PG Study > All courses > Epidemiology and Public Health PhD/MPhil

2025

Epidemiology and Public Health PhD/MPhil

Full-time: Up to 4 years
Part-time: Up to 8 years
Start date: Multiple available
UK fees: To be confirmed
International fees: To be confirmed

Research overview

Specific subject titles have included:

Epidemiology and Public Health

Other areas of research you may be interested in:

Tobacco control (UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies)
Respiratory disease
Gastrointestinal disease
Infection, predominantly respiratory infections (Health Protection and Influenza Research Group)
Cancer
Maternal and child health epidemiology

Growing research areas at the University of Nottingham:

Mental health
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
Falls and other problems in the elderly population
Alcohol
Migrant health
Public Health in disasters
Evaluation of health systems, programmes and facilities
Traditional and complementary therapies

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Course content

For your postgraduate research degree, you'll complete a research project in your specific field of study and complete a written thesis with expert support and advice from your academic supervisor(s).

The written thesis must be no more than:

60,000 words for an MPhil
100,000 words for a PhD

These word counts are inclusive of appendices, footnotes, tables, and bibliography.

You'll then take a verbal examination called a viva voce where you explain your project in-depth to an examination panel.

You'll gain your degree on passing your viva exam.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Degree

2.1 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two references including at least one academic reference.

2.2 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two references including at least one academic reference.

Additional information

If you have contacted a supervisor and they have informally agreed to supervise you, please provide us with a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations.

If you have not contacted a supervisor before completing the online application form, please submit a personal statement and a research proposal.

Qualification	PhD	MPhil
Degree	2.1 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two references including at least one academic reference.	2.2 (or equivalent) degree in a relevant subject and two references including at least one academic reference.
International and EU equivalents	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.	We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.
IELTS	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any element.	7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any element.
English language requirements	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.	As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.
Additional information	If you have contacted a supervisor and they have informally agreed to supervise you, please provide us with a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations. If you have not contacted a supervisor before completing the online application form, please submit a personal statement and a research proposal.	If you have contacted a supervisor and they have informally agreed to supervise you, please provide us with a personal statement as part of the online application form. This should cover your reasons for applying, why you are interested in the programme, your previous subject and work experience and your future aspirations. If you have not contacted a supervisor before completing the online application form, please submit a personal statement and a research proposal.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

If you need advice on which research course is right for you, please check out our guide to research courses.

Multiple start dates are available for this course. Make sure you specify when you would like to start at the university in your application:

Potential start dates include:

1 October
1 February
1 July

We strongly recommend identifying and getting in touch with a possible supervisor before making an application. They may be able to help you with your proposal and offer support to find funding opportunities in your area. Please send them a CV, research proposal and cover letter.

Find a supervisor

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification	All qualifications
Home / UK	To be confirmed
International	To be confirmed

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

You should factor some additional costs into your budget such as living expenses, printing and travel.

You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need to complete your project through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or access to more specific titles.

Funding

The School of Medicine may make a contribution to some of your costs relating to attending conferences or research expenses, however, this will be discussed with students as appropriate.

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Support

We are committed to providing support to postgraduate students across the course of their research studies in addition to their project supervision

Postgraduate research students will study as part of a division within the School of Medicine and each division has its own PGR representative who is there to address student concerns and feedback.

Peer support groups have been established to encourage students in all years of their studies to contribute to regular meetings covering issues such as tips for writing up and preparing for the viva. The topics are determined by the students in the group.

Further, students entering their second year of full-time study (or equivalent for part-time students) are encouraged to sign up to the formal Mentoring Scheme within the School of Medicine which offers one to one mentoring by a trained member of staff.

Researcher training and development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Student support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

academic and disability support
childcare services
counselling service
faith support
financial support
mental health and wellbeing support
visa and immigration advice
welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

international students
black and minority ethnic students
students who identify as women
students with disabilities
LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial and academic difficulties.

Where you will learn

Nottingham City Hospital

Set within the vibrant city of Nottingham, Nottingham City Hospital is four miles from University Park Campus.

Your surroundings are key to your success as a student and at this campus your learning will take place within the purpose-built Clinical Sciences Building. Here you are immersed in expert facilities tailored to highest standard of teaching and learning. There are computer rooms, study spaces and informal areas to relax and socialise. Nottingham City Hospital has a free Medilink bus service to other University of Nottingham campuses.

Careers

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Our graduates have gone on to roles in clinical medicine, industries like pharmaceuticals, and academia and research.

14 members of our Epidemiology and Public Health teaching staff completed their postgraduate research degrees at the University of Nottingham. Other graduates went on to postdoctoral research posts and fellowships at the university and across the world.

Two of our most notable graduates include the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England and the Director General of the World Health Organisation.

90% of postgraduates from the School of Medicine secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £39,564.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on data from graduates who completed a full-time postgraduate degree with home fee status and are working full-time within the UK.

I had a great experience during my PhD as I was very lucky to have good colleagues and supervisors, who helped me adjust to the university environment in a short time. I have received continuous support from my supervisors and had access to unlimited learning resources such as library services and short courses. This PhD has opened up many doors and opportunities for me to learn and to meet a wider academic world”

Gamze Nalbant, PhD Student

Related courses

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

90%* of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4*) or 'internationally excellent' (3*)
100%* of our research is recognised internationally
51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact**

*According to analysis by Times Higher Education ** According to our own analysis.

This content was last updated on 01 July 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.