critically examine comparative and historic trends in managerial practices and theory and contextually relevant ideas about management and governance in the public sector, including specific professional contexts.

This will include critically exploring specific debates about the alleged move from public administration to new public management and new public governance, from hierarchical to networked and marketised forms of organisation, and those involving communities in the design and delivery of public services.

This module introduces you to comparative analyses of different welfare state models and approaches to social and public policy; institutions, issues and debates in international social and public policy; and methods of cross-country comparative analysis.

Topics include:

This module is provides a general introduction to a range of key issues in the design and practice of social research. The module combines more formal taught sessions with practical exercises, some of which are group based.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the methodological and practical skills to carry out independent research using a variety of research designs and methods.

This module provides guidance on writing both a thesis proposal and a thesis. The module considers academic debates about different methodologies alongside practical issues.

You will critically appraise relevant literature and prepare a detailed plan of your programme of research in terms of a research design, theoretical framework, milestones, resources required, and ethical considerations.

You will be assigned two supervisors who will support and guide you through your research project, in years two and three. One of these supervisors will act as personal tutor during your first year, for primary pastoral support. Academic support for the taught modules is provided by the module convenors.

You are expected to attend the school-wide PhD seminars, which are aimed at all PhD students, and provide them with support and knowledge relevant to PhD study. These seminars also provide peer-support for practical and academic issues, as well as a social network.