Benefits of a Prof Doc in Security Risk Management (DSyRM)
The Professional Doctorate in Security Risk Management (D.SyRM) is a structured, four-year, part-time programme targeted towards security professionals in the UK and overseas. It comprises a taught element delivered through a small number of workshops in Portsmouth for the first two years and then two years of supervised research leading to a thesis.
The aim of the course is to provide a framework for security professionals to reflect on and contribute to practice in their area of work. Its emphasis is on developing researching professionals (which is distinct from the more traditional PhD route which aims to develop professional researchers).
Students on the programme welcome the opportunity to enhance their professional standing in their areas of expertise while developing important new knowledge in those areas. They are drawn from a variety of backgrounds including:
- Corporate security
- Commercial security
- International security
- Security training sector
- Business continuity and crisis management
- Policing
- Military
Structure and teaching
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:
- Professional development and review
- Advanced research techniques in security risk management
- Publication and dissemination in security risk management
- Security risk management project proposal
Part 2 (years 3 and 4)
This part comprises the professional research and development, leading to a thesis of up 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.
