Wellcome Trust PhD studentships in Public Health, Economics and Decision Science 2019-2023, UK

ScHARR provides an excellent research environment

ScHARR is a multidisciplinary school with over 320 staff, including over 30 professors. It has an annual research grant income of over £10m and ranks 4th for research ‘power’ and 2nd for ‘impact’ in the UK league tables for its subject area (REF2014 UK UoA2).

ScHARR is fundamentally multidisciplinary. It spans applied and methodological, primary and secondary, qualitative and quantitative health related research with an explicit focus and mission to support UK and international decision making.

We are renowned for the quality of our research and our staff. We have expertise in public health policy appraisal, health economics, cost-effectiveness modelling, health services research, trial design, evaluation of complex interventions and valuation of health and well-being.

ScHARR consistently attracts high calibre individuals from a wide range of backgrounds including health, psychology, mathematics, statistics, the physical sciences, computer science, engineering and the quantitative social sciences, and pathways for moving between quantitative disciplines and health related research are well-trodden. As well as attracting grant funding, the School has a successful track record in winning studentships and fellowships that have facilitated training at doctoral and post-doctoral levels in economics, statistics and computer modelling. The School hosts a number of large programmes that add value to the doctoral training environment. ScHARR is a member of the NIHR School for Public Health Research and CLAHRC Yorkshire and Humber, and through these programmes fellows have access to a large network of researchers working on applied public health topics.

Postgraduate teaching and research is priority

There are currently 100 doctoral and 250 masters students in the School, providing a vibrant postgraduate environment. As part of the University of Sheffield, we have a well-developed approach to PhD training.

The University of Sheffield's Doctoral Academy supports bespoke training needs analysis for all Postgraduate Research (PGR) students, including access to masters modules across faculties/disciplines and generic research and career skills training.

Excellent collaborations with key departments

We have strong and constant collaborations with other University departments and especially the 5 departments who provide supervisors for this PhD programme.

• Economics: for labour economics/econometrics
• Psychology: for behavioural science
• Geography: for demography and spatial health
• Mathematics and Statistics: for statistics/simulation
• Control Systems Engineering: for complex-systems modelling and multi-criteria decision making

Eligibility

Please check the criteria carefully. Do not submit an application if you do not meet the criteria as it will be rejected before reaching academic assessors. 

You will need to provide evidence of the following

• A first or upper second class honours (2:1) degree from a UK university or a non-UK equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. mathematics, statistics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, nutrition, quantitative sociology, politics, economics, systems engineering, business studies, geography). Medically qualified applicants should refer to the special rules set out below
• A completed master’s degree at merit or distinction or a non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject or more than one year of formal employment in either a relevant scientific environment or in public health decision making (by the application closing date)
• Quantitative maths skills equivalent to A at A Level (can be evidenced through degree level courses)
• Determination to make a significant scientific contribution to tackling chronic disease burden through well-evidenced, cost-effective public health strategies, assessed through written application and, if shortlisted, interview
• Ability and enthusiasm for collaborative work in an interdisciplinary environment, assessed through written application and, if shortlisted, interview
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and excellent problem solving skills assessed through written application and, if shortlisted, interview

The programme is open to UK and international applicants. The Wellcome Trust provides tuition fees at UK/EU rates. ScHARR will provide up to two international fee waivers per year for exceptional candidates. Non-EU candidates must be able to comply with UK immigration regulations.

English language requirements

All EU (except ROI) and overseas candidates from countries not classed as majority native English speaking countries must submit a valid IELTS Academic, TOEFL or Pearson test score as evidence of fluency in English. This must have been taken no earlier than two years before the course start date.

Required scores are:

IELTS

Overall score of 7.5 and a score of at least 7.0 in each testing area (speaking, listening, reading and writing)

TOEFL

Overall score of 103, with at least
22 in listening
24 in reading
25 in speaking
24 in writing

Pearson test

Overall score of 72 with at least 67 in each of the listening, reading, writing and speaking components.

Applicants with medical degrees

The scheme is not open to clinicians, or those who have recently completed medical training, as these candidates can apply to alternative Wellcome Trust funding schemes. Those who can demonstrate that they have already left clinical careers and have been working in academia, policy, or other areas for a significant period of time are eligible. Explain this carefully in your personal statement.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL"  below.