Closing date: 27 April 2026
Funding Providers: EPSRC and UKSI
Subject Area: STEM, Maths, Physics, Computer Science, Sport Science
Project Start Dates: July 2026 **(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates).
Supervisors:
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Sport and Exercise Science
Mode of study: Full time and Part time
Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus)
Project description:
A large volume of data are routinely captured in high-performance training and competition environments. Whilst these data have the potential to inform key performance decisions, the full potential performance impact is often not realised. In some instances, this is because the volume of usable data is relatively small – compared with other ‘big data’ domains – due to factors such as data quality and/or completeness. In other instances, where sufficient data do exist, the models used in attempts to glean performance insight may be overly simple and violate mathematical or statistical assumptions or be overly complex and fail to fully reflect applied sporting principles or be interpretable and usable for practitioners and coaches.
This project aims to address genuine performance questions in Olympic and Paralympic sports by firstly mapping their performance‑critical decisions and identifying the information, evidence and conditions required to make those decisions well. Secondly, the project will implement bespoke methods – including advanced data modelling approaches (e.g., machine learning, digital twin models) and AI techniques where appropriate – to provide novel solutions that enable sports to make performance decisions that are better informed by data and to make performance‑critical decisions with greater confidence and clarity. This is an applied data science collaboration between Swansea University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences (Sports Analytics specialist area) and the UK Sports Institute, and it will combine expertise from both partners in sports science, mathematics and statistics, and computer science. We welcome applications from candidates with a passion for high-performance sport, education and experience in any/all of the above, and a willingness to extend their skills in, and collaborate with experts from, other disciplines.
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/sports-science-epsrc-uksi-phd-olympic-paralympic-rs941.php
Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA.
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.
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.
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Sports Science or similar relevant science discipline.
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.
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.
To apply, please complete the entire application form here.
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. RS941
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:
NAME: Dr Rowan Brown
EMAIL: [email protected]
NAME: Professor Liam Kilduff
EMAIL: [email protected]
NAME: Professor Neil Bezodis
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.
Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only.
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