About Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Services Research, PhD - at Newcastle University

We have an international reputation in translational research aimed at promoting evidence-based policy and practice for the benefit of patient and population health. Postgraduate research supervision is available in applied epidemiology, decision making and organisation of care, life-course, development and ageing, and public health improvement.

Research is organised into four themes and underpinned by four discipline groups. As a research student, you will be fully integrated in a theme or group. You will have a team of supervisors, including clinicians or policy makers from a range of health and social care settings. Current research interests, projects and publications are available from our staff profiles.

ThemesApplied epidemiology

The applied epidemiology theme contributes to the understanding, prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable disease across the life course. Research areas include:

• maternal and perinatal health
• childhood cancer
• life course epidemiology

Decision making and organisation of care

Decision making and organisation of care brings together social and behavioural science, and clinical expertise to conduct applied health research. Research areas include:

• implementation/improvement science
• shared decision making/patient-centred care
• experience of health, illness and healthcare

Life-course, development and ageing

Life-course, development and ageing explores healthy ageing, from development in childhood and the consequences of disability, to the health and wellbeing of the oldest old (85 and over). Research areas include:

• ageing and health
• transitions in health and disability
• understanding child disability
• improving quality of life
• technologies and the environment
• cognitive impairment and dementia

Public health improvement

The public health improvement theme conducts applied health research with a focus on the development, evaluation and translation of health interventions. Research areas include:

• understanding and tackling health inequalities
• understanding and changing health related behaviours
• evaluation of public health policy
• public health nutrition
• prevention of alcohol misuse

Discipline groupsHealth economics

The Health Economics Group conducts research aimed at improving the allocation of scarce health and social care resources, tackling inequalities in access to care and health, applying and developing research to better measure the benefits of health and social care. Research areas include:

• evaluating benefits/quantifying preferences in for health and health care
• development and application of economic evaluation
• commissioning and priority setting in health care
• econometric applications in studies of health, with a focus on income and health inequalities

Health psychology

The Health Psychology Research Group focuses on behavioural and psychological processes in health and health care. The group's research includes work on methodology, theory and the development and evaluation of interventions, contributing to both scientific and practice agendas. Research areas include:

• causes of behaviour relevant to health and health care
• behavioural theory
• modifying behaviour, emotion and cognition
• complex behavioural interventions for health and health care
• knowledge translation in health care.

Medical sociology

The Medical Sociology Group is theoretically and methodologically broad ranging. The group applies different theoretical sociological approaches dependent upon the subject under research. Research areas include:

• individual patients’ and carers’ experiences of health and health care
• evaluation of health care organisation and work
• implementation of health care technologies

Health technology evaluation

The Health Technology Evaluation Group conducts research into healthcare methods and interventions including:

• screening procedures
• drugs
• medical devices
• surgery
• therapy interventions
• behaviour change interventions
• organisation and delivery of health care

This is done through systematic reviews, rigorously designed clinical trials and process evaluations, multi-method feasibility studies and other high quality designs. Research areas include:

• feasibility of health technologies
• acceptability of health technologies
• efficacy and effectiveness of health technologies
• comparisons of health technologies
• health technology evaluation method

Quality and Ranking

We rank in the top 100 for Medicine - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019

Delivery

Attendance on campus is flexible, agreed between you and your supervisors depending on the requirements of your research project. You are expected to undertake 40 hours of work per week with an annual holiday entitlement of 35 days, which includes statutory and bank holidays.

You will receive formal, high quality subject-specific and generic skills training with modules including:

• quantitative and qualitative methods
• health and health care policy
• health economics
• health care quality

We have a thriving postgraduate community with friendly and supportive relations between students and staff. Although formal supervision takes place once a month, you will be encouraged to present your studies to your research theme and to the wider Institute.

Our Athena SWAN (Scientific Women's Academic Network) silver award was renewed in 2014. This recognises good employment practice and the promotion of women working in science, engineering and technology.

Facilities

We have a variety of learning and study spaces in the Baddiley-Clark Building and the Medical School. You will have access to video conference facilities and a dedicated audio-visual room for analysing both audio and video information.

You choose to be based with your research theme or in our Postgraduate Student Room, with computers and printers. You have access to an extensive range of specialist software.

We also host the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service North East.

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Entry requirements for this course

Contact Newcastle University to find course entry requirements.

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