KBS_Icon_questionmark link-ico
Study at King’s

Go to…

Global Health and Social Medicine Research MPhil / PhD

Apply now

Overview

Global Health and Social Medicine welcomes applications to join our lively and mutually-supportive community of doctoral students. Working on and across our key research themes, the growing community is co-located in our research lab with visiting researchers, research fellows and professors. Students benefit from our active participation in the King's Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (KISS-DTC), which provides leadership in relevant cross-cutting themes. Within Social Science, Health and Medicine, we also offer a thriving programme of workshops, reading groups and other events.

Recently released data from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) shows that King’s is equal top in England (with Queen Mary, University of London) for its PhD completion rates with 86.8 per cent of its full time research degree starters qualifying with a research degree within seven years, against a national average in England of 72.9 per cent.

 

Key information

Duration MPhil: two years FT, four years PT. PhD: three years FT, four-six years PT. Research degree registration normally only allowed in September.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department Department of Global Health & Social Medicine

Locations

 

Explore campuses

Welcome to King's

In the heart of London

Discover the advantages of studying at one of the top 25 universities in the world and take a look at our central London campuses.

Watch more videos

Course detail

Description

Research in the Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine (established January 2012) focuses on the social, political, economic, legal and ethical factors shaping developments in biomedicine, disease and healthcare and their implications.

We have research priorities in the following areas:

  • social determinants of national and global inequalities in health, including from life-course and international comparative perspectives;

  • philosophical and ethical aspects of global health pertaining to theories of social justice;

  • social, ethical and political implications of developments in psychiatry, neuroscience and brain research, and the changing territory of mental health;

  • political economy, sociology and history of pharmaceutical regulation, innovation and pharmaceuticalization, especially drug safety and efficacy;

  • politics of cost-effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and drug pricing regulation;

  • social, ethical, and regulatory aspects of personalised and data-driven medicine, of bio-information use in forensics and policing, and of innovation and translation in genomics, stem cells and neuroscience;

  • the ethical and social implications of conducting research with human participants, and of making treatment decisions at the end of life (determination of death in transplantation medicine);

  • movements for 'people's health' in developing countries and the implications of transformations to new models of community healthcare;

  • social, economic and policy consequences of ageing populations in developed and developing worlds;

  • family care and support in later life, with a particular focus on international comparative work;

  • life course influences on health and wellbeing at older ages, including life-long disorders;

  • social and ethical consequences of the capitalisation of healthcare and the roles of solidarity, justice and priority-setting in biomedicine and health care;

  • social and ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies, bio-politics and the global bio-economy;

  • medical anthropology and science and technology studies pertaining to knowledge, expertise, morality, safety and security;

  • medical anthropology, history, and public health of Sub-Saharan Africa;

  • socio-political and cultural dimensions of global health research, policy and innovation in developing countries, including disease control interventions such as outbreak response and preparedness;

  • social and political history of biosciences in the global south.

Course study environment

The supervisory relationship is central to doctoral studies in the Department. Admission to the doctoral research programme is highly selective and is dependent upon a good match being found between student interests and supervisor capabilities. Each student is allocated a principal supervisor from within the Department, experienced in the relevant research area and responsible for all aspects of supervision. A second supervisor is allocated, who may be a member of the Department, or a specialist from another Department in the School. Research students are integrated within a community of research students, research fellows, visiting researchers and senior visiting academics from across the world, and have access to a range of formal and informal study groups and activities organised by this research community. Students also have access to graduate seminars, workshops, seminars and conferences, often in association with other departments in social sciences, arts and humanities and the Helath Schools within King's.

Postgraduate training

The Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine participates in the research training programme offered in the ESRC funded King's Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (KISS-DTC) and all incoming research students are allocated a programme of doctoral training to suit their specific needs which will be followed in the first year of study. KISS-DTC runs placement and knowledge-exchange programmes with organisations across the public and private sectors, and provides advanced doctoral training and summer school courses run collaboratively with other institutions. In addition, students on our doctoral programme audit parts of our MSc in Medicine, Science & Society, to provide background and skills in areas relevant to their research topic.

