Mental Health PhD

Program Overview

This part-time PhD in Mental Health combines distance learning and face-to-face teaching to provide a comprehensive understanding of mental health theory, research, and practice. Students develop critical insight, enhance research skills, and produce a thesis that contributes to the field. The program is suitable for professionals in various settings, including healthcare, education, and research.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The PhD in Mental Health is a part-time, flexible doctorate designed for individuals wishing to gain a comprehensive understanding of mental health theory, research, and practice. It combines innovative distance learning with face-to-face teaching at an annual autumn Academy held in Lancaster.

Objectives:

• Develop a deep and critical insight into mental health theory, research, and practice.
• Enhance research skills.
• Produce a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge within the student's area of professional practice.

Program Description:

• The program is designed for individuals working in healthcare settings, local government, education, research, or management.
• It combines theoretical and practical aspects of mental health, including psychological models of disorders, evidence-based interventions, and current mental health priorities.
• The program runs over a minimum of four and a maximum of seven years.
• It begins with a compulsory five-day Induction Academy in Lancaster.
• Subsequent academic years start with a compulsory three-day autumn Academy, with the rest of the course delivered via e-learning.
• Attendance at the annual academies is mandatory until students are confirmed on the PhD program.
• Years 1 and 2 focus on taught modules delivered online.
• Year 3 and beyond involve an independent research study culminating in a thesis submission.
• The research project is supervised by the University but undertaken in the student's own location or workplace.
• Supervision meetings are conducted using video conferencing software such as Skype.
• Students meet with their supervisors face-to-face during the annual autumn Academy.

Outline:

Year 1:

Core Modules:

• Induction Academy:
This module provides an introduction to health research methods, including distance learning, library usage, literature searching, data analysis, research ethics, and the practical process of conducting research.
• Mental Health: Theory, Research and Practice:
This e-learning module explores current topics and issues in mental health, covering theory, practice, contemporary issues, and up-to-date research.
• Philosophy of Research:
This e-learning module examines the philosophical underpinnings of research, including epistemology, the influence of different epistemological bases on research methodology, and the role of theory and theoretical frameworks in the research process.
• Theory and Methods: Choices for Health Research:
This e-learning module introduces a range of methods used in health research, focusing on justifying research design choices rather than practical skills in data analysis. It covers quantitative and qualitative research designs, data collection approaches, mixed methods research, sampling, and quality across different designs.

Year 2:

Core Modules:

• Data Analysis:
This e-learning module covers both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. It includes introductory and advanced units in each type of analysis.
• Principles of Research Design and Practical Research Ethics:
This e-learning module teaches students how to develop a research proposal and apply for ethical review. It covers research design components, ethical guidelines, and the process of identifying the purpose of a guideline.
• Systematic approaches to literature reviews and evidence synthesis:
This e-learning module introduces the principles and components of systematic reviewing, including the construction of a review question, developing a search strategy, selecting methodological quality criteria, critically appraising studies, preparing a data extraction form, synthesizing evidence, and creating a systematic review protocol.

Year 3 Onwards:

• Independent Research Study:
Students undertake an independent research study culminating in a thesis submission. The research project is supervised by the University and conducted in the student's own location or workplace.

Assessment:

Year 1:

• Mental Health: Theory, Research and Practice:
3000-word essay (75%) and a poster (25%).
• Philosophy of Research:
5000-word essay.
• Theory and Methods: Choices for Health Research:
5000-word assignment consisting of two 2500-word components.

Year 2:

• Data Analysis:
Two pieces of written work: Qualitative data analysis (2500 words) and Quantitative data analysis (2500 words).
• Principles of Research Design and Practical Research Ethics:
A written assignment including a 4000-word research proposal and a completed FHMREC ethics application form and supporting documents.
• Systematic approaches to literature reviews and evidence synthesis:
5000-word assignment.

Year 3 Onwards:

• Thesis Submission:
The research project culminates in a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge.

Teaching:

• The program is delivered through a combination of face-to-face and online interaction (blended learning).
• Taught modules are delivered via distance learning using the University's virtual learning environment.
• Teaching methods include interactive lectures, webinars, online collaboration, group work, and self-directed study.
• Students have access to a hub space that facilitates interaction with their cohort and with students on related programs.
• An academic tutor provides support during the taught phase, and two supervisors provide support during the research phase.

Careers:

• The program prepares graduates for a range of careers in mental health research, practice, and policy.
• Potential career paths include research scientist, mental health practitioner, policy advisor, and educator.

Other:

• The program is based at Lancaster University's Division of Health Research, which has a strong research focus on mental health.
• The Division of Health Research has been offering blended learning postgraduate programs since 2010 and has a large number of successful graduates.
• The Spectrum Centre, a specialist research center dedicated to translational research into the psychosocial aspects of bipolar disorder and associated conditions, is part of the Division of Health Research.
• The program benefits from close links to NHS mental health services in the North West of England and the voluntary sector.
• Service users are actively involved in the delivery of the taught component of the Doctorate.

| Tuition and Fees | Currency | | ----------- | ----------- | | Home Fee | £4,350 | | | International Fee | £11,340 | |