phd in midwifery uk

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Midwifery PhD

• Full-time: 3 to 4 years
• Part-time: Up to 8 years
• Start date: October 2025
• UK fees: £5,350
• International fees: £23,000

Research overview

Our research has a truly international outlook and wide-ranging impacts on society, the economy, health and welfare, culture, public policy and the environment.

The School of Health Sciences commands a reputation for world-leading research and education, 96% of the School’s research was ranked as internationally excellent or world leading (REF 2021), with Times Higher Education ranking us joint 4th for research quality. The QS World University Rankings (2022) ranked the SoHS 25th in the world for nursing and 4th in the UK.

A PhD in Midwifery allows you to extend your body of knowledge in the field of maternal health and well-being as you become a successful independent researcher within this field of study. 

Our research is carried out in collaboration with clinical partners, global research centres and healthcare organisations. We have a dedicated Centre for Evidence Based Healthcare that works with our research groups and healthcare partners to provide methodological input, evidence synthesis and training.

We welcome all applications that strengthen the work of our research groups. Prior to submitting an application, please identify and contact a relevant supervisor. Full details of our PGR supervisors can be found here: https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/healthsciences/postgraduate/research-supervisors.aspx

Applications are welcomed from enthusiastic, talented and highly motivated individuals with a passion for research and for using research to make a difference. We are happy to support applications for competitive peer reviewed PhD fellowships e.g. NIHR, Wellcome Trust, Charitably funded etc.

For informal enquiries please contact the Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr Claire Diver

Course content

Our Midwifery PhD will adopt an individual training needs analysis approach to support access to specialist training in the theory and practical techniques you'll need to develop, conduct and disseminate research. You will develop and conduct an original and independent research project, with supervision and support from our research experts. Skills you'll learn include:

• Knowledge and research skills
• Personal effectiveness skills
• Research governance skills
• Knowledge exchange skills

There is no compulsory requirement to undertake modules of study. However, your supervsiory team will work with you to identify any that are relevant to you. These included advanced specialist and foundation research methods modules that include but are not restricted to:

https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/esrc-dtc/training/at-module-details.aspx

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Qualification	PhD
Degree	2:1 (or international equivalent) at undergraduate level and a minimum of a merit (or international equivalent) at masters level

Qualification	PhD
Degree	2:1 (or international equivalent) at undergraduate level and a minimum of a merit (or international equivalent) at masters level
International and EU equivalents	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our .
IELTS	6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
English language requirements	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other . This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our  Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us .

For informal enquiries please contact the Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr Claire Diver .

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

Qualification	PhD
Home / UK	£5,350
International	£23,000

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice .

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your personal budget, including any running costs for your project such as printing or equipment, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

The school contributes to some costs relating to conference/course attendance and some research consumables. The full cost of your course will vary depending on the nature of your research project, for example there may be additional costs for projects which require specific equipment or travel and you’ll need to have sourced funds for this.

For UK students, there are numerous funding opportunities from:

• National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)
• Government research councils (such as the Economic and Social Research Council or Medical Research Council )
• Healthcare charities or foundations

Many of our international students seek funding support from governmental agencies or academic institutions. Find out more about our international scholarships .

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

The School of Health Sciences offers an extensive research seminar programme open to staff and students. In addition, we run regular doctoral events that are accessible to part-time students or those studying or working off campus.

The University and school also provide a wide range of funding opportunities for research networking activities, conference attendance and internships.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Graduate centres

Our graduate centres are dedicated community spaces on campus for postgraduates.

Each space has areas for:

• socialising
• computer work
• kitchen facilities

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services , including:

• academic and disability support
• childcare services
• counselling service
• faith support
• financial support
• mental health and wellbeing support
• visa and immigration advice
• welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer .

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• international students
• black and minority ethnic students
• students who identify as women
• students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

Medical school – queen's medical centre.

Our Medical School is based in Queen’s Medical Centre, one of the UK’s largest hospitals.

There are dedicated clinical skills facilities including a dissection suite and teaching laboratories for medicine and healthcare students.

The hospital is located opposite  University Park Campus  and connected by a footbridge for easy access. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

University Park Campus

University Park Campus  covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route . Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for:

• NHS trusts (such as clinical specialists, advanced practitioners, modern matrons)
• Universities (such as lecturers and senior academics, lecturer practitioners, clinical academics and researchers)
• Private practices

100% of postgraduates from the School of Health Sciences secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology.

Related courses

Health studies phd, nursing studies phd, physiotherapy phd, research excellence framework.

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
• 100%* of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 01 July 2024 . Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.

