Health and Social Care: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Intensive Learning Academy (ILA) Innovation in Health and Social Care Scholarship (RS844)

Funding Providers: Welsh Government through the Innovation Intensive Learning Academy 

Subject Area: Health and Social Care Innovation  

Project start dates: October 2025 

Supervisors: to be determined on application

Aligned Programmes of Study: PhD Business Management 

Mode of Study: Full-Time, Method B 

Place of Study: Workplace and School of Management 

Project description:  
The All-Wales Intensive Learning Academy for Innovation in Health and Social Care has been developed to deliver a world-class learning, research and teaching base that will equip leaders with the confidence, skills and capability to realise innovation in health & care and wellbeing. 

Supported by Welsh Government, the Academy has been developed to support innovation, from the incremental to transformative across Health & Social Care. Involving public, private and third sectors through a case-based learning and practice approach, drawing upon front-line activities of groups such as the NHS Innovation Leads through to international knowledge and expertise of international partners and networks.  

The All-Wales Academy for Innovation in Health and Social Care welcomes applications for Postgraduate Research Study from individuals working for Health and Social Care in Wales. Organisational support for professional learners is required, including consideration of how the research activity and output related to the policy and/or practice. Topics can relate to any aspect of innovation which focus on delivering against the Priorities of a Healthier Wales. Applications will be selected on the basis of this contribution, and against the eligibility criteria listed below. 

As part of this programme we are able to offer several full-fee scholarships to professional learners from across Wales, working with the following: 

• NHS Wales  
• Local Authority Social Services 
• Social Care Organisations in Wales 
• Third Sector organisations in Wales 

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 (Full list of categories for HE in Wales)  

Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. See – Country Specific Information for International Applicants 2025    

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. For further information, please see the Swansea University English Language Entry Policy. 

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 are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees. 

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available. 

Method B rules apply as the students will be professional learners employed, doing the PhD fulltime in their place of work.

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. RS844 

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

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input both:  

• the RS Code RS844
• 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 

• Method B form

• 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 Dan Rees d.j.rees@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.