Sport and Exercise Science: Fully funded PhD Scholarship in the ESRC Welsh Graduate School for [...]

Swansea University; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the UK seeks candidates for PhD positions in Sport and Exercise Science. Applicants should have an honours degree or a master's from a UK institution. The role involves high-impact research that influences health policies and engages with elite sports organizations. Studentships cover tuition and provide a stipend, ensuring a robust support system for diverse students.

Benefits

Annual tax-free living stipend

Tuition fee coverage

Research Training Support Grant

Qualifications

• Qualifications or experience equal to honours degree, or a master’s.
• Non-traditional backgrounds are welcome.
• Ability to influence and transform health behavior through research.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in Sport and Exercise Science.
• Work with elite sporting organizations.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research for health improvements.

Skills

Research skills

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Honours degree at a first or upper second-class level

Master’s from a UK academic research organisation

Job description

Organisation/Company Swansea University Department Central Research Field Other Ethics in physical sciences » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 11 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (Europe/London) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number RS898 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer 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.

• 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.
• Exercise Medicine and Health: The Exercise, Medicine and Health (EMH) research groups strive 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 focuses 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.
• The Sport Ethics, Integrity and Governance research group’s growth was predicated on the successful award of 3 M 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 multidisciplinary work on policies and practices such as anti‑doping, athletes’ rights, match‑fixing, gender eligibility rules, technology policies, 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 master’s from a UK academic research organisation. Students with non‑traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [e-mail] 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.

Additional Information

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.

Selection process

Please see our website for more information.