PhD/MPhil Maternal and Child Health/Midwifery

Postgraduate research degree

Our Maternal Health PhD/MPhil programme enables you to develop new research in collaboration with expert international researchers and professional and community stakeholders. Close links with our health service and policy partners help to rapidly transform your research into policy, practice and education.

Research centres and groups

• Maternal and Child Health

Key information

Starting date	Deadline for application
Feb 2025 1 February 2025	Jan 2025 13 January 2025
Oct 2025 1 October 2025	Aug 2025 26 August 2025

Affiliations

Our links with Bart's Trust, UCL Partners and others has helped create research-active clinical academic posts, ensuring research is undertaken under the supervision of respected clinical experts.

Maternal and Child Health/Midwifery Postgraduate research degrees PhD/MPhil course Overview

At the Centre for Maternal and Child Health we conduct high quality research. Our focus is to improve the health and care of women, children, families and communities. Much of our research in Midwifery has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. Your work will be connected with one of our three research groups:

• Models of maternal and child healthcare
• Perinatal mental health
• Public health, diversity and inequalities.

Recent doctorates have explored topics such as:

• Decision-making about place of birth
• Online therapy for postnatal anxiety
• The influence of health system factors on maternal health
• Respectful or disrespectful care in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Department of Midwifery and Radiography has a vibrant international research environment which is driven by a diverse mix of people from backgrounds including midwifery, psychology and anthropology.

Study for an MPhil/PhD

Doctoral level study involves independent academic research, supported by supervisors, that makes an original contribution to knowledge within the discipline.

There are two main routes to doctoral-level research degrees (PhD) within the School of Health & Psychological Sciences .

The main approach - MPhil/PhD by major thesis - centres on conducting original research and presenting this in a thesis of around 70,000 words (and no longer than 100,000 words).

An alternative route to doctoral qualification is PhD by publication. This involves the candidate either linking together a coherent body of previously conducted research papers with a critical commentary (PhD by prior publication), or preparing and submitting a series of papers for peer reviewed publication during the period of registration (PhD by prospective publication).

Further details of these two routes are given below:

MPhil/PhD by major thesis

The standard route involves the accepted candidate pursuing a research project under the guidance of their supervisors over a period of 3 years (full-time) or 4-6 years (part-time).

MPhil and PhD study will commonly involve a structured programme of research activity. Comprising systematic literature review, pilot or developmental study, and main study phases.

PhD by publication

Prior publication : Candidates who have already published a series of significant research papers submit these together with an accompanying analytical commentary. This body of work must be principally the candidate's own work.

The number and range of publications must be sufficient to demonstrate that the work forms a coherent contribution to knowledge or scholarship within the particular field. This typically involves around six papers.

Prospective publication: Candidates publish several (generally around four to six papers, dependent on their depth, quality, significance and impact) significant research papers addressing various aspects of their research topic during their period of PhD registration.

For full details about the City PhD programme structure, please see the Guide for Research Students .

Requirements

Entry requirements vary by subject area. Applicants should approach academic staff working in their area of interest to discuss their proposal ahead of submitting an application. Applicants should normally hold an upper second-class honours degree or the equivalent from an international institution.

Where the applicant's academic profile shows no evidence of training in research methods, it is recommended that students first complete a Master’s programme. This is to prepare them for MPhil/PhD studies. Substantial employment or research experience may be considered for some subject areas alongside or in place of academic qualifications.

English requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS score of at least 7 (with a minimum of 7.0 in writing) is required.

For more information see our main entry requirements page.

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area/Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months;
• Students on courses of less than six months;
• Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

For more information see our main Visa page .

Fees and funding

Full-time Home/UK: £5,500 per year

Part-time Home/UK: £2,750 per year

Full-time International: £14,500 per year

Part-time International: £7,250 per year

Fees for doctoral candidates are charged annually and cover registration, supervision and examination.

Fees are subject to review each year and may vary during your period of registration. Where applicable, fees for City's programmes will be subject to inflationary increases in each academic year of study commencing in September . Our policy for these increases is set out in our terms and conditions of study .

Support for PhD study

Prospective students are encouraged to explore doctoral Grants and funding opportunities such as:

• NIHR and MRC Fellowship schemes
• Specialist scholarship schemes (such as those provided by Arthritis UK, Diabetes UK, and the British Heart Foundation)
• Research Council studentship awards , if available.

Our bursaries are non-repayable sums of money granted by the University, usually based on need.

Our loans are repayable sums of money granted by the University or other body.

Our scholarships are when the University pays towards your Study fees. You may also be eligible for further funding.

Postgraduate Doctoral Loans

The Government has introduced a new Postgraduate Doctoral Loans scheme which can provide a loan of up to £25,000.

This will be over three years to support study for a doctoral degree.

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. It can be used alongside any other forms of support you may be able to receive.

