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The MPhil/PhD programme is relevant to several disciplines given the cross-disciplinary academic staff and research within the GBSH.
The programme aims to provide cutting-edge, applied research and training for exceptional students so that they may successfully pursue careers in research, healthcare management, health services, consultancy and policy within several types of organisations focused on driving forward better health outcomes.
Outline programme structure
The MPhil/PhD programme lasts three years, if taken full-time, or five years if part-time. You will be initially registered for an MPhil, upgrading to a PhD, subject to satisfactory academic progress. For a successful upgrade to PhD, the student must prepare a written report, give an oral presentation and pass an oral examination.
In the first year, you will review relevant sources to submit a literature review within 6 months of your start date. Following this, you will start working on your upgrade reports with the help of your supervisory team, submitting a draft of the report within 9-11 months and the final upgrade report within 12-14 months. Upgrade vivas will be held at one of the departments upgrade weeks, timings of which will be reviewed annually.
Final theses will be due no more than 4 years from registration date and vivas are expected to take place within 3 months of the final submission.
All postgraduate research students are expected to undertake 10 days of skills training each year over your 3-5 year programme, which is logged and audited electronically. This will include, for example, courses on research design and statistics, ethical and legal issues, presentation skills, thesis production and career planning.
For the MPhil/PhD degree, applicants must have a minimum of an upper second-class (2:1 or better) Bachelor’s degree and a Master's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applications from individuals who do not hold a Master's degree, but who have extensive relevant work experience, may also be considered.
Candidates will be required to complete at least 20 training points worth of training per year.
Your research enrivonment
We envision our PGR projects to be interdisciplinary and run collaboratively with other departments. Supervision will be provided from GBSH academics and possibly various Institutes from the Faculty of Population Health Sciences academics. The GBSH has a Deputy Director for Research who will run bi-weekly research seminar series for staff and students.
Similarly to the School, the Faculty of Population Health Sciences strongly encourages collaboration between the departments and integrating GBSH students into the wider Faculty. The Faculty also organises events for all PGR students, including specialist induction activities.
The School is in the process of setting up a new DBA Health programme, for which we will create the following modules that will be open to all GBSH MPhil/PhD students to audit as part of their knowledge and skills development:
- Understanding Applied Research in Healthcare Management
- Research Methods and Design
- Data Analysis
- Digital Health Research Methods and Tools
- Health Systems thinking
- Research and Co-Production with Patients
- Communication for Healthcare Management
In addition to the above, the School is exploring options to make Responsible Research and Innovation training available for all research students.
The School will have a dedicated budget for conference support of staff and research students along with a Graduate Tutor.