PhD in Social Science and Health in Glasgow United Kingdom | University of Glasgow

We strive to deepen our knowledge and enhance human health and wellbeing by examining how social, behavioral, economic, cultural, and environmental factors impact health, while applying social science theories and methods.
This Unit's primary goal is to advance human health and wellbeing by investigating social, behavioral, economic, cultural, and environmental health influences. It brings together a diverse team of social science researchers dedicated to studying health disparities, social determinants of health, and strategies for health improvement. Key objectives involve: analyzing the complex interplay of biological, social, behavioral, economic, cultural, and environmental factors affecting physical and mental health across the lifespan identifying mechanisms that can alter these processes to potentially enhance public health in an evolving world designing and assessing interventions that leverage these mechanisms to improve population health and address health inequities informing policy and practice by sharing research findings and their implications with various stakeholders.
Students are fully integrated into the Unit/Group, participating in seminars, team meetings, and other collaborative activities alongside staff members. Opportunities also exist for placements with policy and practice organizations. Our postgraduate students gain exposure to diverse disciplines and subjects beyond their PhD focus. The Social & Public Health Sciences Unit offers distinctive experiences in social and public health science not typically available in standard academic settings, such as collaborating with our population health research facility and engaging in large-scale fieldwork while navigating regulatory, ethical, and data compliance requirements.
Within the Social Science in Health Group, students can serve as graduate teaching assistants or contribute to supplementary research projects, providing valuable opportunities to develop transferable skills.
Graduates often pursue careers as university researchers, while others join NGOs, independent research institutions, or government agencies at local and national levels.