For more information, please see our Postgraduate Doctoral Loans page .

Additional expenses

Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees.  Find out more about additional expenses .

Funding for Research Projects

Harp - HARP is a doctoral training programme for health professionals, offering full time salary and consumables for three years.  It is a partnership of QMUL and City supported by Social Action for Health and funded by the Wellcome Trust, Barts Charity, the Trustees of the Medical College of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust and East London Foundation Trust.

Barts Charity doctoral fellowships for nurses, midwives and AHPs - This programme supports nurses, midwives and Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) to undertake clinical research to complete a PhD at City.

Academic support

City has a well-established structure and processes to support your research .

Supervision

MPhil/PhD students have the opportunity to become integral members of the School of Health & Psychological Sciences' research teams based in Our Research Centres. These centre's assist and encourage students when completing their studies. A wide range of formal and informal research groups are also available to support MPhil/PhD students.

MPhil/PhD students are assigned to a team of supervisors . This usually consists of two academics who are expert in the field of the student's study.

Students meet regularly with their supervisors to review their learning needs and plan their work towards progression and completion of their research studies. Full time students are required to meet with their supervisors at least twice a term. Part-time students will meet with supervisors at least once a term.

Here notes will be recorded notes from these meetings and other indicators of progress on the web-based system, Research And Progress (RAP) .

Students' progress is monitored regularly and supported by an annual review. They may have the opportunity to discuss their research design and written work with a research advisor from outside their supervision team. They also have access to ongoing support from Senior Tutors for Research.

All students working towards a PhD initially register for MPhil studies.

When the student's study has sufficiently developed to demonstrate that it is of doctoral standard then the student may apply to be upgraded to PhD student status. This involves an oral examination. Upgrading normally occurs between 12 and 18 months for full time study and between 24 and 30 months for part time study.

Research students are also supported by student representatives who meet regularly with the student-staff liaison committee. Here they can respond to any student concerns that cannot be addressed by the supervision team.

All MPhil/PhD students can access a wide range of MSc modules and other training programmes across City, normally without charge. Attendance at these programmes is discussed with and, if appropriate, approved by the student's supervision team.

A number of workshops, seminars and retreats are organised specifically for research degrees students across the School and within particular areas. Students are also invited to attend the research seminars that are organised for academic staff.

Institution-wide research related activities can also contribute to your development as a researcher. An annual programme of research and enterprise development activities is kept under review and updated in response to feedback from research students and academic and research staff.

The City Doctoral College can provide more information about graduate degrees.

How to apply

In the first, instance, we recommend that you visit the relevant School and Research Centre. Here you can read about our research and establish areas of specific staff interest. This will enable you to identify whether the School of Health & Psychological Sciences at City is the best place for your study.

Following this you need to submit a formal online application with a curriculum vitae and a 1-2 page proposal of study. This should include:

Background and rationale including other work in the area leading up to the PhD study.

Proposed methodology such as aims, design, participant groups, measures, analysis.

Potential outcomes of the research in terms of academic outputs (papers and presentations) and real-world impact (e.g., its potential usefulness for health services care providers, policymakers etc.).

We realise that at this stage you may not have a completely clear plan of study, and that the proposal is likely to change after you begin study. The proposal gives us an idea of your writing and organisational ability, motivation and rationale for the study and potential wider benefits.

Please see here for guidance on how to prepare your research proposal .

• Full-time 1 st Feb 2025
• Part-time 1 st Feb 2025
• 1 st Oct 2025
• 1 st Feb 2025

For further application enquiries please contact our PGR enquiries team .

Example Doctoral Research Projects from SHPS

Midwives’ perspectives on the practice, impact and challenges of delivering respectful maternity care in malawi.

This project used a postcolonial lens to explore Malawian midwives’ perceptions of respectful maternity care, and identify the constraints and enablers they faced in providing it.

Research centre: Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research

Academics: Dr Susan Bradley and Professor Christine McCourt

Status: Completed project

View case study site

Promoting exclusive breastfeeding among HIV positive women in rural Malawi

Dr Agatha Kapatuka Bula investigates how community-based interventions help to promote exclusive breastfeeding among HIV positive women in rural Malawi and reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Academic: Professor Christine McCourt

Past student: Dr Agatha Bula

Identifying women at risk of suicide in pregnancy and after birth

Research aim is to develop an acceptable, valid and reliable method of identifying perinatal women at risk of suicide, that is both evidence-based and practical to use in primary care.

Academics: Professor Susan Ayers , Dr Rose Meades and Professor Rose McCabe

Current student: Liz Dudeney

Status: Ongoing project

CenteringLiberation: Abolition Feminism, Group Care and the Coloniality of Global Maternal Health (A UK Case Study as part of the GC1000 Programme – Group Care for the first 1000 Days)

Underpinned by an abolitionist framework, this research explores women’s experiences of group antenatal care in the UK and its potential to address colonial legacies within maternal health care.

