Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Sport and Exercise Science (ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences Pathway) Swansea University in United Kingdom

[ESRC studentship covers full tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend of £20,780 for 2025/26, plus access to a Research Training Support Grant and potential Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).] This fully funded PhD scholarship at Swansea University is offered through the ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) Sport and Exercise Science Pathway. The position is embedded within three dynamic research groups: Elite and Professional Sport, Exercise Medicine and Health, and Sport Ethics, Integrity and Governance. The Elite and Professional Sport group collaborates with top sporting organisations to improve performance through research-informed interventions in areas such as biomechanics, nutrition, genetics, and psychological factors like choking under pressure. The Exercise Medicine and Health group focuses on exercise physiology and physical activity across the lifespan, addressing major health challenges in clinical populations including diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, and asthma.

Their work has influenced public health policies and clinical practices nationally and internationally, and they are leaders in applying advanced data science methods to health promotion. The Sport Ethics, Integrity and Governance group is internationally recognised for its research into ethical and conceptual issues in sport, including anti-doping, athletes’ rights, match fixing, gender eligibility, and technology policies. The group has provided consultancy and research for organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, World Anti Doping Agency, and British Gymnastics. The ESRC studentship covers full tuition fees and an annual tax-free living stipend of £20,780 for 2025/26, with additional support through a Research Training Support Grant and Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) for eligible students.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in sport and exercise science or a related field, with a master’s degree desirable but not essential. International candidates may need to provide proof of English language proficiency. The application deadline is 11 December 2025. Prospective students are encouraged to develop a research proposal aligned with the research themes and submit their application via the Swansea University scholarship portal.