The Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at The University of Manchester enjoys an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research across nursing, midwifery, social work and related disciplines. 

We currently provide undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 2,000 students in close partnership with the NHS. In 2024, we ranked 2nd in the UK and 6^th globally in the QS World University Subject Rankings for Nursing.

Our research excellence is recognised by the results of REF 2021 and is underpinned by the production of collaborative, high-quality and impactful research that aims to improve health and social care at local, national and international levels.

Our research

We have a worldwide reputation for high-quality research in nursing, midwifery and social work, including extensive national and international collaborations with diverse communities and partners.

In REF 2021, Unit of Assessment 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy), our research was ranked 2nd out of 89 submissions from across the UK for research power.  We received the top rating (100% 4*) for our research environment and 96% of our outputs were ranked as 3* or 4*.

Our research groups

Our diverse research groups focus on contemporary challenges in health and social care to support equitable outcomes, and advance evidence-based practices for clinical and practice professional workforces. Characterised by high quality research and innovation, and utilising a wide range of methodological approaches, our interdisciplinary, creative approaches ensure lived experience is a core component of all we do.

In the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, our research activity is distributed across five research groups aligned with our Divisional strengths and the broader strategic research priorities of our School, Faculty, and University. Each research group fosters an inclusive and supportive research environment dedicated to nurturing career development and the next generation of research leaders.

Digital health and social care

The use of digital technologies, such as video consultations, mobile phone apps and remote symptom monitoring, is becoming increasingly common across health and social care.

We are a multidisciplinary group that carries out research exploring the use of digital technologies in health and social care settings. 

More about our digital health and social care research

Healthy ageing

We undertake high-quality research into older adults with an emphasis on healthy and active ageing to ensure the promotion of good health and active participation in society.

Our research activities engage the public and patients, and our work demonstrates change in policy and practice for older people at a local, national and international levels.

More about our healthy ageing research

Mental health

We undertake and disseminate high-quality, interdisciplinary national and international mental health research that both influences and is responsive to contemporary mental health policy, practice and education.

Our research is strongly influenced by psychosocial models of mental health, particularly cognitive and behavioural approaches.

More about our mental health research

Social research in health and social care

We champion applied social research methods and studies within the context of health and social care in the UK and internationally.

Our group encompasses Social Care and Society (SCS) and Social Research with Deaf people (SORD), an internationally leading specialist sign bilingual research group addressing health and social care with Deaf sign language users across the lifespan.

More about SCS
More about SORD

Long-term conditions

We undertake high-quality, national and international research to improve the quality of life and support for with long term conditions and their families.

This includes timely and equitable access to care, service organisation, self-management, and improvement of psychological and physical wellbeing.

More about our supportive and palliative care research

Head of Division

Professor Dawn Dowding

Our researchers

View a list of researchers within the Division

Contact

Joanne Cox, PA to the Head of Division
Email: [email protected]