Key information
- Duration: Part-time, 60 months (5-7 years)
- Start dates & application deadlines: Starting October 2027. Apply before Jun 2027.
Overview
The professional doctorate in Social and Public Policy from Cardiff University is a part-time doctoral research degree. It is fully equivalent to the PhD, but substantially different from it in that it is strongly professionally oriented, focussing on ‘applied’ rather than ‘pure’ research.
Key facts
While the PhD generally prepares candidates for a research-based career, the professional doctorate is a more in-service orientated degree, addressing the career needs of practising professionals, particularly those in or who aspire to senior positions within their professions. The linkages between research-based knowledge and its application in a wide range of professional settings are central to this doctorate.
The SPPD taught modules are designed to respond to the developmental needs and interests of those employed within UK regional government and local authorities, as well as research institutions (both statutory and independent) with a professional interest in social and public policy.
The modules prepare students to make informed judgements on complex issues such as the successful construction and operation of ‘multi-level’ and ‘inclusive’ governance and its implications for policy-making; negotiating the requirements of equal opportunities legislation; and administration responsibilities in public policy settings. The modules draw on a range of theoretical perspectives and explore empirical studies that relate to the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Career prospects
Typically professional doctorate candidates are employed when they study with us, although current employment is not a condition of entry.
Graduates are able to further their careers within their employment settings or move beyond these into, for example, Higher Education, policy and planning, and/or research development and management.
Programme Structure
Topics include:
- Science, technology and risk
- Crime, security and justice
- Knowledge, learning and pedagogy
- Culture, interaction and everyday life
- Children and young people
- Education, skills and labour markets
- Inequalities, division and diversity
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: First Class
English requirements
TOEFL iBT: 100
PTE Academic: 76
IELTS: 7
Other requirements
General requirements
- You must possess a good first degree (i.e. normally a 2:1 or above) or an equivalent international degree and usually have completed a master’s degree. Either your first degree or master’s degree should be subject-relevant, e.g. social sciences or humanities, or you must show evidence of other forms of studies that provide substantive subject knowledge.
- You should have two or more years’ professional experience in a social or public policy related field. Much of the taught modules and subsequent thesis stage focus on engagement with issues affecting, or relevant to, research and professional practice. As such, you are expected to have experience of - or current access to - professional settings in a policy-related field.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
International: 4,729 AUD / year (≈ 2,503 GBP / year)
Domestic: 4,729 AUD / year (≈ 2,503 GBP / year)
Living costs
Cardiff, United Kingdom: 1,186-2,014 AUD / month
Funding / Scholarships
You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.
- Fulbright-Cardiff University scholarship — Provided by university; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline 07 Oct 2026; Merit-based; Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Cardiff University Marshall Scholarship — Provided by university; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline Not specified; Merit-based; Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — Independent provider; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline 07 Oct 2026; U.S. government; Location not available.
- ServiceScape Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, 1000 USD; Deadline 30 Nov 2026; ServiceScape.
- ACES Scholarships — Independent provider; Grant, 3500 USD; Deadline 15 Nov 2026; ACES Education Fund.
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — Independent provider; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline Not specified; Merit-based; OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation.
- Scholarships for PhD Students — Independent provider; Grant, 19000 GBP; Deadline Not specified; Merit-based; Junhua Li.
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline 28 Feb 2027; Merit-based; Boustany Foundation.
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, 1000 USD; Deadline 31 Oct 2026; Merit-based; IvyPanda.
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, 1000 USD; Deadline 01 Mar 2027; Voice Talent Online.
- The PhD Prep Fellowship — Independent provider; Grant, 10000 USD; Deadline 01 Sep 2026; Merit-based; Admit Lab.
- Dream Chaser Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, 1000 USD; Deadline 13 Jan 2027; Merit-based; Salvado Law.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — Independent provider; Grant, 22500 GBP; Deadline Not specified; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
- Scholarship for students with disabilities — Independent provider; Grant, 3000 USD; Deadline 31 Dec 2026; Need-based; Anonymous Hope Fund.
- Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria — Independent provider; Grant, Various benefits; Deadline 31 Dec 2026; Need-based; Leopold Figl Foundation.
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — Independent provider; Grant, 1500 USD; Deadline Not specified; IELTS from 6 to 9.
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — Independent provider; Grant, 12000 USD; Deadline 11 Jan 2027; The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme.