The PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) is a cross-institutional Health Services Research Graduate Programme, which aims to improve health through quality healthcare management and delivery in the Irish system. This is to be achieved through development of a critical mass of PhD scholars who will excel in research, policy evaluation and translation of evidence into practice. The programme is multidisciplinary and collaborative, grounded in methodological rigor and diversity.

UCC regulations governing the PhD degree will apply to all UCC students on this programme. In addition, the following regulations apply specifically to students of the PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) programme and apply to UCC registered students only.

The programme is funded by the Health Research Board (HRB), and is offered collaboratively by UCC, TCD and the RCSI. The programme contains a number of components which support the student's PhD research and submission of a thesis. The design of the programme ensures exposure of the participants to the best HSR researchers in Ireland and offers them the opportunity to work in a HSR setting in Ireland and at an International location. A Steering Group and Advisory Committee, comprising academics and practitioners, guide the development of the programme to ensure its appropriateness and relevance.

The PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) is offered on a full-time basis over four years or on a part-time basis over six years. An exit award (Postgraduate Diploma in Population Health and Health Services Research, NFQ Level 9) is offered to students on the full-time and part-time programmes.

To be eligible for consideration to enter on a programme of study and research for the Degree of PhD, a candidate must have obtained a First or upper Second Class Honours degree (or a mark equivalent thereto) in health, social science, statistics, economics or related disciplines.

The PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) will normally be taken as a four-year, full-time programme; in certain circumstances, arrangements may be made to take the programme on a part-time basis (see below). The programme is funded by the HRB, and is offered collaboratively by UCC, TCD and the RCSI. The programme will have two main components: a taught programme covering a range of research knowledge and skills, and a supervised thesis. The taught programme will be made up of 3 training strands with strand 1 (1 year intensive course) completed in Year 1, and strands 2-3 completed in Years 2 to 4 of the full-time programme. All students will have a primary supervisor and two co-supervisors drawn from at least two of the three participating institutions. A primary supervisor will be assigned to each student at the end of Term One, in Year 1. Students will only be permitted to continue on the programme provided they submit a thesis title which has received approval from the College of Medicine and Health's Executive Committee at the end of Year 1.

The three formal training strands are:

1. Taught courses on the basic academic disciplines that underpin health services research.
2. Professional and career development skills. Professional skills including: time and project management, grant application skills, scientific paper writing, team-working, communication skills (written and oral, including media and advocacy training) and presentation skills. Career development skills: CV and interview skills, seminars with experts and leaders in relevant career settings.
3. Health Services Research: Theory and Practice. An integrated overview of the scientific method and core research skills and concepts as relevant to health services research.

On application, prospective candidates are required to indicate their preferred host institution where the degree will be undertaken. On acceptance by the host institution, students will be awarded their degree by this host institution. First preference of host institution is not guaranteed.

Full-time Programme
The total workload in each year is equivalent to 90 credits to yield a PhD (with equivalent student workload of 360 credits) in 4 years. 70 credits are for compulsory modules. Additional elective modules with a credit value of up to a maximum of 20 may also be taken at any time during the Programme with the agreement of the student's supervisory team. Students registered on this programme in UCC will be governed by UCC regulations in terms of monitoring and progression. This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team. In addition they will adhere to the specific programme requirements.

Year 1
Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits as follows:
The following six taught coursework modules and a work placement (EH7014) will be undertaken in Year 1 of the programme:

EH7003 Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Trials (5 credits)
EH7005 Introduction to Health Economics and Econometrics (10 credits)
EH7009 Population and Individual Health (10 credits)
EH7010 Health Systems, Policy and Informatics (10 credits)
EH7011 Interrogation, Interpreting and Reporting Scientific Data and Health Information (Integrated Epidemiology/Biostatistics) (10 credits)
EH7014 National Work Placement (5 credits)
EH7015 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods (10 credits)

Students will read extensively around their subject in Year 1, and agree a research question in consultation with their supervisors. Students will normally identify a suitable project and produce a thesis proposal by the end of Year 1. Students who do not produce a satisfactory thesis proposal will not be permitted to proceed to Year 2.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2019/2020 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2019/2020.

See also under the General Regulations for the PhD Degree.

EXIT AWARD - Postgraduate Diploma in Population Health and Health Services Research (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students who successfully complete and pass modules to the value of 60 credits in Year 1 may, following consultation with their supervisor and the Graduate Studies Board of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Research.

Year 2
Students take modules to the value of 10 credits as follows:

EH7012 Research Development and Academic Writing (5 credits)
EH7013 International Work Placement (5 credits)

Students will continue work on the thesis, in consultation with their supervisors. Students will be asked to make a formal presentation on their research at the end of Year 2.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Year 3
Students will continue work on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will ensure that by the end of Year 3 they have gathered their data (or obtained access to the relevant datasets) and begun the data analysis and write-up phase of their thesis. Students will have the opportunity to attend, and participate in, workshops on issues in health services research. Students will be asked to make a formal presentation on their research at the end of Year 3.

