Public Health PhD/iPhD/MD
Our aim is to be the world-leading centre for public research and education, working to improve health and wellbeing through understanding how disease occurs across populations and evaluating the effectiveness of population health interventions.
- PhD: 3-4 years full-time; 5 years part-time;
- MD (Doctor of Medicine): 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time;
- IPhD: 5 years full-time;
Research projects
All self-funded projects can be applied to throughout the year. Please note that not all projects are available in the IPhD route.
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Investigating the Colonic Microbiome – Immune Interactions to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
Supervisors: Dr Stephen McSorley and Dr Johan Vande Voorde
Project description: Around 40% of individuals undergoing bowel screening colonoscopy have pre-malignant colorectal adenomas. Despite excising them patients remain at increased risk of further adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC) in the future with no means of prevention available other than repeated colonoscopies.
Immune responses and infiltrates of specific subtypes of immune cells called T lymphocytes within adenomas are associated with a patient’s likelihood of future adenomas and CRC. It is unclear what drives differences in these immune responses to adenomas in the colon and ultimately outcomes.
The colonic microbiome – the variety and location of different species of bacteria, fungi and viruses within the large bowel - has been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis including the formation of new adenomas and progression of adenomas to cancer. Furthermore, in established CRC, interaction between the microbiome and immune system is thought to impact outcomes.
This exciting PhD project will build on an existing highly annotated dataset of around 2600 patients who have undergone surveillance following polypectomy at bowel screening colonoscopy with matched tissue. The student will be involved in the prospective collection of colonic tissue and samples from patients having adenomas removed at colonoscopy. They will interrogate immune – microbiome interactions within adenoma and surrounding colonic biopsy tissue using techniques including immunohistochemistry, RNAseq, RNAscope, and state of the art spatial proteomic/transcriptomic technologies – Nanostring, GeoMx, DSP, and CosMx SMI.
The identification of specific immune system and microbiome targets associated with future adenoma risk will eventually permit drug screening and chemoprevention in a large group of high-risk patients for whom repeated colonoscopy is the only current management option.
Fees: There are no funds available for this PGR project. Applicants must have sufficient funds to pay for their support and PGR fees.
To apply, please contact supervisors and include project title in application.
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Integrated PhD (October-April)
Our Integrated PhD combines an MSc and PhD project in a 1+3+1 format. There are two options when choosing to apply for the IPhD and these are shown below. Please review how to apply section for more information.
Option A: Choose from the listed projects.
You can select from the listed projects below and choose your MSc from the options listed on that project.
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New person-centred tools to improve household contact investigation for tuberculosis
Supervisor: Peter MacPherson
MSc choice: Public Health [MPH/PgDip/PgCert]
Problem: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer. TB is often transmitted within households. In high TB burden settings, household contact investigations are an important public health intervention, but are resource-intensive, challenging to operationalise, and of uncertain individual benefit due to challenges defining outcome measures.
Potential solutions: This IPHD will develop and evaluate new person-centred tools and approaches to improve the implementation of household contact investigations in high TB burden settings. The student’s research will be nested within major funded TB research programmes underway between University of Glasgow and Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia.
Overall aim: Using novel digital epidemiology technologies, develop and evaluate person-centred approaches to improve household contact investigations for tuberculosis, and ultimately reduce the risk of transmission.
Objectives:
To leverage new digital technologies to improve information gathering, risk assessment, and decision support during TB household contact investigations, including:
- Automatically generate line listing of contacts by index TB in audio/text. E.g. “Tell us who lives in your house, and how long they have lived there”. TB disease risk factors. Freeform audio, captured by cell phone.
- Use natural language processing algorithms to synthesise/organise data on household contacts
- Generate unique household identifiers for each contact
- Record sociodemographic characteristics
- Record TB exposure history
- Identify risk factors for TB
- Screen for TB symptoms
- Automatically implement a decision support tool: for each contact, given guidelines, generate an individualised risk assessment (probability of progressing to TB disease, recommendation for TB investigations/preventive therapy, risk of side effect)
- Automated system for checking contact action, monitoring and evaluation - SMS through system to index case.
