We offer research supervision across a broad range of topics. We are especially interested in applications that include proposals that will contribute to knowledge and practice within the field of Medicine and Health Sciences. Overview Research programmes involve writing a thesis on a particular topic with specialist supervision. You are given research training, which is tailored to the particular needs of your research and takes into account any training you have previously received. You also have opportunities to attend modules on relevant subjects on a non-assessed basis to fill any gaps in your background. The curriculum will be in the general area of medicine and health sciences and may range from basic research into mechanisms of disease or methodology, clinical research, or behavioural social science research. Candidates will be required, in consultation with their supervisors, to undertake appropriate background reading; to undertake such research training as the supervisor and the Social Sciences Faculty require and to put such training into practice; to carry out a substantial body of original research, and to provide a written account of the research including its context within the current body of knowledge. About the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR) SSPSSR has a long and distinguished history, and is one of the largest and most successful social science research communities in Europe. The School supports a large and thriving postgraduate community. Academic staff specialise in research of international, comparative and theoretical significance, and we have collective strengths in the following areas: civil society, NGOs and the third sector; cross-national and European social policy; health, social care and health studies; work, employment and economic life; risk, ‘risk society’ and risk management; race, ethnicity and religion; social and public policy; sociology and the body; crime, culture and control; sociological theory and the culture of modernity. The School is also home to several internationally renowned research centres including: The Centre for Child Protection; The Centre for Health Services Studies; The Centre for Philanthropy; The Personal Social Services Research Unit and The Tizard Centre. National ratings In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, research by the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research was ranked 2nd for research power in the UK. The School was also placed 3rd for research intensity, 5th for research impact and 5th for research quality. An impressive 94% of our research-active staff submitted to the REF and 99% of our research was judged to be of international quality. The School’s environment was judged to be conducive to supporting the development of world-leading research, gaining the highest possible score of 100%.