Academics: Professor Christine McCourt and Dr Susan Bradley

Current student: Anna Horn

Empowering Natural Child Birth

Roa Altaweli investigates the use of interventions during the second stage of labour and what may affect their use in Saudi Arabia.

Past student: Roa Altaweli

Maternal mental health, processing of emotion and maternal sensitivity

An investigation on whether maternal mental health difficulties impact a mother’s cognitive processing of infant emotional faces, and in turn her maternal sensitivity when interacting with her infant.

Academics: Dr Rebecca Webb , Professor Susan Ayers and Dr Ansgar Endress

Find a supervisor

See our full list of academic staff and potential supervisors in Department of Midwifery and Radiography.

Professor Christine McCourt

Professor of Maternal and Child Health

Department of Midwifery and Radiography

Dr Katherine Curtis-Tyler

Senior Lecturer

Department of Health Services Research and Management

Professor Susan Ayers

Dr Lucia Rocca-Ihenacho

Senior Lecturer in Midwifery

Dr Mandie Scamell

Dr Rose Meades

SHPS Research Fellow

Useful links

• Centre for Maternal and Child Health
• Doctoral College
• School of Health & Psychological Sciences
• Student wellbeing
• Terms and conditions

Contact details

Shps doctoral enquiries.

+44 (0) 20 7040 5972

[email protected]

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Midwifery PhD

Course detail, entry requirements.

• Fees & funding
• Study & career progression

Our PhD in Midwifery allows you to delve deep into the theory and research of why we do the things we do as midwives. Studying for a PhD with us will allow you time to explore the questions you want to ask that are relevant to your service, to your mums and babies.

At the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare we have a wide range of expertise in research and the education of nurses. We have formed local, national and international multi-professional collaborative research and teaching networks with a variety of agencies, institutions, professional organisations and healthcare providers.

We invite applications for doctoral research in various topic areas, our particular areas of expertise are:

• patient safety and infection
• mental health
• midwifery and family health
• learning disability
• healthcare management and service improvement

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise, in the 'Supervisors' section lower down the page.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Midwifery with us?

What our students say…

The main factor that persuaded me to pursue a PhD at UWL was the opportunity to work with supervisors, who are both experts in their field and to be part of a university with a great reputation. My doctoral experience at the University of West London was outstanding. The university offers everything you need as a student to succeed in your studies and I received a huge amount of support. Also, the library provides a fantastic study environment.

World-leading Research

The University of West London has been recognised by the Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) for its exceptional research work.

You will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser. Your research will be judged through the presentation of a thesis or artefact and a viva voce for academic assessment. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from: 

• peer feedback and discussion   
• a series of master-classes and lectures from industry figures   
• support by a supervisor and second supervisor suited to your project. 

About PhD study

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research.  You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.  

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement.  You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare Research Centres

Our College is closely involved with two centres:

• The Richard Wells Research Centre
• European Institute for Person-Centred Health and Social Care

At the Richard Wells Research Centre we conduct primary research, undertake guideline development and review and, through its work as an internationally accredited centre for evidence-based practice, carries out comprehensive systematic reviews.

Our European Institute for Person-Centred Health and Social Care looks at newer models of care that are personalised, integrated and contextualise for chronically ill patients who need more comprehensive forms of assistance.

Our research record

View our  academic journal 'New Vistas'   to see the work of students and academics who are making an impact both locally and globally through their research findings. 

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the the capital or further afield - ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

Got a question?

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, you can contact  Professor Heather Loveday  or Associate Professor Rowan Myron .

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

We provide structured research training, expert supervision, and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

Birthing simulator

Lucina, our cutting-edge birthing simulator, enables you to learn all the stages of delivery and rare emergency scenarios.

Simulation centres

Our well-equipped simulation centres , located at our west London and Reading campuses, accurately recreate the environments you will encounter on your placements and in your midwifery career.

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Postgraduate and International Student Centre is a new focal point for the university’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

The Paul Hamlyn Library

The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces. Find out more about what the  Paul Hamlyn Library has to offer .

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.

We look for students with:

• a passion for their chosen subject.

You will also have a well thought through and persuasive proposal.

• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).

Fees & funding

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher Education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).

Find out more about funding opportunities. Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website , (with the exception of funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

Bursaries and scholarships

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships , scholarships and bursaries .

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (eg The Ministry / Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the Sources of funding for international students guide.

Supervisors

Dr claire anderson.

