Primary Care and Health Services Research

Entry requirements

We require applicants to hold, or be about to obtain, an Upper Second class Honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK, in a related subject area for entry to a PhD programme. A Lower Second class Honours degree may be considered if applicants also hold a Master's degree with a Merit classification.

Months of entry

January, April, September

Course content

Our research is organised into four themes, all of high relevance to the delivery of care in the UK and internationally. We also place a major emphasis on advancing research methodology.

1. Health organisation, policy and economics (HOPE)

This interdisciplinary theme focuses upon research which investigates the supply, organisation, management and financing of health and social care services.

2. Quality and safety

This theme focuses on conducting innovative, needs-driven and applied research to improve quality of care and patient safety in primary care, particularly in general practice and community pharmacy as well as the interface of hospital and social care.

3. Person centred care and complex health needs

This theme focuses on ensuring patient and professional experience is at the centre of research to address health and healthcare needs. We have particular expertise in self-management, multimorbidity, mental health and health technology assessment.

4. Health in a wider context

We focus on how the wider context impacts on health and on health and care policy. Wider influences are important in shaping patterns of health and in designing efficient and equitable health and care systems.

The Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research is acknowledged internationally as one of the UK's leading research centres for health policy research and postgraduate teaching in primary care. We aim to inform the development of future health and care policy, and communicate our findings to government, policy-makers, practitioners and academics.

The centre is a founder member of the prestigious NIHR School for Primary Care Research, a collaboration of eight leading primary care departments.

Our work is multidisciplinary and brings together staff who are GPs, psychiatrists, sociologists, psychologists, statisticians, economists and health services researchers.

The Centre also aims to support and promote the involvement of patients, the public and providers in health research, through our Patient and Public Involvement Group PRIMER.

Highly experienced world-renowned experts in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods research are available to supervise.