Welfare, Health and Wellbeing PhD

Researchers in the Welfare, Health and Wellbeing are work in the UK and internationally to improve knowledge of the social processes that contribute to people’s welfare, health and wellbeing. We address these challenges through robust, ethical research and by developing innovative methodologies to advance how research, knowledge production and evaluation are conducted. We have strong connections with policy-making and practice, and a commitment to social impact and public engagement. Our established research areas include:

• Health behaviour, experiences and interventions
• Sport, physical activity, health and wellbeing
• Social change and wellbeing in the global south
• Youth welfare, health and wellbeing
• Media, communication and representation in health and wellbeing
• Wellbeing experiences and evidence 

Find out about the exciting research we do: browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.  

Learn more about research in this area.

ESRC-funded studentships through the GUDTP Health and Wellbeing Pathway
Many of our research areas are eligible for studentships awarded through our membership of the Health and Wellbeing Pathway of the ESRC-funded Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (GUDTP). 

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team.

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

We welcome enquiries about potential topics in the area of Health and Wellbeing; the list below is by no means exhaustive but gives examples of current and recent opportunities:

• Community sport and wellbeing:  a qualitative perspective
• The impact of community sports programmes on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Addressing health and wellbeing inequalities through sport and physical activity
• Developing sport development: online collaborative training for staff working in national/international sport development-based charities
• Sexual Health Promotion: a comparative study of methods for reaching young people.
• Improving LGBT Health Through Good Practice in Health Promotion
• Anti-violence Interventions With Young People: Evaluating a sexual consent campaign
• Switched on and Connected? Loneliness And Young People – the well-being of young people in the digital age.

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Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here: Research degree progress structure.

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme. The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

Following the completion of the course students may follow several career paths:

• Career path within academia starting as a University Lecturer/Assistant Professor
• Career path as a researcher in clinical and public health commencing as a post-doc researcher and progressing to senior researcher.
• Career path within government agencies (e.g . PHE, Department of Health etc)

We have well-established research projects funded by a range of RCUK and charitable organisations and supervisors ensure candidates can gain experience of high-level research during their period of study.