Dr Obed Brew

Professor Heather Loveday

Professor Kay Mafuba

Dr Linda McDonald

Professor Rowan Myron

Dr Salim Vohra

Study & career progression

As a PhD Graduate in Midwifery you will have a number of pathways you can pursue in your postdoctoral career. A number of new graduates choose to continue with their research and apply for postdoctoral research positions.

Another popular option is to return to midwifery and bring your research expertise to your next post. A third pathway is to move into education, using your research expertise and practical experience, build and inform the next generation of midwives.

How to apply

• How to apply: UK
• How to apply: International

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form. You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline (5000 words maximum)
• transcript of your highest qualification.

The research proposal outline, or statement of research interests, enables us to assess your suitability for higher degree work including:

• viability of the topic as a research study
• the most appropriate supervisor(s) to be appointed.

Learn more about applying for a PhD.

Apply for this course

Next steps after making your application.

We aim to make a decision on your application as quickly as we can. If we need any more information about your qualifications, we will be in touch.

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Talk to our tutors and find out about our courses and facilities at our next open day or join a campus tour.

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Any questions about a course or studying at UWL? We're here to help - call us on 0800 036 8888 (option 2, Monday – Friday 10am-4pm) or email us on [email protected].

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form.  You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline

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King's College London

Midwifery research with option of joint phd with hku or nus mphil/phd, key information.

The Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care at King's is a world-leading centre for applied and allied healthcare, clinical research and education. Our focus is on training the healthcare leaders and researchers of the future, with a strong commitment to providing postgraduate programmes of the highest quality. The faculty offers research programmes at MPhil and PhD level. In preparing students to become knowledgeable and competent researchers, supervision is provided by academic staff with expertise in a wide range of research and clinical areas.

The Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care is regarded as a centre of excellence for nursing and midwifery, achieving high scores in research and teaching quality assessments. The first MPhil/PhD students enrolled in the late 1970s and since then the faculty has expanded steadily its range of high quality graduate education programmes to meet the needs of increasingly well-educated healthcare professionals who wish to continue their education to support and develop their careers.

The purpose of our research is to improve the quality of services and outcomes for patients through studies concerned with individual clinical needs, service delivery and organisation and the wider social and policy context of care, nationally and internationally. Our research work is underpinned by cross cutting principles: engagement with patient and user perspectives, commitment to conceptual and methodological innovation, attention to the policy relevance and practical application of our findings through interventions.

The faculty is an integral partner within King’s Health Partners (KHP) and contributes to the interdisciplinary research centres in supporting and delivering high quality research.

Our results in the latest REF (Research Excellence Framework, the UK’s system for assessing research quality in universities) highlighted the combined strength and impact of applied health research at King’s. Of the 89 submissions made by UK universities to the REF’s Unit of Assessment 3 (UoA3), King’s was 1st for overall research rated 4* (the highest possible mark), 1 st for number of research outputs being rated 3* or 4* with 206.87 papers awarded these ratings, 1st for impact rated 4* with 86.4% of impact case studies rated 4*, and 1st for Grade Point Average and Power.

Our research activity is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Research Councils and a range of charities. We host a range of nationally competitive fellowships from PhD studentship to post-doctoral level.

PhD Research Projects

PhD projects in the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care become available all year round. Please visit our postgraduate research page , where you can browse through the current opportunities. The faculty is especially interested in receiving applications from students across the globe, who are planning their doctoral research projects in fields that will contribute to the faculty’s research groups, enhance the research culture and align with the faculty’s research strategy.

Joint PhDs - Benefits of collaboration

The Joint PhD is an innovative integrated programme that offers unique opportunities for the very best PhD supervision in an international context. The programme offered provides candidates with the opportunity to divide their PhD study between three prestigious universities (King’s, the University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore), enjoying full supervision at both. While supervisions and regular graduate seminars enable students to construct a theoretical, historical and systematic framework for their research, the Joint PhD also organizes international colloquia and workshops at which students can present and discuss their work with peers and academic staff across the institutions involved. The programme builds on an extensive network of existing institutional links, joint teaching experience and collaborative graduate programmes between King’s and our partner universities.

Find out more about our faculty supervisors and research projects . 

