Information for Applicants

Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice

Applications are suspended for academic year 2022 - 2023

Entry requirements

You will normally be an experienced systemic professional working as a consultant, therapist, manager, trainer, supervisor, social worker, community worker or similar.
You will have an advanced level of understanding of systemic practice.
It is expected that you will possess a minimum of a postgraduate qualification in an area of systemic practice or equivalent or higher professional qualification and a minimum of three years systemic practice experience.
You will be working in a relevant professional context which enables you to carry out practice-based inquiry.
You will be interested in studying an aspect of relational practice using systemic social constuctionist theory including dialogical, collaborative, narrative, appreciative, post-Milan, open dialogue, new materialist and transmaterial worlding practices.

Application Process

Before applying

Check your eligibility
Arrange a meeting with the Programme Director
If possible, come to an Open Day for the Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice

Ready to apply?

Email all the following documents in this order as a single Word or PDF email attachment to research@beds.ac.uk and pdsp@beds.ac.uk

PDSP Application Form - [writable PDF]
Working Proposal. A three page treatment of a possible systemic research proposal, situated in your professional practice. Please write clearly and integrate a range of systemic theory into your statement. Indicate why you are drawn to this subject, why it is important for you and potentially for others. We appreciate that such interests are evolving and are likely to shift or change.
Reflective Statement. Six pages of autobiographical writing discussing your values, your intellectual and professional journeys, aspirations, and life experiences that have led to your decision to apply to this programme. Include examples of artistic or literary work, hobbies, politics, things or people that matter to you.
Academic Writing Sample: A writing sample of eight-to-ten pages (typed, double-spaced) that demonstrates your capacity to think critically and reflectively and demonstrates graduate level writing abilities. This must use a proper referencing system. You may submit copies of previous work, such as a recent academic paper, article, or report that reflects scholarly abilities.
Curriculum Vitae
Photocopies of all relevant professional and academic certificates.
Two Letters of Recommendation. One referee should be able to comment on your ability to do advanced academic work. Both should use standard business format and include full contact information - name, email, phone number, and mailing address and state the capacity in which they know you. The Letters of Recommendation can be sent as separate PDF files.

Please submit all the above in this order as a single Word or PDF email attachment. The Letters of Recommendation must be sent as separate PDF files.

Open Days

Once you have attended an open day, you might want to sign up for an Application Preparation Session.

Contact information

Please email pdsp@beds.ac.uk to arrange an online talk.

Time committment

The duration of the programme is 36 months minimum, 60 months maximum, part-time.

Years 1 -2: 15 - 20 days attendance for each of first two years. Plus the equivalent of 2 days independent study days per week.
Years 3 - 5: 5 - 10 days attendance per year. Plus the equivalent of 2 days independent study days per week.

Next intake

September 2021.

Location

The programme is taking place online until Spring 2022 when we plan to return to in person meetings at the Postgraduate Centre, Luton Campus, University Square, Luton, LU1 3JU and Putteridge Bury, Luton See map and directions

Fees

£4,300 per year for UK/EU students for 2021/22. International students: please enquire by emailing pdsp@beds.ac.uk

What next?

Please read the 2021 PDSP Programme Handbook [PDF] and visit the application page before applying.