Nursing and Midwifery
College of Health & Life Sciences
School of Nursing & Midwifery
PhD Scholarships – Tuition Fee Waiver
The School of Nursing & Midwifery is offering four PhD Scholarships which cover tuition fees for up to four years. Applications are invited from candidates with a strong background in research methods and a keen interest in the relevant research topics.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are looking for excellent candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Open to both UK and international applicants. The programme starts in September 2025.
- The candidate must meet the minimum entry requirements for one of our PhD courses:
- PhD Nursing
- PhD Health Studies
- Previous research experience in healthcare, nursing, midwifery, public health, as relevant to the project topic.
- Knowledge of research methods relevant to the research project.
- IT skills: proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel is essential.
- Communication skills: the candidate should be highly motivated, able to collaborate effectively, and possess strong visual, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to present research outcomes to commercial, industrial, and academic audiences.
- Teamwork and collaboration: ability to work effectively with academic supervisors, research participants, and other students.
Training & Development Opportunities
Doctoral students at London South Bank University (LSBU), through the London Doctoral College (LDC), benefit from a rich and structured training environment designed to support academic excellence and professional development. All PhD candidates are offered a comprehensive programme of workshops and seminars covering essential research skills, including research design, data analysis, academic writing, ethics, and project management. These sessions aim to support students through every stage of their doctoral journey—from literature review and methodology to thesis completion and viva preparation. Postgraduate researchers can access advanced, discipline-specific training aligned with their research focus. LSBU’s doctoral training environment is designed to build deep expertise in a chosen research area and the broader skills necessary for successful careers in research, industry, and beyond.
How to apply:
- Before you begin the application process, make sure you familiarise yourself with the requirements of the application process.
- Please identify a research project of your interest in the table below.
- To apply, please submit a 1,000-word Research Proposal which addresses the Project Description via the official LSBU application platform.
- In addition to the Research Proposal, you will need to submit your CV and additional documents as detailed in the course pages above.
- When you apply, please quote the full reference number of the relevant research project, for example CSP1/NM/PhDHealth Studies– the reference number is available in the first column of the table below.
- Selected candidates will be invited to an online interview.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all places are filled, so early application is strongly encouraged to secure your spot. International applicants are responsible for their visa costs and CAS insurance.
- If you have questions, about specific projects, please email the indicated supervisors
Reference number | Project title and supervisors | Project description and additional requirements |
CSP1/NM/PhD Health Studies | EMPOWERING LONDON BLACK AFRICANS TO CHAMPION COMMUNITY PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS
Dr Victor Kpandemoi Abu
| Background: Racial differences account for the rising incidence of prostate cancer in the UK and globally. Compared to their White counterparts, Black males have a greater genetic risk of prostate cancer diagnosis, aggressive forms, and death from the disease. These odds are compounded by social injustices, health inequalities and determinants that make their experience precarious. There is no evidence on the unique and complex prostate cancer awareness needs of Black African residents in London, which forms 9% or 774,395 (ONS, 2021) of the city’s population and is the largest concentration of this community in the UK. Aim: To empower London Black Africans to champion community prostate cancer awareness. Objectives: To explore the level of prostate cancer awareness, engagement in prostate cancer screening, barriers and facilitators for awareness and screening, and strategies for nurturing community leadership for prostate cancer awareness among Black African adults in London. Methods: A pilot study to assess methodologies. Black African male and female adult participants who reside in London. Mixed-methods – data collection using survey questionnaires and focus groups on community, social, business and faith groups; and data analysis and reporting using statistical and narrative methods. Timeline: Period Activity Sep – Dec 2025 Project Proposal, Literature Search/Review, Ethics Jan – Jun 2026 Ethics, Data Collection (Survey), Background Chapter Jul – Dec 2026 Data Analysis (Survey), Literature Review Chapter Jan – Jun 2027 Data Collection (Focus Group), Theoretical Framework Chapter Jul – Dec 2027 Data Analysis (Focus Group), Methodology Chapter Jan – Jun 2028 Results Chapter, Discussion Chapter Jul – Dec 2028 Discussion Chapter, Conclusion Chapter Jan – Jun 2029 Editing, Referencing, Appendix, Examination Dissemination: Publications on project proposal, methodologies and results. Reference Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics. www.ons.gov.uk Retrieved 04/03/2025. |
CSP2/NM/PhD Health Studies | Exploring LGBTQ+ Health Inequalities: An Intersectional Analysis of Social Determinants and the Impact of QALY-Based Approaches on Equity in Health Economics
Professor Chris Flood
