PhD - Health and Life Sciences

Aston University

About

PhD programmes are for those who are seeking to develop greater in-depth knowledge in a specific area. Completing this level of study is about making an original contribution to knowledge, making new discoveries and developing lifelong skills.

At Aston University, our Health and Life Science PhD programmes will provide all the support and facilities you will need to develop into a leading researcher in your chosen field. You will be welcomed into a supportive community with a shared enthusiasm for original research, where diversity and multidisciplinary is championed.

Support

In addition to the support provided by your supervisory team and the wider research community, the Aston University Graduate School provides a range of support services for both applicants and current research students. This includes:

The Student Charter: a summary of the aspirations and expectations of the University and its students.
The Postgraduate Mentoring Scheme: supporting the integration and student experience of newly arriving postgraduate students by matching them with more experienced postgraduate students who act as peer mentors.
International Student Support Unit: providing help and advice to students from overseas, both before you join Aston and once you have arrived.
Committee representation: our School Research Committee and the University's Graduate School Management Committee has a student member from each School of study.
Facilities: in addition to the specialist facilities you will use, we also have a Graduate School Office and Training Room, as well as a Postgraduate Student Common Room, a space designated for you to meet, relax and socialise.

Career prospects

Studying a PhD is great route into academia and industries that are centred on research and innovation. Areas with a demand for very high level and specialised research skills often demand PhDs.

In addition to this specialist knowledge, PhD education will help you to develop a set of valuable transferrable skills. The very nature of studying an intensive research degree will enable you to become a team player, develop problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and advanced presentation and communication skills.

The variety of PhD project topics at Aston means that the destinations of our graduates vary substantially. Some choose to continue into academia, at either Aston or other leading institutions, while others go onto use their newly acquired skills in a range of research, healthcare, industry or charitable fields. When selecting your chosen PhD path at Aston, your supervisor will be able to provide you with relevant career opportunities that could be available to you in your specialist area.