About This Course
The PhDprogramme will provide students with research skills relevant to employment in the academic and university sector, Health Service and other healthcare organisations as well as the private sector, such as consultancy and the pharmaceutical industry. It also provides a dedicated route for high-calibre students who may have a specific research aim in mind and are ready to carry out independent research leading to PhD level study.
The PhD programme is embedded in the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) and students will be supported and guided by professional researchers within CHEME as part of postgraduate supervision. CHEME was founded in 2001 and is one of the leading health economics centres in the UK. CHEME contributed to the University’s highest ranked unit of assessment in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, with 95% of research outputs being world leading and internationally excellent and rating the University 3rd out of 94 institutions across the UK. CHEME is active across a wide range of health economic and medicines.
Research Opportunities
This course utilises the expertise of CHEME and draws on a wider health services research team embedded in the Bangor Institute of Health and Medical Research.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
Course Structure
The PhD is available for full time (3 year) or part time (5 year) study on-campus or via distance learning from within the UK or internationally. The course requires the student to undertake a substantial piece of independent research at the cutting edge of health economics and medicines evaluation.
Research Thesis
Students will be able to choose a topic that suits their professional or organisational goals linked to the following broad categories supported by CHEME:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Cost effectiveness analysis of medicines, pharmacogenetics, pharmaceutical services
- Pharmaceutical policy
- Methods of economic evaluation and health technology assessment
- Public Health Economics
- Valuing nature, public health and the circular economy
- Behavioural economics, public health and health policy
- Application of cost benefit analysis and social return on investment analysis in public health
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
The assessment will focus on the completion of a thesis consisting of up to 100, 000 word that will require a viva voce. The thesis may be completed as either a substantive narrative or ‘four-paper’ format. The ‘narrative model’ presents a traditional format of chaptered thesis which reflects the selected approach broadly consisting of an introduction, literature review, methodology, study design, findings or results, synthesis and discussion chapters. The ‘four-paper’ format consists of a thesis organised around four distinct elements that represent prospective or submitted papers for journals with additional introductory and discussion chapters.
Entry Requirements
Admission by undergraduate degree
SuccessfulcompletionofBachelordegreeclass of 1st or 2:1 or equivalent, in a relevant subject:
- Social science e.g. economics, psychology
- Quantitative science e.g. mathematics, operational research
- Medical e.g. pharmacy, medicine, nursing, biomedical sciences
Admission by Experience: Mature student status
A candidate may be considered for acceptance provided that they have relevant experience and have strong references and personal statement. Usually, under such circumstances, the candidate would be invited for an interview where circumstances allowed (e.g. face-to-face, Skype, telephone).
Careers
The PhD(Health Economics) provides an excellent research-based training with exposure to a dynamic multidisciplinary environment at CHEME and the Bangor Institute of Health and Medical Research (BIHMR). This provides a sound platform for a future career in the area of health and social care research with potential progression to PhD, in particular linked to the subject area of Public Health Economicsand Pharmacoeconomics. It also presents an opportunity to explore a contemporary area of health or social care related to health economics that has relevance to organisational contexts.
