The Biosocial Research pathway is a development from the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Biosocial Research. The purpose of the pathway is to foster world-leading research into the interplay of biological and social causes of health and health inequalities. Biosocial research integrates theoretically-derived biological and social drivers of health, typically using state-of-the-art, population-level data sources such as the UK Biobank and the UK Household Longitudinal Survey. Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) in this pathway will have at least one supervisor with expertise in the social sciences and one with biological science expertise, allowing them to access cross-disciplinary research environment and support.

Programmes eligible for NWSSDTP funding

The list below includes all Master’s programmes that are eligible for NWSSDTP funding and the typical PhD programmes that are supported under this pathway. Other PhD programmes within these universities may be considered – please reach out to the relevant Pathway Representative (see contact details below) or the NWSSDTP Office if the PhD programme you are interested in is not listed here. Please note that the NWSSDTP does not fund standalone Master’s programmes – these can only be funded as part of a Master’s + PhD Studentship.

Keele University

• MSc Social Research

Lancaster University

• MSc Health Data Science
• PhD Statistics and Epidemiology
• PhD Social and Behavioural Sciences
• PhD Sociology

University of Liverpool

• MSc Data Science and Analytics for Health
• MSc Data Science for Health (Conversion)
• Master of Public Health
• PhD Public Health
• PhD Psychology

University of Manchester

• MSc Social Research Methods and Statistics

For information on how to apply for funding, please visit our How to Apply page.

Pathway Representatives

Contact details for Biosocial Research Pathway Representatives can be found here: https://nwssdtp.ac.uk/about/contact-us/pathway-leads/