Sport Ethics, Psychology, Sport Policy: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Player Perceptions of Concussion and Welfare Protocols in Elite Academy and Adult Rugby Union Players (RS841)

  • DeadlineDeadline: 23 June 2025
  • WalesWales

Description

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:

  1. Understand player perceptions of elements of the game associated with heightened risk and vulnerability relevant to concussion.
  2. Evaluate perceived acceptability and legitimacy of current protocols implemented to prevent (e.g., tackle height restrictions), identify (e.g., HIA1 screening tool, instrumented mouthguards), and treat (e.g., concussion management protocols) concussion amongst parents and players.
  3. Canvas CMO’s views on the effectiveness of the current measured aims at preventing, identifying, and treating concussions.

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

Entry Requirements

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 emailpgrscholarships@swansea.ac.ukwith 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. 

How To Apply

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) 

  • In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  
  • the RS Code, RS841
  • 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 
  • A research proposal (1000 words) guidance on how to write a proposal linked here
  • Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 
  • A 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 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. 

Who is eligible to apply?

Open to: UK and international applicants

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