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

Introduction

In a nutshell

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.

Your PhD will align with one of our three Research Centres The Centre for Applied Health Research (CAHR), The Centre for Human Movement and Rehabilitation (CHMR), The Centre for Research on Inclusive Society (CRIS). In being a part of these networks of research from day one of your research journey, you’ll encounter opportunities to collaborate with peers and leading academics in your field of study, hear about and participate in research events and potential sources of funding.

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 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. Please contact pgr-supportSHAS@salford.ac.uk to enquire about your specific subject area.

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 transferrable skills that will enhance your employability for a career in academia or industry

Salford Postgraduate Annual Research Conference (SPARC). Held every year, this two-day conference attracts a large number of researchers from across a range of disciplines
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 transferrable skills. There are various training opportunities taking place across the University including asynchronous learning materials to help embed skills training and enhance your personal and professional development. The cohort training is also a great place to meet your fellow students to build peer networks of support.

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 – please contact pgr-supportSHAS@salford.ac.uk for information on these programmes.

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. This training is done with other new students so you will get the opportunity to meet your peers (months 1-3)
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. This is an opportunity to reconnect with peers and kickstart your second year (month 1)
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.

This allows us to check your progress and make sure your project is going to result in a PhD.

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

This is another opportunity for us to make sure you are on track to complete your PhD.

Viva Voce

Thesis submission (up to 100,000 words depending on subject area) and oral assessment by an internal and external examiner.

Embarking on my PhD journey in the Department of Health and Society, has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have benefited tremendously from the brilliant guidance and support of my PhD supervisors and got valuable help and encouragement from the Doctoral School. I have found great inspiration and friendship from fellow PGR students in the Department. The library resources and research facilities at the University of Salford are world-class. There is no doubt, the valuable lessons I have learnt on my PhD journey will carry me through my whole career as a researcher and practitioner

Sylvester Rukani, 2nd year PhD student

I am really enjoying my time at Salford. The university has fantastic resources available to nurture career progression. As an Alumni, I was able to interview for and secure a place on the GAP-internship programme. This supported placement prepared me for the PhD proposal and interview process. The PhD induction module is skilfully and inclusively delivered ensuring a smooth transition to post-grad life. The Psychology team hold regular research seminars providing an opportunity to keep up to date with the latest research and a space to build relationships with working academics. As part of my literature review, I have consulted with experts across the university who have been generous with their time and knowledge. My supervisors have been amazing. It’s been a privilege to work under the guidance of industry experts. In this short time, I have been offered many opportunities for professional growth for which I am incredibly grateful.

Aisling Logan, 2nd year PhD student (Psychology)

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

What about after uni?

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

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies

To apply to this PhD, you will need:

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. If you need to improve your written and spoken English, you might be interested in our English language courses.

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.

How much?

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. Please contact pgr-supportSHAS@salford.ac.uk for further information about the scholarships.

Additional costs

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

Apply now

Apply

Advice and guidance on how to apply can be found here.

As part of the admissions process you will need to write a good quality research proposal. We strongly encourage you to engage with our academic staff and identify supervisors before you apply. By working with potential supervisors from the outset, your research proposal will clear and well evidenced which increases your acceptance onto the PhD programme. You can search or academic staff database here.

Please contact pgr-supportSHAS@salford.ac.uk with any admissions queries.

Enrolment dates

September 2025

January 2026

May 2026

September 2026

Student information

Terms and conditions

How to apply