The PhD Nursing Studies programme is an advanced postgraduate research degree for students wishing to conduct in-depth independent research on an area to contribute to nursing knowledge and evidence. It offers the student a chance to make a significant contribution to knowledge in nursing. Name PhD Nursing Studies Start Date September and January Mode of Study 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time Programme Director Larry Doi Please check the postgraduate Degree Finder to see the specific entry requirements, start date and application deadlines. Apply Now The PhD programme offers the possibility to work with and be supervised by a range of academics across many areas of Nursing Studies, who have international reputations and outstanding publications in their areas of expertise. Our programme is undertaken over three years full-time or six years part-time. In the first year, students typically choose a number of optional taught postgraduate courses from within the School of Health, or other Schools within the University, as appropriate to their research programme, and as agreed with their supervisor. Subsequent years of the PhD programme primarily focus on recruitment of study participants, data collection and analysis of the main research, which can then be written up and completed by the end of the third year. Current Student Research Abdullah Alshehri The Effects of High-Fidelity Simulation on Knowledge Acquisition and Retention of Advanced Cardiac Life Support among Final Year Undergraduate Nursing Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Claudia Collado Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Chile: Towards the construction of a model from the nursing care. Christopher Sweeney Understanding how new parents respond to childhood illness and use urgent care services within NHS Scotland. Daniella Castillo Mansilla Teaching sustainability: How sustainability education could empower nurses’ capacity to integrate sustainability in nursing care Daniela Perucca Teaching sustainability: How sustainability education could empower nurses’ capacity to integrate sustainability in nursing care Esra Sinary Perceptions of females with cardiac disease regarding cardiac rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study Fiona McIntosh Investigating Nurses’ experiences and perceptions of caring for Forced Maternal Migrants in the UK; can lessons be learnt? Febriana Sebrian Developing a model for primary health care nursing practice in Indonesia Hadham Al Rawahi Experience of young Omani women and their caregivers after mastectomy for breast cancer. Huda Alamri Exploring the Methods of Teaching Fundamentals of Nursing in Saudi Arabia. Huimin Chong Regional difference of Chinese parental acceptance of the HPV vaccine Kurnia Putri Yuliandari Randomised Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Smartphone-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to Control Chronic Pain, Improve Coping and Quality of Life in Paediatric with Sickle Cell Disease at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah. Lian Zhu A Realist Evaluation of ICU Diaries: What Works For Whom in Which Circumstances Louise Johnston An exploration of Adult and Mental Health student nurses’ articulation journey from Further Education to Higher Education, Graduation and Employment via an Extended Practice Learning Experience (EPLE) transitional module. Matias Faundez Aedo The sustainability of values in the Chilean newly qualified nurses’ professional socialisation Man Sao Lo The eSexual Health Literage in Macau Adolescents: A Mixed Methods Study Melanie Blanka Phillips A study of non-adherence on an Edinburgh cohort of patients considered for simultaneoous kidney and pancreas transplant both pre and post-transplant Mengying Zhang Development of a mobile application tosupport the self-management of lung cancer patients Ohoud Al Abo Nassir Saudi Patients’ perceptions and experiences of living with diabetic foot ulcer in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia. Pachit Amsri Life experiences in the sex work industry in Pattaya: the migrants ’perspective Sahar Alshahrani Exploring the Perception and Experiences of Nurse Educators Involved in Moving from Low Simulation Labs to High Fidelity Simulation Labs Yin Wang To Explore the Experience of Registered Nurses and Nursing Students of Caring for People Living with HIV/Aids in China Yuet Man Lai Explore Hong Kong educated nurses’ motivation and experience of transitioning into the United Kingdom’s healthcare environment Tanawan Pitakkochakorn Mental health among children with long-term conditions: A qualitative study Why choose this programme? This programme is an advanced research degree enabling students to conduct in-depth independent research on a topic of their choice, thereby contributing to the knowledge and evidence base for nursing worldwide. Our current and past students have contributed to a range of research areas within nursing and healthcare more broadly. A vibrant and inclusive research environment The University of Edinburgh is a world-leader in research and innovation and an international centre of academic excellence. Students on this programme will become part of an active and diverse research community in the School of Health in Social Science and will have access to the wide-range of learning environments and outstanding resources that the University has to offer. Our postgraduate researchers work in close proximity to each other, enabling them to pool their expertise and knowledge to tackle complex challenges and push the boundaries of discovery. Students will be encouraged to engage with a wide range of seminars, talks, and events, and often have the opportunity to present their own research at national and international conferences. Our student-led postgraduate research blog provides a snapshot of the activities and events our PGR students organise and are involved in. Find out more about ongoing research in our School Our main areas of research activity and development in Nursing Studies currently relate to the themes of experience of health and illness, and organisation and policy for person-centred care. We have expertise in a range of qualitative and quantitative and mixed methods research approaches. Supervisor Specialties: Policy, Professions and Care Topic areas Potential supervisors Alcohol education & training in pre and post registration curricula Professor Aisha Holloway Global Nursing Workforce Dr Catherine Clarissa Nursing Mental Health and Wellbeing Dr Catherine Clarissa Leadership developement in early career nursing Dr Catherine Clarissa Clinical decision making Professor Tonks Fawcett Examining dignity and respect in nursing for compassionate care Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Global Nursing Leadership Professor Aisha Holloway History of nursing workforce Dr Marti Balaam Nursing Education and Nursing Science Dr Lissette Aviles Organ Donation process and