The Doctor of Health Science (DHS) at IHRI
A flexible, practice-led online doctorate for health professionals tackling today’s most complex global challenges.
Your Expertise, Your Research: Drive Real-World Impact
Part 1: Your Future as a Practitioner-Scholar
As an experienced healthcare professional, you understand the complex and interconnected challenges facing our systems, from rising costs and workforce burnout to health inequity. If you are driven to move beyond incremental improvements and lead transformative change, the International Health Research Institute’s doctoral programme is designed for you. Our mission is to cultivate a new archetype of leader: the practitioner-scholar.
The Doctor of Health Science (DHS) programme is built on the philosophy that your deep, real-world experience is the ideal foundation for rigorous academic inquiry. We will empower you to become a practitioner-scholar who can critically synthesize theory and practice, generate new and directly applicable knowledge, and lead change from within your professional context.
This accredited, 100% online qualification (MQF/EQF Level 8) is architected for impact. The flexible delivery is a strategic feature, allowing you to pursue doctoral study without leaving your professional role. You will use your current work environment as a living laboratory, applying new knowledge in real time. You will engage in dynamic academic discourse through our unique asynchronous Oxford-style tutorials and benefit from a profound one-to-one "transformational tutorial" mentorship with our world-class faculty.
Our robust curriculum will guide you through five compulsory modules, from mastering quality improvement and implementation science to advanced research methods. Your journey culminates in a significant thesis that makes a publishable-quality contribution to your field, solidifying your legacy as a leader in healthcare innovation.
Why Choose the IHRI Doctorate?
Online Flexibility, Uncompromised Quality
Study 100% online, seamlessly integrating doctoral research with your professional commitments without sacrificing academic rigour.
Solve Complex Health Challenges
Tackle the most pressing issues in healthcare, from system-level policy to operational medicine and space health.
Personalized, Transformational Learning
Benefit from our unique one-to-one "transformational tutorial" mentorship model that guides your development as a scholar and leader.
Real-World Applied Research
Use your professional environment as a living laboratory, conducting research that makes a significant, tangible contribution to your field.
Interdisciplinary Expert Faculty
Learn from a global team of senior world-of-work experts holding both doctoral degrees and over a decade of high-level experience.
Leadership & Change Agent Development
The curriculum is explicitly designed to prepare you for senior leadership, administration, and policy roles.
Doctor of Health Science (DHS) MQF/EQF Level 8 Programme Overview
EU Students (Total): €15,000
- Payment plans available, contact info@ihri.edu.eu
Non-EU Students (Total): €23,500
- Payment plans available, contact info@ihri.edu.eu
For Low Middle Income Country residents, contact info@ihri.edu.eu for available scholarships and waivers.
Note: An application fee of €30 EU and €50 Non EU residents applies. Fees may be revised in subsequent annual intakes.
Permitted up to 6 years (FT) or 8 years (PT) from initial enrolment.
Annual Extension Fee:
- EU Students: €3,750
- Non-EU Students: €5,875
Fees are due at the beginning of each additional year or pro-rata for partial years. All terms and conditions apply.
Accreditation & Quality Assurance: Our Commitment to Excellence
We understand that choosing an online doctoral programme is a significant decision, and trust in its quality and recognition is paramount. IHRI is proud to confirm that our Doctor of Health Science programme is fully accredited by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), the official national regulatory body. This is a testament to our adherence to stringent national and European quality benchmarks.
This accreditation ensures the programme is aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) at Level 8, guaranteeing the highest standard of academic rigour and practical application, guided by expert faculty.
Part 2: Doctoral Research Pathways: Applying Your Expertise
The strength of the IHRI Doctor of Health Science lies in its fusion of a rigorous core curriculum with the flexibility for candidates to apply their learning to their specific area of professional passion. The following sections illustrate how the DHS program serves as a launchpad for high-impact research across several critical domains of healthcare. Each section re-envisions the core curriculum, providing illustrative research pathways and a portfolio of potential thesis topics to spark the imagination of prospective candidates.
The Challenge:
Modern healthcare systems require transformative leaders who can navigate uncertainty, drive evidence-based innovation, and build resilient, patient-centered systems. The key challenges include system inefficiency, workforce burnout, the difficulty of implementing change at scale, and persistent health inequities.
