9 Midwifery and Maternal Health PhD Positions in the UK and Ireland (2026)
These midwifery and maternal health PhD positions in the UK and Ireland are a starting point for applicants who want to research maternity care, midwifery education, and the health of women and newborns. The groups cover community and postnatal midwifery, maternity safety, respectful care, perinatal mental health, and the maternity workforce.
Each link goes to a direct faculty, lab, or research-portal page, and we checked every one on September 28, 2026. The table shows the study levels indicated in the source list, but the linked page remains the authority on current openings.
| Professor | University | Research focus | Levels | Direct source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah McCauley | Queen's University Belfast | Global maternal and newborn health, midwifery education, maternity-care workforce, respectful maternity care and implementation research | PhD | View page |
| Caroline Keegan | University of Galway | Community and postnatal midwifery, midwifery education, woman-centred care and active birth | PhD | View page |
| Linda Biesty | University of Galway | Midwifery education, maternity care, community midwifery and education of midwifery students | PhD | View page |
| Julia Sanders | Cardiff University | Midwifery, maternity safety, early-years interventions, neonatal care and health-services organisation | PhD | View page |
| Jennifer McNeill | Queen's University Belfast | Maternal and child health, midwifery practice and education, and improving clinical outcomes | PhD | View page |
| Alys Einion | University of Dundee | Midwifery and maternal health, history of midwifery, maternity care, hypnobirthing and human rights in childbearing | PhD | View page |
| Anna Sydor | Cardiff University | Women's health, childbirth, midwifery, sexual health, domestic abuse and coercive control | PhD | View page |
| Anna Chatzi | University of Limerick | Nursing and midwifery research | PhD | View page |
| Annmarie Grealish | University of Limerick | Perinatal mental health, trauma, psychological interventions and young people's mental health | PhD | View page |
Check how closely the project is tied to practice
Midwifery research often sits close to clinical services, so supervision, ethics approval, and funding can depend on partner hospitals or health-service bodies. When you read a profile, note whether the work is education research, clinical or policy research, or workforce studies, and name the strand you actually want to work on.
Confirm the application route before you contact the professor
Some profile pages invite prospective students to make contact. Others expect applicants to apply through a department portal first. Follow the instructions on the linked page, check that any message is recent, and do not treat a profile or a listed degree level as a promise of admission or funding. Recruiting needs can change after a project is filled or a grant timeline shifts.
If direct outreach is appropriate, our guides explain how to evaluate research fit and how to write a focused email.