School of Nursing and Midwifery

ResM Applied Health Studies

Study for an ResM, MPhil or PhD degree with the School of Nursing and Midwifery and join a supportive community of healthcare professionals working to ensure our research breakthroughs lead to direct benefits for patients and communities

Course details

  • Taught modules

  • The ResM can be studied either full or part time. You study the core modules and attend individual tutorials with your supervisor and regular research seminars. The programme leads to either a written thesis or one combining critical writing with creative/professional practice and can be studied either full time or part time. After completing your taught modules, you continue with independent research, guided by your Director of Studies.

  • Thesis and assessment

  • Throughout this time spent working towards your thesis, you are considered a full member of our research community and completely supported until you successfully complete your degree. You may attend additional training, workshops and research seminars. As a full-time ResM student, you submit your thesis after 12 months (part time after 24 months) or pay a nominal sum for up to six months’ additional writing up time (part time 12 months). Your viva voce (or oral examination) takes place following submission of your thesis.

Entry requirements

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

  • you'll usually need a 2:1 degree from a UK University or equivalent
  • an academic IELTS score of 6.5 overall (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent if you are a non-UK applicant
  • two satisfactory academic references
  • evidence of funding for the duration of your course.

For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the research degrees applicants page.

Fees, costs and funding

The UK is no longer part of the European Union. EU applicants should refer to our Brexit information to understand the implications.

Please visit tuition fees for postgraduate research for information about fees.

You are responsible for meeting all of the costs related to your own research project, beyond the resources available in the department.

Please visit our postgraduate research money matters page to find out more about issues related to fees, funding, loans and paying for your programme of study.

How to apply

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.
If a non-UK national:

  • 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.

Submitting your application

Complete your application and upload supporting documents to the Doctoral College by completing our online application form.

Questions on the application process?

We're here to help. Please contact the Doctoral College team and we'll be happy to assist you.

You can view or download our postgraduate research admissions policy.

If you have a disability and would like further information on the support available, please visit our Disability Services website.

International Student Advice (ISA) provides support for our international students.

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

Our research

We research sustainability, use of new genetic knowledge and technologies, the ageing population, use of internet and mobile technologies, changes in clinical education, contemporary nursing, and how knowledge is translated into practice and policy.

Our interdisciplinary approach takes account of how services will evolve over the next few years.

Learn more about research within our school

You may also be interested in ...