Engaging with current research is an important part of your professional development as a podiatry student.

Accessing journals and research papers

As a student member, you have access to:

• The Podiatrist (the online magazine of The Royal College of Podiatry)

• Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (the official journal of the Australian Podiatry Association and the Royal College of Podiatry)

Research papers are usually featured in these publications. 

You can also access the Centre for the History of Podiatric Medicine (CHoPM), our historical archive. It seeks to identify, collect and preserve original and unique records which document the history of chiropody, podiatry as well as shoe-making.

Support with research

There are many reasons why a podiatrist might want to begin a career in research. For some, it offers them the chance to work intensely for focussed blocks of time on projects. For others, they enjoy working creatively to problem-solve. 

It is a highly autonomous way of life that can often give you more control over your time and the ability to choose when and where you work. It can be highly collaborative, and many people value the opportunities it gives them to meet and work with new people. It is a chance to work well in teams, but also to step out and lead independent projects.

Read more about podiatry research. 

Help with a literature review

Watch our Chief Clinical Advisor Dr Helen Branthwaite guide you in how to conduct a literature search for your research, learning module or work project.

Dr Branthwaite uses tools like Google Scholar and Research Gate and shows you how to get the most out of both platforms.

Get specialist guidance

Our Faculty of Podiatric Medicine includes Specialist Advisory Groups (SAGs) that can provide guidance on research in specific areas of practice.

Current Specialist Advisory Groups include:

• Children's Podiatry Group

• Complimentary and Integrated Medicine in Podiatry Group

• Foot in Diabetes UK (FDUK)

• Forensic Podiatry Group

• Mental Health and Learning Disability Group

• MSK:UK

• Podiatric Dermatology Group

• Podiatric Rheumatic Care Association

• Podiatric Sports Medicine Group

• Therapeutic Footwear Group

• Vascular Podiatry Group

• Ultrasound imaging in Podiatry Group

You can join these groups to connect with podiatrists who have research interests in these areas.

Learn research skills

FutureLearn also provides a range of courses and degrees to support research, including:

• research methods

• an introduction to research ethics

• how to write a PhD research proposal

• discovering Your PhD Potential: writing a research proposal

Student research opportunities

The Royal College of Podiatry supports student research through various initiatives and opportunities.

You can: 

• get information about student research grants or bursaries on our careers research pages

• get involved in ongoing research projects: just look for opportunities in the fortnightly membership newsletter that you’ll be sent

• find opportunities for mentorship if you’re a student researcher on our careers research pages

• get your research published in The Podiatrist or the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

• get your short papers or research posters published at our annual conference