
PhD Health Humanities
Course overview
The PhD in Health Humanities at Swansea University is a doctoral programme that takes three years full-time or six years part-time. Students can start in October, January, April, or July each year. The programme is about health, medicine, and the humanities. Students will learn how the arts and humanities help people understand and improve health and well-being. They will study subjects such as literature, history, and ethics, with the study of health, illness, and medical practice.
This programme gives students the chance to attend research seminars, workshops, and training to build skills in writing, presentation, and research methods. Students will carry out independent research under the supervision of experts in the field. Research areas may include the cultural meaning of illness, history of medicine, narrative medicine, mental health and society, and public health ethics. The PhD is completed through a research thesis. Students will also have an oral defence called viva voce.
Entry requirements
International applicants must submit their academic transcripts or certificates, a detailed research proposal, two academic references, a personal statement explaining their research interest, and proof of identification.
Grade Requirements:
- Applicants should have at least an upper second-class honours degree and a master’s degree in a related subject.
- Those who do not have a master’s degree may be considered if they have a first-class undergraduate degree.
English Proficiency:
- International students whose first language is not English must have an IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no component less than 6.5).
- Those who have studied in English in the past 10 years can be considered if they show a letter or a transcript as proof.
- Applicants who have worked in English-speaking countries can also be considered without IELTS if they show a CV as proof.
Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships
International Excellence Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded as a discount on tuition fees worth up to £5,000 in the first year of study, with a further £2,000 awarded in Year 2 (for £5,000 awardees only, subject to achieving a 70% average).
International Postgraduate Alumni Bursaries
First Class - £5,000 per year; Second Class, First division - £3,000 per year; Second Class, Second division - £1,000 per year; Taught Masters to Research Degree - £3,000 per year subject to satisfactory progress.
Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES)
The SUIPRES Scholarship covers the difference between the International and the Home tuition fee rate for the duration of the PhD/Professional Doctorate programme.
Swansea University Sport Scholarship
Financial support (of up to £2000).
Thrive Bursary
The Thrive bursary is a £4,000 reduction in tuition fees for the first year of study, with a progression bursary of £2,000 in subsequent years (applied as a discount off tuition fees).
Up to £4,000
Career opportunities
Those who graduate with a PhD in Health Humanities can work as:
- Health Policy Advisor
- Lecturer or Researcher
- Medical Humanities Consultant
- Public Health Researcher
- Writer or Communicator in Health and Wellbeing
Cost of study
The tuition fee for international students studying PhD Health Humanities at Swansea University is £21,950. This fee is for full-time study for the first year and can change each year.
Admission
International students can apply through the Swansea University application portal. For help and support with the admission process, students can contact our trained counsellors.
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