Health & Wellbeing

The pathway offers several routes which allow students to pursue their research in the format most suited to their circumstances. We encourage applications from students with diverse academic and professional experience in the area of Health and Wellbeing.

1. Students who already hold an appropriate Masters Qualification or have completed core training that meets the ESRC 2022 Training Guidelines can enter the +3.5 route. Students on these routes enter directly on to a full- or part-time PhD programme at Brunel or the OU
2. Students who do not have an appropriate Masters qualification undertake specific training at their host institution as detailed below, and additionally have access to appropriate training across the two universities:
   1. +4 route at Brunel: students will begin by completing core Health and Wellbeing research modules in Approaches to Research, Research in Practice, and Evidence and Communication.
   2. +4 route at The Open University: students will begin by completing four core research methods modules (Research Philosophies, Introduction to Social Research Design, and Approaches to Data Collection and Analysis)

The research undertaken in the Health and Wellbeing pathway is oriented to the challenges faced by health and wellbeing policy and practice in the UK and internationally. We have strong relationships across the health and wellbeing sector which allow students to maximise the benefits of their studentship by engaging in knowledge exchange activities, internships and placements. Students receive support and guidance to develop activities with appropriate partners which are suited to their research interests and to their individual academic and professional development.

All universities work closely with research users and non-academic partners and much of our research is developed collaboratively with them. This offers students excellent opportunities to gain first-hand experience of how researchers can work in partnership with the health and wellbeing sectors to inform and support their activities. In the UK our non-academic public and third sector partners include Public Health England, Macmillan Cancer Support, Sport England, NSPCC, Age UK, Alzheimer’s UK, Spinal Injuries Association, as well as several  NHS Trusts, Clinical Research Networks and Commissioning Groups. 

Completing a doctorate in Health and Wellbeing allows students to progress to a range of academic, research and strategic roles in higher education, the health and development sectors, and private sector research and consultancy. Research-focused career paths include working within academia as a university lecturer; further development as a researcher within or outside the university sector, progressing from postdoctoral research to research leadership roles; and employment in government departments and agencies (e.g. NHS), major charitable organisations, and private consultancies. Doctoral students may also choose to draw on their research background and the skills gained through a doctoral degree to enter or return to other roles in health and wellbeing, where they are valued as among the most highly educated and skilled group in the labour market.