General Practice and Primary Care

Entry requirements

A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Our goal is to improve health by conducting world-class research and teaching in primary care.

Our staff, both clinical and research-based, are dedicated to undertaking internationally acclaimed research and teaching that addresses problems posed by complex care needs and inequalities, particularly in relation to chronic illness and multimorbidity, and marginalised populations such as migrants and those living in areas of severe deprivation. We have a strong focus on anticipatory approaches to health and the implementation and integration of complex service innovations (e.g. digital health services, screening) along with an emphasis on the role of health policy in shaping the experiences of patients and professionals.

We undertake interdisciplinary research with colleagues across the university, as well as NHS staff, the voluntary sector and other appropriate colleagues and agencies, locally, nationally, across the UK and internationally. We aim to promote person-centred, quality healthcare with a particular focus on the role of primary care as a vehicle for better coordinated and continuous care.

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators within the department. As part of the School of Health and Wellbeing we welcome applications from students from a range of backgrounds and disciplines. We use a number of methodological (e.g. qualitative interviews, epidemiological analysis, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials) and multidisciplinary approaches with students having the opportunity to be jointly supervised by academics with clinical and research-based backgrounds. Our work is at the forefront of Primary Care research with a particular focus on:

• chronic illness including mental/cardiovascular health and chronic pain (Mair, Mercer, Morrison, Nicholl, O’Donnell)
• cancer (Macdonald, Mair, Robb)
• treatment burden and multimorbidity (Mair, Mercer, Nicholl, Macdonald, Watt)
• empathy/patient-centred care (Mercer)
• inequalities and marginalised populations (Macdonald, Morrison, O’Donnell, Watt)
• digital health (Mair, O’Donnell)
• implementation research and policy (Mair, O’Donnell)

Approaches include:

• normalisation process theory (Mair, O’Donnell)
• application of social and behavioural science (Macdonald, Robb)
• application of epidemiological and data science research methods (Jani, Nicholl)
• activity theory (Pope)

Our PhD programme provides excellent training complementary to a range of career options, and you can tailor your study pathway to the precise aspects of primary care research that suit your objectives. Many of our graduates continue in academia to become research leaders nationally or internationally or postgraduate research associates while others play leading roles in a range of healthcare or healthcare policy organisations. We have strong local, national and global academic connections.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no sub-test under 6.0.
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540

• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355

• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350

• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• External funding information