The DHS Curriculum: A Blueprint for Health Systems Leadership
D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Architecting High-Value, High-Reliability Health Systems. Research could involve designing interventions to reduce wait times, streamlining clinical pathways to eliminate waste, or developing risk management strategies to improve patient safety.
D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: Leading and Sustaining Evidence-Based Change in Complex Organizations. Research could focus on the barriers to adopting new clinical guidelines, designing a strategy to increase adherence to safety protocols, or de-implementing low-value care.
D803: Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: The Health Leader’s Toolkit for Data-Driven Decision Making. This module provides the methods to analyze large administrative health datasets (quantitative) and to understand the complex human elements of healthcare through focus groups and interviews (qualitative).
D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Identifying a Leadership Challenge and Charting a Path to Impact. Candidates can systematically review literature from business, public policy, and health economics to identify and propose novel solutions to leadership challenges.
D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Legacy Contribution to Health System Excellence. The thesis is a practical project, such as developing a new governance framework for accountable care organizations or validating a predictive model for identifying high-risk patients.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways:
Pathway: The Value-Based Leader – Designing and Implementing a Value-Based Care Model for a Chronic Disease Population. This project would use systems design principles (D801) and mixed-methods (D803) to develop, evaluate, and create an implementation strategy (D802) for a new value-based care model, providing a roadmap for organizations to improve outcomes and control costs.
Pathway: The Resilient Leader – A Mixed-Methods Study on the Drivers of Clinician Burnout and the Development of a Systems-Level Intervention. This project would use qualitative methods (D803) to understand the root causes of burnout and QI frameworks (D801) to design a systems-level intervention, producing an evidence-based strategy for leaders to improve workforce well-being.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics:
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Quality & Safety | - Developing an AI-based early warning system for patient deterioration. An implementation science study of high-reliability organization (HRO) principles in a hospital setting. Reducing diagnostic error through clinical decision support and team training interventions. |
| Health Policy & Economics | - A comparative analysis of different payment models for integrated care. The impact of health policy on access to care for underserved populations. Developing a framework for ethical resource allocation in a public health crisis. |
| Workforce & Organizational Culture | - A new model for interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Creating and sustaining a culture of psychological safety in healthcare teams. The impact of leadership diversity on organizational performance and health equity. |
The Challenge:
The field of prehospital and operational health is a critical, yet transformative, part of the healthcare continuum. Leaders in this field must address the challenges of providing advanced care in austere settings, an expanding scope of practice, provider burnout, system integration, and disaster preparedness.
The DHS Curriculum: An Advanced Toolkit for the Prehospital Leader
D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Engineering High-Reliability Prehospital Systems. Research could focus on applying Lean principles to reduce ambulance turnaround times, using QI frameworks to design a robust clinical peer-review process, or developing a value-based model for community paramedicine.
D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: Turning Protocols into Consistent Roadside Practice. Research could analyze the human factors and behavioral barriers to adhering to new clinical protocols or design a theory-informed strategy to increase the adoption of new technologies like point-of-care ultrasound.
D803: Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: Answering the Key Questions in Prehospital Care. This module provides the tools to analyze registry data on survival rates (quantitative) and to understand the lived experience of provider burnout or patient decision-making (qualitative).
D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Identifying the Evidence Gap and Defining a Mission. Candidates might systematically review literature on mobile stroke units to propose a feasibility study or identify evidence gaps in the management of agitated patients to propose a new study.
D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Capstone Contribution to the Future of EMS. A thesis could involve the development and validation of a new triage tool for pandemics or a new evidence-based curriculum for tactical medical providers.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways:
Pathway: The Community Health Paramedic – A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Community Paramedicine Program. This project would quantitatively analyze call volume and hospital admission data while qualitatively interviewing patients and providers to produce crucial evidence for the clinical and economic value of community paramedicine, supporting its expansion.
