University of Portsmouth: Professional Doctorate in Security Risk Management

A Master’s degree in an appropriate subject. Applicants must be professionally engaged in a security related area. All applicants are subject to face-to-face or telephone interview.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

The doctoral programme aims to develop your research ability in the broad area of security risk management to an advanced level and promote evidence-based practice development. The development of the quality and value of your practice and research will be enhanced through:

1)Seminars and workshops on critical research and security-related issues specifically focused on the development needs of security professionals
2)Support from staff and peers to support you in reaching the necessary (doctoral) standard
3)Supervision from a team with a very wide range of development and research interests and many years of professional experience
4)Access to University of Portsmouth library facilities including a large number of e-books, journals and databases accessed electronically
5)Access to additional, targeted training courses delivered through our Graduate School to meet any specific learning needs related to your individual research
6)The use of an online learning environment enabling you to keep in easy touch with your peers and the course team
7)Development of wider national and international perspectives through networking with your peer group
8)Building ongoing productive links between security organisations
9)Raising the profile, credibility and influence of your profession in both academic and practice contexts

Ultimately you will be assessed on the strength of your thesis.

A central feature of this programme is that you will be studying with the same cohort of people over the whole four years. The interaction that this provides will give you the opportunity to work, learn and develop together. This avoids the sense of isolation that some PhD students experience.

It is accepted that for many professionals it will not be possible to attend all of the workshops so we also use an online learning environment to make best use of technology to keep in touch.

A professional doctorate at the University of Portsmouth is achieved in two distinct stages with the second stage being divided into two parts.

Stage 1:

This stage comprises 180 M level credits which is the direct entry level to Stage 2

Stage 2:

This stage comprises Parts 1 and 2.

Part 1 (years 1 and 2):

This is the taught component of the course and lasts for two years. During this part you will earn 120 D level credits in assignment work. The four taught units are delivered in two-day blocks, each assessed through a coursework assignment of 6,000 words. Each student is assigned a personal tutor to support them through this part of the course.

Course structure:

1)Professional development and review
2)Advanced research techniques in security risk management
3)Publication and dissemination in security risk management
4)Security risk management project proposal
Part 2 (years 3 and 4):

This part comprises the professional research and development, leading to a thesis of 40,000 to 50,000 words. This will earn 240 D level credits and is mainly independent study and research, combined with supervision meetings and opportunities to meet with your peers to review and gain critical comment on your progress.