Research Degrees in
in the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care
Do you want to advance or change your career, deepen your expertise in a topic, or expand your research and practical skills?
With a PhD or other postgraduate research degree in Physiotherapy you will:
The faculty has an academic clinical practice comprising a fully operational clinical department and human performance suite, offering opportunities for post-graduate supervision and clinical placements. Post-graduate clinicians have the opportunity to maintain clinical practice whilst undertaking research projects. Manchester Movement Unit
The integration of the human performance suite, within the department, encourages the recruitment and assessment of patients for research projects and use of sophisticated measurement approaches in clinical practice.
We can supervise a wide range of projects within the broad area of Physiotherapy. We have particular strengths in:
We are home to a vibrant community of established and emerging researchers. We are proud to deliver research that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, applied and impactful. We regularly engage with colleagues in clinical practice, as well as with professional and service user groups. These networks ensure we are delivering solutions that reflect user needs and that meet the latest challenges.
We have recently launched a number of new research centres to serve as beacons for research excellence. Our Health, Psychology and Communities centre brings seeks to transform health and social care services through theoretical and applied research. Our Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine centre undertakes cutting-edge research to help understand the mechanisms that control human movement.
Our large community of postgraduate researchers are a core part of our research culture. We will encourage you to take part in conferences, seminars and engagement events at Manchester Met and beyond. We will also support you to develop the technical and research skills necessary to excel in your studies. At the centre of our calendar is the annual Faculty Research in High Summer conference which brings together leading researchers and practitioners to discuss the major issues in health and social change.
Find out more about the different research degrees we offer
The majority of our students enrol in October. We offer further enrolment points in January and April.
A research degree with us can help you to deepen your professional practice, or prepare you for pursuing a new career within the health and social care sectors. Qualified therapists often begin careers within the NHS, although our graduates are equipped with skills and knowledge for a wide range of roles.
This course is research based. You will independently conduct research into your own topic or a topic that we advertise. Your supervisory team will offer expert guidance throughout your studies and review work in progress.
Each year, you will follow a programme of training and development to enhance your research methods, subject-matter expertise and professional skills.
Please refer to our Fees page for more information about tuition fees.
Many of our PhD and Professional Doctorate programmes are eligible for the government's Doctoral Loan Scheme. MPhil and MA/MSc by Research degrees are eligible for a Postgraduate Loan.
Each year we offer a number of competitive scholarships to support high quality research projects. Current scholarship opportunities in Health and Social Care are advertised on our site.
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You should, as a minimum, have a first or 2.1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification.
International students must demonstrate a sufficiently high standard of English language ability.
In order to enter most postgraduate courses the English requirements are IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 575, and TOEFL computer-based 230.
We welcome interest from applicants from non-standard backgrounds. We will take subject knowledge, professional experience, publications, or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment into consideration.
See more about our standard entry requirements.
Before applying for a research degree, you should have a preliminary discussion with a member of staff about your project and ideas. To arrange this, please email Professor Julie Marshall, the Research Degrees Co-ordinator for the Department of Health Professions.
For further information on the application process, contact the Admissions team pgradmissions@mmu.ac.uk, +44 (0)161 247 2966
To apply for this degree, please select one of the study options below to begin your application.
Before you apply, you should discuss your project with a member of academic staff. You should also complete the postgraduate research degree thesis proposal form, which you will need to upload as part of your application. The document can be attached at the final checklist section after you’ve submitted your application.