Pathway: The Resilient Provider – Developing and Implementing an Evidence-Based Peer Support Program. This project would use qualitative methods to identify barriers to help-seeking among paramedics and then co-design a culturally appropriate peer support program with a robust implementation strategy, directly improving the health and well-being of providers.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics:
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Clinical Care & Resuscitation | - Optimizing airway management strategies in the prehospital setting. The use of point-of-care ultrasound by paramedics for trauma and medical emergencies. A randomized controlled trial of a new pharmacological agent for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. |
| Systems & Operations | - Using machine learning to predict ambulance demand and optimize deployment. The impact of alternative dispatch models on non-emergency calls. Developing a framework for medical response to a no-notice mass casualty incident. |
| Provider Health & Education | - The impact of shift patterns on paramedic fatigue and clinical error. A human-factors analysis of ambulance design to reduce provider injury. The use of high-fidelity simulation to improve competency in low-frequency, high-acuity events. |
The Challenge:
The Emergency Department (ED) is the crucible of modern medicine, facing challenges of overcrowding, diagnostic uncertainty, complex patient populations, and workforce burnout. Leaders are needed to generate rigorous evidence and implement innovative solutions in this dynamic environment.
The DHS Curriculum: A Launchpad for Research in Emergency Medicine
>D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Re-engineering ED Processes for Safety and Flow. Research could use Lean methodologies to redesign patient triage processes, apply TQM principles to create a system for learning from adverse events, or develop strategies to mitigate violence against staff.
D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: Making Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine a Reality. Research could involve identifying the barriers to using clinical decision rules, designing a strategy to increase the adoption of new technologies, or developing a framework for standardizing sepsis care.
D803: Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: The Essential Toolkit for the Emergency Medicine Researcher. This module equips leaders to analyze large EHR datasets to identify risk factors for readmissions (quantitative) and to explore clinician decision-making under uncertainty (qualitative).
D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Defining a High-Impact Question in Acute and Emergency Care. Candidates might systematically review literature on novel biomarkers for sepsis to propose a diagnostic accuracy study or appraise models of care for psychiatric emergencies to propose a new approach.
D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Capstone Contribution to the Advancement of Emergency Care. A thesis could be the development of an AI-driven tool to predict patient disposition from triage or a new policy framework for managing ED operations during a pandemic.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways:
Pathway: The Patient Flow Architect – Developing a Predictive Model to Mitigate ED Overcrowding. This project would use quantitative methods (D803) to develop a machine-learning model to predict ED crowding and QI principles (D801) to design operational protocols that use the predictions, providing a data-driven tool to improve safety and efficiency.
Pathway: The Diagnostic Excellence Leader – An Implementation Science Study to Integrate Clinical Decision Support. This project would use implementation science (D802) and qualitative methods (D803) to identify barriers to using a clinical decision support tool and culminate in an evidence-based "playbook" to guide its successful integration, improving diagnostic safety.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics:
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Clinical Decision Making | - The use of point-of-care ultrasound to expedite diagnosis in the undifferentiated hypotensive patient. A human factors analysis of cognitive biases in emergency resuscitation. Validating a novel biomarker for the early detection of traumatic brain injury. |
| Patient Safety & Quality | - A systems analysis of medication errors in the emergency department. Developing a new model for high-quality handovers between EMS and ED staff. The impact of a rapid assessment zone on patient safety and time to treatment. |
| Vulnerable Populations | - Developing a new pathway for patients presenting with mental health crises. Improving the identification and management of sepsis in geriatric patients. An intervention to improve care and referral for victims of intimate partner violence. |
The Challenge:
Healthcare is in the midst of a digital revolution. The primary challenge is not the invention of new technology, but its effective, ethical, and equitable implementation into complex clinical practice. Leaders must navigate implementation gaps, data interoperability, ethics, and the digital divide.
The DHS Curriculum: A Blueprint for the Digital Health Leader
D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Engineering and Evaluating High-Value Digital Health Systems. Research could involve using Lean to optimize workflows after a new EHR implementation or applying TQM frameworks to ensure the quality and reliability of a clinical AI algorithm.
D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: The Science of Driving Technology Adoption and Sustaining Digital Change. Research could focus on the barriers to physician adoption of a new clinical decision support tool or design a strategy to roll out a "patient portal" to increase engagement.
