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 page.

  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 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:

For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the apply for a postgraduate research programme page.

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 (PIHR) and the South West Clinical Schools 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:

If a non-UK national:

Please note our application deadlines. Overseas applicants must submit their application 4.5 months prior to the proposed programme start date. For Home 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 Additional support for students with an impairment, health condition or disability website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office .
Find more information about how to apply for a research degree .

The School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth recognise that people may act out of character in times of trouble or distress. However, we will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour or language towards any of our staff during the admissions process. Hostile, aggressive, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour or language, whether expressed verbally or in writing, will be viewed seriously and may adversely affect the consideration of an application, appeal, or complaint. We reserve the right to reject an application from, or withdraw an offer to, an applicant who has behaved in an inappropriate manner.