Can a combined midwifery and chiropractic intervention clinic enhance student education and improve breastfeeding rates?

The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHSS), Bournemouth University is offering a fully funded PhD Studentship which includes a stipend of £14,000 each year to support your living costs. The studentship is for three years, which will begin in January 2017.

The aim of the PhD research project is to evaluate the working and outcomes of an established newborn feeding clinic in the South of England, in terms of perception of effectiveness among service users (women and their partners), practitioners and students. The clinic is a collaboration between Bournemouth University (BU) and the The Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (AECC), and was established to meet a clinical need to offer a holistic approach to support the improvement of breastfeeding outcomes and provide an enhnaced environment for interprofessional learning for students. It is known that most mothers who breastfeed want to feed for longer but find it distressing when they encounter problems and then give up, which in turn increases their risk fo postnatal depression. Extensive evidence demonstrates how important breastfeeding is for all women and children by preventing infant morbidity as well as reducing the incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality from breastcancer, diabetes and ovarian cancer.

The newborn clinic is a self-referral clinic to treat newborn infants at the AECC with biomechanical related difficulties affecting breastfeeding, supported by midwifery expertise from BU ensuring high quality practical breastfeeding support for the mother.

FHSS has a growing reputation regarding the innovative practice of healthcare students leading clinics, which will support the research aim related to the learning environment, views and perceptions of the student.

You will work with supervisors drawn from both BU and AECC and will have access to a wide range of resources to support the project. Formal training in research skills, such as interviewing and focus groups will be provided with personal development through academic supervisors. You will be part of a large body of doctoral students in FHSS, with access to Postgraduate lectures and support sessions.

How to apply: Application are made via our website using the Apply online button below. If you have an enquiry about this project please contact us via the Email NOW button below, however your application will only be processed once you have submitted an application form as opposed to emailing your CV to us.
Candidates for funded PhD studentship must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to complete a PhD in 3 Years.
All candidates must satisfy the University’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for studentships of an honours degree at Upper Second Class (2:1) and/or appropriate Master’s degree. An IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 minimum (or equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first language.
In additional to satisfying basic entry criteria, BU will look closely at the qualities, skills and background of each candidate and what they can bring to their chosen research project in order to ensure successful and timely completion.

Fees for the 2016-17 Academic Year are as follows:
Full-time Home/EU: £4,075
Full-time Overseas: £12,500”


“For this particular studentship, you will be entitled to a tuition fee waiver of £4,075 per annum for the first 36 months of your award (the “Award Period”). If the tuition fee payable by you is more than this, you will be required to pay the balance of £8425 per annum during the Award Period. Additional tuition fees will be payable if you do not complete your award during the Award Period ”