• How to apply
• Fees or Funding

UK Tuition Fees 2024/25

Full time tuition fees:

£7,950 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

£7,950 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with University of Hong Kong)

£7,950 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with the National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £3,975 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

International Tuition Fees 2024/25

£30,240 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

£30,240 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with University of Hong Kong)

£30,240 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with the National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £15,120 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

UK Tuition Fees 2025/26

£8,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

£8,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with University of Hong Kong)

£8,500 per year (MPhil/PhD, Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care Research with the National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £4,250 per year (MPhil/PhD, Midwifery Research)

International Tuition Fees 2025/26

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

• Study environment

Base campus

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

The Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care offers a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment. In the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2015, results for the Faculty indicated that student experience was positive about all aspects of supervision, skills and development, infrastructure, intellectual climate, and knowledge of roles and responsibilities within the Faculty. Research students are allocated a supervisory team led by an experienced principal supervisor. The team meet regularly with the student for supervision and review of progress. Progress is also reviewed formally by the Faculty Postgraduate Research Students Committee at set points in the academic year. Supervisors provide advice on training needs and career development. Student representatives for full-time and part-time students play an important role in communicating student feedback about learning experiences and the support infrastructure to inform ongoing programme development. Research students have a study suite in the James Clerk Maxwell Building and access to Graduate Lounges on the different campuses.

Students on the MPhil/PhD programme are immersed in the academic culture and are encouraged to engage in a wide range of learning opportunities. Students will normally undertake two core research methods modules: Advanced quantitative research methods offers an in-depth study of quantitative research methods including epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials, and Advanced qualitative research methods offers an in-depth study of different qualitative methods and their relationship to epistemological theory. Students can also access doctoral training courses organised by King's Graduate School and the ESRC training centre where places permit, and all students are encouraged to become actively involved in research seminars and fora. Research students are encouraged to present their doctoral research at conferences and a School competition fund exists to support this.

Support for Postgraduate Research Students within the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care

• A model of three-supervisors has been introduced to improve students’ support and access to clinical and methodological expertise. Where appropriate and required, MPhil/PhD students within the Faculty will be provided with a team of three supervisors.
• Research methods training modules offered by the Faculty itself include Advanced Quantitative Research Methods; Advanced Qualitative Research Methods; Evidence Based Decision Making in Healthcare; Research Methods and Statistics; and Epidemiology.
• Our own Nightingale-Saunders Clinical Trials & Epidemiology Unit offers an advanced level of expertise on quantitative topics of which students can avail.
• In addition, our MPhil/PhD students have access to a wide range of supplementary courses and activities, including workshops, symposia and funding offered by Centre of Doctoral Studies, the Health Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (HSDTC) and the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS DTP).
• The Faculty also runs three Journal Clubs (for Nursing & Midwifery, Mental Health and the Cecily Saunders Institute of Palliative Care respectively) and students have an opportunity to participate in fortnightly research seminar programmes delivered by one of the research divisions. Students’ active involvement in developing the range of activities and their delivery is strongly encouraged.

Meet our students and learn more about the great work they are doing.

• Entry requirements

For more information regarding our courses please contact us using the details below

Centre for Doctoral Studies

Funding & Scholarships for PhD students

The Centre for Doctoral Studies helps secure funding for students...

Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care

Improving the care of patients and those important to them.

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PhD Midwifery

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School of study	School of Health and Social Work

About the course

A University of Hertfordshire research degree is an internationally recognised degree signifying high levels of achievement in research. It develops extensive subject expertise and independent research skills which are honed over an extended period, depending on the level of the award. You would undertake a substantial, original research project for the duration of the degree, under the supervision and guidance of two or more academic members of staff. Your supervisory team provides guidance both in the selection of a research topic and in the conduct of the research. You are also supported by attendance at postgraduate seminar series to develop subject specific knowledge and research skills relevant to your field of research. The degree is assessed solely on the basis of the final research output, in the form of a substantial written thesis which must be "defended" in a viva. During the course of the degree, you would be given opportunities to present your work at major conferences and in refereed research publications.

What’s next for my career?

• An internationally recognised research qualification
• Developing advanced subject expertise at postgraduate level
• Develop research skills through practice and extensive research experience
• Employers are looking for high calibre graduates with advanced skills who can demonstrate independence through research

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
01/11/2024	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2024	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/11/2024	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2024	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2025	31/07/2025	1	UH Hatfield Campus

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
01/08/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/09/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/10/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/11/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/08/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/09/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/10/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/11/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2025	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2026	31/07/2026	1	UH Hatfield Campus

Start Date	End Date	Year	Location	Link
01/08/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/09/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/10/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/11/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/08/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/09/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/10/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/11/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/12/2026	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/01/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/02/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/03/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/04/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/05/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/06/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus
01/07/2027	31/07/2027	1	UH Hatfield Campus

Course fees

• Research degree fees for UK and EU students
• Research degree fees for international students

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• Postgraduate research degrees
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Nursing PhD | Midwifery PhD

The University of Brighton offers interdisciplinary study across a range of allied health and healthcare practice areas.

Programmes are focused on practical wisdom with research students playing an important role in exploring, developing and improving clinical practice. There are opportunities to engage with a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives.

