blended phd programs uk

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PhD by Distance

Our PhD by Distance programme allows you to benefit from our world-class support and the expertise of a Reading-based supervisor, while conducting your research in a location that suits your circumstances. 

The programme is available to candidates who need to study for most of their registration period at another site, whether in the UK, or worldwide. Acceptance for PhD by Distance is subject to the approval of the supervisors and the Dean of Postgraduate Research Studies and Researcher Development.

There are several reasons why you may wish to base yourself away from the University of Reading while undertaking your PhD:

• the nature of your research project requires substantial access to resources and facilities located away from Reading
• you have employment commitments relevant to your research that prevent you from being based in Reading
• your PhD project has been agreed as part of a specific partnership/sponsorship arrangement.

You can choose to complete a PhD by Distance programme on either a part-time or full-time basis.

Please email [email protected]   for details.

What the programme offers

On the PhD by Distance programme, you will benefit from:

• supervision from one or more leading University of Reading academics, working at the forefront of their field
• access to a range of high-quality training, delivered on campus or online 
• access to extensive online Library resources
• a reduced tuition fee  set at half the standard full- or part-time rate for periods when studying off-campus for students starting in 2023/24. For students starting in 2024/25 onwards, the tuition fee will increase in line with on-campus fees
• a PhD qualification which is examined at the same level as a campus-based PhD and a standard PhD degree certificate which does not state the mode of study on it.

“During my PhD by Distance, I undertook my research in the field in South Africa. This experience enabled me to develop a much deeper and intricate understanding of my research topic, which would not have been possible if I had been based in Reading for most of the time.”

Third-year doctoral student

Eligibility

In addition to meeting the standard academic and language eligibility requirements, you must be able to demonstrate that you:

• can successfully conduct your research with the resources available to you at your off-campus study site
• have access to appropriate IT facilities, so that you can engage in supervision and training from your off-campus study site
• have the necessary time, commitment and appropriate attitude toward studying off-campus.

If you are intending to study in the Henley Business School, then please check with the relevant Department within the Business School about whether PhD by Distance is available before you apply.

• How to apply

Before starting your application, you are strongly advised to navigate to the PhD webpages of your chosen school or department  to read the specific guidance on how to apply, as the requirements can vary. Once you have read the guidance, you will need to make a formal application through the University's online application system , highlighting that you wish to study for a PhD by Distance (full or part-time). If you have questions about PhD by Distance in a specific school or department, then please contact the relevant School/Department PGR Administrator in the School PGR Support Team . 

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PhD by distance learning

The faculties of Environment and Arts, Humanities and Cultures offer PhD by distance learning across most schools.

PhD by distance learning allows you to study at a time and place that suits you and, with a part-time option available, you'll have the flexibility to gain an advanced degree alongside work and other commitments.

Through completing a PhD, you will become an expert in a specialist area and gain high-quality research training.

Our PhD by distance learning programmes

Faculty of environment.

• School of Earth and Environment
• School of Food Science and Nutrition
• School of Geography
• Institute for Transport Studies

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

• School of Design
• School of English
• School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• School of History 
• School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
• School of Music
• School of Performance and Cultural Industries
• School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science
• Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre

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• Funded PhD programmes 2024 UK

Funded PhD research programmes 2025 UK

The University of Brighton regularly invites applicants for fully-funded PhD studentships across all its disciplines. 

These allow motivated, high-calibre applicants for research degrees to join our thriving academic community and contribute to our rich and innovative research environment. 

Our processes also often allow us to support promising candidates for applications to external funders and we regularly welcome self-funded applicants to programmes across all disciplines.

We will be advertising University of Brighton studentships later in the year. Meanwhile, please visit our PhD funding advice page  for current offers or see below for further general advice about applying for a funded PhD in the UK. 

Visit our PhD disciplinary programme lists

What UK PhD studentships are available ?

Depending on the discipline area, applicants for postgraduate research study may be:

• applying to work on specific, defined research projects
• applying to work with an academic department or individual with specific interests
• or applying with a self-identified research topic proposal.

When available, studentships are open to home and international students and will be given to candidates who best fulfil the promise outlined by these academic departments.

Students may like to review the funding opportunities listed at the foot of the page or visit our  PhD funding advice page  . 

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can watch the video on YouTube .

Can you be a researcher? Professor Bhavik Patel reassures applicants of all backgrounds that they can study for a PhD and aim for a research career. 

How do I apply for a PhD studentship?

The application for financing schemes will usually involve:  

• submitting a full application through the university's PhD application portal, our University of Brighton portal is accessible from the  PhD funded projects webpages . You will upload your research proposal as part of this process.
• The submission must include two letters of reference, academic qualifications, a proposed project approach, a personal statement and your CV (resumé).
• Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview.

What does PhD funding include?

The funding for the PhD usually covers the full fee and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus an allowance of £1,500 per year for researcher training for three years (or part-time equivalent). 

Successful candidates benefit from expert supervisory teams, a programme of postgraduate researcher development workshops and membership of specialist, interdisciplinary research centres and groups. There will be introductions to a network of relevant researchers, careers advice and opportunities for interaction within and beyond the university. Through this, our PhD students have the best start possible towards ambitious careers that make use of their research degrees.

The University of Brighton fosters research careers and will provide doctoral training, attentive and expert supervision and access to world-class laboratories and equipment. 

We are renowned as a leading applied university, with pioneer academics in disciplines from sport science to design history and applied science research that translates efficiently to the global challenge of worldwide health and wellbeing. Our strategy of 'practical wisdom' leads to real-world partnerships and beneficiaries across all disciplines while the development of community-university partnership practices have placed us among the best universities for many aspects of co-produced research and innovation.

We pride ourselves on the ways we work in partnership with those outside higher education, across the European Union and internationally. Through our research collaborations we work with a wide range of universities, both internationally and with universities in the UK. We are also founding members of two UKRI Doctoral Training Partnerships which, this year, are dealt with outside our University of Brighton studentship offer. We learn constantly from our involvement in these, and our rich resources are offered across all doctoral research programmes.

Recently the University of Brighton celebrated its performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) and the Knowledge and Exchange Framework (KEF2023). Over 87 per cent of our submitted impact case studies in REF2021 were rated as having 'outstanding' or 'very considerable' impact beyond academia. We are dedicated to developing this quality work with new students. Read more about the review of our research and knowledge exchange performance in REF2021 . Also, read more about our KEF2023 results, which placed Brighton in the top tier for economic and social benefits .

How will you build a relationship with your supervisor? Professor Annebella Pollen and Dr Tom Ainsworth are among those offering advice. This film was made by the University of Brighton for UKRI and also features academics from other institutions.

How do I increase my chances of getting a PhD studentship?

