Applied Health Sciences

Applied Health Sciences

Introduction

Population-based research to support decision-making aimed at maximising health and optimising healthcare services.

Study Information

At a Glance

Degree Qualification
MSc or PhD

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The Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) is a multidisciplinary grouping of approximately 70 academic staff who conduct population-based and clinically-orientated health research. It is co-located on the Foresterhill health campus with clinical services of NHS Grampian.

The Institute is organised in to 12 research groups. Current areas of methodological expertise include cohort studies, large-scale multicentre randomised trials, data science, health economics, health services research, epidemiology, health psychology, health technology assessment, and medical statistics.

We hold strength in the application of these methods to a number of clinical areas: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health, Child Health, Chronic Disease (Neurology, Renal and Public Health), Primary Care, Psycho-oncology, Rural Health, Urology, and Women’s Health. In addition, we are working on key research themes such as Cancer and Global Health that run through these clinical areas.

In 2018 the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, the highest national award to a university, was awarded to the University of Aberdeen in recognition of world-leading research into health economics and health services undertaken at Health Services Research Unit and Health Economics Research Unit over the last 40 years.

IAHS pursues an agenda of excellence in health research, to transform peoples’ lives through the better understanding and the improvement of healthcare systems and healthcare outcomes.

Our Research

We welcome applications from self-funded students at any time for full-time or part-time study on campus if students would like to balance their work or caring responsibilities while doing their PhD. We also offer to both national and international students a part-time and full-time distance learning pathway.

Research Interests

Symptoms and early diagnosis

  • Prevalence, determinants and impact of different symptoms
  • Prognostic value of symptoms and biological measurements in an individual
  • Clinical usefulness and affordability of different diagnostic approaches, including new technologies
Symptoms and early diagnosis

Evaluation of healthcare interventions

  • Evidence synthesis, including health technology assessments, modelling and systematic reviewing
  • Primary research, mainly large-scale randomised clinical trials, especially of non-drug technologies and complex interventions
  • Health economic valuation and preference work, including contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments
Evaluation of healthcare interventions

Entry Requirements

Normally, the minimum entrance requirement for admission to the PhD is a degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in an appropriate field, or equivalent. It is preferable that you hold a Masters in the chosen area of study as well.

If English is not your first language and you have not studied previously at an institution in the UK, you will need to demonstrate your proficiency in English by taking an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE academic test. International Applicants

Research Impact

Research on single embryo transfer in IVF led by Profesor Siladitya Bhattacharya has influenced clinical guidance and made IVF safer for mothers and babies.

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Careers

You can choose a wide range of health research options from studying a research degree. This can include lab work to innovate, understand medical issues or find a solution to a specific problem working in public and private health environments or specialist research institutes.

Get in Touch

Contact Details

Address
Postgraduate Research School - The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
University of Aberdeen
Crombie Hall
Aberdeen
AB24 3TS