Closing date: 23 June 2025
Open to: UK and international applicants
Funding provider: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Subject areas: Sport Ethics, Concussion Policy
The project start date: October 2025
Supervisors: Dr Luke Cox (Swansea University), Prof Mike McNamee (Swansea University), Prof Ian Boardley (University of Birmingham)
Aligned programme of study: Sport and Exercise Science, PhD
Mode of study: Full-Time
Place of study: Swansea University, Wales, UK
Project Description:
There is growing awareness of the need to protect Rugby Union players from repetitive head injuries. This project will conduct research with male and female rugby players, parents of young players, and chief medical officers (CMO) across geographical locations, including Northern (e.g., England, Wales, France, Canada) and Southern (e.g., South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji) Hemispheres.
The aims of the project include:
This insight will provide evidence to inform local and international policy development and has potential for high societal impacts and top-ranking journals. This will reinforce Swansea University’s reputation and position as one of the leading research institutions within the world for sport ethics, and further develop its current sport policy work. The PhD will consist of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, using advanced statistical and thematic analysis that will generate novel and original data.
Funding duration: 3 years
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/sport-fse-phd-rs841.php
Open to: UK and international applicants
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University, see - Country Specific Entry Requirements page) and a master’s degree in Sports Science or a similar relevant science discipline. Some experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection/analysis is also essential.
English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship you're 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).
Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.
SUIPRES
International Students – Fully funded if the applicant is successful in being offered a SUIPRES Scholarship as outlined below.
Swansea University is pleased to offer the Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES). This is a competitively awarded Scholarship open to overseas PhD and Professional Doctorate applicants eligible for the international rate of tuition fees who can demonstrate excellence in academic achievement.
The SUIPRES Scholarship covers the difference between the International and the Home tuition fee for the duration of the PhD/Professional Doctorate programme. Successful candidates will be charged fees aligned to the UK rate per year. The scholarship will be offset against your tuition fee liability.
All International applications will be considered for a SUIPRES Scholarship. You will be informed whether a SUIPRES Scholarship will be offered within your offer letter.
To apply, please complete the entire application form:
In order 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. RS841
2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)
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):
Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Dr Luke Cox L.T.J.Cox@Swansea.ac.uk
*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.
Open to: UK and international applicants
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