Postgraduate research
The University of Manchester's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work was placed top of the table for nursing and midwifery research in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise making this the ideal place to study for a Postgraduate research award.
The postgraduate research programme provides students with transferable skills in research and serves as the foundation for a career as an investigator and scholar. It also gives students the opportunity to work with internationally renowned scholars engaged in innovative research that will make a difference in people's lives and in healthcare. If students want the best research training, the natural choice would be to come to a school and university renowned for their research.
We particularly welcome students interested in:
- Mental health
- Management of chronic illness
- Cancer, supportive and palliative care
- Child and family health and social care
- Midwifery and women's health
Research degrees by subject
Course structure
The MPhil/PhD programme of study consists of supervision by one or two members of staff, research training and support, taught course units and independent study.
All research degree candidates in the School are normally required to undertake postgraduate taught course units and these are usually completed in the first year of the programme. MPhil students require 45 credits and PhD students require 60 credits. Research Design and one (MPhil) or two (PhD) other research course units (a range is available, all online) are compulsory for all students, unless exemption is granted on the basis of prior learning of appropriate materials at an equivalent level.
Students also earn 15 credits for the Transferable Skills Training and Research Support course unit, and PhD students for independent study negotiated with their supervisor. Course units are taught online with some offering a combination of online and face-to-face methods.
High-quality supervision is an integral part of the programme and students are allocated two supervisors with appropriate expertise from among the academic staff. Students are also assigned an advisor for further support.
Distributed learning option
PhD students have the option of studying using a distributed learning (DL) route. This option is aimed at students who are generally unable to be present on The University of Manchester campus, but have the desire, potential and time to undertake a PhD.
Intensive study weeks
Distributed-learning students attend an annual on-campus intensive study week, where they meet supervisors and fellow students.
Accessibility
The DL course aims to comply with Priority 1 guidelines of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
International students
An increasing number of international students are undertaking the MPhil/PhD programme of study at the School. These students come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Numerous services are in place for international students at The University of Manchester including pre- and inter-sessional English language courses. We welcome international applications.
Full entry requirements
For the MPhil, either:
- An Upper Second class Honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject
- A relevant postgraduate qualification
- Other evidence of previous study and research
For the PhD, either:
- An Upper Second Class Honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject
- An MPhil degree from a recognised institution
- Satisfactory work at postgraduate level (which must include some research training) undertaken for the equivalent of at least one year full time
