Battersea bridge in the sunshine
Jo Young
Professional and practice-based doctorates (PD) are gaining traction and not just in universities, but across sectors where advanced practice, innovation and impact are central concerns. In recent years, many PD candidates have attended our training courses so I wanted to better understand these doctorates, how they differ from the traditional PhD and why more professionals are choosing them.
Attending the UKCGE 9th International Conference on Professional and Practice Doctorates in London earlier this week gave me that chance and a fascinating insight to the world of PDs. I enjoyed many discussions over the course of the two days with researchers, PD supervisers and students at the fabulous venue of the Royal College of Art, and all in the glorious London spring sunshine!
But before I share my thoughts, what are professional and practice based doctorates?
Professional doctorates, such as the Doctor of Education (EdD) or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), are tailored for professionals in fields like education, business, engineering and healthcare. They integrate academic research with professional practice, focusing on solving real-world problems in a specific profession. These programs often include taught modules alongside a research component.
Practice-based doctorates emphasise creative or practice-led research. They are common in fields like the arts, design, and clinical disciplines. These programs combine a shorter written thesis with significant practical outputs, such as performances, designs, or clinical trials. The practical component is central to the research methodology and outcomes.
The importance of these doctorates
At the conference, it became clear just how far these programmes have come and why they matter now more than ever.
Professionals are turning to these doctorates not only to deepen their knowledge, but also to transform their practice, their organisations and their sectors. These are doctorates with direct impact. As Professor Hala Mansour put it, professional doctorates often lead to a tangible impact – whether in industry, NGOs, public services or creative fields.
They’re industry aligned, embedded in professional settings and focused on addressing real world challenges. Crucially, many involve co-creation with external stakeholders and collaborative engagement with employers, funders and practitioners.
I couldn’t find exact statistics for the total number of candidates in the UK studying for a PD this year (though anecdotally I heard it is approximately 7% of the ~115,000 UK doctoral candidates), but the number is rising. If anyone does know, please share!
Challenges
Nomenclature: As Professor Carol Costley highlighted, one challenge often mentioned was nomenclature. These doctorates go by many names (e.g. professional, practice based, practice led, practitioner) and the lack of consistency can cause confusion, especially for prospective students.
Thesis expectations: The final thesis can be very different to a traditional PhD. I’ve spoken to candidates who were unclear about what they were expected to produce. For some, the thesis feels like a moving target: is it academic? Reflective? Practice focussed? A combination of all three?
Balance: Another tension lies in balancing academic rigour with professional relevance. How do we ensure that research outputs are meaningful both to practitioners and to academic peers? These are not simple questions, but they reflect the growing space that these doctorates occupy.
International perspective: The Netherlands
The conference showcased how different national systems are responding to the rise of practice based doctorates. In particular, the Dutch pilot of the Professional Doctorate (PD) in the 36 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) is one of the most ambitious experiments in rethinking doctoral education. Presented by Frank van der Zwan-Scholtz, Maartje Marmelink and colleagues, this national initiative is reshaping the Dutch higher education landscape. These doctorates are explicitly practice based, industry aligned and designed to address complex societal challenges. With national funding, quality frameworks and strong collaboration with external partners, the Dutch model is positioning professional doctorates as a distinct and valuable research route.
What’s next?
The future of doctoral education is increasingly practice oriented, interdisciplinary and international with a great variety of doctorates. Many new doctoral models are emerging, from industrial PhDs to practice based PhDs and hybrid pathways, slowly breaking down the idea that the traditional PhD is the only route to a doctorate.
I came away inspired and convinced that PDs will play a central role in shaping the future of research, practice and professional development. Huge thanks to the UKCGE and the team at the Royal College of Art for making this possible!