PhD Applied Health Studies

• Programme overview

• This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is the most appropriate research degree to undertake.
  
  You will be guided by a small supervisory team of academic experts under the direction of a Director of Studies.

  You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts.
  
  Your PhD will be assessed via submission of either a written thesis (up to 80,000 words), or one that combines critical writing with artistic, creative and/or professional practice, and a viva voce (an oral examination).
  
  For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit our postgraduate research degrees pages.
  

  If you do not already have a masters degree, you may be interested in one of our masters level research degrees – for instance, our ResM in Applied Health Studies (which enables a transfer directly into the PhD programme if you are making excellent progress), or else an MPhil degree. Further details about the University’s research degree awards.

All applicants must meet the entry criteria for a Faculty of Health research degree which are:

If you are thinking of undertaking the MPhil/PhD or ResM Programme with the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SNAM) then there are a number of ways to obtain further information to inform your decision on this. 

Contact the SNAM Postgraduate Research Coordinator Dr Jane March McDonald who will be able to sign post you to a potential Director of Studies (lead supervisor) whose expertise is aligned with your area/topic of research interest and who will be able to discuss your ideas and answer any questions you might have You can identify potential research areas of interest by browsing the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research and the South West Clinical school web pages.

If you have already identified a SNAM staff member who holds expertise in your research topic/area and you wish to see if they might be willing and have capacity to undertake the role as your Director of Studies, then please contact this person directly by email.

If you are unsure which School would be most appropriate to support your programme of studies, then please contact the Doctoral College who will be able to advise. 

Research Fellowships are sometimes made available by the South West Clinical Schools. Please contact the Clinical School directly. Successful applicants will be supported in submitting an application to the Doctoral College for the MPhil/PhD or ResM Applied Health Studies Programme. 

Completion and submission of Application:
After a potential supervisor has been identified, in order to formally apply, please complete the online application form and ensure you upload the following documents:

• a brief research proposal and personal statement
• an up to date CV which includes dates with all gaps accounted for and the location of your activities
• two academic references
• a copy of your highest qualification certificate and final transcript of grades
• information on how you meet our English language requirement, which is 6.5 academic IELTS overall score with at least 5.5 in each component test area.

• a copy of the information page of your passport
• copies of any UK visas you previously held
• information on how you intend to pay your fees.

Please note our application deadlines. Overseas applicants must submit their application 4.5 months prior to the proposed programme start date. For Home/EU applicants the deadline is 2.5 months prior to the proposed programme start date. There are three possible start dates per year, 1 October, 1 January and 1 April.

Find more information about how to apply for a research degree.