We offer PhD study in both full and part-time modes and welcome students with significant professional experience, who are able to use and share the career skills they have developed, as well as those who have recently completed first degrees and wish to take advantage of their academic momentum.

Nursing PhD

Our postgraduate students in nursing work across diverse practice settings and engage new theoretical perspectives with a view to enhancing practice in a number of areas - including community-based, mental health, paediatric and social care-related -  in statutory, NHS and/or third sector services.

Our research embraces a diverse range of qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods and includes use of the arts, participatory and new methodologies with projects often drawing on personal professional or experiential perspectives. You will be contributing throughout your studies to a research portfolio that has major impact on understanding the experiences of health, illness, the meaning of care and people’s involvement in this and the provision and the systems that support it.

Midwifery PhD

Midwifery and maternity care are open to a wide variety of research questions and designs.

Staff and PhD students offer a community of learning which allows pertinent issues in maternity and midwifery to be explored. As such the area fosters research into specific clinical practice and effects of patterns of care, the midwife/family relationship, midwifery practice, and historical perspectives. Research may be qualitative or quantitative approaches, or explore mixed methods.

Graduates with a PhD in nursing or in midwifery from the University of Brighton proceed to employment in various organisations including NIHR, NHS, university lecturer posts and consultancy, as well as further research.

Apply to 'Health SCIENCES' in the applicant portal

Key information

As a Nursing PhD or Midwifery PhD student at the University of Brighton, you will benefit from:

• a supervisory team comprising 2-3 members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have an additional supervisor from another school, another research institution, or an external partner from government or industry
• opportunities to present and discuss your own work with other researchers in seminars organised by research centres, groups and the university schools.
• desk space and access to a desktop PC
• access to a range of electronic resources via the university’s Online Library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries. 

Academic environment

PhD students in Nursing and in Midwifery take an active role in a range of intellectual and social activities within the university. All postgraduate students are integrated into Centres of Research and Enterprise Excellence (COREs) or Research and Enterprise Groups (REGs). These provide you with a community of like-minded scholars and practitioners and give opportunities to present ‘work in progress’ and network with other researchers.

We provide PhD students with opportunities to work across and gain context from the spectrum of Health Sciences. We believe that this interdisciplinary focus provides our students with an appreciation of real-world problems, and ensures that they are highly employable.

PhD students are provided with a forum for discussion of research activities, for sharing expertise in methods and research approaches and to offer support to all those undertaking or wishing to undertake research in the broad areas of nursing and midwifery. We support all members associated with the area in their research activities, help colleagues with conference presentation preparation, with research planning and publication activities as well as grant applications.

We have links with clinicians and other academics at the University of Brighton and also invite doctoral students to attend the discussion areas. The profile of the area includes midwives, nurses, physiotherapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists and sports scientists.

We also collaborate with staff from other parts of the university, for example, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and with departments in other universities together with clinicians and managers locally.

The Brighton Doctoral College offer a training programme for postgraduate researchers, covering research methods and transferable (including employability) skills. Attendance at appropriate modules within this programme is encouraged, as is contribution to the Schools’ various seminar series. Academic and technical staff also provide more subject-specific training.

Expert supervision for a Nursing PhD is offered, for example, in the nature and meaning of care across a number of contexts spanning acute, primary and community as well as secondary care and across a diverse range of health and long term or illness conditions. This includes contributions to new interventions, digital and technological applications, lifeworld-led care perspectives and new understandings of peoples’ experiences.

We have particular strengths in phenomenology and lifeworld research, action research, ethnography and grounded theory and application of new theory relevant to care and well-being. Our research spans the range of age groups; we are undertaking distinctive research in children, critical care, e-technologies and health, inequalities, as well as growing older and living well in older age, gender and old age, and exploring well-being potential within a wide range of illness and long-term conditions. We are also interested in learning in practice, practice development and caring workforce issues.

Our expert supervision for a Midwifery PhD will allow projects to develop on any aspects of midwifery and maternity care, including: public health in maternity, women’s experiences of care, exercise in pregnancy, the midwifery workforce and historical approaches to a range of questions in midwifery.

Meet our supervisors

Dr heather baid.

Heather is interested in supervising PhD, MSc and MRes students researching topics related to critical care clinical practice, the sustainability of healthcare and the use of simulation within healthcare education.

She has experience planning and conducting her own research, as well as supervising research students, in a variety of different qualitative and quantitative methods such as constructivist grounded theory, cross-sectional survey, qualitative descriptive analysis, case study, evaluation and mixed methods approaches within the research design.

