Clinical Doctorates (Phd PGDip) (MSc)

Entry requirements

Academic requirements Candidates should normally hold a Masters degree and/or a good Honours degree or equivalent from a university or college recognised by the University of Stirling. UK candidates should hold an appropriate nursing, midwifery or allied health professional qualification and registration. International candidates should hold an appropriate nursing, midwifery or allied health professional qualification and be able to provide evidence of the governance of their professional standards and professional registration (where it exists). Candidates should normally have at least five years post-registration/qualification experience. Selection follows consideration of written application and statement. Clinical Doctorates are suitable for a variety of health professionals including: nurses midwives dieticians occupational therapists physiotherapists paramedics speech and language therapists podiatrists sport psychologists genetic counsellors International entry requirements View the entry requirements for your country. English language requirements If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills: IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill. Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill. TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 88 overall with 20 in reading, 19 in writing, 19 in listening and 22 in speaking. TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall with no less than 4 in any band. See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements. Pre-sessional English language courses If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree. Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses .

Course details

The course consists of three taught modules, an expert practice module and an empirical thesis. Taught components are clustered into two three-day sessions over the first three semesters, with each taught module studied over one semester. Modules Teaching Throughout your studies, you can expect easy access to staff through regular face-to-face contact, video conferencing, email and phone. You’ll benefit from tutorial time in preparation for each assignment, and detailed feedback afterward. Our online learning environment, Canvas, is also available to you via the University portal, and each taught module is supported by a bespoke set of web pages where information, teaching materials and learning resources are uploaded by the module coordinator. Keynote contributions are also made to the Clinical Doctorate course by UK and international academics. You can study this course full-time over three years or, more commonly, over four to eight years on a part-time basis. The period of study will also vary depending on whether you study for a Doctorate, Masters Degree or Postgraduate Diploma: Full-time Doctorate 4-6 years Masters 2-3 years Diploma 1-2 years Part-time Doctorate 4-8 years Masters 3-6 years Diploma 1.5-4 years Assessment The main method of assessment for each module is coursework, with one practice-based examination. You’ll have to successfully complete all taught modules before progressing to the research stage of the course. Classroom hours Each module consists of two three-day blocks and six weeks of independent study. Course director Dr Carina Hibberd Key staff The core Doctorate team includes: Dr Anne Taylor Dr Carina Hibberd Far-reaching clinical academic expertise feeds into the course and into student supervision. Keynote contributions are made to the clinical doctorate programme by UK and International academics.

Fees and funding

Fees and costs University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship . Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship . If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students. If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . 2025/26 fees UK and Republic of Ireland students International (including EU) students Full course fee £19,000 £38,000 Full-time annual fee (charged years 1-3) £6,333 £12,667 Part-time annual fee (charged years 1-4) £4,750 £9,500 2026/27 fees UK and Republic of Ireland students International (including EU) students Full course fee £19,400 £38,800 Full-time annual fee (charged years 1-3) £6,467 £12,933 Part-time annual fee (charged years 1-4) £4,850 £9,700 If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course. This fee is charged as an annual course fee. For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy . Doctoral loans If you're domiciled in England or Wales you may be eligible to apply for a doctoral loan from your regional body: English students can apply for a loan of up to £30,301 from Student Finance England . Welsh students can apply for a loan of up to £29,130 from Student Finance Wales . Funding Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students . If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances. Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships. Additional costs There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees . Cost of living If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income. International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support. Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling Payment options We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

A Professional Doctorate can lead to various career paths, including: advanced clinical practice clinical academia research roles leadership positions The course is practice-focused and designed to prepare you for leadership roles in the healthcare sector. You’ll have the highest level of academic qualification available within your specialism. You will become a recognised, highly employable clinical academic expert. Enhance your expertise in your field of healthcare and sharpen transferrable skills in areas such as: leadership analytical thinking research communication and teamwork decision making NHS salaries NHS salaries for health professionals with clinical doctorates typically fall within the Band 8b to 8d pay scale. This ranges from £57,349 to £88,167. Nurse Consultant, Modern Matron, or Senior Midwife roles require clinical expertise and leadership. Specific salary levels within these bands depend on experience and responsibilities. (Source: NHS April 2025 )