D803: Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: The Data Scientist and Ethnographer's Toolkit for Health Tech. This module provides the skills to validate the predictive accuracy of an AI model (quantitative) and to use ethnographic observation to understand how technology is actually used in a busy clinical setting (qualitative).
D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Identifying a Critical Problem on the Digital Frontier. Candidates might systematically review literature on algorithmic bias to propose a fairness-auditing framework or review cybersecurity policies to propose a new governance model.
D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Capstone Contribution to the Digital Health Ecosystem. A thesis could be the design of a novel AI-driven diagnostic tool or the creation of an ethical governance framework for the use of generative AI in clinical practice.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways:
Pathway: The AI Ethicist – Developing a Governance Framework for the Responsible Use of Predictive AI. This project would employ policy analysis and qualitative interviews (D803) to propose a new, comprehensive governance framework for the ethical procurement, validation, and monitoring of clinical AI tools, producing a foundational contribution to trustworthy AI.
Pathway: The Telehealth Implementer – An Implementation Science Study to Optimize and Scale Telemedicine for Health Equity. This project, grounded in implementation science (D802), would use mixed-methods (D803) to identify barriers to telemedicine use among an underserved population and produce an evidence-based "playbook" to help design equitable services.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics:
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence & Analytics | - Validating a machine learning model to predict sepsis in the ICU. A human-in-the-loop study of an AI-powered diagnostic imaging tool. Developing a natural language processing (NLP) tool to extract social determinants of health from clinical notes. |
| Telehealth & Remote Monitoring | - A cost-effectiveness analysis of a remote patient monitoring program for heart failure. Human factors analysis of wearable sensor data visualization for clinicians. The impact of virtual primary care on patient continuity and outcomes. |
| Governance, Policy & Ethics | - A new policy framework for cross-border sharing of health data for research. Ethical frameworks for the use of genomic data in clinical care. A study on the effectiveness of cybersecurity training for healthcare staff. |
The Challenge:
Humanity stands at the precipice of a new, ambitious era of space exploration. This renaissance is defined by government-led initiatives like NASA's Artemis program and a burgeoning commercial sector. Yet, the primary limiting factor for multi-year missions to the Moon and Mars is not rocket science, but human biology. Confronting the profound health challenges of deep space requires practitioner-scholars who can pioneer research and translate it into operational practice.
The DHS Curriculum: A Launchpad for Space Health Research
D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Engineering Resilient Crew Health Systems for Deep Space. The core concepts of QI, TQM, and Lean are mission-critical for engineering a reliable and efficient crew health system, optimizing the mass and volume of medical supplies, and managing risk for in-flight medical events.
D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: Bridging the Earth-Orbit Gap: Translating Countermeasures into Practice. This module is critical for addressing the gap between knowing a countermeasure works on Earth and ensuring an astronaut uses it correctly in space, analyzing the human factors and behavioral barriers to adherence for exercise, nutrition, and medical protocols.
D803:Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: The Essential Toolkit for the Interdisciplinary Space Health Researcher. Space health research is inherently interdisciplinary and often constrained by small sample sizes, making a mixed-methods approach essential for analyzing physiological data (quantitative) and investigating complex psychological phenomena like crew cohesion and stress (qualitative).
D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Defining the Mission: From Terrestrial Knowledge to a Novel Research Trajectory. Candidates will systematically review terrestrial medical literature in analogous fields (e.g., geriatrics, immunology) and navigate the specialized research ecosystems of NASA and ESA to identify high-priority research questions.
D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Legacy Contribution to the Future of Human Exploration. The thesis is a "practical, real-world research project" that could be the design of a novel physiological countermeasure, the validation of an AI-driven diagnostic tool, or a new policy framework for medical ethics in commercial spaceflight.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways:
Pathway: The Autonomous Clinician – Developing and Validating an AI-Driven Clinical Decision Support System for Mars Transit. This project directly confronts the "Distance from Earth" hazard. The research would involve developing and validating an AI system that integrates real-time sensor data and evidence-based guidelines to guide a non-physician crew member through diagnosis and treatment, making a critical contribution to the medical architecture for a Mars mission.