Dr Chris Cocking

I am interested in supervising people with an interest in social psychology, crowd behaviour, or collective action. For example I am currently researching the protests calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict & would welcome PG research projects into these and other topical collective action protests. I am also interested in public intervention in emergencies/mass casualty incidents (a concept known as 'zero-responders') and public behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its implications for emergency planning and response. Therefore, I would be especially interested in supervising emergency responders and other public health professionals who wish to do PG research. 

I am also interested in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the broader area of collective resilience in response to general adversity. I would be keen to work with health professionals interested in postgraduate research in any of these areas.  

Dr Theo Fotis

I supervise students doing research in Digital Health, Coproduction of science and technology in the community, Privacy and Cybersecurity in Healthcare, Technology Assessment, consumer health technologies (IoT, wearables, Sensors, apps), user-technology relations, User-led Innovation.

I'm happy to work with prospective PhD students to develop research proposals.

Dr Laetitia Zeeman

Supervision support can be provided to PhD students who are interested in queer theory, poststructuralism, the application of critical social theory, new materialism, intersectionality and feminist theory in health-related research. Focus areas include LGBTQ+ health and healthcare, health inequalities, resilience, trans health and mental health promotion with the aim to achieve greater health equity. PhD students she has supervised to completion have worked on studies employing critical social theories, new materialism and qualitative creative methods. She has examined PhD/Professional Doctorate studies at universities in the UK and further afield.  

Current PhD students 

• Mike Phillips, Sacha Mead, Aile Trumm; Sebastian Beaumont, Elisavet Anastasiadi. 

Former PhD students (PhD completions)

• Esther Omotola Ayoola, Amy Middleton, H Howitt, Kim Brown, Tracey Harding, Adam Kincel, Jens Schneider.

For further supervisory staff including cross-disciplinary options, please visit research staff on our research website .

Making an  application

You will apply to the University of Brighton through our online application portal. When you do, you will require a research proposal, references, a personal statement and a record of your education.

You will be asked whether you have discussed your research proposal and your suitability for doctoral study with a member of the University of Brighton staff. We recommend that all applications are made with the collaboration of at least one potential supervisor. Approaches to potential supervisors can be made directly through the details available online. If you are unsure, please do contact the Doctoral College for advice.

Please visit our How to apply for a PhD page for detailed information.

Sign in to our online application portal to begin.

Fees and funding

 Funding

Undertaking research study will require university fees as well as support for your research activities and plans for subsistence during full or part-time study.

Funding sources include self-funding, funding by an employer or industrial partners; there are competitive funding opportunities available in most disciplines through, for example, our own university studentships or national (UK) research councils. International students may have options from either their home-based research funding organisations or may be eligible for some UK funds.

Learn more about the funding opportunities available to you.

Tuition fees academic year 2024–25

Standard fees are listed below, but may vary depending on subject area. Some subject areas may charge bench fees/consumables; this will be decided as part of any offer made. Fees for UK and international/EU students on full-time and part-time courses are likely to incur a small inflation rise each year of a research programme.

MPhil/PhD

	£4,786	£2,393
	£15,900	N/A
	£14,500	N/A

PhD by Publication

N/A	£2,393

Contact Brighton Doctoral College

To contact the Doctoral College at the University of Brighton we request an email in the first instance. Please visit our contact the Brighton Doctoral College page .

For supervisory contact, please see individual profile pages.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

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PhD Midwifery (4 years) / Application and selection

Year of entry: 2025

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How to apply

Apply online

Before applying you must:

• Choose a programme or find a project you want to apply for and check you’re eligible.
• Speak to the listed supervisor about your suitability for their project or programme.
• Understand how your project is funded and, if it is self-funded, consider how you plan on funding it.
• Read our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more and ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission.

Visit our Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Postgraduate Research page to find out more.

Advice to applicants

Before you start your application, you should:

• Identify the programme or find the specific research project you'd like to apply for.
• Contact the listed project supervisor and speak to them about your suitability for the project.
• Understand how your project is funded or, if you are self-funding, you should have an idea of how you are funding your project and have discussed this with your supervisor.

If you already have funding:

• Find a specific self-funded project and contact the project supervisor to talk to them about your suitability for the project; OR
• Determine your own research project and title, find a potential supervisor in this research area and contact them to discuss supervising your research.

Supporting documents

You'll also need to make sure you have the following documents before you apply:

• Personal statement
• Certificates and transcripts
• Confirmation of funding (if you are self-funded)
• English language ability
• Names and details of two referees to support your application

Visit our ‘How to apply’ page to find out more about the information required for each of these supporting documents.

Any missing information may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Interview requirements

Candidates will be required to attend an interview with their prospective supervisor as well as an independent Postgraduate Tutor. If it is not possible for you to attend in person, we are able to interview by Zoom/video conferencing.

Disclosure and Barring Service check

Re-applications.