Emergency Services Management (DESM) Professional Doctorate

    Emergency Services Management (DESM) Professional Doctorate

    Duration6 year(s)
    Next IntakeSeptember 1, 2026

    Emergency Services Management (DESM) Professional Doctorate

    About

    Professionalisation of the emergency services workforce and the development of strategic leadership within the blue lights, namely the ambulance, police, and fire and rescue services, are at the top of government and reform agendas.

    If you are a leader or senior manager from the emergency services or prison and probation service, or if you work for local authorities, councils or health organisations and have responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, this programme will enhance your ability to question, analyse, critique and theorise. It will also encourage interoperability and multi-agency cooperation in line with the statutory duty for collaboration between the emergency services introduced in the Police and Crime Bill 2017. You will develop professional management practice while gaining an appreciation and understanding of the relationship between management research and the professional practice of management.

    Upon successful completion of the Professional Doctorate in Emergency Services Management (ambulance, police, or fire and rescue services), you will have obtained and demonstrated the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research, of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication. You will make a significant contribution towards new professional practice and academic knowledge.

    Join a research degree for senior managers from the emergency services (ambulance, police, or fire and rescue) where you will engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue, develop as a researcher and gain skills to apply to professional practice.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    You should have a degree equivalent to UK first-class or second-class honours (2:2 or above) and a Masters degree (for example, MBA, MA, MSc or MRes, or equivalent). No specific subjects are required.

    You must also have at least five years of management or professional experience. In exceptional circumstances, applicants without a Masters qualification but with substantial professional experience may be considered.

    Overseas applicants will be considered on an individual basis and will be expected to demonstrate English language proficiency to a minimum standard of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. Please note, however, that as this is a part-time research degree it is subject to certain visa restrictions. Please contact the International Office to check whether the University can sponsor your visa for part-time study.

    English Program Requirements

    International students require IELTS 7.0, with a score no lower than 6.5 in each individual component, or an equivalent English language qualification, at the point of application.

    Please note, however, that as this is a part-time research degree it is subject to certain visa restrictions. Please contact the International Office to check whether the University can sponsor your visa for part-time study.

    If your first language is not English and you have an IELTS score (or equivalent) which is half a band lower, either overall or in one or two elements, our Postgraduate Research Pre-Sessional course could be ideal for you.

    Further information about how international postgraduate research applicants can meet our English Language requirements is available on the International Students website.

    For further information on how you can meet the entry requirements

    Career

    Your future career

    This programme will enhance your personal development across a wide range of roles performed by staff in the emergency services. You will also be well placed to take advantage of opportunities in consultancy or to pursue a teaching career in higher education.

    Fee Information

    Emergency Services Management (DESM) Professional Doctorate

    Edge Hill University

    Edge Hill University

    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, Aberdeen