Digital Healthcare: Fully Funded DHCW PhD: Innovation in the NHS: A Longitudinal Study of Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) Introduction in Wales (RS861)

Funding provider: Welsh Govt. via Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) – part of NHS Wales 

Subject areas: Digital Healthcare, business and service change, technology deployment, digital medicines transformation 

Project start date: 1st October 2025

Supervisors: Professor Nick Rich  

Aligned programme of study:  PhD Business Management 

Mode of study:  Full Time  

Project description:  

• To monitor the implementation of Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) systems in NHS Wales and to follow specific case studies as Health Boards introduce their EPMA platforms. 

• To monitor system/process changes and reported performance and benefits indicators. 

• To assess the change programme from the employee perspective (clinical and non-clinical).  

• To cross-compare case studies of implementation and performance improvement. 

Minimum Degree requirements are 2.1 bachelor's degree and a master's degree with merit, plus a minimum of 5 years relevant experience in a professional role  

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(s) you are interested in. 

Tuition Fees:

UK fee eligible students: Fully covered 

International students: Fully covered 

Stipend value: £ 58,706 over three years 

Expenses up to Value: £12,000 over the three years 

To apply, please complete the entire application form, following this link: Complete your application here in Learner Gateway 

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. RS861 

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

1. In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:  
   • the RS Code, RS861 and 
   • the scholarship title.   
2. Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank 
3. Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank 
4. In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes 
5. 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. 

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).
2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.
3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

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) 

• 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 Nick Rich N.L.Rich@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.