You must be able to show your suitability for a UK research degree if you wish to apply for fully-funded studentships.

This includes evidence either of a relevant and successful academic background or equivalent relevant professional/expert background in the applied subject area. Applicants from overseas will also have to fulfil any English language and visa requirements.

This will be true for studentships in the UK across most of the UK universities. It is usual for applicants either to have completed (or be about to complete) a masters degree, have an exceptional undergraduate record and references, or demonstrate the equivalent scholarly potential.  

Supervisory staff and research students at the University of Brighton consider how important diverse thinking and inclusive practice are to their doctoral studies.

Can I get PhD funding at the University of Brighton?

We have a long-standing annual programme of funded PhD opportunities across all our disciplines, including several rooted in research council (UKRI) partnerships .

The initiatives allow postgraduate study for UK-based students as well as study in the UK for international students (depending on the PhD programme). 

We are also keen to encourage students who might be able to self-fund their doctoral studies. Studying part-time, for example, is likely to prove more affordable and more easily balanced with professional life than you'd imagine. 

We are dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and structure for your studies. Show us your own qualities and your suitability for programmes as they become available and we will look forward to receiving your application. 

Insitutions and funding bodies for PhD study

On the Funding pages of our website we post advice as to the regular and specific funding opportunities available through the University of Brighton, its partners and networks. 

These include  Doctoral Training Partnership  and University of Brighton PhD studentship calls,  individual studentship projects , University of Brighton  international research scholarships  and our  alumni scholarships  for current and past students. 

We also include below some of the major funding options for international students wanting to do a PhD with us, each of which may support all or part of your studies.

Worldwide international funding schemes for PhD research

The british council.

The British Council offers a search engine for UK courses, institutions (including the University of Brighton) and scholarships.

Find out more about scholarships and funding through The British Council.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation considers applicants living in all countries. It is a charitable trust which principally provides grants to students/researchers in natural sciences, in particular food sciences/technology.

Find out more about grants to students and researchers from The Gen Foundation .

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender. Our multifaceted development approach aims to help communities and individuals become self-reliant.

Find out more about research funding through the Aga Khan development network .

The Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations are active in more than 120 countries around the world, using grant-giving, research, advocacy, impact investment, and strategic litigation to support the growth of inclusive and vibrant democracies. The four main themes of the Open Society Foundations are climate justice, equity, expression, and justice and they will award grants and fellowships throughout the year to organisations and individuals who share those values. The Open Society Foundations look for grantees who have a vision and whose efforts will lead to lasting social change.

Find out more about postgraduate funding through The Open Society Foundations .

International Education and Financial Aid

The International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA) provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Using the IEFA website, you can easily search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more about international PhD research funding through the IEFA .

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds 

The Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF) awards PhD fellowships of two to three-and-a-half years to outstanding junior scientists worldwide who wish to pursue an ambitious PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

Find out more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowships .

Resource sites for international PhD research funding

Internationalstudent.com.

InternationalStudent.com is a leading online resource for international students around the world providing advice pages for studying in the USA, UK and Australia for international students, plus a dedicated study abroad center for US students who want to travel abroad.

Find out more about international study through InternationalStudent.com .

ScholarshipTab

ScholarshipTab is an online portal that connects international students to available scholarship opportunities round the world.

Find out more about the Scholarship Tab resource .

International Education and Financial Aid (IEFA)

The IEFA provides students from all over the world comprehensive information on financial aid for studying abroad. Search the IEFA database for scholarships, grants, loan programs, and other options available to help finance your international education.

Find out more from the International Education and Financial Aid website .

The European Funding Guide 

Scholarships and grants for students from the European Union

Find out more through the European Funding Guide  

The Americas: Postgraduate doctorate funding from institutions and bodies to study in the UK

• Marshall Scholarship:  Provides for United States students to study abroad.
• Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship provides for United States students to study abroad.
• American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
• Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program
• Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
• Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• The Bolsas Lideres Estudar Program provides for Brazilian students studying in the UK .

Asia: Postgraduate doctorate funding from Asian institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The Charles Wallace Bangladesh Trust

The Charles Wallace Burma Trust

China and Hong Kong

Great Britain – China Educational Trust is a charity that promotes mutual understanding between the UK and China and aims to build long-term connections between the two countries. It delivers awards contributing towards university tuition fees and living expenses for Chinese nationality students studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university.

Great Britain China Centre Chinese Student Awards  offers scholarships of up to £3,000 for citizens of China and Hong Kong studying for a PhD in any subject at a UK university

The Hong Kong People Association (HKPA)  aims to provide financial aids for further university education to students from Hong Kong who are not able to afford international tuition fees. 

The Charles Wallace India Trust  offers PhD funding for study in the arts, heritage conservation or the humanities.

The Inlaks India Foundation

The JN Tata Endowment award funds 90 to 100 scholars across disciplines ranging from the sciences to management, law and commerce and the fine arts.

The KC Mahindra Education Trust

The Persia Educational Foundation Abdolreza Ansari Scholarship   is designed to support the education of students of Iranian descent enrolled in a Master or Doctorate programme in human rights or public service in the UK.

Momeni Iranian Financial Assistance Scholarships  offer partial funding scholarships for international students of Iranian descent towards a PhD in any subject.

The Kenneth Lindsay Scholarship Trust

The Anglo-Jewish Association (AJA)  provides funding for Jewish students to study a Masters or PhD in the UK.

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies  funds students of macroeconomics with a view to them working at the International Monetary Fund.

The Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan . The HEC offers government scholarships for Pakistani students to study abroad in various countries, including the UK.

Saudi Arabia

The Cultural Bureau of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (SACB)  offers scope for full tuition fees and supporting fees for PhD level study.

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

The Thai Office of Educational Affairs 

Europe: Postgraduate doctorate funding from European institutions and bodies to study in the UK

The European Funding Guide  - Scholarships and grants in the EU

France -  Entente Cordiale scholarships for postgraduate studies  provide funding to help students enrolling for a Masters or a PhD qualification in the UK or in France.

Italy -  Il Circolo Italian Cultural Association is a UK-registered charity based in London with the mission to support deserving students with awards and scholarships.

Norway - Lanekassen  - The Norwegian student loans and grants awarding body supports Norwegian students studying overseas.

Sweeden - CSN -  loans and grants for Swedish students studying overseas.

Australia: funding for PhD study in the UK

The Australia Day Foundation  offers grants to young Australians for fees and course materials.

Africa: funding for PhD study in the UK

Sudan -  The Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund (GMCTF)

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Organisational Health and Well-Being

• Entry year 2024
• Duration Part time 4 - 7 years

Increasingly, health and well-being in the workplace are being globally recognised as key drivers of socio-economic development. Employee health and well-being is important to organisations in terms of increased commitment and job satisfaction, staff retention, reduced absenteeism, and improved productivity and performance.

