诺丁汉大学

Gain the in-depth skills required to carry out research in health care. This is an interdisciplinary degree programme, taught by colleagues from politics, the social sciences and health sciences.

Overview

With a maximum of 16 places on offer (including both NIHR and self-funded students), the course fosters a close-knit, highly motivated and supportive study environment. It is ideal for those working within healthcare, or preparing for PhD doctoral-level studies.

The course provides the in-depth skills required to understand and/or carry out research in healthcare, alongside offering an interdisciplinary learning environment embedded within the University’s Economic and Social Research Council funded Doctoral Training Partnership (ESRC DTP), taught by colleagues from politics, the social sciences and health. As healthcare is a multi-disciplinary practice, exposure to learning opportunities outside healthcare both broadens and deepens the learning experience.

The emphasis throughout is on linking theoretical and methodological understandings with practical experience of research design and implementation. Students will learn a variety of methodological techniques (for example qualitative and quantitative approaches) and research techniques (such as interviewing or advanced statistical analysis), alongside developing their ability to critique evidence, which is required for making informed policy decisions and clinical recommendations.

Course aims and objectives

By the end of the course, students will:

• be familiar with the range of methods used by researchers in the health and social sciences, and understand how some issues or practices may be viewed differently from different disciplinary perspectives
• understand the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of these methods
• be able to make an informed choice about which methods are appropriate for answering particular questions
• be competent to design and carry out research using a range of different methods of data collection and analysis
• have a clear grasp of the ethical and political issues which arise in research in health, social work or the social sciences
• be able to frame research in relation to the theoretical and conceptual issues which arise in the subject areas in which they are working

Careers

This course is the second stage of the HEE/NIHR integrated clinical academic pathway. Download the PDF for more information.

The programme is consistently highly evaluated by graduates and can open a range of doors, including both research career opportunities in the health service and academia, leading to future clinical academic or advanced clinical leadership roles. Many of our graduates go on to do funded PhD study.

You will develop the skills, experience and knowledge necessary to continue your research at PhD level and will be ideally placed to pursue an academic or clinical academic career in the field of healthcare research.

Upon completion of the course, the school offers support and mentorship in the development of PhD applications.