PhD/MPhil Mental Health / Programme details

Our PhD/MPhil Mental Health programme enables you to undertake a research project that will improve understanding of Mental Health.

Our postgraduate research programmes in mental health are based on individually tailored projects. Applicants are specifically matched with a primary academic supervisor according to their research interest and background.

All of our postgraduate research students have more than one supervisor, and our dynamic multidisciplinary supervisory teams typically cover a wide and diverse range of academic disciplines beyond mental health and psychology, including nursing, pharmacy, epidemiology and biostatics, informatics, health economics, sociology and qualitative research.

Our academics have internationally outstanding knowledge and expertise in conducting research studies in mental health across the life course. Particular strengths include:

• severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (including the prodromal stages of these conditions);
• dementia;
• depression;
• anxiety disorders;
• personality disorders;
• autism spectrum disorder;
• attachment disorders;
• self-harm and suicide;
• homicide and other forms of interpersonal violence;
• forensic mental health;
• neurobiological and imaging studies;
• mental health epidemiology;  

Training and development

All of our postgraduate researchers attend the Doctoral Academy Training Programme delivered by the Researcher Development team . The programme provides key transferable skills and equips our postgraduate researchers with the tools to progress beyond their research degree into influential positions within academia, industry and consultancy. The emphasis is on enhancing skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals, whether they relate to effective communication, disseminating research findings and project management skills.

PhD/MPhil programmes are based on individual research projects that last three to four years (PhD) or one two years (MPhil), working with a specific Primary Supervisor and Co-Supervisor(s).

Applicants are specifically matched with a Primary Supervisor and individual project based on their research interests and background.

International applicants interested in this research area can also consider our PhD programme with integrated teaching certificate .

This unique programme will enable you to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, whilst also carrying out independent research on your chosen project.

Find out more about what it's like to undertake a postgraduate research degree at Manchester on the Doctoral Academy Blog and the support available through our Faculty Doctoral Academy.

You will have access to a range of  research and learning facilities  across the University and at some of our partner organisations.