Public Health PhD
Research across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences spans ‘from Cell to Society’, with the work of the Department of Public Health and Policy firmly at the Societal end of the spectrum. We provide a service to the public health profession and local practitioners by supporting specialist training in the NHS and acting as academic supervisors and tutors for trainees, and engaging with local communities.
Why study with us?
My research is enthusiastically stimulated and supported by my supervisors. There are great opportunities to present your research to an engaged department, committed to tackling health inequalities.
Callum Rutherford - Public Health PhD student
150
years the University of Liverpool has been at the forefront of public health.
97%
of our research is 'world leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*) in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021)
1%
Departmental publications are in the top 1% of highly cited papers worldwide.
Overview
Teaching and service work is the social model of health and how that can be applied to address inequalities in health and in health care.
Public health in Liverpool has a long and influential history, including the appointment of England’s first Medical Officer of Health, Dr. William Henry Duncan, in 1847. Dr. Duncan was followed by a number of eminent medical officers who, reflecting their strong links with the University, were also professors here. The Department of Public Health and Policy has grown steadily from these roots, and is now home to a multidisciplinary team drawn from a range of subjects including medical and health sciences, epidemiology, statistics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, community development, policy analysis, history and civic design. They are actively involved in research, education, and health service work related to promoting the health of the public.
Research across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences spans ‘from Cell to Society’, with the work of the Department of Public Health and Policy firmly at the Societal end of the spectrum
We provide a service to the public health profession and local practitioners by supporting specialist training in the NHS and acting as academic supervisors and tutors for trainees, and engaging with local communities and stakeholders is a core activity in the department.
Research across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences spans ‘from Cell to Society’: with the work of the Department of Public Health and Policy firmly at the Societal end of the spectrum.
The department's research focuses on services and systems for health and well-being operating at the community and population levels. It covers healthy members of the public as well as patients, seeking to understand how to improve the systems that society needs to put in place to promote, sustain and protect health, prevent disease and care for the sick.
Our research interests
We particularly welcome research proposals that match those of our researchers.
Our three major research areas are Policy Research on Social Determinants and Health, Child Health, Energy, Air Pollution and Health , Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Food Policy , Public Health Simulation Modelling.
Research themes
The Department's research aims are:
- To increase understanding of the pathways leading from society to good/ill-health and from ill-health to social and economic consequences, especially concerning the generation of inequalities in health and in access to health services
- To assess the impact of interventions at the community and population levels to reduce the burden of disease and identified inequalities in health and in health services in order to promote health and wellbeing.
Research strengths include: a focus on intervention research to tackle social determinants of health and health inequalities; engagement with the policy and practice communities to ensure policy-relevance; and incorporation of the experiences of people in their day-to-day lives.
Facilities
The student will have access to a range of methodological expertise, including qualitative analysis, advanced statistical analysis, innovative population simulation techniques and field epidemiology. Furthermore, the student will benefit from the strong link with local, national and international stakeholders, policymakers and academics through the Departmental collaborations in the UK and abroad. (See individual staff pages for details).
Research groups
Policy Research on Social Determinants and Health
Energy, Air Pollution and Health
Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Food Policy
Study options and fees
The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year
| PhD | Duration | UK students | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 2-4 years | £4,786 |
|
| Part time | 4-6 years | £2,393 |
|
The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.
* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.
^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.
Entry requirements
You'll need a 2:1 or first class or equivalent first degree in a relevant discipline, such as anthropology, medicine, psychology or sociology, but we are open to consider cases on an individual basis for outstanding prospective students. This breadth reflects our commitment to multidisciplinary approaches when investigating complex public health questions.
English language requirements
| IELTS Academic requirement - SELT and non-SELT | Overall score of 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in each component |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT requirement | Minimum 100 overall with L 21 R 21 W 21 and S 23 |
| C1 Advanced CAE requirement | Overall 185 with no less than 176 in any paper |
| PTE Academic requirement | 69 with minimum scores of 61 in each component |
| Trinity College London, Integrated Skills in English (ISE II) | Please confirm with the department |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a First Language | Grade C |
| Cambridge IGCSE as a Second Language | Grade B |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Proficiency) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 3 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
| Cambridge English Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Advanced) | Overall 185 with 176 in components |
Additional requirements
Your research can be in any area that matches our research interests and expertise, outlined above. CRB and other checks may be necessary for some project types and every proposal will need to receive ethical approval.
You'll also need coherent writing skills, along with the stamina, self-motivation and organization to complete a demanding research project.
How to apply
Research degree applications can be made online. You'll also need to ensure that you have funding to cover all fees.
Applications are open all year round.
More about applying for research degrees
Before you apply, we recommend that you identify a supervisor and develop a research proposal
Find a supervisor
View supervisors in this area
Need help finding a supervisor? Contact us
- IPH PGR Administrator
- Email: iphpgradmin@liverpool.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)151 794 8293
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