Health Sciences - Social Care - Research

The Health Promotion Research Centre is World Health Organisation Collaboration Centre for Health Promotion, an indicator of the standing internationally of our Director and staff. The aim of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion Research at University of Galway is to support the WHO work programme in developing health promotion capacity through the translation of health promotion research into policy and practice.



Those undertaking a MPhil within the Discipline work closely with researchers from the centre, as either supervisors or expert advisors, in order to ensure that the work is of high quality and has the potential to make a substantial contribution to the field of health promotion.



The Discipline of Health Promotion has a very active and highly competitive PhD research programme. Graduates of the PhD programme have found employment nationally and internationally as post-doctoral researchers and lecturers with some graduates now in professorial posts. Graduates hold posts not only in dedicated academic health promotion centres but also in related disciplines including nursing, psychology and primary care.



PhD students participate fully in the academic life of the University, including attending seminars, workshops, training opportunities, contributing to conference hosting, teaching and social events.

To be eligible to enter a programme of study, it is expected that applicants would have:



an Honours undergraduate Degree (2.1 or above) level qualification in Health Promotion, Social Care or a relevant discipline or such other evidence as would satisfy the Head of Discipline

AND

Evidence of an IELTS qualification minimum level 7 overall, and in each component.

Course Code: MPHIL-HSSC

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

Course Code: MPHIL-HSSC



MPhil, full-time

MPhil, part-time

Research Areas


Professor Margaret Barry:

email: margaret.barry@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Mental health promotion; evidence-based practice and evaluation research in health promotion; public perceptions of mental health, health promotion competencies.


Dr. Margaret Hodgins

email: margaret.hodgins@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Workplace health promotion, gender and workplace bullying, the role of organisational culture in promoting health in the workplace.


Dr. Michal Molcho

email: michal.molcho@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Adolescent health, social inequalities, violence and injury prevention, immigrant health


Dr. Saoirse Nic Gabhainn

email: saoirse.nicgabhainn@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: School health promotion; health inequalities among children and young people; sexual behaviour, substance use and risk taking and women's health; Health Behaviour in School Children (HBSC).


Dr. Diarmuid O'Donovan

email: diarmuid.odonovan@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Health inequalities; health policy; communicable disease control and environmental health; sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS; substance misuse; health and human rights; international health.


Dr. Martin Power

email: martin.p.power@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Social care theory and practice; care planning; risk and regulation; social policy; adult education.


Dr. Lisa Pursell

email: lisa.pursell@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Health inequalities, environmental health, health impact assessment, methodologies and evaluation


Dr. Jane Sixsmith

email: jane.sixsmith@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Health communication; community health; qualitative methodologies; health services research.


Dr. Colette Kelly

email: colette.kelly@nuigalway.ie

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Children's health and social care, health behaviour in school children (HBSC), food and nutrition, vulnerable groups.