Sept 2027 Entry
3 years (Full-time)
4 years (Part-time)
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Early applications are strongly encouraged as we have a quota for admissions. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. Offers will be made on a rolling basis.
An incomplete application cannot be processed promptly and may reduce your likelihood of admission. Please complete all relevant fields on the application form and upload all necessary documents.
Early Round: 2026-10-20
Main Round: 2027-02-25
Early Round: 2026-10-20
Main Round: 2027-02-25
What's New
- Taught Postgraduate
- Undergraduate
- Undergraduate
Programme Aims
We aim to prepare healthcare professionals for leadership roles in specialised areas, empowering them to contribute to the science and practice of healthcare through systematic inquiry and the application of theory. Graduates are expected to be able to:
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Synthesise knowledge from health science and other academic disciplines for application in a specialised practice area of a health care profession;
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Design, conduct, and direct research studies;
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Analyse and evaluate contemporary concepts, theories, and models related to health practices;
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Communicate complex ideas effectively through scholarly publications, teaching, and providing expert mentoring that inspires future health professionals and encourages a commitment to ongoing education;
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Integrate knowledge and use evidence to influence health policy and decision-making through collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts at local and international levels; and
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Demonstrate effective leadership by navigating complex health service environments, fostering collaboration, and making responsible decisions that enhance service delivery. They will commit to continuous and lifelong learning to adapt to evolving healthcare challenges and promote a sustainable future in healthcare.
Characteristics
PolyU is the first local university to initiate this professional doctoral programme, delivered at the highest level of healthcare education. Unlike many traditional PhD programmes that focus primarily on research, the Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) is a professional doctoral programme with a primary focus on the practice of the profession.
The programme is designed for experienced healthcare professionals to further develop their competence for leadership roles in advanced professional practice and/or for appointment to clinical-track faculty positions. Recognised as a terminal professional degree within the healthcare discipline, the DHSc enables graduates to use the title “Dr” before their names.
The mixed-mode study pattern offers flexibility, allowing students to study full-time or part-time according to their needs.
The following specialism awards are listed with their quotable qualifications under their respective Supplementary Medical Professions Boards:
| Awards | Supplementary Medical Professions Boards (SMP Boards) |
| Doctor of Health Science (Medical Imaging and Radiation Science) | Radiographers Board |
| Doctor of Health Science (Medical Laboratory Science) | Medical Laboratory Technologists Board |
| Doctor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) | Occupational Therapists Board |
| Doctor of Health Science (Optometry) | Optometrists Board |
| Doctor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) | Physiotherapists Board |
Programme Structure
The programme covers 9 subjects, including 5 Compulsory Subjects* and 4 Elective Subjects, and a Doctoral Thesis. The Compulsory Subjects aim to provide students with a core foundation in healthcare concept analysis, research, and knowledge translation within the real-world context shaped by ethical, sociological, and economic considerations in healthcare provision.
* Including a 1-credit subject, HTI5T04 Academic Integrity and Ethics (Health and Social Sciences)
The Electives and the Doctoral Thesis enable students to develop an individualised programme of study to acquire, appraise, synthesise, and apply knowledge in a substantive specialised area. The mentored research experience strengthens students’ capability to conduct disciplinary enquiry.
To be eligible for the award of the Doctor of Health Science, candidates must complete the coursework requirement with a GPA of 2.70 or above and complete the Doctoral Thesis.
Students can choose to pursue the following generic or specialism awards:
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Doctor of Health Science (generic award)
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Doctor of Health Science (Medical Imaging and Radiation Science)
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Doctor of Health Science (Medical Laboratory Science)
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Doctor of Health Science (Nursing)
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Doctor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy)
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Doctor of Health Science (Optometry)
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Doctor of Health Science (Physiotherapy)
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Doctor of Health Science (Prosthetics and Orthotics)
To be eligible for a specialism award, students must complete a thesis related to that specialism and a 3-credit speciality subject. In addition, students should hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or possess professional qualifications in a relevant discipline to meet the registration requirements of certain professions.
Core Areas of Study
Compulsory Subjects (5)
Students are required to complete 4 of the following subjects to meet the requirement. If they complete more than 4 subjects, the additional subjects will be counted as Generic Electives.