The PhD in Organisational Health and Well-Being is innovative and international first, developing knowledge and understanding of the psychological, social and organisational dynamics in the relationship between work and health. Delivered by our Division of Health Research, which boasts expertise in mental and workplace health, the degree is your chance to work with world-leading academics on the production of a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge development within your area of professional practice.

Combining innovative distance learning and an annual academy held at the University, this part-time, flexible doctorate runs over a minimum of four to seven years. The programme begins with a compulsory five-day induction academy at the University. Each of the subsequent academic years start with a compulsory three-day academy, while the rest of the course is delivered via e-learning. Attendance at the annual academies is compulsory until you are confirmed on the PhD.

Throughout your studies, we will support you as you enhance your leadership skills and effectiveness, and develop advanced skills in research design, practice and dissemination. You’ll foster critical approaches to the review of evidence and improve your written and oral presentation skills.

Your department

• Division of Health Research Faculty of Health and Medicine
• Telephone +44 (0)1524 592032

Entry requirements

Academic requirements.

The standard minimum entry requirements are normally an upper second class honours degree (UK 2:1 or equivalent) or a good UK Master's or equivalent in an appropriate subject, and relevant work experience. Degrees should also include a research methods module and a dissertation.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you will also need to provide:

• A personal statement (500 words) explaining your reasons for applying to the course and what you hope to achieve;
• A brief research proposal (500 words) identifying the area(s)/topic you hope to research, why it is important and the research methods you might use.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications .

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email [email protected]

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

e-learning distance module

Autumn Term (weeks 1-10, October - December)

Credits: 30

Mode of assessment : 3000 word essay (75%) and a poster (25%).

This module is an introduction to current issues in health and wellbeing in the work place. It introduces students to the influence of the work environment on health and wellbeing, guiding them through the important topic areas underpinning the concept of the healthy organisation. Specifically, it discusses the psychological, social and organisational aspects of the dynamic relationship between work and health. It explores the current theoretical approaches, models and interventions relating to organisational health and wellbeing. It teaches students how to assess, design and advise on the effectiveness of organisational health and wellbeing strategies and interventions.

Deadline: January

Spring Term (weeks 1-10, January-March)

Mode of assessment : 5000 word essay

This module explores the philosophical underpinnings of research. It begins with an introduction to epistemology, i.e. the philosophical basis of knowledge and its development. It then considers the influence of different epistemological bases on research methodology and explores the role of theory and theoretical frameworks in the research process. It also examines the nature of the knowledge that underpins evidence-based policy and practice and introduces the fundamental principles of ethics.

Deadline: April

Sunmer Term (weeks 1-10, April-June)

Mode of assessment : 5000 word assignment consisting of two 2500 word components

This module introduces a range of methods used in health research. The focus is on justifying research design choices rather than practical skills in data analysis. The starting point is the development of meaningful and feasible research questions. The module then introduces a range of quantitative research designs and quantitative approaches to data collection. Next, the module looks at qualitative research designs and their relation to different epistemological positions. How to integrate quantitative and qualitative methods into mixed methods research is being discussed next. The module also explores issues such as sampling and quality across different research designs.

Deadline: July

Spring term (weeks 1-10, January-March)

Mode of assessment : two pieces of written work (Qualitative data analysis, 2500 words; Quantitative data analysis, 2500 words)

This module is an introduction to the theory and practice of qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The module consists of two distinct parts: qualitative data analysis and quantitative data analysis. Within each part, there will be an option to take an introductory or an advanced unit.

The introductory quantitative unit covers data management and descriptive analyses and introduces students to inferential testing in general and statistical tests for comparisons between groups specifically. The advanced quantitative unit covers linear regression as well as regression methods for categorical dependent variables and longitudinal data before exploring quasi-experimental methods for policy evaluation and finally providing an opportunity to discuss more specific regression methods such count data models or duration analysis.

The introductory qualitative unit focusses on the technique of thematic analysis, a highly flexible approach and useful foundation for researchers new to qualitative data analysis. The unit takes students through the stage of a qualitative data analysis: sorting and organising qualitative data, interrogating qualitative data, interpreting the data and finally writing accounts of qualitative data. The advanced qualitative unit introduces students to alternative techniques such as narrative analysis or discourse analysis.

Summer Term (weeks 1-10, April-June)

Mode of assessment : A written assignment that includes: a) a 4000 word research proposal and b) a completed FHMREC ethics application form and supporting documents.

This module completes the taught phase of Blended Learning PhD programmes. It enables students to put everything they have learned so far together and produce a research proposal that will provide the basis for the research phase of the programme.

The first part of the module – research design – starts by discussing the components of a research proposal according to different epistemologies and research methods. It then takes students through the process of developing their own proposal, starting with the topic and epistemological framework, through to the study design and data collection methods and finally the practical details.

The second part of the module – practical research ethics – teaches students how to think about their research proposal from an ethical perspective. It covers ethical guidelines and teaches students how to identify the purpose of a guideline, to enable them to translate their proposal into an ethical review application. Finally, students will prepare a practice research ethics application using the FHMREC ethics application form.

Autumn term (weeks 1-10, October-December)

Mode of assessment : 5000 word assignment

This module provides an introduction to the principles and components of systematic reviewing. It takes students through the key steps of a systematic review. The starting point of the module is the construction of an appropriate review question. Next, the module discusses the (iterative) process of creating a search strategy that successfully identifies all relevant literature. The module then moves on to selecting appropriate methodological quality criteria, enabling students to develop their skills in critically appraising studies. After discussing how to prepare a data extraction form the module introduces a key component of a systematic review: synthesising the evidence. Finally, the module will teach students how to put everything together in a systematic review protocol.

Fees and funding

Home Fee £4,350

International Fee £11,340

General fees and funding information

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small College Membership Fee  which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2023 and 2024, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Fees for students starting in 2025 have not yet been set.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated  IT support helpdesk  is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

For most taught postgraduate applications there is a non-refundable application fee of £40. We cannot consider applications until this fee has been paid, as advised on our online secure payment system. There is no application fee for postgraduate research applications.

For some of our courses you will need to pay a deposit to accept your offer and secure your place. We will let you know in your offer letter if a deposit is required and you will be given a deadline date when this is due to be paid.

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your  fee status .

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, tuition fees are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about  fees in subsequent years .

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• Public Health PhD

Years 1 and 2

Years 1 and 2 provide you with training in research and in the theory and practice underpinning healthy organisations. Your specialist module in Year 1 is Healthy Organisations: the Influence of the Work Environment on Health, which is studied alongside the Philosophy of Research and Research Design modules. In Year 2, you will undertake the following modules: Systematic Reviews, Data Analysis and Advanced Research Planning.

