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Medical and Healthcare studies: MSc by Research - Climate change and pregnancy: effect of heat on inflammatory responses of pregnant women (RS937)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 20 April 2026
  • WalesWales

Description

Closing date: 20 April 2026

Open to: UK applicants only

Funding Providers: Wellcome Trust 

Subject Area: Climate Change and Pregnancy 

Project Start Dates: July 2026 (aligned to funding received by Wellcome Trust) ** 

**(See the note below regarding potential later start dates). 

Supervisors: 

  •  Professor Cathy Thornton 
  •  Dr Aisling Morrin 
  •  Dr Oliver Richards 

Aligned programme of study: Medical and Healthcare Studies MSc by Research 

Mode of study: Full time or Part time 

Place of study: Swansea University (Singleton Campus) 

Project description:  
Maternal And preGnancy hEalth aNd elevaTed heAt (MAGENTA): novel data-linkages to understand how temperature impacts pregnancy outcomes for people living in deprived communities in Wales and London.

The Wellcome Trust funded MAGENTA project at Swansea University, addresses a critical gap in understanding how climate-related factors, especially heat, impact maternal and neonatal health, particularly in deprived communities in Wales and London. This trans-disciplinary data-linkage and biological sampling study aims to understand the effects of heat exposure during pregnancy, considering socio-demographic factors, housing qualities, and other environmental influences. By combining large-scale data analysis with biological sampling, MAGENTA aims to provide comprehensive insights into the interplay between environmental factors and health outcomes, potentially leading to better-informed public health strategies and policies. This research project will explore the effect of heat on inflammatory responses of pregnant women. 

For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/climate-change-pregnancy-wellcome-trust-msc-rs937.php

Entry Requirements

MSc by Research: Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). 

English Language 

IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.

Scholarship open to UK fee-eligible applicants only. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA  

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [email protected] with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

Funding

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26). 

£1,000 funds for other expenses e.g. conferences, fieldwork will be provided as needed. 

How To Apply

To apply, please complete the entire application form here: 

July: Full Time 

July: Part Time

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.  

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS937 

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)  

  • In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:
  • the RS Code, RS937 
  • the scholarship title 
  • Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
  • Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
  • In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
  • Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf) 

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.  

It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.  

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.  

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.    

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted. 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):  

  • CV 
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)  
  • cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.  
  • One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.  
  • Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).  
  • Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)  
  • Confirmation of EDI form submission 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:  

NAME: Professor Cathy Thornton

EMAIL: [email protected] 

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable. 

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.

Who is eligible to apply?

UK applicants only

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