Who can do a PhD in the Institute?

We welcome professionals from a wide range of backgrounds – previous or current PhD students include doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, social scientists, health services researchers and those from social work, mental health, philosophy and other backgrounds.

The Institute has a rich mix of people from a wide range of different specialties and backgrounds, which fosters a very dynamic and productive environment.

 

What makes a successful PhD?

We aim for the highest standards of research. Those who work here or collaborate with us, share a joint aim for the highest quality research, which not only contributes to the field of palliative and end of life care, but also advances methodology in this area.

To achieve a successful PhD, three components are essential:

1. A good, hard-working candidate (you), who can demonstrate commitment, perseverance and dedication to achieve a PhD.
2. Excellent supervisors, with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to guide you successfully along the PhD path, and with a good balance of knowledge and experience pertinent to the proposed PhD study.
3. A supportive and dynamic PhD environment, where you can gain peer support, receive appropriate transferable skills training and development, and which fosters lively engagement with the relevant research field, good networking, and breadth & depth to your PhD related learning.

All three components are needed to achieve a successful PhD.

 

What about funding?

There are three routes to achieving funding for a PhD:

1. From time to time, Research Training Fellowship posts (designed to enable the post holder to undertake and complete a PhD) are advertised in or connected with the Institute.  These are infrequent opportunities, and when these Fellowships do arise, they are highly sought after and very competitive. Previous example.
2. Alternatively, if you have a research interest, and it aligns with our research strands, then you can talk with one of the Postgraduate Coordinators, who can put you in touch with a senior researcher (and potential supervisor), who can help you identify other sources of funding, and maybe work up an application with you. Funders look for this kind of collaboration in applications, and without it, you are unlikely to be successful.
3. You can also apply for a research assistant post within the Institute, and if successful, discuss with your manager if your work in this post can be used towards a PhD.

 

What training and support will you offer me during my studies?

There are excellent training and support facilities provided both within the Institute, and within King’s College London.

We have Skills Development workshops, Journal Clubs, Researcher Meetings, and a PhD peer support group, which occur regularly in the Institute (on a monthly or fortnightly basis). In addition, formal support (such as Project Advisory Groups) and more informal support is extensively available for any study on-going in the Department.

King’s College London has a very well developed PhD programme for training, support and development. This includes a wide range of training (for example, in the use of IT packages and software, networking, writing skills, presentation skills, and other research dissemination skills). The Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine library based in the Weston Education Centre has around 10,000 books and 500 current periodicals including a large range of electronically accessible journals which can be accessed remotely; These cover all areas of clinical medicine and dentistry, health service matters, sciences and professions associated with medicine and dentistry. The Library also maintains a collection of learning materials contributing to the educational programmes, clinical work and research of Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine. The collection has strengths in the areas of gastroenterology, liver disease, diabetes, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and the history of medicine but also covers palliative care, public health, health care policy, and medical audit.  

 

I am based, not in the UK, but overseas. Can I undertake a PhD with the Department?

Yes, you can. Ideally, you will be able to identify a scholarship from your own country which can support your studies. You should make early contact with the Postgraduate Studies Coordinators or a senior staff member whose work interests you, to discuss this.

 

I don’t have an MSc or similar prior degree – can I undertake a PhD without?

Research in palliative care and rehabilitation medicine is challenging in a number of ways, and for this reason, it is helpful to have undertaken our MSc first, as it provides the skills to progress more quickly. The MSc in Palliative Care which we run here at King’s College London is an excellent grounding for progressing to a PhD; it equips you with the specific palliative care research skills needed, and also enables you to get to know senior staff members in the Institute.

However, we look at each individual’s background when considering them for a PhD, and develop an individualised training plan with them to support their PhD progress. When you apply, you will need to have at least a 2:1 in your prior degree.

 
Who shall I contact?

The Postgraduate Coordinator at the Institute is Dr Fliss Murtagh.  Contact email:  phd-csi@kcl.ac.uk