Course summary
The Department of Population Health Sciences is part of Bristol Medical School. Staff in the department participate in extensive national and international research collaborations and provide health policy advice for government organisations and international bodies. Staff and students in the department are also members of the cross-faculty Bristol Population Health Science Institute. Many Population Health Science members are also affiliated with the MRC Integrated Epidemiology Unit (IEU). The department is multidisciplinary and includes statisticians, epidemiologists, geneticists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, health economists, public health physicians, medical ethicists, data scientists, neuroscientists, and various community-based physicians and nurses. We are keen to attract graduates from all these disciplines to carry out postgraduate research. Please visit the school website to see current opportunities: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/medical-school/study/postgraduate/population-health-sciences/
Assessment method
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2026/phd-population-health-sciences.pdf
How to apply
International applicants
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students and accepts a wide range of qualifications for postgraduate study. If you study or have studied at a university outside the UK, please select the relevant page for further information on qualifications, scholarships and education representatives in your country/region: bristol.ac.uk/international/countries.
Entry requirements
An upper second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) or a lower second-class honours degree (or international equivalent) with a master's degree in a subject relevant to the proposed research. To register for an MD you must hold an MBChB. Applicants must have identified two potential supervisors who are willing to support the research proposal. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £2553 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £2553 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
For more information, please view the programme page on our website.
Sponsorship information
A selection of fully funded PhD opportunities are available within the department. Cross-institutional PhD studentships are available through the GW4 PhD Biomedical and Clinical programmes (https://gw4.ac.uk/doctoral-training-programmes/), enabling students to benefit from the diversity of expertise and resources across the GW4 network of universities. The MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/integrative-epidemiology/) provides four-year PhD opportunities on cross-disciplinary projects exploring the causal effects of potentially modifiable exposures on health. The department also hosts health data science studentships funded through EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training. Other funded studentships are available for projects in many research areas within the school. Funded opportunities are advertised on the school website as they become available (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/medical-school/study/postgraduate/population-health-sciences/). Some funding opportunities are restricted to UK citizens. Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/
Provider information
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queen’s Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU