Social Science and Health PhD

OVERVIEW

Social science and health is located in the Institute of Health and Wellbeing and includes:

• MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, based in our College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• A group of ‘social science and health’ researchers, based in our College of Social Sciences.

MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit

The overarching aim of this Unit is to improve human health and wellbeing via the study of social, behavioural, economic, cultural and environmental influences on health. It comprises a large group of social science-led researchers, focusing on social determinants of health, health inequalities and health improvement. Its more specific objectives include:

• studying the multiple interacting processes through which biological, social, behavioural, economic, cultural and environmental factors influence physical and mental health and health behaviours over the lifecourse
• discovering mechanisms which can modify these processes and have the potential to improve public health in a complex and changing world
• developing and evaluating interventions which harness these mechanisms to improve public health and reduce social inequalities in health
• influencing policy and practice by communicating the results and implications of research to a range of audiences

The Unit’s work is organised as six programmes:

• Complexity in health
• Inequalities in health
• Relationships and health
• Understanding and Improving Health within Settings and Organisations
• Places and health
• Informing Healthy Public Policy

Social Science and Health researchers working in the College of Social Sciences

Our overarching aim is to provide a stimulating, participative, environment for research to inform policies and practices that will promote social justice, improve population health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities in these. Webring a particular commitment to: the application of social science theory and method to world class research; the promotion of social justice; a reduction in inequalities; and working with government, local authorities and third sector organisations and wider civic society to deliver change, particularly for disabled people, people of low social economic status (SES) and those who are otherwise disadvantaged.

Awarded or expected First-class or high Upper Second-class BSc degree.