Psychology: Fully funded PhD Studentship in Acquired Brain Injury and Legal Adjudication (RS819)

Funding provider: Headwise

The subject area: Psychology

The project start date: 1 July 2025

Supervisors: Dr Claire Williams, Professor Jason Davies and Professor Andrew Worthington

Aligned programme of study: Psychology PhD

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description:

Acquired brain injury is significantly overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with prevalence estimates in prison populations ranging from 50% to 80% in adult populations. The needs of individuals with brain injury who come into contact with the justice system are often complex, involving significant co-occurring challenges. 

While research has largely focused on improving identification and support within custodial settings - such as through brain injury screening tools at prison entry – far less attention has been paid to how brain injury is perceived and considered during earlier stages of the criminal justice process, particularly the adjudication phase. 

This lack of focus is important. Past research shows that nonevidential and extra-legal information can influence legal decision-making. We also know that laypeople and non-expert professionals often hold misconceptions about the long-term effects of brain injury. Yet legal decision-makers may need to interpret and synthesise complex medical and psychological information - such as evidence relating to brain injury - when reaching legal and sentencing-related decisions.  

A key consideration, then, is how individuals with brain injury are perceived and evaluated within the criminal justice system, and how this information may influence legal adjudication.  

This PhD will examine how brain injury-related information may be perceived and adjudicated upon, including sentencer awareness and the application of relevant legal guidance. Building on prior research between Swansea University and Headwise, the project will be shaped iteratively in collaboration with academic supervisors and stakeholders, using mixed methods to generate insights with real-world relevance for justice, rehabilitation, and policy reform. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations

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 European Applicants 2019 and Country-specific Information for International Applicants 2019.    

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. 

Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £19,237 for 2024/25). 

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information 

1. Course choice – please select

(Full Time) / PhD Psychology / 3 Year / (July) 

In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this case, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application. 

     2. Start year – please select July 2025 

     3. Funding (page 8 on the application process) – 

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No 

• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter  ‘RS819 - Headwise’ 

*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 

• 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 Claire Williams Claire.williams@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.