Head of group/division

Karen Glaser (karen.glaser@kcl.ac.uk)

Contact for information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office
tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7429
fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200 
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

Contact email

tracie.hughes@kcl.ac.uk

Course website

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ghsm/index.aspx

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

GHSM Res Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements   Master's degree in a relavent subject and/or practical experience in the field of study.
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

If you are interested in undertaking doctoral study in our Department, we have developed a two stage application process:

1)  If you would like to apply please send your research proposal (between a minimum of 1,000 and a maximum of 1500 words) and a 2 -3 page CV (including academic grades obtained) for consideration to the Admissions Tutor, Dr Carlo Caduff by email: carlo.caduff@kcl.ac.uk. In your email, identify potential supervisors in our Department with a research specialism in the area that you wish to focus on in your doctoral studies.

To identify a potential supervisor in our Department, with a research specialism in the area that you wish to focus on in your doctoral studies, you can refer to our academic profiles for assistance.

2)  If the Admissions Tutor encourages you to apply, you should immediately submit an online application via the application portal 'King's Apply'. Applying online makes the process easier and quicker for you, and means we can receive your application faster and more securely. In the Research Proposal section of your application please ensure that you detail the name of your provisional supervisor and select that you have discussed your proposed research topic with a member of King’s academic staff.

 

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement Yes The personal statement should be approximately three to four paragraphs, and no more than one page. This should explain why you are interested in a particular subject, and could include, for example, details of your motivation and aptitude, your relevant experience and skills, and any other information that would be useful for us in assessing your application. In general terms, we look for candidates who demonstrate a strong interest in their chosen subject area, which should be relevent to the work of the Department and our staff, and who demonstrate the potential to conduct original research.
Research Proposal Yes The proposal ( between 1,000 - 1,500 words in length) should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the following page.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
Writing Sample Yes This would usually be an extended piece of writing such as a dissertation/thesis from masters or undergraduate study, or perhaps a research paper if you have been involved in more recent research (and you are the sole author). The writing sample should be in English.
References Yes One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Other Yes A 2-3 page CV is also required.

 

Course intake

No set number.

Application closing date

The deadlines for applications are detailed below. Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier. We will open applications for the corresponding intake in 2021 after the final deadline passes in 2020.

  • October 2020 entry – 31st July 2020 for International students and 28th August 2020 for Home/EU students
  • February 2021 entry- 23rd October 2020 for International students and 23rd November 2020 for Home/EU students

Applications for 2021/22 academic year will open from October 2020.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

£5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD)

Part time tuition fees:

£2,650 per year (MPhil/PhD)

International Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

£19,850 per year  (MPhil/PhD)

Part time tuition fees:

£ 9,950 (MPhil/PhD)

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2020/21

Full time tuition fees:

£5,550 per year (MPhil/PhD)

Part time tuition fees:

£2,780 per year (MPhil/PhD)

International Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

£20,820 per year  (MPhil/PhD)

Part time tuition fees:

£ 10,410 (MPhil/PhD)

Students starting their programme in 2019/20 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

Testimonials

Rodolphe

Rodolphe

I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

Next steps

Upcoming events

Jun 25 Guiding organisations through turbulent times: Transformation and financial resilience
Oct 12 Life & Health Science Careers Event 2020

Full list of student events

View our postgraduate guide

Learn more about postgraduate degree programmes at King's. Download our guide in PDF format or order a copy.

Download guide

Order guide

Sound like the course for you?

Apply now

Explore King’s

Accommodation Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses. 
Student life Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Extra-curricular Discover the huge variety of extra-curricular opportunities at King’s, from MOOCs to language courses.
London living With four campuses by the River Thames and one in south London, King's is right in the heart of the capital.