From year 3 onwards you will undertake a research project in Organisational Health and Well-Being, which will conclude with the submission of your 35,000 word thesis. The project will be supervised from the University but undertaken in your own location or workplace. Supervisions can be via telephone, e-mail or Skype, depending on preference. Face-to-face meetings with your supervisors will take place during the annual academy.

Studying by blended learning

The PhD in Organisational Health and Well-Being is offered part-time via blended learning over an average of five years. Blended learning refers to the methods of interaction between students and course tutors / supervisors on a programme. Teaching and research activities are carried out through a combination of face-to-face and online interaction. Face-to-face interactions include residential academies and work-based workshops while online interactions use our virtual learning environment and include discussion forums, collaborative digital spaces and video conferencing.

You will benefit from being part of a UK and internationally-based peer group, including: human resource managers, occupational health practitioners, health care workers, health and safety representatives, and applied/organisational psychologists. Working across public, private and voluntary sectors, your fellow students will share an interest in the promotion and creation of healthy work places and will be undertaking formal study at the same time as they are working.

All students have access to a hub space that facilitates interaction with your cohort and with other programmes, creating a virtual information space that’s also sociable. An academic tutor and then two research supervisors will provide you with support for each step of your PhD. They will also encourage you to attend external workshops and conferences (using University funds, where available, to support this).

During each academy you will participate in lectures, workshops, group discussions and individual activities, while our distance learning approach combines live and interactive lectures, elements to be worked through autonomously, webinars and online collaboration, and group work.

Take an innovative approach to distance learning combining interactive lectures, webinars and online collaboration, group work and self-directed study.

Work with world-leading academics to make an original contribution to your area of professional practice.

Benefit from an international peer group including human resource managers, occupational health practitioners, health care workers and psychologists.

Who should apply?

The PhD appeals to a wide range of individuals working across a variety of public, private and voluntary sectors who are interested in the promotion and creation of healthy workplaces. These include:

• Human resource professionals and managers
• Occupational health/public health practitioners
• Health care workers
• Health and safety representatives
• Applied/organisational psychologists

It is not restricted to any one professional group or discipline and is intended to be international in focus.

Student insights

“I never intended to pursue Doctoral studies but after 10 successful years in industry, I not only felt the need to upgrade my educational qualifications, but I also believed I could contribute new knowledge to the health and safety arena. Lancaster’s Organisational Health and Well-Being blended learning programme was an obvious choice. I could complete the PhD without leaving work and I’d be undertaking research in an increasingly important field at a University recognized as a top institution globally. I’m happy I decided to study at Lancaster and am especially pleased with the programme flexibility, the excellent departmental support, and the wonderful online student community I’m part of.”

Stephen Taylor

“After completing an MSc in occupational health and safety management, I was keen to continue my studies and pursue a PhD. I found the blended PhD in Organisational Health and Well-Being at Lancaster University best suited both my research aims and my other commitments. The blended approach has also been really useful to get formative tools in place before we start the research phase. Lastly, as a working husband and father of young children. Although the PhD is suitably challenging, I've found the programme manageable and flexible in terms of the time required to complete tasks.”

Staff in the Centre for Organisational Health and Well-Being

This PhD is supported by internationally recognised academics in the field of organisational health and well-being.

The team boasts expertise and interest in a range of topics, including:

• Stress and mental health
• Workplace bullying
• Employee behaviour change
• Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in staff
• Organisational level change and performance
• International working and expatriate assignments
• Gender and diversity
• Women's reproductive health and in the workplace
• Employee psychological resilience
• Workplace interventions and evaluation.

We are a mixed methods research team and use quantitative and qualitative approaches to our research and consultancy in organisational setting and populations. Our research methods and approaches include interviews, focus groups, survey research, case studies, experiments, new scale/measurement development and validation, action research, trials, and process and implementation evaluations.

Current members of staff in the faculty include:

Dr Claire Hardy

Lecturer in Organisational Health and Well-Being

Dr Sabir Giga

Senior Lecturer in Organisational Health and Well-Being

Dr Abigail Morris

The Division of Health Research

The Division of Health Research have been offering blended learning postgraduate programmes since 2010. We have many successful graduates and currently around 200 continuing students on a range of programmes who have benefited in progressing their careers from the high quality postgraduate education we provide.

Our research in mental health

Our interests include bipolar disorder and related conditions, chronic neurological conditions that cause disability and ill-health, and organisational health and well-being.

The Centre for Organisational Health and Well-Being

Leading edge research of relevance and utility to Employers, HR specialists, Health and Safety Managers and Allied Health Professionals.

Health information, computation and statistics

Statistical and computational analysis contributes to, and informs, many areas of our health-related research.

Athena Swan: gender equality at Lancaster

We hold the Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our commitment to advancing the careers of women in higher education and research.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

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University of Birmingham

We offer a variety of funded PhD projects from many research areas.

We offer a wide variety of opportunities for research at postgraduate level. The below tool, powered by Findaphd.com, will help you find our advertised research opportunities.

In addition to these project, we welcome enquiries from students looking to conduct research in other areas. You can find out more about the process of applying to propose your own research here.

Search for an advertised PhD

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Online Ph.D. Degrees in United Kingdom

Management, organisation, and leadership degrees.

Degrees in Management, Organisation, and Leadership teach students how to manage operations and coordinate people in order to reach the goals set by organisations. Classes teach future graduates everything there is to know about running a business (or a department) and prepare them for administrative, managerial, and C-Level positions (e.g. CEO, CFO, COO).

You should study a degree in Management, Organisation, or Leadership if you're a natural leader and enjoy guiding people and helping them achieve their full potential. It's the ideal study option for students who keep their calm under pressure and can make decisions in high-risk high-reward situations.

Management, Organisation, and Leadership specialisations

While you can find general Management, Organisation, or Leadership programmes, most often courses focus on a specific business area or industry. There's a wide range of specialisations you can choose from: International Management, Marketing Management, Supply Chain Management, Construction Project Management, Human Resource Management (HRM), Tourism Management, Investment Management, Engineering Management, etc.

Management, Organisation, and Leadership courses and skills

The courses you'll take during a degree in Management, Organisation, or Leadership vary from one university and programme to another. However, you can expect to take classes in Business Negotiating, Designing a Business Plan, Leadership, Business Finance, Organisational Behaviour, Principles of Operation Management, Micro and Macroeconomics, etc. Depending on the specialisation, you can expect to combine these business classes with courses in Tourism, Marketing, Engineering, Accounting, Social Media, and others.

