PhD Programme for Health Professionals
As a health professional, you can study and have a successful academic career. During your studies you can use protected research time, alongside minimal (0.2WTE) clinical practice.
Eligibility
To apply you must be qualified in:
- clinical medicine
- dental medicine
- veterinary medicine
- a non-medical profession with relevant research experience
These professions include allied health professionals in roles like:
- art therapists
- chiropodists
- podiatrists
- dieticians
- drama therapists
- music therapists
- occupational therapists
- operating department practitioners
- orthoptists
- osteopaths
- paramedics
- physiotherapists
- Prosthetists
- orthotists
- radiographers
- speech and language therapists
And other professions such as:
- chiropractors
- clinical psychologists
- dentists
- dental hygienists
- dental nurses
- dental therapists
- healthcare scientists (in life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences and biomechanical engineering, and bioinformatics)
- health visitors
- medics
- midwives
- non-medical Public Health Specialty Trainees or specialists
- nurses
- optometrists and dispensing opticians
- osteopaths
- pharmacists
- pharmacy technicians
- practitioner psychologists
- vets
You need to be registered with a national professional regulatory body in the UK such as the:
- General Medical Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
- General Dental Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
Certificate of Completion of Training
You generally cannot apply if you have already completed clinical training.
However, you can apply if you are a:
- veterinary applicant who has board certification following completion of a clinical residency (but you can’t have an academic position at the University.
- non-medical healthcare professional who has relevant research experience.
Before applying
Before you apply, you should think about what to include in your Statement of Interest.
You should include:
- your research interests and experience
- your career goals and how these fit with your preliminary project goals
- whether you would consider a fellowship based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute or the University of East Anglia
Finding a PhD supervisor
You can apply whether you have found a supervisor or not. You do not need a specific supervisor or project to apply.
We will ask you to describe your research plan or goals if you get an interview.
Learn more about finding a supervisor.
Apply
Applications for this course close on 5 November 2024. If you are shortlisted, we'll invite you to interview in early January 2025.
Apply to the PhD Programme for Health Professionals
You cannot apply if you are already registered for a PhD with funding available to support the full duration of this higher degree.
Learn more about:
Funding
This programme is fully funded. This means you do not need to apply for additional funding to be considered.
Help for parents
We offer parental leave if you are successful. Wellcome also offer grant costs for parental leave alongside a fellowship .extension.
Taking your PhD part-time
Flexible working and part-time arrangements can be discussed with your supervisor.
Part-time working is not permitted for the purposes of continuing clinical training or to maintain another salaried position. Your salary must be 100% attributed to the fellowship. The total time for submission of thesis is four years (maximum).
Contact us
If you have any questions, about the PhD programme you can contact Teresa Wallman: phdhealthprofessionals@medschl.cam.ac.uk
If you are a non-medical healthcare professional and need help you can contact:
- Professor Jane Cross (NIHR Training Advocate, health services researcher & Physiotherapist focusing on older people experiencing the complexities of later life): J.Cross@uea.ac.uk
- Professor Joanne McPeake (Professor of Nursing): joanne.mcpeake@thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk
If you need information about opportunities at the University of East Anglia you can contact:
- Professor Vass Vassiliou: V.Vassiliou@uea.ac.uk
- Professor Jane Cross: J.Cross@uea.ac.uk