Rosamund Snow Scholarship for Patient-Led Research
Are you a patient interested in researching your own illness?
Do you have the potential and drive to complete a PhD?
If so, please consider applying for the
Rosamund Snow, who died in February 2017, had type 1 diabetes. After completing a Masters degree in social sciences at Kings College London, she went on to study for a PhD in the patient experience of diabetes. She became a respected academic at the University of Oxford, undertaking research and teaching medical students about the importance of the patient perspective. She believed passionately in patients working alongside clinicians to produce research and teaching that is informed by the (often under-valued) expertise in what it is like to live with an illness. She used her own expertise from experience to question and challenge norms of medical practice, always striving to improve patient care. After her death, Rosamund’s family generously donated funding to Green Templeton College at the University of Oxford, to allow others to be trained to continue the work she started.
Applications are invited from people who meet the following criteria:
- You (or someone you care for, such as a family member or partner) have experience of an illness or long term condition that you would like to do research into, perhaps with a view to changing the way healthcare staff think and act;
- You have an actual research question (something you do not already know and would like to find out)—this is what distinguishes a PhD study from other activities such as campaigning
- You want to be trained to do social science research into the illness experience – for example, sociology of health and illness, medical education, or sociology of scientific knowledge;
- You already have a university degree (at least a 2.1 at undergraduate level) and a Masters degree in a relevant subject;
- If successful, you would be willing to spend several years on your PhD training (full or part time).
The successful applicant will be supported to develop their own ideas into a PhD (a three-year, full-time or six-year, part-time programme of study, known at Oxford as a DPhil).
There is a great deal of flexibility in the kind of research we can support. We are looking for someone with a good idea and the passion and commitment to see it through. For her PhD, Rosamund undertook a qualitative study of group education programmes for diabetes. We are open to similar or contrasting ideas from potential candidates, and we will work with the successful scholar to help shape their idea into an achievable PhD-level study with an appropriate package of training. The sort of things we might support include (but are not limited to):
- The patient or carer experience of illness
- The unequal power dynamics of the clinical consultation
- The challenges of advocacy (speaking out and campaigning about a condition)
- The politics of self-management
- Language and jargon
- Co-producing research
Our recent Rosamund Snow scholars’ thesis titles are: ‘Building A Comprehensive Understanding of Patients’ and GPs’ Experiences of Identifying, Managing, and Treating Treatment-Resistant Depression To Improve Care Pathways’, and ‘PAINSONG. A narrative study of career-changing injury and illness in elite professional dancers, with implications for clinicians’
Please see links below for further details of their research:
Jeremy Leslie-Spinks | Green Templeton College
We are aware that the ‘right’ person for this scholarship may not have a conventional academic background to undertake advanced research in the social sciences. Apart from fulfilling the University of Oxford’s minimum criteria for admission to research degrees, we are open to accepting individuals who have pursued a different academic direction previously.
Because of the terms of the legacy, the funding must be for research training via a postgraduate degree. The successful candidate must also be affiliated with Green Templeton College.
Application process
- DPhil in Primary Health Care (FT or PT for entry in 2025)
- DPhil in Translational Health Sciences (FT or PT for entry in 2025)
Candidates must apply by Friday 14 February 2025 (deadline extended). Further information available here.
Candidates who wish to be considered for the Rosamund Snow Scholarship should indicate this on their application and provide an additional supporting statement (max 500 words) showing how your projected research fits with the aims of the Rosamund Snow Scholarship.
Selection Criteria
Candidates should first meet the admission requirements of the relevant programme leading to an offer of a place.
Once all applications for the relevant programmes have been assessed by the academic department, candidates for the Rosamund Snow Scholarship may be invited for interview at Green Templeton College. Candidates for the scholarship will be selected on the basis of academic potential and the quality and relevance of proposed research, considered against the stated aims of the award.
Value of award
Full fees plus a stipend at the minimum RCUK rate per year full time (£19,237 in 2024/25) for the duration of your course (up to three years); at the pro rata rate per year part time (up to six years).
The University has an EDI policy to ensure that all students with disabilities/special needs are accommodated.
If you think you might be interested and would like to run an idea by us, please send an email (max 500 words) giving your background, your idea and other information you feel is relevant to graduate.studies@phc.ox.ac.uk