Year 4
Students will continue work on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will develop a detailed submission plan in consultation with their supervisor and ensure that they work to the timetable outlined in this plan. Students will have the opportunity to attend, and participate in, workshops on personal and professional skills development. The final PhD award will be based on the thesis only and examined in accordance with UCC regulations.

Part-time Programme
In some circumstances, arrangements may be made to take the programme part-time, over 6 years. In the case of part-time study, fees will be calculated on a pro rata basis. The total workload in each year is equivalent to 60 credits to yield a PhD (with equivalent student workload of 360 credits) in 6 years. 70 credits are for compulsory modules. Additional elective modules with a credit value of up to a maximum of 20 may also be taken at any time during the Programme with the agreement of the students supervisory team. Students registered on this programme in UCC will be governed by UCC regulations in terms of monitoring and progression. This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team. In addition they will adhere to the specific programme requirements.

Year 1
Students will take 25 credits from any of the taught coursework modules listed below.

EH7003 Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Trials (5 credits)
EH7005 Introduction to Health Economics and Econometrics (10 credits)
EH7009 Population and Individual Health (10 credits)
EH7010 Health Systems, Policy and Informatics (10 credits)
EH7011 Interrogation, Interpreting and Reporting Scientific Data and Health Information (Integrated Epidemiology/Biostatistics) (10 credits)
EH7015 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods (10 credits)

All students must undertake work placement (EH7014 National Work Placement) but in the case of students currently employed in an appropriate health services environment students may complete this module within their current work environment, subject to approval of the programme team.

Students will read extensively around their subject to develop a research question in consultation with their supervisors. Continuation requires submission of a thesis title hence approval by the College of Medicine and Health is required at the end of Year 1.

Year 2
No student may register for the Second Year of study until all modules in First Year have been passed.
Students will take 30 credits from any of the taught coursework modules listed below, and which have not been taken previously:

EH7003 Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Trials (5 credits)
EH7005 Introduction to Health Economics and Econometrics (10 credits)
EH7009 Population and Individual Health (10 credits)
EH7010 Health Systems, Policy and Informatics (10 credits)
EH7011 Interrogation, Interpreting and Reporting Scientific Data and Health Information (Integrated Epidemiology/Biostatistics) (10 credits)
EH7015 Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods (10 credits)

Students will read extensively around their subject to finalise a research question in consultation with their supervisors.

Year 3
Students will be required to take the following compulsory module in Year 3:

EH7012 Research Development and Academic Writing (5 credits)

Students may choose to take the international work placement module which is optional:

EH7013 International Work Placement (5 credits)

Students will continue research on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will agree objectives and goals for the year with their supervisor. Students will be asked to make a formal presentation at the end of Year 3.

Year 4
Students will undertake work on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will have the opportunity to attend, and participate in, workshops on issues in health services research.

Year 5
Students will undertake work on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will ensure that by the end of year 5 they have gathered their data (or obtained access to the relevant datasets) and have begun the data analysis and write-up phase of their thesis. Students will have the opportunity to attend, and participate in, workshops on personal and professional skill development.

Year 6
Students will undertake work on their thesis in consultation with their supervisors. Students will develop a detailed submission plan in consultation with their supervisor and ensure that they work to the timetable outlined in this plan. The final PhD award will be based on the thesis only and examined in accordance with UCC regulations.

EXIT AWARD - Postgraduate Diploma in Population Health and Health Services Research (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students who have passed Year 1 (full-time) or Year 2 (part-time) of the programme may, following consultation with their supervisor and the Graduate Studies Board of the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, choose to withdraw from the PhD (Health Services Research) and exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Research. This option is available to students who:

• Have passed all taught coursework modules (55 credits).
• Have passed their national work placement module (EH7014, 5 credits).

The Postgraduate Diploma is equivalent to 60 credits.

Students who pursue this option cannot receive any refund to fees already paid.

Programme Learning Outcomes for PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
The overarching requirement for undertaking a PhD is to complete a substantial programme of independent original research of publishable quality submitted as a thesis.

In addition, on successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to articulate and critically appraise the main features of health care systems in developed countries, the challenges facing these systems and research on the relationship between health care and population health;
• Acquire specialist knowledge and expertise on the design of health services research;
• Demonstrate an ability to independently find, evaluate and synthesise previously published health services research;
• Demonstrate an ability to independently conduct specialist research on the effectiveness of health services and/or health systems;
• Demonstrate an ability to independently translate health services and health systems research into policy and practice.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Population Health and Health Services Research (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to articulate and critically appraise the main features of health care systems in developed countries;
• Demonstrate an ability to articulate and critically appraise the main challenges facing health care systems in developed countries;
• Demonstrate an ability to articulate and critically appraise research on the relationship between health care and population health;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the methods used in systematic reviews of health services research;
• Acquire specialist knowledge on the design of health services research.