Program Overview

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - School of Health and Society

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Course

• Four year
• Six year

Next Enrolment

• September 2025

Introduction

As a PhD student, you will join our vibrant and diverse research community in the School of Health and Society. Our academic staff are recognised experts working across a range of research projects making real transformations to society, industry, and the professions. Your PhD will be guided by our experienced academic supervisors and supported by a team dedicated to Postgraduate Support - all committed to your success.

You Will:

• Be supported by leading academics to conduct high-quality research which makes an original contribution to knowledge in your field of study
• Be supervised by leading experts in your field of study
• Develop research skills that are transferable to a range of employment settings
• Be part of a thriving PGR community

International Students

International students accepted

Course Details

All About the Course

This programme is for you if you are driven by curiosity, knowledge creation, and critical thinking. It is for you if you want to be an expert leader in your discipline. It is for you if you want to create new knowledge that will influence and advance practice in your field of work. It is for you if you aspire to a career in research and or leadership and are focused on facilitating change through the creation of new knowledge.

We offer PhD study across a range of disciplines in health and the social sciences, including (but not exclusively) sociology, social policy, criminology, counselling and psychotherapy, policing, psychology, public health social work, nursing, podiatry, medical imaging, sport, exercise and nutrition rehabilitation.

Whilst studying your PhD with us, you will have access to:

• Supervision and guidance from expert academics in your field
• A personalised training programme that will provide you with extremely valuable transferable skills that will enhance your employability for a career in academia or industry
• Salford Postgraduate Annual Research Conference (SPARC)
• The Doctoral School Conference Fund - You are eligible to apply for funding up to £1000 towards the cost of travel and accommodation to present your research at UK and international conferences

Structure and Assessment

Structure

While this is not a taught programme, in alignment with the Development Concordat, the University of Salford is committed to providing high-quality training to support your development as a researcher. Training activities hosted both by the Doctoral School, the Library and within the School aim to enhance your research and transferable skills.

A full-time PhD takes three years to complete. However, at Salford, there are several other possible options to choose from; for example, a part-time PhD which takes six years. We also offer online, split site and distance learning options.

Below is an example of a typical timeline for a full-time PhD. For details of the timelines for all other study modes, and more information on studying a research degree, have a look at our PGR study guide.

• Start
  • Registration
• Year 1 (comprising of 12 documented supervision meetings)
  • Induction and ‘Cohort Training’ where you will be given the building blocks to get started on your PhD
  • Learning agreement (by month 3) - this allows you to plan out how you will tackle your project
  • Application to University Ethics Committee for permission to conduct your research study
  • Internal assessment to check progress (months 9-11)
• Year 2 (comprising of 12 documented supervision meetings)
  • Registration
  • Review learning agreement
  • Year 2 ‘Cohort training’ focussing on communication and project management
  • Internal assessment to check progress (months 21-23)
• Year 3 (comprising of 12 documented supervision meetings)
  • Registration
  • Review learning agreement
  • Year 3 ‘Cohort Training’ - in the final year the focus is on finishing your thesis and so training focuses on planning your final year and your growth as a researcher
  • Write up Thesis
  • Submit Thesis
• Viva Voce

Assessment

• Interim Assessment (at months 9-11 for full-time students and at months 15-20 for part-time students)
  • 10,000 word report and oral assessment by two internal academics
• Interim Evaluation (at months 21-23 for full-time students and at months 35-40 for part-time students)
  • 40,000 word report and oral assessment by two internal academics
• Viva Voce
  • Thesis submission (up to 100,000 words depending on subject area) and oral assessment by an internal and external examiner

Our Facilities

We offer access to laboratories, clinics and simulation suites for relevant study disciplines. Access to these facilities will be confirmed at interview.

Employment and Stats

Data suggests that PhD students are very employable, with the majority finding work or going on to further training (such as a 'PostDoc') after graduation. 92% of doctoral students graduating in 2020 were in employment 9 months after graduation (HEA, 2022). During your time studying at Salford, you will develop a plethora of transferable skills for a thriving post-doctoral career.

This qualification is designed to enhance career prospects. Increasingly, employers are looking for flexible and creative key staff receptive to innovation. There is much published evidence demonstrating that PhD study enhances personal development, stronger professional self-worth and confidence, and improves career prospects and job satisfaction. Our graduates go on to have successful careers both in academia and industry.

Requirements

Standard Entry Requirements

• a Bachelor’s degree with an Honours classification of Upper Second or First or;
• a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s degree or;
• an academic or professional qualification incorporating study at least comparable to 120 credits at Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) level 7 as so deemed by the School Research, Enterprise and Innovation Committee or;
• an equivalent level of attainment to (i) above through a combination of certified or experiential learning as so deemed by the School Research, Enterprise and Innovation Committee

English Language Requirements

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element below 5.5) is proof of this.

Alternative Entry Requirements

Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)

We positively welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to successfully pursue a programme of study in higher education. Students who do not have the traditional entry requirements may be able to apply through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme. Support in preparing for the written assessment is available from the University.

Fees

Please see our current fee options here.

Bench Fees

Some programmes charge a bench fee in addition to tuition fees. Bench fees cover additional programme costs like specialist laboratory work, field trips, and equipment purchase. If there is a bench fee applied to your chosen research degree, this will be confirmed during the application process.

Scholarships

The University of Salford Doctoral School is delighted to be offering 10 PhD widening participation scholarships for UK candidates whose studies commence in September/October and 15 Research Masters (MPhil) UK fees scholarships for University of Salford Graduates. To be eligible, you must have submitted your application for study by the last working day of January for commencement of study the September of that year.

Additional Costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding, and general subsistence on trips and visits.