PhD/MPhil Maternal and Child Health

At the Centre for Maternal and Child Health we conduct high quality research. Our focus is to improve the health and care of women, children, families and communities. Much of our research in Midwifery has been rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Your work will be connected with one of our three research groups:

Models of maternal and child healthcare
Perinatal mental health
Public health, diversity and inequalities.

Recent doctorates have explored topics such as:

Decision-making about place of birth
Online therapy for postnatal anxiety
The influence of health system factors on maternal health

Respectful or disrespectful care in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Department of Midwifery and Radiography has a vibrant international research environment is driven by a diverse mix of people from backgrounds including midwifery, psychology and anthropology.

Study for an MPhil/PhD

Doctoral level study involves independent academic research, supported by supervisors, that makes an original contribution to knowledge within the discipline.

There are two main routes to doctoral-level research degrees (PhD) within the School of Health Sciences.

The main approach - MPhil/PhD by major thesis - centres on conducting original research and presenting this in a thesis of around 70,000 words (and no longer than 100,000 words).

An alternative route to doctoral qualification is PhD by publication. This involves the candidate either linking together a coherent body of previously conducted research papers with a critical commentary (PhD by prior publication), or preparing and submitting a series of papers for peer reviewed publication during the period of registration (PhD by prospective publication).