Postgraduate Prospectus 2013 - Swansea University

Health and Social Sciences
118
Research opportunities
MPhil, PhD, DProf (part-time)
RAE2008 35% of our health sciences
research was rated as being of worldleading
or internationally excellent quality.
60% of social science research was rated
world-class or internationally excellent.
Professors
A Borsay
S Edwards
D Hughes
P Huxley
M Jasper
M McNamee
J Merrell
C Phillips
G Rolfe
The UK’s health and social care systems
continue to provide high quality care,
where it is needed, in a responsive and
timely manner. As demand for their
services continues to grow, these systems
need to adapt and change to take
advantage of the new technologies and
ways of working open to them, ensuring
that quality of care is continually
enhanced.
Research into the health and social sciences
across the full range of disciplines and
areas, such as biomedical studies, service
organisation, workforce practices, chronic
conditions, public health, policy, and
ethics, is crucial in identifying how best to
make those changes and adaptations.
As a forerunner in researching both health
and social care provision, the College is
able to respond rapidly to changes in the
delivery of care, whilst its established links
with service providers, such as the NHS,
enhance the learning experience and
influence clinical and social care practices.
We welcome proposals for postgraduate
research projects that complement staff
research interests.
Research degrees in the Health and Social
Sciences will:
Academic and research staff 145
Postgraduates 58
Entry requirements:
MPhil: normally an Honours degree (2.1
or above) in a discipline related to the
chosen specialty, or a relevant, approved
postgraduate qualification.
PhD and DProf: Applicants would normally
have, or be studying for, a Master’s
degree.
• provide you with new and specialised
research and transferable skills such as
presenting to a range of audiences,
publication, and networking
• prepare you for a career in academia
and research
• equip you with skills relevant to
progressing your career in a range of
diverse fields, including nursing,
midwifery, health economics,
biosciences, health and social policy,
social care practice, the voluntary and
charity sectors, academia and
healthcare management.
Students working towards a research degree
have the opportunity to attend taught courses
on research methods and statistics, and are
encouraged to disseminate their own
research findings at national and
international conferences. A Research Interest
Group also provides a forum through which
students can participate in a peer support
network to share their ideas.
Students benefit from the College’s strong
and active partnerships with universities
across the world, the NHS, health and
social care agencies, industry, and
government, as well as international
networks including the World Health
Organisation, and Sigma Theta Tau
English Language requirement:
IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.5 in each
component) or Swansea University
recognised equivalent.
Scholarships and Bursaries
A range of postgraduate scholarships and
bursaries is available. For details, please
visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships/
Postgraduate. Funding may also be
available through funded research projects.
We attract substantial research funding from
the ESRC, AHRC, the European Union, the
Welsh Government, NISCHR, UK Sport,
Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Ministry
of Defence, Care Council for Wales, Esmee
Internationals. The College also works
collaboratively with other research centres
and networks across the UK, such as the
Social Care Workforce Research Unit at
Kings College London.
Research Strengths
Our research falls into eight broad
themes:
Children and Young People’s Health
and Well-Being
Focusing on improving health and
well-being across a variety of areas such
as obesity, inactivity, health promotion,
mental health, looked after children, child
abuse and neglect, and disabled children.
The rights of children and young people,
along with issues relating to their migration,
are also priorities. Recent postgraduate
research is examining cardiovascular
disease risk factors in school children; and
exploring young people’s attitudes to, and
experiences of, discrimination and racism.
Health Economics
Delivering robust and ground breaking
health economics research on the
development and delivery of health care
interventions and services, by combining
significant qualitative skills, expertise in
real world data mining and analysis and
health policy.
Fairburn Charitable Trust, Stroke
Association, National Institute for Health
Research, and Tenovus.
Evidence of a commitment to a career in a
research setting is also desirable.
Research students in this area are
investigating areas such as the cost
effectiveness of clinical pharmacist
interventions within patients suffering from
cardiac disease, and the costs associated
with the collection and utilisation of
allergenic blood.
Health Services Research
Ensuring the systems underpinning a
range of health service areas such as
healthcare organisation, policy,
economics and patient involvement are
evaluated and enhanced. Research
students are looking at the effects of
clinical reasoning models on the outcome
and cost-effectiveness of musculoskeletal
physiotherapy, and quality of life for older
people living with cancer.
History, Health and Culture
Leading the way in medical humanities by
bringing together researchers who apply
the concepts and methods of history,
literature and the visual arts to the analysis
of health and healthcare.
Postgraduate students are exploring a
variety of areas ranging from the
educational experiences of deaf children
between 1850 and 1914 to the political
influence of nurses in post-war Wales,
and epilepsy in literature.
How can I find out more?
Visit our website:
www.swansea.ac.uk/
humanandhealthsciences/research
Contact: Maria Davis,
Postgraduate Administrator
Email: a.m.davis@swansea.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1792 295309
Visit the University:
see page 174 for details and Open
Day information
Mental Health
Taking forward research into mental
health services through their evaluation,
and the development and application of
social outcome measures. Some of our
students are looking at evidence based
practices in mental health, and the
National Action Plan to reduce suicide
and self-harm in Wales.
Nursing and Healthcare Practices
Committed to translating research from
‘the bench to bedside’, this theme
addresses the issues of professional
working and contributions to patient care
which cut across traditional boundaries.
Topics being explored by postgraduate
students include the emotional work
experiences of children’s nurses in hospice
and community settings, and managing
weight gain in pregnancy.
Philosophy, Ethics and Law in Healthcare
Concentrating on the scrutiny of the
philosophical, ethical and legal aspects
underpinning healthcare theory and
practice across the breadth of medicine,
nursing and sport.
Some of the fields under investigation are
international medical ethics and law, as
well as the ethico-legal aspects of doping
and anti-doping in athletes.
Applications can be made online
at: www.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline
– see pages 176 – 177 for further
information
For details of Master’s courses available
in Health Science, please see page 60.
Social Sciences
Generating new knowledge about the
changes affecting the social care
workforce and service provision, including
social outcomes, such as quality of life and
social inclusion measures.
Current research activity being led by
students is investigating the services for
young carers and the social inclusion
experienced by older people in care
homes.
The College is also developing a new
range of innovative research courses and
qualifications which will be of interest to
anyone wishing to pursue a clinical
academic career. For further details
please contact us.
Students working full-time towards a
research degree have the opportunity to
attend taught courses on research
methods and statistics, and are
encouraged to disseminate their own
research findings at national and
international conferences.
Research Degrees – Health and Social Sciences
119