Pathway: The Ethics of Exploration – A New Governance Framework for Health Data from Commercial Spaceflight Participants. This project tackles the emerging ethical questions surrounding civilian space travelers. The research would involve policy analysis and qualitative interviews to propose a new international governance framework for ethical oversight, data sharing, and privacy protection, producing a foundational contribution to the "rules of the road" for the next era of human space activity.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics:
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Physiological Countermeasures | - Optimizing Resistive Exercise Protocols to Mitigate SANS and Bone Demineralization. - A Longitudinal Study of the Gut Microbiome's Response to Space Radiation in a Simulated Mars Environment. - The Role of Lower Body Negative Pressure in Countering Cephalad Fluid Shifts. |
| Advanced Medical Technology | - Development and Validation of Miniaturized Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices for In-Flight Blood Analysis. - On-Demand Pharmaceutical Compounding ("Astropharmacy"): A Feasibility and Systems Design Study. - Validating Autonomous Ultrasound Techniques for Non-Medical Operators in a Microgravity Analog. |
| Policy & Ethics | - A New Model for Informed Consent for Research Participation on Long-Duration Exploration Missions. - Ethical Frameworks for Resource Allocation During a Catastrophic In-Flight Medical Emergency. - The Long-Term Health Monitoring and Care Obligations of Space Agencies for Retired Astronauts. |
Part 3: Your Mission Begins: Joining the IHRI Community
Admissions Requirements
Primary Pathway: A relevant MQF/EQF Level 7 (Master's) degree or equivalent, with a minimum of five years’ work experience at a mid-to-senior level in a health, social care, or other professional area.
Alternative Pathway: For candidates with exceptional experience, an alternative pathway is available for those with an MQF/EQF Level 6 (Bachelor's) degree and a minimum of ten years of distinguished professional experience at a mid-to-senior level.
English Language Proficiency: Non-native English speakers must provide proof of proficiency, typically an IELTS score of 6.5-7.0 or equivalent. Some exemptions may apply.
Interview: The final stage is a mutual conversation with the course coordinator to ensure a deep alignment of vision, mission, and ambition between you and the institute.
GRE Requirement: The GRE is not typically required, but may be requested in certain cases. Please contact admissions for clarification.
Application Process
Ready to apply? Our application process is designed to be straightforward:
- Review the full admissions requirements to ensure eligibility.
- Prepare your supporting documents, including transcripts, CV, and proof of English proficiency (if applicable).
- Upload your supporting documents by clicking on the (Apply Now) button below.
- Attend an interview with the course coordinator or a nominated representative.
- Await your admission decision!
A Dual Legacy: Innovating for All Humankind
A doctoral journey at IHRI carries a unique dual legacy. The solutions developed to address the most complex challenges in one area of healthcare often have profound implications for the health of billions on Earth. Research into telemedicine for remote environments improves access for rural populations on every continent. A project on improving patient safety in a busy urban ED yields principles that can be applied in any hospital. A study on mitigating bone loss in astronauts advances our understanding of osteoporosis on Earth. By undertaking this research, you are not choosing one field over another; you are choosing to innovate for all humankind.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The programme is delivered 100% online to provide maximum flexibility for working professionals.
The programme can be completed in 48 months on a full-time basis or 60 months on a part-time basis.
The DHS is designed for a wide range of experienced professionals, including physicians, nurses, advanced paramedics, allied health professionals, healthcare leaders, administrators, and researchers who are aiming to lead and implement change.
Our core pedagogical method is the asynchronous Oxford-style tutorial, a dynamic academic discourse where a small group of scholars engages in a critical conversation. This is complemented by a one-to-one "transformational tutorial" with your faculty mentor.
Assessment is conducted through a variety of methods appropriate for doctoral-level study. The capstone of the DHS programme is the successful completion and defense of an advanced research project, resulting in a comprehensive thesis of 50,000-60,000 words.
For information regarding potential exit awards, please contact our admissions team directly at info@ihri.edu.eu.
Your Mission Begins Here
If you are a leader, clinician, researcher, or administrator with the experience and determination to solve the most challenging health problems of our time, this program offers you the tools, mentorship, and community to achieve your goals.