Students also develop skills that are essential to succeed in the business world. They range from communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and risk management to project management, motivation, delegation, creative thinking, and feedback sharing.

Management, Organisation, and Leadership careers

Students who graduate with a Management, Organisation, or Leadership degree will find work opportunities in any industry, at either public or private organisations and institutions. Some of the most popular jobs are business development manager, business adviser, data analyst, training and development manager, sales manager, HR manager, strategic planner, PR specialist, management consultant, project manager, etc.

Not sure if Management Studies is for you?

Study in United Kingdom

Universities in the UK are some of the most highly regarded in the world, and for good reasons. Some of the world's most highly regarded research takes place in British universities, which are regularly featured in international rankings. While studying in the UK, you will be able to develop in a highly multicultural environment with high chances of pursuing lucrative careers after graduation. The teaching in the UK is designed to encourage new idea generation, encouraging individual research and group cooperation, through class discussions and creative assignments.

Can you handle the weather in United Kingdom?

Distance Learning

Distance or online learning is a mode of study that allows students to study most or all of a course without attending at a campus-based institution. Distance can refer to both material and interaction. Distance learning provides access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both.

During this type of education students communicate with the faculty and other students via e-mail, electronic forums, videoconferencing, chat rooms, bulletin boards, instant messaging and other forms of computer-based interaction.

The programmes often include a online training system and tools to produce a virtual classroom. The tuition fees for distance learning vary from institution to programme to country. It is certain that the student saves expenses related to accommodation and transportation, because you can maintain your current living expenses. Distance learning is also a great solution for people that already have a job, and still want or need further education.

11  Management Studies Online Programmes in United Kingdom

London South Bank University

London, England, United Kingdom

University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

Faculty of Business and Law

University of Leicester

Leicester, England, United Kingdom

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Postgraduate online and blended learning courses

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Professional Doctorates (EdD/DHSC)

• Are you an experienced professional in education or health and/or social care seeking to develop themselves personally and professionally?
• Are you already qualified to masters level and looking for the next challenge?

Our Professional Doctorate programme could be the opportunity and challenge you seek.

What is a Professional Doctorate EdD/DHSC?

A Professional Doctorate is the highest degree qualification it is possible to achieve. It has been developed to meet the needs and interests of those working in education or health and social care with a thirst for professional excellence and knowledge. It supports original research that will have an impact on professional practice and/or policy, as well as theory.

Professional Doctorates are studied part-time and designed to enable committed professionals to study and develop their own practice-based research in a structured and supported environment. They offer you the chance to enhance your career at doctoral level, enabling you to make a unique contribution to your profession or area of practice while continuing to work and progress in your field.

Successful completion of a Professional Doctorate (Doctorate in Education or Doctorate in Health and Social Care) confers the use of the title ‘Dr’.

What Professional Doctorates can I study at The OU?

Doctorate in education (edd).

This is an innovative programme of part-time study designed for professionals working in the field of education and related areas who want to extend and deepen their knowledge and understanding of contemporary educational practice. It is for professionals in education, including school leaders, teachers and trainers, but also other professionals working in any educational context in formal and non-formal settings including the public, voluntary and private sectors.

The EdD programme not only draws on existing research expertise across the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS), but it also draws on the wide educational research expertise across the University.

We welcome research proposals that fall into one of the following areas of study:

• Childhood, Youth and Sport
• Education, Learning and Development
• Applied Linguistics
• Learning Analytics and Learning Design
• Professional and Digital Learning

Doctorate in Health and Social Care (DHSC)

The Doctorate in Health and Social Care (DHSC) is an innovative programme of part-time study designed predominantly for health and social care professionals, including registered nurses and social workers, but also other professionals working across health and social care including the public, voluntary and private sectors. The degree will also be open to people working as carers, whose role involves them working with the health and social care sector. Informal carers, ‘experts by experience’ advocates and ‘expert patients’ may also make an application to the programme. Applicants whose field of practice is through an informal, rather than paid, role, will need to carefully describe their field of practice and what access arrangements would be needed.

The Doctorate in Health and Social Care (DHSC) programme is located within the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) and therefore draws on existing research expertise specifically from within the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport (ECYS) and the School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care (HWSC).

• Health, wellbeing and healthcare practice
• Social work and social care

What will I get from a Professional Doctorate at the OU?

The OU has a successful track record of delivering innovative and highly flexible education, and of supporting students to combine study alongside professional and personal commitments. The Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, in which the EdD/DHSC are located, has a world-class reputation for pioneering participatory and inclusive research, and has a history of engaging with communities of practice and policy-makers to generate critical, impactful and solution-orientated research. The OU has a long history of Professional Doctorate programmes, having delivered a well-established Doctorate in Education (EdD) for over 25 years.

Studying with students on both the EdD and DHSC you will have access to professional researchers across a broad range of education, health and social care fields of practice. This means your study and research will be able to reflect the increasingly multidisciplinary and multi-agency culture of these areas of practice. You will acquire skills in research and enquiry and be able to use these to carry out research that will contribute to professional knowledge and practice. Our doctoral training programme will help you develop transferrable skills that will be invaluable throughout your career.

International recognition

The UK Professional Doctorate is an internationally recognised and respected academic qualification and many of our Professional Doctorate graduates come from outside of the UK. Employers across the world recognise and value the quality of a UK university education; however, before you apply to study a Professional Doctorate, you should ensure that potential employers (within the country in which you wish to work) recognise the Professional Doctorate qualification. You may need to obtain equivalency certification at your own expense in order for your degree to be recognised within the country you wish to work.

How does it work?

The OU does not offer research degrees by distance learning or correspondence. The Professional doctorates are blended-learning part-time research degrees (rather than a distance learning degree or a taught course).

Professional doctorates have a dedicated website for interaction and access to resources.

4–8 years

Participation and supervision

You will study together with students enrolled in other Professional Doctorates.

You will be required to maintain regular email contact with your UK-based supervisors and travel to the UK at your own expense to attend residential weekends and for your viva examination.

You will be allocated two supervisors – your main one in year 1 and a co-supervisor from year 2 – and will have regular supervision sessions with them via a variety of options including telephone, online conferencing or face-to-face.

Pattern of study

These are structured part-time programmes of study in two stages: Stage 1 (2 years structured) and Stage 2 (2–6 years supervised research component).

Stage 1 of the programme aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge to support your engagement with the research and the practice field in which your project is located. This phase will involve you studying self-taught online modules on topics including:

• the context of education or health and social care research
• literature reviewing
• the principles of research design
• research ethics
• methodology
• approaches to data collection and analysis.

Stage 2 forms the ‘research’ component of the programme. During this time, you will carry out your study and work towards completing your thesis. In both stages (1 and 2) you will be supported through online seminar discussions and annual residential weekends at the OU’s campus in Milton Keynes.

