Ageing

PhD

  • Entry Year 2024
  • Duration Part time 5 Years

Overview

Introduction

PhD Ageing is a part-time and flexible PhD led by the research-active academics based in our Division of Health Research. The programme will help you to gain deeper and critical insights into population ageing and sparks thinking into how to provide better health and care systems to support older people and their families. A personal academic tutor and during the research phase (year 3+), two thesis supervisors will provide you with support for each step of your PhD, from your first taught module to your own research project.

Programme overview

Taught Modules

Year 1 and Year 2 taught modules provide training in (please note these may be subject to change):

Ageing:

  • Theoretical approaches to the social science of ageing
  • Empirical research in this area across a range of topics including healthy ageing, socioeconomic issues and ageing from a global perspective
  • Innovation in ageing research

Undertaking research:

  • Philosophy of research
  • Research questions, methods and choices
  • Qualitative and quantitative data analysis
  • Diverse evidence synthesis and systematic review

Principles of research design and ethical considerations:

  • The ethical consequences of different research designs and researching in different populations
  • Principles of research ethics
  • Writing a research proposal
  • Ethical approval and Governance procedures.

There are 180 credits of taught modules across years 1 and 2. Please note that students must achieve a minimum 60% weighted average across these taught modules in order to proceed to the research element of the PhD programme (Yr. 3 onwards).

Research

Year 3 and onwards will be spent undertaking a research project and will conclude with the submission of a thesis (35,000 words) that makes an original contribution to knowledge within your area of professional practice and of direct relevance to it. This research project will be supervised from Lancaster University but undertaken in your own location or workplace. Supervisions will be hosted online via MS Teams, plus face-to-face meetings during the annual Autumn Academy.

Key Facts

PhD Ageing is delivered by Blending Learning. Blended learning refers to the methods of interaction between students and course tutors / supervisors on a programme. Teaching and research activities are carried out through a combination of face-to-face and online interaction. The Lancaster-based academies that occur each year give you the chance to meet your programme peers and the academic team. Online interactions use our virtual learning environment and include discussion forums, collaborative digital spaces and video conferencing.

Programme outcomes

The aim of the course is to allow people working in a range of settings – government, third sector, health care sites, academic institutions, social care settings, international organisations etc. - to undertake advanced study within this exciting and vibrant field. The course is aimed at individuals based in the UK or overseas. The course is offered on part-time via blended/distance e-learning.

The PhD in Ageing aims to:

  • Promote advanced knowledge and a critical understanding of theories, concepts and debates in ageing
  • Foster critical approaches to evidence review and knowledge management
  • Develop advanced skills in research design, data analysis, practice and dissemination
  • Improve scholarship in presenting written and oral arguments
  • Enhance leadership skills and effectiveness

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

As part of your application you will also need to provide a 500 word research proposal. Guidance for writing a research proposal can be found on our writing a research proposal webpage.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Course Structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

Core

Fees and Funding

2024/25

Home Fee £4,350

International Fee £11,340

Postgraduate open day: Saturday 10 February 2024

Join our on-campus open day this February to talk to students and lecturers and find out how and when to apply.

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2024/2025 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

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