Join the University of Southampton, a global top 100 research-intensive university. Combine your career in practice with research, becoming a clinical academic, and carry out in depth healthcare investigations on our PhD programmes. Choose whether to become a clinical academic researcher or pursue a pure research route, working in a world-class academic centre with a nursing provision ranked top 6 in the world. At Southampton, we explore a wide range of research themes including: Active living Health needs Fundamental care Health work During your studies you'll have the opportunity to participate in doctoral level research training, attend research forums, and complete a professional development programme for postgraduates. In the latest national Research Excellence Framework assessment of all UK universities, the School of Health Sciences was judged to have a world-leading research environment (100%, maximum possible score, and in the top three UK Universities within our disciplines for the overall quality of our research. Our Health sciences PhD is available to study in person or remotely. For our in person route, you’ll be based at Highfield campus or at our clinical academic facility at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. QS World University Rankings 2026. QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.