Sending teams to households for TB screening is expensive and resource intensive. To overcome this, the student will develop and pilot an index-case delivered approach to household contact investigation, supported by new technologies:
- Index case delivered home symptom screening of contact
- Index case takes sputum cups (+/- oral swabs) home for symptomatic
- Support for assessment of symptomatic children
- linkage to treatment/TB preventive therapy
Measurement of individual, and household important outcome i.e. recognising that measures of incidence of disease are challenging, especially given recommendations for TB preventive therapy:
- Focus on PROMS (patient-related outcome measures). What do people (index and contacts) value as outcomes from household contact tracing interventions. Evaluate ordinal scale measures of wellbeing, quality of life, health seeking impact, linkage to treatment/TB preventive therapy
Key skills and support: Potential candidates should demonstrate through evidence that they meet the criteria below when contacting supervisors.
This project is currently unfunded. Potential candidates who have identified sources of funding for fees, stipend, travel costs, and research costs will be preferenced.
A background in health services and clinical research is essential. The candidate will be dedicated to improving the health of people in low income countries, and have experience in infectious diseases and epidemiology. They will have demonstrated skills in quantitative statistical and epidemiological analysis, including in using the R programming language. Candidates who have a proven track record in engaging communities and stakeholders across diverse cultures will flourish, particularly during visits to study sites. The successful candidate will benefit from being based within the Athena Swan Gold-accredited School of Health & Wellbeing at University of Glasgow and collaboration with international universities. They will work within a dynamic, multidisciplinary team based between Scotland and Africa, and will receive a dedicated programme of training and career support.
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Option B: Create your own research proposal
You can create your own project, source a supervisor and they will choose an MSc programme that aligns with your research proposal.
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Create your own PhD proposal
- Create your own proposal - approximately 1000 words and must include:
- a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
- the question that your research will address
- an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
- an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent research in the field
- a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take.
- You will need to contact a supervisor prior to application, using the search function.
Based on your proposal, your supervisor will choose an MSc programme that aligns with your research interests.
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Overview
Public Health research plays a vital role in understanding the impact of biological, social, behavioural, economic, cultural and environmental factors on our health. Our interests span medical, environmental and social sciences and offer students an opportunity to train in a unique interdisciplinary culture and environment.
The advent of large scale data sets from health services, the environment, public services and the private sector is heralding something of a revolution in approaches to public health. For the first time, we are potentially able to see both how people’s health is created, maintained or damaged over time, but also the impact of interventions and policies aimed at improving and protecting health.
PGR students in public health can access the researcher training programmes in the Colleges of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) and the College of Social Science (CoSS). This ensures that PGR students graduate with robust, transferable skills that are relevant to future employment in academia and public, private and third sector organisations.
Our research objectives are to:
- understand the natural course and impact of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases
- contribute to service developments to improve cancer survival
- contribute to a healthier population and environment through policy-related research
- reduce health inequalities of the working age population through cutting-edge, policy informing research
Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators within public health and the Institute of Health and Wellbeing. Our supervisors use a variety of approaches to understand complex problems including complex statistical analysis, data linkage, longitudinal epidemiological and advanced meta-analysis, but also in depth qualitative techniques and the analysis of new media and policy documentation. We have excellent engagement with the government, the NHS and local authorities, other statutory public organisations and third sector organisations.
Specific areas of interest include:
- the potential for different aspects of environment to positively influence population health and reduce health inequalities
- the differences between chronological and biological ageing and its influence on coronary arterial disease
- evaluating the effects of legislation on population health, such as smoke free legislation
- understanding the interaction of genetic and non-genetic risk factors on population health
- the evaluation of complex public health interventions
- the impact on health of supporting disadvantaged groups into employment
Studying for a PhD in a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment will equip you with transferable research skills that are relevant to a range of career options in the public, private and charitable sectors. Many students find employment in the University sector after completing their studies or choose to pursue careers in health services, government or NGOs with a focus on global health improvement.
Many of our project supervisors have strong academic connections with international collaborators in universities and research institutes across the world. Funds are available through the college of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences to allow international visits to teams and data centres where part of your project can be carried out, if you and your supervisor decide this would enhance your research and training. This provides an excellent opportunity for networking and increasing your scientific knowledge and skill set.
Study options
PhD
- Duration: 3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time
Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.
Integrated PhD programmes (5 years)
Our Integrated PhD allows you to combine masters level teaching with your chosen research direction in a 1+3+1 format.
International students with MSc and PhD scholarships/funding do not have to apply for 2 visas or exit and re-enter the country between programmes. International and UK/EU students may apply.
Year 1
Taught masters level modules are taken alongside students on our masters programmes. Our research-led teaching supports you to fine tune your research ideas and discuss these with potential PhD supervisors. You will gain a valuable introduction to academic topics, research methods, laboratory skills and the critical evaluation of research data. Your grades must meet our requirements in order to gain entry on to your pre-selected PhD research project. If not, you will have the options to pay outstanding MSc fees and complete with masters degree only.