Residential weekends

There is an annual residential weekend which is compulsory for all students to attend. The Year 1 residential weekend will provide an initial induction to the professional doctorate and will consist of supported discussions, seminars and workshops providing a great opportunity to meet up with your peers, supervisors and the programme team.

• Year 1 residential weekend is expected to take place in October 2023.

As well as supported self-taught modules there is a programme of evening and weekend seminars on subjects such as:

• Developing as a Researching Professional
• Connecting research and practice
• Getting your research published (peer-review).

While the programme is structured to meet the needs of those learning at a distance, there are plenty of opportunities to work alongside a community of other doctoral researchers.

You will complete two formative assessments in both Year 1 and Year 2 of the programme and will receive feedback from your main supervisor. In addition, there is a summative assessment at the end of Year 1 and Year 2. The Year 2 summative assignment will be the end of the first stage of your studies. You must pass each summative assessment before you can progress to the next stage of your studies.

The assessment in Years 1 and 2 will focus on developing your literature review, refining your research questions and extended proposal for research, preparing you for Stage 2 of the programme. Stage 2 has a structured schedule of submission of formative assignments which will pace your through ‘work in progress’ pieces that work towards your thesis chapters and provide regular opportunities for feedback.

At the end of your research you must complete a 65,000-word thesis which you then defend to the satisfaction of the examiners via an oral examination. Your thesis must meet the expectations specified in the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications .

The thesis must demonstrate the relationship between theory and practice in education (EdD) or health and social care (DHSC), and the ability to select and apply appropriate research methods.

Entry requirements

Am i eligible.

You can register for a Professional Doctorate from anywhere in the world.

Applicants should normally hold, or be expecting to obtain before the start of the degree in October, a Masters Degree in Education or in Health/Social Care, or a related discipline from a UK/EU university or another recognised degree-awarding body. Applicants should also have at least two years of relevant professional experience or, on the DHSC, informal expertise as a carer, expert patient or advocate.

In exceptional circumstances, we may accept applications from candidates without a masters degree, if they are able to demonstrate suitability for postgraduate research. This requires evidence of publications, written reports or previous research relevant to the nature and scope of the proposed work.

English language proficiency

To study with us, you will need to have a good command of English. If your first language is not English, you will need to verify your competence in the English Language in all four elements (reading, writing, listening and speaking). The University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any of the four categories (or approved equivalent). If you are an overseas student, you must have your level of proficiency certified through a provider approved by UK Visas and Immigration and provide your certificate and grade with your application.

If you need to prepare for an IELTS test, you may want to consider doing the free course Inside IELTS: Preparing for the Test with the Experts .

Find out how to apply .

Introducing our innovative Doctorate in Education (EdD).

By the end of the first year of my EdD, I felt confident enough to call myself a doctoral researcher. The more I study and discuss my research with my supervisor, the more I feel that I am poised to make a significant impact into the world of Higher Education. My supervisor is totally invested in the development of my investigations, and I look forward to our sessions as I always leave them inspired and energised.

I have really enjoyed the first two years of my DHSC. It’s been a long time since I had such a good opportunity to stop and think, which does feel like a luxury at times. The Covid-19 pandemic was a particular challenge to studying. However, the flexibility of OU study really came into its own, and the support of supervisors and the DHSC Team made it possible to get this far.

Your questions

For advice about applying for a research degree, or sponsoring a research student, email the Graduate School or call +44 (0)1908 653806.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Doctorate of public health (drph), the drph programme leads to a doctoral-level qualification and is intended for leaders and future leaders in public health..

The programme aims to equip its graduates with the experience to deal with the particular challenges of understanding and adapting scientific knowledge in order to achieve public health gains, as well as the analytical and practical skills required by managers and leaders in public health. The DrPH therefore has a dual focus on developing both expertise to conduct and evaluate research and skills crucial for leadership roles in public health policy and practice.

Entry criteria for the DrPH are the same as for the PhD except that evidence of relevant experience in areas of public health policy as well as in management or leadership is required. The rigour and volume of the work are doctoral level, and are appropriate to the personal development of senior public health professionals. Opportunities for undertaking the DrPH programme are available in all LSHTM's Faculties.

Key components

• A taught component comprising two compulsory modules
• Research Study I: an Organisational and/or Policy Analysis (OPA) project
• Research Study II: a research project leading to the production of a thesis

DrPH programme FAQs DrPH programme specification

"Interacting with the teachers, most of whom are leaders in the field, has been extremely inspiring and useful in terms of my own research."

Taught component

The taught component consists of two compulsory modules. In “Understanding Leadership, Management and Organisations” students explore a range of issues and theories relating to management, leadership and organisations and consider the application of these theories both to public health organisations and their own management practice. “Evidence Based Public Health Policy” focuses on key skills required for improving and shaping policy and practice, involving accessing, understanding, developing, disseminating and facilitating the use of the evidence base for better public health outcomes. The modules are delivered between late September and December and we are currently trialling online delivery. We use a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars and small group work. Students are expected to learn through both directed and self-directed study. Modules are assessed through individual written assignments.

Students are not formally assessed on any other modules but should take modules from the Doctoral Transferable Skills Programme and may choose to study some MSc modules to cover particular skills relevant to their research. This enables students to tailor the programme to their individual backgrounds and needs.

• View module specification for Evidence-based Public Health Policy and Practice
• View module specification for Understanding Leadership, Management & Organisations  

Research Study I: Organisational or Policy Analysis (OPA) project

The OPA project involves research that provides DrPH students with the opportunity to observe and analyse the workings of a public health organisation in its policy environment and to gain a better understanding of how to develop effective public health organisations, influence public policy and deliver public health goals. The project usually involves 3-6 months fieldwork within a host organisation of the student’s choice, during which time the student may be formally employed by the organisation or may be present as an independent researcher.

The objectives of the project that contribute to the overreaching purpose will vary depending on the topic and chosen methodology. It is expected, however, that all OPA reports will cover the following generic objectives:

• To outline the context and key influences on policy (if applicable) in relation to the specific public health issue and organisation chosen for the project;
• To assess the extent to which organisational factors or external relationships constrain or enhance the organisation’s ability to deliver its mandate;
• To develop clear, actionable policy or practical recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the organisation in influencing or delivering its public health goals;
• To gain experience in applying policy science or organisational management theories to the critical analysis of a real world organisational case study.

The host organisation can be any public, non-profit or private institution that is engaged in public health practice or has a public health mandate. OPA projects can be undertaken inside or outside (recommended) the student’s normal place of work.

