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Postgraduate research

Social Work and Social Care PhD

University of Gloucestershire

What is Social Work and Social Care?

With a wide range of staff expertise in nursing, allied health professions, social work and social care, the team is able to supervise research across a range of subject areas, and tailored to your discipline. We provide a broad research environment for candidates from a range of health and care settings.

We offer supervision for cross-disciplinary projects linking to management, public health, health promotion, education and social care. Our particular strengths lie in workforce development, health and wellbeing, mental health, intervention design and evaluation, and public health.

You’ll be supported by our researchers, who have active leadership roles across the health and care communities in the county. Their involvement in the community means our students, join a group of engaged researchers involved in pushing forward both new knowledge and professional practice.

The university offers a range of research training events and you’re encouraged to attend national and international academic conferences. To support the development of your research skills, you’re required to undertake the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods and we’ll support you to publish your research in both academic and professional outlets.

Research areas

  • Workforce development
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Professional development
  • Mental health nursing
  • Physical activity promotion in health care and community settings
  • Intervention pathways and effectiveness for patient care
  • Public health
  • Intervention design and evaluation

This research contributes to the research priority area Learning and Professional Contexts.

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Entry requirements

    • At least a 2.1 honours degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area

    • A master’s degree or equivalent in a subject area relevant to the proposed research topic.

    • We actively encourage applications from students from a range of diverse backgrounds who demonstrate appropriate research experience and achievement.

    • EU and international students need IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in any other component) or equivalent.

    • Please provide a copy of your research proposal. This should be 1,000 words (excluding references and appendices) following the structure outlined in this research proposal guide.

      Please note; we’re unable to process applications without a proposal for the School’s consideration. Not supplying one will delay the processing of applications.

Fees and costs

Start date Course code Fee (UK)
per year
Fee (international)
per year
October 2023 £5,100 £11,730
February 2024 £5,100 £11,730
October 2024 TBC TBC
February 2025 TBC TBC
October 2025 TBC TBC

Ready to apply?

Get supervision across a range of subjects

With a wide range of staff expertise in nursing, allied health professions, social work and social care, the team is able to supervise research across a range of subject areas, and tailored to your discipline.

Gain opportunities to train and network

The university offers a range of research training events and you’ll be encouraged to attend national and international academic conferences.

Learn from expert researchers and practitioners

Be supported by our researchers, who have active leadership roles across the health and care communities in the county.

Keep Me Updated

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