Sport and Exercise Science: Fully funded PhD Scholarship in the ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) Sport and Exercise Science pathway (RS899)

Funding providers: ESRC WGSSS 50%; Swansea University 50% 

Subject areas: ESRC WGSSS Studentship Sport and Exercise Science Pathway 

Project start dates: 1st October 2026 (enrolment open from mid-September)  **(Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.) 

Supervisors: This studentship is an ‘open’ award. Applicants should consider approaching a potential supervisor before submitting their application to confirm that there is appropriate supervisory capacity within the University and to discuss their draft application. Information on the research interests of our staff can be found on the Swansea University webpages. Short descriptions of each accredited pathway are available on the ESRC WGSSS website. The Swansea-based representative for the pathway, Dr John William Devine, j.w.devine@Swansea.ac.uk, might be able to advise you. 

Aligned programme of study: PhD Sport and Exercise Science 

Project Description: 

Research in the field of Sport and Exercise Science at Swansea is conducted by three related research groups. These groups will give you a good idea of the sort of research that is being undertaken at Swansea, and may in turn help you to develop a research proposal in the area of economics and/or the social sciences.  

1. Elite and Professional Sport: Our research has impacted policy, practice and improved performance throughout the elite pathway at the very highest level. We work with a range of elite and professional sporting organisations on a diverse range of research-informed interventions focusing on pre-conditioning and recovery, parenting, biomechanics, nutrition, choking under pressure, genetics, and numerous other topics which all play an important role in achieving high levels of performance. 
   
   
2. Exercise Medicine and Health: The Exercise, Medicine and Health (EMH) research group strives to address the major health challenges of the 21st century, improving people’s lives through exercise science. Our group is renowned for its work in exercise physiology and physical activity and health, across the lifespan and health conditions. Our work focusses mainly on pre-natal, paediatric, older adult and clinical populations, including Type I and Type II diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis and asthma. Working in close collaboration with research students, partners, health boards and charities, our research has directly influenced national and international public health policies and clinical practices. We are at the forefront of implementing novel technological approaches to health promotion and clinical care, including advanced data analysis and data science methods. In summary, our work seeks to transform health behaviour and outcomes across the age, geographic and socio-economic range to create a healthier population.  
   
   
3. The Sport Ethics, Integrity and Governance research group’s growth was predicated on the successful award of 3M euros from the European Commission in 2016 to launch the world’s first MA in the field of sports ethics and integrity. We conduct high level scholarship and research into conceptual and ethical problems in sports practices and institutions. Our work spans philosophical explorations of the nature of sport and ethical problems therein, to applied multi-disciplinary work on policies and practices such as anti doping, athletes’ rights, match fixing, gender eligibility rules, technology polices, and problems at the intersection of sport, engineering and medicine.  Examples of ethics, integrity and governance advice, research and consultancy in collaboration with and for key sport organisations include British Gymnastics, the European Athletes Association, the International Olympic Committee, the International Ice Hockey Federation, Sport Wales, UK Anti Doping, UK Sport the World Anti Doping Agency; and World Athletics.

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must have qualifications or experience equal to an honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply. 

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

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.

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate. Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.     

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. 

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025/26) and includes a Research Training Support Grant. 

If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship. Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) 

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. RS899 

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

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

• the RS Code, RS899 and 
• 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. 

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.  

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): 

• WGSSS_Studentship_Application_Form_2026.pdf 
• CV 
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient) 
• Two academic or professional references 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 

Assessment:    
Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions  

Duration of study:    
The duration of study varies from 3.5 to 4.5 years full time (or part time equivalent).      

The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.    

Research in practice placement:    
All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.     

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:   
WGSSS is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.   

*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.