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 (please note: bench fees are still payable by the student, please see the relevant PhD course page for details). 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 April 2026.
- 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 |
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. |
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. |