Years 2, 3 and 4
PhD programme with research/lab work, completing an examinable piece of independent research in year 4.
Year 5
Thesis write up.
MD (Doctor of Medicine)
- Duration: 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time (for medically-qualified graduates only)
Entry requirements
A 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
- 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
- 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
- IELTS One Skill Retake accepted.
Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:
TOEFL (ibt, my best or athome)
- 79; with Reading 13; Listening 12; Speaking 18;Writing 21
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements , this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 59 with minimum 59 in all subtests
- 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.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 176 overall, no subtest less than 169
- 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.
Oxford English Test
- Oxford ELLT 7
- R&L: OIDI level no less than 6 with Reading: 21-24 Listening: 15-17
- W&S: OIDI level no less than 6
Trinity College Tests
Integrated Skills in English II & III & IV: ISEII Distinction with Distinction in all sub-tests.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of 2 years at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have complete their degree in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
- Undergraduate 2+2 degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final two years study in that majority-English speaking country and within the last 6 years
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We also consider other BALEAP accredited pre-sessional courses:
Fees and funding
Fees
2025/26
- UK: To be confirmed [24/25 fee was £4,786]
- International & EU: £31,800
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.
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 Junior Year Abroad, Exchange programme or International Summer School with us. The discount is applied at registration for students who are not in receipt of another discount or scholarship funded by the University. 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.
Funding
The IPhD is not supported by University of Glasgow Scholarship/Funding
Support
The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive and stimulating environment for all our postgraduate students. We aim to provide excellent support for our postgraduates through dedicated postgraduate convenors, highly trained supervisors and pastoral support for each student.
Our overarching aim is to provide a research training environment that includes:
- provision of excellent facilities and cutting edge techniques
- training in essential research and generic skills
- excellence in supervision and mentoring
- interactive discussion groups and seminars
- an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy and research analysis
- synergy between research groups and areas
- extensive multidisciplinary and collaborative research
- extensive external collaborations both within and beyond the UK
- a robust generic skills programme including opportunities in social and commercial training
Resources
Public health at our School of Health and Wellbeing cuts across the College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences and the College of Social Science. This offers students an opportunity to train in a unique interdisciplinary culture and environment and to access the researcher training programmes in both colleges.
PhD students working with our supervisors are exposed to cutting edge methodologies relevant to public health research. There is a culture of supporting innovative research ideas and our track record of interdisciplinary working supports students interested in reducing the global burden of disease.
We work with data from world renowned datasets and longitudinal cohorts including MIDSPAN, UK Biobank, Scottish Coronary Revascularisation register, Heartstart.
There is an opportunity to work with colleagues from our internationally recognised research centres:
- Centre for Research on the Environment, Society and Health
- West of Scotland Cancer Surveillance Unit
- MRC Social and Public Health Science Unit
- Healthy Working Lives
We strive to achieve a global impact in terms of both health improvement and reductions in social inequalities of health. In order to realise this goal, we share knowledge through collaborations with academics and other partners in 73 countries across the world.
How to apply
Identify potential supervisors
All postgraduate research students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You must identify a potential supervisor and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.
IPhD & research projects
IPhD Option A
Applicants do not need to contact a supervisor. You will choose from a list of IPhD projects and each project has named supervisors linked to that project.
IPhD Option B
You will submit a research proposal of approximately 1000 words. The proposal must include:
- a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
- the question that your research will address
- an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
- an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent research in the field
- a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take.
Based on your proposal, your supervisor will choose an MSc programme that aligns with your research interests.
You will need to contact a supervisor prior to application, using our search to identify a suitable supervisor.
Research projects
If you are seeking to apply for any research project, you can identify this within your application to the PhD programme. Please ensure that you highlight the title of the research project you are interested in on your application.
Gather your documents
Before applying please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:
- Final or current degree transcripts including grades (and an official translation, if needed) – scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Degree certificates (and an official translation, if needed): scanned copy in colour of the original document.
- Two references on headed paper and signed by the referee. One must be academic, the other can be academic or professional (except IPhD applicants, where only one academic or professional reference is required). References may be uploaded as part of the application form or you may enter your referees' contact details on the application form. We will then email your referee and notify you when we receive the reference.
- Research proposal (if applying for PhD or MScR), CV, samples of written work as per requirements for each subject area.
Contact us
If you require assistance before you apply: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk
After you have submitted your application: Admissions Enquiries form
Our research environment
Induction
- Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community