Applications are now open for our Professional Doctorate Programme (PDP) in Occupational Health Psychology and Management (OHP), offered by the Centre for Sustainable Working Life, at Birkbeck University, in London. The course is part time, thus flexible, and designed to accommodate those already in employment. Seminars and supervision sessions will be arranged to fit alongside students' work schedules, at mutually convenient times, over the course of each month. The PDP is scheduled to take four years to complete and is structured in two parts: the first part is an MRes in OHP. Successful completion at this Master's level leads to an upgrade to the full doctoral programme. The course has a small group approach and values the sharing amongst members of their existing knowledge and experiences of work. Across years and cohorts, we are trying to build a team approach with other researchers in the Centre.
Course Director: Professor Tom Cox CBE
The research conducted as part of the programme will be multidisciplinary, both problem- and solution-focused, and situated in the real world context.
The research, on which the final award of the Professional Doctorate is largely based, begins in the first two years (or first year for full-time students) with structured modules (to provide a foundation in occupational health psychology and develop project interests) and a systematic style review. It then proceeds through the following two years with empirical studies and, finally, a translation study. The latter involves the design of an intervention, based on the data collected during the systematic review and the empirical studies, and testing its feasibility with an appropriate group.
The Centre team currently specialises in four areas of real world research:
- long term conditions and employment with expertise in cancer, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder
- the management of safety in high hazard situations with foci on safety culture and leadership
- the provision of health and care services, specialising in systems and work design and effects on staff and patients
- high-performance occupations such as the performing arts
We are looking for students with background in work psychology, applied health psychology, management, occupational health, safety management, and/or any other related fields.
In the first instance, all interested students should email Dr Raluca Matei (Acting Director of Learning) and cc Professor Tom Cox:
Email: r.matei@bbk.ac.uk CC: t.cox@bbk.ac.uk
Please provide a very brief outline of your research idea and attach a current copy of your CV. We will give feedback on the appropriateness of your interest and may invite you to talk further with us and then submit a full application.
