Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - MA, PhD

Teaching

Programme aims

The programme aims to provide you with:

• focused and supportive research-training
• the skills necessary for pure and applied research within your chosen areas of employment, including higher education, public bodies and the private sector.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

• research skills
• specialist information in relation to your chosen area of research to a standard sufficient to conduct an original investigation
• how to conduct independent study
• how to produce an independent research project using appropriate research methods
• how to write a thesis of scholarly merit that would justify its publication either as submitted or in an abridged form.

Careers

Our postgraduate courses provide detailed knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Graduates will have gained a very good understanding of the matters arising within this population and will be able to analyse and conduct relevant research.  

Our postgraduate courses improve employability prospects for both those with established careers and new entrants to the field.  Many of our students already work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in professional, management or supporting capacities. Our programmes support their continuing professional development and enhance their opportunities for career advancement. Other students, who are at the beginning of their careers, move on to a range of professional roles in health and social care including working as psychologists in learning disability or behavioural specialists in community learning disability teams; service management of development roles; clinical psychology training or a PhD.

Study support

All teaching takes place at the Tizard Centre. Postgraduate research students have a shared office space with a computer and telephone.

Acclaimed active department

The Tizard Centre runs an annual seminar series where staff or guest lecturers present the results of research or highlight recent developments in the field of social care. The Jim Mansell Memorial Lecture invites public figures or distinguished academics to discuss topics that could interest a wider audience. The Centre also publishes the Tizard Learning Disability Review (in conjunction with Emerald Publishing) to provide a source of up-to-date information for professionals and carers.

The Tizard Centre provides consultancy to organisations in the statutory and independent sectors, both nationally and internationally, in diversified areas such as service assessment, person-centred approaches, active support and adult protection. The Centre also teaches a range of short courses, often in conjunction with other organisations.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Journal of Mental Health; Journal of Applied Research and Intellectual Disabilities; American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; and Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.

Researcher Development Programme

Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subject-specific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.