PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians

We are now accepting applications for 2025 entry. The link to the online application form can be found in the how to apply section below. Please read the FAQs before submitting an application.

The doctoral programme for Primary Care Clinicians aims to increase research capacity across contemporary primary care to create future research leaders who will develop innovative and evidence based practice and policy to improve population health and support the NHS.

The programme is for clinicians of all disciplines working in UK NHS primary care, for example: practice nurses; health visitors; dentists, primary care pharmacists; optometrists working in primary care and general practitioners (NB this list is not exhaustive). Eligible clinicians will be on a list or register of recognised active clinicians held by their professional body.

Eligible primary care clinicians must be fully qualified in their area of practice in primary care and will be working largely or wholly in primary care (i.e. not in secondary care). Candidates should intend to continue their clinical careers in primary care.

Up to 5 PhD studentships are awarded annually. Applicants can either apply to undertake one of the projects listed below or propose their own research project

Studentships are hosted at one of the 10 primary care research departments who are part of this consortium: Bristol, Cambridge, Exeter, Keele, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, QMUL, Southampton and UCL

This programme is supported by Wellcome