Course summary

The Institute of Health and Society has an international reputation in translational research aimed at promoting evidence-based policy and practice for the benefit of patient and population health. Postgraduate research supervision is available in applied epidemiology, decision making and organisation of care, life-course, development and ageing, and public health improvement. Research in the Institute of Health and Society (IHS) is organised into four themes and underpinned by four discipline groups. As a research student, you will be fully integrated in a theme or group. You will have a team of supervisors, including clinicians or policy makers from a range of health and social care settings. Current research interests, projects and publications are available from our staff profiles. Themes: Applied epidemiology The applied epidemiology theme contributes to the understanding, prevention and treatment of chronic non-communicable disease across the life course. Decision making and organisation of care Decision making and organisation of care brings together social and behavioural science, and clinical expertise to conduct applied health research. Life-course, development and ageing Life-course, development and ageing explores healthy ageing, from development in childhood and the consequences of disability, to the health and wellbeing of the oldest old (85 and over). Public health improvement The public health improvement theme conducts applied health research with a focus on the development, evaluation and translation of health interventions. DISCIPLINE GROUPS: Health economics The Health Economics Group conducts research aimed at improving the allocation of scarce health and social care resources, tackling inequalities in access to care and health, applying and developing research to better measure the benefits of health and social care. Health psychology The Health Psychology Research Group focuses on behavioural and psychological processes in health and health care. The group's research includes work on methodology, theory and the development and evaluation of interventions, contributing to both scientific and practice agendas. Medical sociology The Medical Sociology Group is theoretically and methodologically broad ranging. The group applies different theoretical sociological approaches dependent upon the subject under research. Health technology evaluation The Health Technology Evaluation Group conducts research into healthcare methods and interventions. This is done through systematic reviews, rigorously designed clinical trials and process evaluations, multi-method feasibility studies and other high quality designs. Pharmacy Our new School of Pharmacy has scientists and clinicians working together on all aspects of pharmaceutical sciences and clinical pharmacy. Delivery Attendance on campus is flexible, agreed between you and your supervisors depending on the requirements of your research project. You are expected to undertake 40 hours of work per week with an annual holiday entitlement of 35 days, which includes statutory and bank holidays. You will receive formal, high quality subject-specific and generic skills training with modules. We have a thriving postgraduate community with friendly and supportive relations between students and staff. Although formal supervision takes place once a month, you will be encouraged to present your studies to your research theme and to the wider Institute. Facilities: We have a variety of learning and study spaces. You will have access to video conference facilities and a dedicated audio-visual room for analysing both audio and video information. You choose to be based with your research theme or in our Postgraduate Student Room, with computers and printers. You have access to an extensive range of specialist software. We also host the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service North East.