PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians

This doctoral programme for Primary Care Clinicians aims to increase research capacity across contemporary primary care to create future research leaders who will develop innovative and evidence based practice and policy to improve population health and support the NHS.

Five clinical PhDs per year for five years (in total approximately 18 GPs and 7 other primary health care clinicians) will be hosted across 10 NIHR School for Primary Care (SPCR) members, building on our successful previous Wellcome PhD programme.

The NIHR SPCR represents the leading departments of academic primary care in England and provides extraordinary critical mass enabling a broad and inclusive supervisory pool, access to databases, international expertise and bespoke training.

Doctoral students will have supervisors across two consortium members and will join 45 NIHR SPCR doctoral students appointed from 2021-2026 to form a supportive cohort of peers who have the opportunity for regular contact at training meetings and our very successful Annual Trainees Event.

Equality and diversity are core values underpinning the Programme which promotes the development of networking and collaboration, builds strong and experienced research groups and provides a rich, supportive research environment for doctoral students to develop into successful clinical academics and future research leaders.