Course specification and structure
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RPPPFOCP - Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Professional Doctorate Level Doctoral
Possible interim awards Master of Science
Total credits for course 540
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Sciences
Subject Area Psychology
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Part-time 3 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

This is a research degree aimed at experienced, practicing psychologists with knowledge in the field of Occupational / Business Psychology and/or related areas. The programme therefore offers direct entry into the thesis stage, and further learning is facilitated on an individual needs basis, through professional and academic supervision. The programme does not include a preparatory stage, as it admits candidates who hold an MSc in Occupational / Business Psychology or related Psychology degree.

Where appropriate, candidates are directed to take selected modules forming part of the School’s relevant Masters programmes. Candidates may also be encouraged to participate in and contribute to professional development seminars associated with the MSc Occupational / Business / Consumer Psychology.

Research supervision takes place on a one-to-one basis with the lead supervisor, as well as in group settings with the supervisory team and during professional seminars, which offer the opportunity for feedback from both staff and programme peers. The latter reflects the programme’s philosophy and teaching and learning strategy, which focus on working as a ‘community of practice’. The programme provides high-level, integrated, personal and professional development that requires the candidate to demonstrate their skills as scientist-practitioners and provide insights into effective professional practice, derived from personal inquiry and organisational problem diagnosis, analysis and synthesis. During their work towards the doctoral thesis, candidates apply rigorous academic approaches to inform their decision making in practice.

Course aims

Through the doctoral supervision process, the programme aims to:

  1. Provide advanced training in the practical but rigorous application of original research to Occupational / Business Psychology concepts and issues affecting organisations and their effective functioning;
  2. Develop students’ skills involved in the diagnosis, analysis and synthesis of data and its presentation in written process reports for use in strategic organisational decision-making and dissemination within the profession;
  3. Guide candidates in developing and implementing research projects to a publishable standard as independent professional psychologists;

and

  1. Encourage practitioner psychologists to develop a critical stance towards others’ research and published work, as well as towards their own professional work and to develop self-managed learning and development strategies to achieve high-level professional skills consistent with the principles of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Course learning outcomes

Due to the nature and level of the programme and the professional status of the applicant population, all learning outcomes constitute transferable skills of employability and professional practice. Furthermore, learning outcomes in the areas of knowledge/understanding and cognitive/intellectual skills are intrinsically linked to subject specific practical skills used in the professional work of the Occupational / Business Psychologists enrolled in this programme. On completing the programme candidates will be expected to:

  1. demonstrate a critical understanding of their chosen field of professional psychology;
  2. have acquired a thorough and critical understanding of the ethical, power, contextual and commercial issues and implications inherent in client-consultant relationships and practice;
  3. apply high-level skills in reflective learning and development that integrate both academic and professional knowledge and reflect upon their learning and development as a psychologist;
  4. demonstrate skills in diagnosis, analysis and synthesis of a range of data-types and sources for purposes of informing own practice, organisational solutions and strategic decision making;
  5. generate a doctoral level programme of research using a selection of advanced, up-to-date qualitative and/or quantitative research techniques in Occupational / Business Psychology, including case study, intervention process analysis and a substantial empirical study at doctoral standard;
  6. produce scientific writing to a publishable standard;
  7. apply methods of inquiry to meet professional informational needs and enhance understanding of organisational behaviour in practice;
  8. demonstrate an original contribution to the body of knowledge associated with research and professional practice in Occupational / Business Psychology;
  9. appropriately disseminate this knowledge and integrate it into own professional practice; and
  10. have developed and adopted a practitioner perspective of continuous learning and integration of latest theory and research into practice.

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

The programme does not include any modules. All learning outcomes are met by the doctoral thesis, specifically by the following thesis components:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of their chosen field of professional occupational psychology: All components of the thesis

2. Have acquired a thorough and critical understanding of the ethical, power, contextual and commercial issues and implications inherent in client-consultant relationships and practice: Case Study and Intervention Process Analysis

3. Apply high-level skills in reflective learning and development that integrate both academic and professional knowledge and reflect upon their learning and development as a chartered psychologist: Prologue and Epilogue

4. Demonstrate skills in diagnosis, analysis and synthesis of a range of data-types and sources for purposes of informing own practice, organisational solutions and strategic decision making: Empirical Research Project and Intervention Process Analysis

5. Generate a doctoral level programme of research using a selection of advanced, up-to-date qualitative and/or quantitative research techniques in occupational psychology, including case study, intervention process analysis and a substantial empirical study at doctoral standard: All thesis components

6. Produce scientific writing to a publishable standard: Empirical study, Case Study, Intervention Process Analysis and Critical Literature Review

7. Apply methods of inquiry to meet professional informational needs and enhance understanding of organisational behaviour in practice: Empirical Research Project, Case Study and Intervention Process Analysis

8. Demonstrate an original contribution to the body of knowledge associated with research and professional practice in occupational psychology: Epilogue (summarising and highlighting the contribution of the other thesis components)

9. Appropriately disseminate this knowledge and integrate it into own professional practice: Epilogue and professional practice undertaken during the registration period and beyond

10. Have developed and adopted a practitioner perspective of continuous learning and integration of latest theory and research into practice: Epilogue and professional practice undertaken during the registration period and beyond

Principle QAA benchmark statements

QAA descriptors for Level 8

Assessment strategy

This programme consists of the Thesis Stage only. The Preparatory Stage of the Professional Doctorate (180 credits) is fulfilled through the MSc degree entry requirement and/or APL/AP(E)L facility.