Students are expected to use an appropriate methodological approach. Data collection methods may include: observations, interviews, focus groups, surveys and documentary analysis. Appropriate approach to data analysis should be used, drawing upon recognised theoretical and analytical frameworks from the relevant fields, for example: management, organisational theory, policy analysis, political science or sociology.

The OPA project is assessed on the basis of a written report not exceeding 15,000 words examined internally by two independent assessors. The report is intended to provide practical advice to the host organisation or policy community in the form of a constructive critique, identifying areas for development or improvement and containing actionable recommendations. At the same time, the report must be soundly informed by literature, theory and robust data collection and analysis.

Progression to the OPA project component is subject to successful completion of the two compulsory core modules. The OPA project report is normally submitted for assessment before commencing the thesis element of the programme.

Research Study II: Thesis project

As for a PhD, the purpose of the DrPH thesis project is to enable students to develop as competent independent researchers and conduct original research. By the end of their studies students should be able to plan effectively and undertake independent research and will have developed key transferable skills. As with a PhD, the thesis topic can be from any public health-related discipline or subject area agreed with the student’s supervisor and the research must be original and make a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the chosen subject.

Research plans are assessed at a formal DrPH Review (equivalent to the “upgrading” for MPhil/PhD students). Whilst the DrPH research thesis must meet doctoral level standards, due to the time allocated for this component (typically about 18 months), the DrPH thesis is necessarily shorter in length and more limited in scope than a PhD thesis.

The DrPH thesis has a 60,000 word limit, excluding references and appendices. 

Programme duration

The period of study for full-time DrPH students is a minimum of three years and a maximum of four years (or four and eight years respectively under part-time study mode). Students are normally required to spend time at LSHTM during the preparation for their OPA project,  preparing and presenting their research project plans to a DrPH Review Committee, or at other key points during the course of the Programme, as agreed with their Supervisors or the Programme Directors. Over the course of their degree DrPH students are normally expected to spend at least 9 months full-time in London.

As the timetable of compulsory modules is fixed, all DrPH students need to commence the programme at the start of the UK academic year in September. The programme aims to be flexible to meet students’ needs while at the same time adhering to excellence in learning and research.

Part-time study

LSHTM requires students who apply for part-time study to be available to study for at least two days per week (not including weekends). Where applicable, a letter from your employer is required to confirm that at least two days per week will be permitted for work on your degree. Please note that in Term 1 part-time DrPH students should allow a minimum of 2.5 days a week for each module they are studying.

Note that the two compulsory modules are taught in the first term. Part-time students have the option of taking one module in their first year and the other module at the beginning of their second year. However, because students are not permitted to start the main phase of their OPA research until both modules have been completed, this can introduce a delay into the overall progression of the degree (students are able to carry out preparatory activities for their OPA and/or research thesis elements between modules but are not able to begin data collection). Consequently many part-time students elect to take both core modules together, effectively increasing their workload temporarily to a full-time mode, followed by a period of a few months without any formal tuition, allowing them to re-balance their other commitments.

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• Doctoral scholarships and funding opportunities

Academic requirements

A student must normally satisfy the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine general entrance requirements as follows:

The normal  minimum  entrance qualification for registration at the School on a Doctoral programme is evidence of an aptitude for research and at least one of the following:

• a master’s degree in a subject appropriate to the course of study to be followed  (recommended)
• a qualification appropriate to the course of study to be followed, in medicine, dentistry or veterinary studies
• an upper second-class honours degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, in a relevant subject.

Applicants for the DrPH study are also required to have a minimum of two years' appropriate experience .

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to meet these requirements:  Band B

Please see our  English Language Requirements FAQs  for information

We have a limited number of places on the DrPH programme (20/year). To ensure equity, all applications will be reviewed by a cross-Faculty panel of senior academics. They will consider your work experience, your academic potential, and your research proposal, OPA proposal and personal statement.

DrPH candidates, like students on other doctoral programmes, work closely with academic members of staff who act as their supervisors. It is not essential to have identified a supervisor before applying, but applicants can only be accepted once a suitable supervisory team has been identified and approved. If you apply for a place without already having identified named supervisors then LSHTM will try to match you up with suitable members of academic staff. If we are unable to identify potential supervisors, we will not be able to offer you a place.

See Identifying a supervisor for details of how to find and approach potential supervisors

The research proposal

All applicants should include with their application a short proposal for their thesis research, Research Study II, (maximum 1,500 words including footnotes and references). This is an important way of indicating the extent to which you already understand the background to your proposed research, and the range of methods that may be employed.

This should include:

• Research / topic area
• Specific research question(s)
• Study design
• Data collection methods and analysis
• Approximate research costs and planned funding source

Please be aware that the research proposal submitted with your application does not have to be the final research project: you will have the opportunity to refine your project through discussions with your supervisor after you start. The main purpose of the proposal is to demonstrate that you have the necessary critical thinking skills, an understanding of the relevant research area and an appreciation of the demands of a research degree.

The organisational and/or policy analysis outline (OPA, Research Study I)

Applicants also need to submit a short outline plan (approx. 500 words) for their OPA project (topic for the OPA, methodological approach and type of organisation to target). While many students have a clear idea about where they intend to carry out their OPA project, it is not mandatory to identify a specific host organisation before starting the degree programme at LSHTM. It is appreciated that this information will be preliminary and that proposals may change once applicants have started their studies and have had the opportunity to discuss their OPA plans with their supervisor and DrPH teaching staff. 

Think about how your Research Degree will be funded

You will need to consider how the Research Degree will be funded – tuition fees, living expenses and project costs. The School website contains some further information on potential  sources of funding . Some candidates apply for a place via studentships advertised by the School. Others manage to secure funding from elsewhere prior to applying, and some submit funding applications at the same time as applying for the research degree.

Application for study

Please apply using our online application form.

Please also read  LSHTM's Admissions policies  prior to submitting your application.

Paper application forms are available upon request and will normally incur an administration fee of £50. You must send a copy of the personal details and photograph page of your passport with all paper applications.  Your application will not be considered until you have provided the above documents. 

Application deadline

For September 2024 entry , the final closing date deadline for DrPH application submission is:

• 31 January 2024 at 23:59 UK time  for ALL students, including those who require a student visa and those who do not. 

Deadline for responding to your offer

Applicants are required to respond to their Offer of Admission within 28 days of receipt, or their place will be released and the offer automatically declined.

Admissions status

Register interest for 2025/26

Programme director

General enquiries Email DrPH Administrator

Talk to students or alumni C ontact ambassadors

More information

FAQs Open days Request a prospectus

• The Economist’s final prediction points to a Tory wipeout in Britain

Opposition parties are inflicting damage on the Conservatives from all directions

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W ith the cut-off date for postal-voting applications already past, the Tories are polling at historically awful levels. It is not simply that other parties—Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK —are taking chunks out of their support. It is the way they are doing it. A new mega-poll conducted by The Economist with WeThink, a research firm, suggests that they are hacking away at even the safest Tory seats.

