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Types of research degrees

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Work with experts in your field in an environment renowned for research excellence.

We offer full- and part-time degrees in the Medical School. Depending on your field of study, you may undertake your research at WMS (Gibbet Hill), University of Warwick (main campus), or other trusts, institutions or places deemed appropriate by the supervisor.


PhD

Duration
4 years full time or up to 7 years part-time

Assessment

You will register for an MPhil/PhD and then go through a formal upgrading process at nine months (15 months for part-time students). You will then be registered for a PhD. Final assessment will be by submission of a thesis followed by a viva examination.

Available PhD titles

  • Health Sciences (RMDA-B91P)
  • Medical Sciences (RMDA-A34P)
  • Clinical Education (RMDA-B91F)
  • Medicine (RMDA-A31P)
  • Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research (RMDA-B92K)
  • Nursing (RASS-B718)
  • Healthcare (RASS-B717)
  • Health and Social Studies (RASA-L4PC)
  • PhD by Published Work - you can find out more about this option here.

MD Doctor of Medicine

This research degree is on a par academically with a PhD and is only open to candidates who hold a medical doctor degree.

Duration
2 years full time or 3 years part time

Assessment

You will go through a formal review process after nine months. Final assessment will be by submission of a thesis followed by a viva examination


PhD by Published Work

Our PhD by Published Work is open to individuals who have already undertaken a portfolio of published research to the standard of a PhD. An academic advisor will provide guidance on the presentation of your published work. The same entry requirements listed here apply to candidates submitting an application for this degree.

Duration
1 year full time. Minimum six months' registration prior to submission.

Where the candidate is a member of the staff of the University, submission for examination for the degree of PhD may be made after a minimum period of three months' registration. Further guidance on PhD (by Published Works) for WMS members of staff and their line-managers is found here.

Assessment

Final assessment will be by submission of a thesis followed by a viva examination

Consideration and application process - AS OF 7TH FEBRUARY 2024, APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024

  • Before applying we request that applicants read through the PhD by publication - guidance on acceptance criteria outlined by the WMS Director of Research Degrees, Dr Claire Bastie. We ask that you also familiarise yourself with the guidance pages on the presentation of the thesis by the Doctoral College here and here.
  • Candidates should initially approach a suitable Academic Advisor (supervisor) from the WMS list of approved supervisors to discuss their work and to see if they would be willing to provide guidance on the presentation of the proposed Thesis for submission.
  • If a suitable Academic advisor has been found, candidates will then be required to complete this assessment form and email it along with a full CV and 3 - 8 publications to wms.rdcoord@warwick.ac.uk for consideration. Submission should include further contextual information regarding the publications, including, but not limited to, the profile of journals that articles have been published in, the number of citations, and their significance to the field. If you are not the first author on a publication, you should request the corresponding author to provide a letter stating your level of contribution. A separate statement is required for each paper submitted.
  • The relevant divisional Academic Lead will then consider the submission and along with the Academic Advisor, assess the papers and use their judgement to decide whether an interview is required. The turnaround time for this process is between 1 and 3 months. If an interview is necessary, the Academic Advisor and Academic Lead should form part of the interview panel. The Academic Advisor and Academic Lead will decide whether to accept the student.
  • If successful in the assessment process, candidates will then be required to make a formal application using the standard online Postgraduate Application form and upload all of the previously provided supporting documents to the Universal Admissions portal.
  • The applications will then be considered by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine. If the Chair of the relevant Faculty Board is of the view that the Works are of the appropriate standard, they will make a recommendation to the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies that the candidate be admitted to the PhD. An offer can only be made once the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies has given his/her approval following consideration of the aforementioned recommendation

MSc by Research
(Our MSc by Research is ideal for those seeking research training for progressing to a PhD.)

Duration
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

Assessment

Following submission of the Thesis. Your nominated examiners will review the thesis before deciding if a VIVA Examination is required.

Why complete an MSc by Research?

An MSc by Research is the ideal opportunity to pursue an independent research project for one year to gain relevant research experience before applying for a PhD programme.

For professionals working in a clinical setting, this degree can provide the support you need to:

  • Undertake research that will improve your health care practice
  • Understand your patients' needs better, improve their health outcomes and your decision-making, change care pathways and improve service organisation
  • Enable others to learn from you

If you enjoy the research and make excellent progress, it is possible to convert to studying for a PhD.

Available MSc titles