During the first few months of enrolment, candidates prepare a detailed research proposal, which has to be approved by the University’s Research Degrees and Ethics Committees prior to formal registration of the doctoral research programme and thesis title. The proposal must detail different types of research to appropriately address each thesis component. All thesis components specified core, and they are assessed against specific criteria which map onto the programme’s learning outcomes as detailed.

The components that make up the complete thesis can be undertaken and submitted to the supervisory team in any order during the registration period (except the Prologue and Epilogue). This flexibility allows candidates to plan their doctoral work and ongoing professional activity in relation to the collaborating organisation(s) needs. Where chartered professionals have recently completed a relevant project they may utilise relevant work as the basis for parts of their thesis, in relation to the Case Study Analysis and/or Intervention Process Analysis, provided it meets standards of sufficiency and currency of material and subject matter. However, it is expected that the material will need to be re-written to the standard, and in the format, appropriate for the doctoral thesis.

Exceptionally, candidates who have an extensive and successful career as professional practitioners in the field of occupational psychology may be considered for the doctoral programme without the requirement to produce anew all components of the thesis. Individual historical work of an equivalent and comparable type and level may be offered in lieu and set within the Prologue/Epilogue framework of the thesis to meet the same standards. Candidates are limited to providing examples of their past work to fulfil the following components only: the Case Study Analysis, Intervention Process Analysis and Empirical Research component. The case study and intervention process will typically be examples from the candidate’s own professional practice. The Empirical Research component will typically consist of a set of single or main authored research articles published in refereed journals. The set of research articles will be equivalent in overall size to that for the Empirical Research component. Typically, such a set of articles might be 4 to 6 in number. All candidates under this mode of entry will be required to undertake a Critical Literature Review. Where the candidate offers historical work that is deemed unsuitable or does not meet the requirements of the Professional Doctorate, e.g., lacking in sufficiency and/or currency, the candidate will be required to carry out a new piece of work.

The award of Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology is conferred after formal submission of the complete doctoral thesis and its successful defence at the viva voce examination. The examination of the thesis is conducted by examiners that are independent of the supervisory team, as detailed in the University Academic Regulations.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Academic Regulations for Professional Doctorates.

Formal Assessment
The Thesis consists of six components all of which are core:

• Prologue – 1000 to 1500 words,
• Case Study - 6000 to 7000 words,
• Intervention Process Analysis – 6000 to 7000 words,
• Critical Literature Review – 5000 words,
• Empirical Research Project – 25000 words,
• Epilogue – 1000 to 1500 words.

A 300 word abstract, a list of references and appropriate appendices are also required.

Course specific regulations

All raw data (e.g., electronic audio files of interviews, completed questionnaires, etc.) for the Empirical Research component, Case Study and Intervention Process Analysis must be submitted to the supervisory team for verification. All data transformed for analysis (e.g., transcripts, SPSS data files) must be submitted in electronic form and will be held by the School for the period of enrolment.

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Personal development planning is inherent in the nature of this programme, as it is aimed at experienced, practicing psychologists who choose to develop further through reflection on their own professional practice. Through supervision, candidates are guided to base their reflection on critical analysis of recent literature in their specialist field and to apply rigorous academic approaches to inform their decision making in practice. As such, the programme places a strong emphasis on further enhancing self-awareness in reflective practitioners, guiding them to widen their repertoire of reflective techniques and approaches.

High-level practitioner skills are acquired through a process of analysis, synthesis and critical reflection on practice. This involves research skills used both for scientific inquiry and informing professional practice, underpinning the scientist-practitioner approach. The programme encourages practitioner psychologists to develop a critical stance towards others’ research and published work, as well as towards their own professional work, and to develop self-managed learning and development strategies to achieve high-level professional skills consistent with the principles of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

The inclusion of reflective components is also part of the prescribed thesis structure for this programme (Prologue and Epilogue). Furthermore, candidates’ progress will be reviewed each year against agreed action plans, and new plans will be agreed in light of their progress, in accordance with the Academic Regulations for research degrees.

Students may be supported in working towards the BPS Qualification in Occupational Psychology (stage 2) as part the CPD process – this will not form part of any course assessment.

Arrangements on the course for careers education, information and guidance

Students have access to the careers service and staff provide mentoring support. Careers and other relevant information is also maintained on a course level module within the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

The programme is delivered by members of the School of Psychology’s Business and Work Psychology Group, who have a variety of consultancy and research links with a diverse range of organisations and some European Universities. Students encouraged to present their work at relevant conferences and publish in practitioner and academic forums. If students have the relevant background and qualifications they may undertake the BPS Occupational Psychology chartership process.

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • a membership with the Chartered Occupational Psychologists or in the final stages of achieving Chartered status or its EU equivalent.
  • experience as a professional who might be able to meet the requirements of the doctorate based on work already completed.
  • evidence of an ability to conduct organisationally relevant and ethically sound research.

Selection will take into account the applicant's overall performance at Bachelors and/or Masters level and in specific respect to attainments in research methods courses. Applicants will be required to submit a suitable research/work proposal and evidence of a suitable organisational setting.

Availability of suitable supervisory staff will also be a factor in selection.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 02 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes C811 (Occupational Psychology): 100%
Route code PPFOCP

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 08 September start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
TEMP0005 THESIS Core 360        

Stage 1 Level 08 January start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
TEMP0005 THESIS Core 360        

Stage 2 Level 08 August start Not currently offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
TEMP0006 THESIS Core 360