transplantation Dr Lissette Aviles Nursing workforce in critical and end-of-life care Dr Lissette Aviles Person-centered care in nursing education and practice Dr Lissette Aviles Students with caring responsibilities Dr Michelle King-Okoye Widening participation and increasing diversity in higher education Dr Michelle King-Okoye Navigating academia and research - Ethnic minorities Dr Michelle King-Okoye Leadership Dr Michelle King-Okoye Herbal Medicine Dr Michelle King-Okoye Influence of culture and traditions on health an illness experience Dr Michelle King-Okoye Religion and spirituality Dr Michelle King-Okoye Mentoring and professional development Dr Michelle King-Okoye Advanced communication Dr Michelle King-Okoye Interdisciplinary simulated learning Dr Jenni Tocher Image of nursing Dr Marti Balaam Leadership Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Nursing education Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Nurses’ roles in achieving behaviour change Professor Aisha Holloway Nursing workforce Dr Marti Balaam Service organisation and delivery Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Service evaluation using realist approaches (realist synthesis and realist evaluation) Dr Larry Doi Transition to care home - patient, family and professional perspectives Dr Sarah Rhynas Understanding skill mix in primary care for good nursing outcomes Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Workforce: nurses in critical care issues Dr Susanne Kean Sudden Interruptions in Health Topic areas Potential supervisors Alcohol Brief Interventions: evaluation in various settings e.g. hospital, workplace, prisons Professor Aisha Holloway Cancer care issues Professor Tonks Fawcett Compassion and well-being Dr Marti Balaam Individuals and families' experience of organ donation and transplantation Dr Lissette Aviles Experiences of individual and families when surviving stroke Dr Lissette Aviles Family and person-centered care in acute critical care and practice Dr Lissette Aviles Cancer care experiences Dr Michelle King-Okoye Critical care experiences Dr Michelle King-Okoye End of life and palliative care Dr Michelle King-Okoye Men’s health Dr Michelle King-Okoye Pathways to care (communicable and non-communicable diseases) Dr Michelle King-Okoye Near death and 'death' experiences and impact on individuals and families Dr Michelle King-Okoye Neurodiversity in children Dr Michelle King-Okoye Development and evaluation of complex interventions Dr Larry Doi Experiences of families and patients with acute and/or chronic critical illness Dr Susanne Kean Intervention studies in critical care Dr Susanne Kean Post-stroke rehabilitation for young adults Dr Catherine Clarissa Multidisciplinary team in critical care Dr Catherine Clarissa Patient experience of intensive care Dr Catherine Clarissa Liver, renal and/or pancreatic surgery Dr Jenni Tocher Maintaining personal identity while in acute hospital when living with dementia Dr Sarah Rhynas Music interventions for people with dementia Dr Sarah Rhynas Nurses experiences of approaching relatives for organ donation Dr Jenni Tocher Pain Professor Tonks Fawcett Pain in critical care Dr Jenni Tocher Covid-19 and young people Dr Divya Sivaramakrishnan Personal and social identity when living with dementia Dr Sarah Rhynas Person and family centered care (PFCC) in critical care Dr Susanne Kean Recovery and/or survivorship after critical illness Dr Susanne Kean Global Public Health Topic area Potential supervisor Alcohol and Public Health Professor Aisha Holloway Global public health: traumatic brain injury and stroke Dr Lissette Aviles Global Public Health: health workforce, Covid-19 and wellbeing Dr Lissette Aviles Public health and community nursing Dr Elaine Haycock-Stuart Physical Activity Dr Divya Sivaramakrishnan Sedentary Behaviour Dr Divya Sivaramakrishnan Healthy Ageing Dr Divya Sivaramakrishnan Virtual and Online Learning Dr Michelle King-Okoye Climate change and implications for minorities Dr Michelle King-Okoye Artificial intelligence in relation to ethical principles and inclusivity Dr Michelle King-Okoye Digital education, app development and healthcare Dr Michelle King-Okoye Telehealth Dr Michelle King-Okoye Social media Dr Michelle King-Okoye Epidemiology Dr Glenna Nightingale Evaluation of public health interventions Dr Glenna Nightingale Modelling Longitudinal health related data Dr Glenna Nightingale Social Justice and Health Inequity Topic area Potential supervisor Exploring alcohol interventions within the prison population Professor Aisha Holloway Prison Health Professor Aisha Holloway Marginalised groups Dr Michelle King-Okoye Racism in academia Dr Michelle King-Okoye Social injustice and whistle-blower protection Dr Michelle King-Okoye Improving access to care - developing countries Dr Michelle King-Okoye PhD by Distance There is also an opportunity to undertake this programme through our PhD by Distance option. The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in the same areas as our on-campus programmes: Clinical and Health Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Health in Social Science and Nursing Studies. The programme allows students who are unable to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh full time to study for a PhD in a field of Health in Social Science from their home country or city - however this is not intended to be a fully online distance learning programme. Students enrolled on this programme will be expected to come to Edinburgh at least once per year of study to meet with their supervisors. The length and timing of these visits are negotiable but students should expect to spend at least two weeks at the University of Edinburgh during each year of study. Find out more about the PhD by Distance Join our extraordinary Nursing Community Nursing offers a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment as it involves caring for and making a positive difference in the lives of others. We are one of the top ten universities in the UK to offer Nursing, and our students' experience is second to none. Find out what it's like to join our close-knit community of international students and staff at the University of Edinburgh. Find out more about our Nursing Community The School of Health in Social Science offers several fully funded MScR and PhD studentships each year. A variety of scholarships are available, which vary from full scholarships covering tuition fees and a stipend to cover living expenses, to partial scholarships. Find out more about our scholarships and funding opportunities Beyond the programme The PhD Nursing Studies offers many opportunities. For instance, graduates who complete a PhD in nursing have gone on to obtain roles as a Director or leader in a variety of healthcare organizations, where they may supervise nursing research or projects. This can also include working for the government, where they may get an opportunity to influence healthcare policy and practice.