| Research has shown that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) population experiences significant health inequalities, facing both mental and physical health issues and barriers to healthcare access. While NICE aims to consider health equity, practical consideration of these disparities is limited. The social determinants of health are non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. However, few studies have explored the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ status and other social determinants. Research on the impact of age and LGBTQ+ status on health outcomes is conflicting. Some studies suggest that as LGBTQ+ individuals age, they gain resilience and acceptance, reducing health disparities, while others indicate that older LGBTQ+ adults continue to face persistent health disparities. The Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is commonly used in health economics to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions. The EQ-5D is recommended to derive utility values for QALYs, but this approach fails to account for differences in patients' experiences based on social determinants, such as LGBTQ+ status. The EQ-5D also lacks dimensions specific to LGBTQ+ populations, potentially misrepresenting their quality of life. While the impact of QALY-based approaches on LGBTQ+ health disparities remains unexplored, the effect on racial disparities has been studied. This project aims to explore LGBTQ+ health disparities through an intersectional lens and identify equity issues arising from the use of QALY-based approaches in cost-effectiveness modelling. Statistical analyses of surveys and health records will be conducted to assess the impact of intersectionality on LGBTQ+ health outcomes. Interviews will identify shortcomings of the EQ-5D in measuring LGBTQ+ quality of life. Finally, literature will be reviewed to understand the implications of QALY-based approaches on equity and adapted to the LGBTQ+ population. This research will be the first to address these issues in the LGBTQ+ population and their effects on equity. |
CSP3/NM/PhD Health Studies |
Understanding the impact of trauma histories on maternity care providers: implications for workforce retention and well-being Dr Joanne Cull
| This research addresses the critical issue of trauma histories among maternity care providers, a topic that emerged during my PhD studies. Evidence shows that midwives and nurses experience higher rates of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and childhood trauma than the general population (Dheensa et al., 2023; McLindon et al., 2024). While these experiences may foster empathy, they also increase burnout and attrition risks. This project explores how trauma histories influence career choices, professional practice, and workforce retention in maternity care. The research comprises four phases:
This research is timely, given the “persistent staffing gaps in all maternity professions” (House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, 2021, p.5) and the growing recognition of trauma’s impact on healthcare professionals. By addressing this underexplored area, the study will advance academic understanding and provide practical solutions to improve workforce retention and care quality. The project will also lay the groundwork for future funding applications, such as an NIHR Advanced Fellowship, to implement and evaluate the developed interventions. References Dheensa, S., McLindon, E., Spencer, C., Pereira, S., Shrestha, S., Emsley, E., & Gregory, A. (2023). Healthcare professionals' own experiences of domestic violence and abuse: A meta-analysis of prevalence and systematic review of risk markers and consequences. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(3), 1282–1299. House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee. (2021, July 6). The Health and Social Care Committee’s Expert Panel: Evaluation of the Government’s progress against its policy commitments in the area of maternity services in England (First Special Report of Session 2021–22). UK Parliament. https://committees.parliament.uk/work/656/maternity-services/ McLindon, E. V., Spiteri-Staines, A., & Hegarty, K. (2024). Domestic, family and sexual violence polyvictimisation and health experiences of Australian nurses, midwives and carers: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2290. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17201-5 |
CSP4/NM/PhD Health Studies | To assess the acceptability and the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive educational campaign on raising stroke risk awareness in people aged 18-65 years who are from a Black or ethnic minority heritage.
Dr Siobhan Mclernon
| Globally, stroke carries a significant health burden accounting for 6.6 million deaths annually with 1 in 4 people expected to have a stroke. It is one of the leading causes of adult disability and second leading cause of death (Prust et al. 2024). While stroke incidence is decreasing among older adults in high-income countries, there is a rise of 2% annually among younger adults(Feigin et al. 2021). In the UK, the societal cost of stroke is estimated at £26 billion (Patel 2020). Stroke affects a disproportionate number of racial minorities, with Black people experiencing a 2-fold greater risk of first-ever stroke as compared with white individuals. Black individuals tend to have an earlier age of onset, a longer duration, and a greater severity than white individuals. One reason for the racial disparities could be the higher prevalence of stroke risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, among Black and Asian families. Thus, there is a renewed emphasis on the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors as the key to prevention as reflected in The Major Conditions Strategy 2023 and Stroke Prevention Guidelines. Improved awareness of modifiable stroke risk factors combined with the understanding that these can be treated, are needed to effectively increase stroke prevention. The proposed project will be a follow up study from an ongoing funded project in which we are exploring current understanding of stroke risk factors in people (18-65 years) and who are from a Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) heritage and who live in the London Borough of Croydon. This PhD will use a co-production approach to develop stroke awareness educational interventions for those from BME heritage. These interventions will be tested for acceptability and effectiveness to assess which best meets the needs of the target group. The study will be guided by a health promotion model. |