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APSS6003 Advanced Quantitative Methods
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APSS6402 Issues in Health Sociology
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APSS6403 Health Care Ethics
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HSS6011 Health Economics
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HSS6012 Health Systems: Management and Organisation
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SN6007 Evidence-Based Practice
In addition to completing the 4 subjects above, students admitted in or after 2024/25 are required to complete the following 1-credit subject (no tuition charged):
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HTI5T04 Academic Integrity and Ethics (Health and Social Sciences)
Elective Subjects (4)
Students are required to complete 4 Elective Subjects to meet the requirement. Electives may be taken as Generic Electives or Speciality Subjects.
A. Generic Electives
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AMA601 Advanced Statistics in Health Care Research
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APSS601 Health and Social Policy Analysis
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APSS6401 Advanced Methods in Qualitative Health Care Research
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HSS6008 Independent Study in a Substantive Speciality*
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LGT5037 Project Management
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SN5122 Innovations in Learning and Teaching for Healthcare Education^
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SN6001 Concept Analysis in Health Care
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SN6006 Information Technology in Health Care
* Can be counted as a Speciality Subject
^ Can be taken as a Generic Elective by students who do not intend to pursue the Nursing specialism award.
B. Speciality Subjects
Students should complete at least 1 Speciality Subject* to fulfil the specialism requirement. For the most up-to-date subject information, please refer to the relevant webpage.
*The Speciality Subject can be one of the four electives.
Other elective options (e.g., subjects offered by PolyU’s other professional doctoral and postgraduate programmes) may be available subject to the approval of the Programme Leader.
The above subject list will be updated from time to time.
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Prof. Polly Leung
BSc, MPhil, PhD
- A Master’s degree in a health-related discipline or the equivalent;
AND - At least 5 years of substantial professional health care experience.
If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to fulfil the University’s minimum English language requirement for admission purposes. Please refer to the “Admission Requirements” section for details.
Remarks: Candidates possessing a recognised first degree in a health-related discipline with substantial professional experience may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For academic queries, please contact Prof. Polly Leung, Programme Leader (email: polly.hm.leung@polyu.edu.hk).
For other matters, please contact Ms Christy Au, Programme Secretary (email: fhss.dhsc@polyu.edu.hk).
The Academic Year comprises Semesters One and Two, as well as the Summer Semester. Normally, Semester One runs from September to December (13 weeks), and Semester Two runs from January to May (13 weeks). The Summer Semester runs from June to July (7 weeks).
Students may enrol in most coursework subjects offered in Semesters One and Two, and decide whether to take a break or to take the only Generic Elective offered during the Summer term.
Timetabling information will be released to students one to two months before the commencement of classes.
HK$8,900 per credit for local and non-local students
The DHSc programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University provided me with the opportunity to study and collaborate with fellow doctoral students from diverse health care backgrounds. Their ongoing friendships provided peer support and intellectual stimulation and broadened my views of my speciality area of private practice. My fellow students, colleagues and professors gave valuable feedback during the research period, especially as the literature on my chosen thesis topic was scarce. Their encouragement was instrumental to the successful outcome of the thesis. It is both humbling and fulfilling to be able to add original evidence and data to expand the body of knowledge in occupational therapy private practice. There were challenges in this scientific inquiry process, including producing valid data from a limited pool and analysing these data, but the programme equipped me to face them. This very positive and rewarding DHSc research experience will always stay with me and, hopefully, inspire future students and motivate further investigative studies, both locally and internationally.
As a recent graduate of the Doctor of Health Science programme, I gained a comprehensive understanding of public service advancement and the necessary skills to conduct service planning and evaluation at the management level. The opportunity to collaborate with professors and healthcare industry leaders was invaluable, broadening my perspective and shaping my professional development. Additionally, the programme equipped me with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in my professional endeavours and to make a positive impact in the healthcare industry.
Copies of transcripts and graduation certificates, particularly those for the applicant’s relevant Master’s degrees, are required.
No more than four A4 pages. List of publications, if any, should be included.
A personal statement consisting of one to two pages, including the reasons for applying to the programme, is required.
Applicants are advised to submit a study plan listing the subjects to be taken in each semester and the proposed research area/topic(s) for the thesis. If such information is not uploaded with the application, it should be provided before the interview.
