Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
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How long will I study?
7 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
October 2025
February 2026
May 2026
Course summary
- Develop specialist research knowledge and skills
- Complete an independent research programme
- Acquire high-level transferable skills that will equip you for your future career
You’ll be based in the Applied Health and Social Care Research Centre. The impact of our research is recognised as internationally excellent in the recent Research Excellence Framework 2021. The research methods training and specialist research skills will equip you to undertake real-world applied research. You’ll receive supervision from a team of active researchers working within one of our research groups and will benefit from joining our vibrant Postgraduate research community.
How you learn
As a postgraduate research student, you’ll follow an independent programme of study under the supervision of a team of leading academics with extensive experience of undertaking high quality research and academic scholarship. Supervision principally takes places through regular meetings, either face to face or using remote communication, between doctoral researchers and their supervisory teams. Our policies and support structures ensure that supervision is of the highest quality.
You’ll have access to a wide range of training opportunities to help you work towards your research degree. This includes:
- A programme of university wide doctoral training sessions.
- A programme of workshops and research support sessions delivered by the Health Research Institute postgraduate research team.
- Specialist research training and skills development relevant to your research project.
- A range of research seminar series provided within the Health Research Institute, Research Centres and across the university.
- Peer discussions and support as part of a postgraduate research community.
- Multiple opportunities to present your work at local, national and international conferences.
- Financial support to attend academic conferences, networking opportunities and training events.
Course leaders and tutors
Sionnadh McLean
Reader In PhysiotherapySionnadh is a Reader in Physiotherapy in the Allied Health Professions Department. She is the MSc Manual Therapy course leader, and teaches across the physiotherapy … Read more
Applied learning
You’ll be part of an active research community in the Applied Health and Social Care Research Centre (AHSRC), the Health Research Institute and the wider university. Our Research Centre vision is to deliver world leading applied research which impacts individuals, communities, populations and the health and social care workforce. We conduct applied health and social care research that addresses complex challenges and leads to improvements in people’s health and wellbeing through enhancements in diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, care and service user experience. Our Centre researchers have extensive experience in patient, public and service user involvement, and in the co-design of research. In parallel, our research informs the development of the health and social care workforce, ensuring their roles are appropriate for the demands of an evolving health and social care sector. Much of our research is conducted in partnership with health and social care providers and industry, involving multidisciplinary collaborations across the university and with external national and international academic partners.
Your research will be closely aligned with one of the research groupings within the AHSRC. These are:
- Maternal, child and family health and social care
- Ageing and long term conditions
- Technology, data and digital innovations
- Health and social care organisation and workforce
There are multiple opportunities for you to be involved in a wide range of academic activities including teaching and knowledge exchange over the course of your programme, enabling you to further expand and enhance your knowledge and skills acquisition.
Future careers
Research degrees are a vital qualification for most academic and research careers. The research training and the high-level transferable skills you’ll acquire are highly desirable across all sectors and will be a valuable asset whatever your career.
Our postgraduate research programmes have prepared previous students for careers in
- health and social care education
- healthcare research
- clinical and professional leadership
- engagement in strategic organisations
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities
Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You’ll have access to excellent facilities and learning resources as well as a dedicated postdoctoral office space which promotes vibrant discussion and collaboration.
You’ll also have access to our state-of-the-art specialist equipment which supports a wide range of research activities. The equipment is located on the Collegiate Crescent campus and within the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre which is part of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.
The specialist facilities you’ll work with include
- diagnostic imaging suites
- clinical assessment and rehabilitation rooms
- a wide range of simulation equipment and resources
- high specification digital technology
Entry requirements
All students
All applicants should hold a strong undergraduate degree (2.1 or above) and/or a relevant masters qualification (or expectation of the same).
All applicants must submit a completed postgraduate application form including a 1500 word research proposal.
You are encouraged to find out more about our staff and their current research to inform the development of your research proposal and to ensure it aligns with our research themes. Before submitting your proposal, please contact the member(s) of staff listed against the relevant research theme.
Applicants are required to give a short 10–15 minute presentation followed by an interview. Interview panel members will include the head of research degrees for the relevant research area or centre, a local postgraduate research tutor and a prospective director of studies.
Where English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency: an overall IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with at least 6.5 in each component or an accepted equivalent. Please note that your test score must be current, i.e. within the last two years.
Additional information for EU/International students
This course is not open to international students who require a Tier 4 (General) student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a Tier 4 (General) student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK postgraduate research students will be aligned to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fees which have not yet been confirmed for 2025/26. For an indication of the tuition fees, please view the 2024/25 course page. An additional bench fee may also be charged for this course, depending on the nature of your project and requirements for specialist facilities. Information on whether a bench fee is chargeable can be provided by the relevant Research Institute, and will be confirmed in your offer letter.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
Doctoral student loans
Up to £25,700 available to help you while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