Between May 30th and June 21st, WeThink asked 18,595 adults how they intend to vote. The results suggest Labour has a 20-percentage-point lead over the Conservatives, by 42% to 22%. Reform UK is on course for 14% of the vote, the Liberal Democrats 11% and the Green Party 6%. This is a dramatic turnaround from the 2019 election, when the Tories led by 12 points, and would be the largest swing between the main parties in modern history. But even that does not tell the full story.

Because of the mega-poll’s large sample size, The Economist is able to use it to analyse local and demographic trends in voting intention. Using a statistical technique called multilevel regression and poststratification ( MRP ), we have produced estimates of voting intentions for each constituency in Britain . These MRP estimates suggest that the Labour Party is on course to win 465 seats, 263 more than it won at the 2019 election. The Tories are heading for just 76 seats, the lowest number in the party’s history. The Lib Dems are estimated to win 52, their best result since 2010; the Scottish National Party ( SNP ) is on track to lose 19 seats, though it would remain the largest party in Scotland. Reform UK and the Green Party are on course to take three seats each.

Close readers will notice that these tallies differ from the predictions of our election model . During the same period that the mega-poll was being conducted, that model was giving a central estimate of around 185 MP s for the Tories, a very heavy defeat but not a rout. The key difference lies in the “efficiency” of each party’s vote—how many seats they can expect to win for a given number of votes. Our prediction model, which is based on national and regional polls, assumes the distribution of votes for each party across seats would be similar from election to election. Our MRP poll shows that the Tories are underperforming in marginal constituencies.

This is because opposition parties and voters are highly co-ordinated. Labour has explicitly targeted “hero voters” who supported the Conservatives in 2019. These are people who are older, working-class, Leave-voting and overrepresented in marginal constituencies in the north of England. The Liberal Democrats may have rather similar policies but they have targeted very different voters—wealthier, more educated and more likely to have voted Remain and to live in the south.

The MRP poll shows that Labour’s vote share has risen by 11 percentage points in competitive seats where they face the Conservatives, compared with eight points in constituencies where the Lib Dems are the Tories’ main rivals. The Lib Dems, meanwhile, have gone backwards in most of the country compared with 2019 but, crucially, have increased their vote share by three percentage points in seats where they are competitive with the Conservatives (see chart 1).

This dynamic on its own is enough to make the Tories susceptible to substantial losses. But the installation of Nigel Farage as leader of Reform UK on June 3rd has made even Conservative MP s with huge majorities vulnerable. Reform UK draws its support overwhelmingly from the Tories. The loss of white, non-graduate Leavers seems to be causing the Tory vote share to tumble in former strongholds: our MRP poll estimates that it will fall by over 30 percentage points in seats where they won more than 60% of the vote in 2019. Reform gains the votes; Labour reaps the rewards.

Many MRP polls have been published since Mr Farage became leader of Reform UK ; all agree that the Conservatives are heading for a landslide defeat. But the range of outcomes is large: four of these recent mega-polls have shown Tory seat totals of between 53 and 155. One reason for that great variation is the knife edge that the Conservatives sit on.

In our MRP estimates, we find that they win or lose by a margin of less than 5% in 91 constituencies. In these extreme electoral circumstances, the difference between a heavy defeat and a total rout is a very small number of votes. According to our own MRP , if Reform UK were to take just three additional percentage points from the Conservatives, the Tories’ seat total would fall to only 45.

MRP s are not foolproof. Like all polling, an MRP poll is a snapshot and has a substantial margin of error due to statistical variation. Like all modelling, the technique also relies on a number of subjective assumptions—which variables should be included, how turnout is estimated, and so on. These assumptions vary between pollsters, and it is difficult to know which set will produce the most accurate estimates.

The best approach, therefore, is to pool information from across a full range of forecasts. So we have updated our prediction model to incorporate the results of all the published MRP s, our own included. This “blended” election model , which will be updated between now and July 4th, is our best guess at the final result. At the time of writing its central estimate is that Labour will have 429 MP s, the Conservatives 117, the Liberal Democrats 42 seats, the SNP 23 and Reform UK two (see chart 2). Pollsters can get things wrong; we will do our own post-mortem after the election. But with only days to go, for this result even to be a possibility is remarkable. ■

For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in Britain,  sign up  to Blighty, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Rout won?”

Britain June 29th 2024

• What the remaking of Labour reveals about Sir Keir Starmer

On shame, Liz Truss and the turnip Taliban

The british election is not close. but the race in bicester is.

• The cost of Britain’s cast of ex-prime ministers is mounting
• Julian Assange’s plea deal: a suitable end to a grubby saga

Why the next Westminster scandal is already here

From the June 29th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

More from Britain

How Rachel Reeves, Britain’s probable next chancellor, wants to change the country

Her memories, including of beating private schoolboys at chess, offer clues

Britain’s Conservative Party faces up to its own mortality

Dulce et decorum est pro parte mori

A local group is trying to eject the former prime minister from her seat

A potential Tory leader-in-waiting is in a three-way fight

In British politics scandals are not exposed. They are simply noticed

Britons vote according to feelings of economic security

The latest edition of our Blighty newsletter

We have 573 fully funded PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students in the UK

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fully funded PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students in the UK

Fully funded epsrc cdt in engineering hydrogen net-zero, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training conduct research and training in priority areas funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Potential PhD topics are usually defined in advance. Students may receive additional training and development opportunities as part of their programme.

Fully Funded Doctoral Studentship in Machine Learning for Enhanced Biopharmaceutical Production

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Seven University of Bath fully funded studentships in sustainable aerospace materials and structures starting September 2024.

Fully funded phd studentship by epsrc-funded kuber project in sayed systems group, funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Fully Funded British Heart Foundation PhD Studentship in ‘Cellular and molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation’

Competition funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Making Additive Manufacturing Sustainable Using Functionalised Coatings (Fully Funded PhD)

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Fully funded PhD Studentship in decontamination of drinking water supplies (removal of dissolved organic carbon) by novel magneto-composite design and processing

Fully funded phd scholarship in agrifood electronics, fully funded phd scholarship in memristive technologies, phd: improving additive manufacturing productivity using correlative chemical and x-ray imaging (fully funded phd), fully funded epsrc centre for doctoral training (cdt) in cyber security, funded phd programme (uk students only).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Fully Funded Scholarships in Marine Ecosystem Modelling and Sub-surface Characterisation at SUERC, University of Glasgow

Phd opportunities.

PhD Opportunities highlight some of the specific PhD projects, programmes or other information currently available from a university.

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