Sports Science: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship: Development, Evaluation and Application of Immersive Learning Environments for Performance Sport (RS641)

Funding provider(s):  (Swansea Bay City Deal (SBCD) Digital Infrastructure Project) 

 Subject area(s): Sport and Exercise Sciences, Simulation and Immersive Learning 

 Project start date(s): 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Supervisors: Prof. Neil Bezodis, Dr Laura Mason, Associate Prof. Joanne Davies, Dr Natalie De Mello, other staff from the Faculty of Science and Engineering and external advisors from industrial sporting partners as required. 

Aligned programme of study:  PhD in Sports Science 

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: This exciting new project is the first formal collaboration between Swansea University’s world-leading Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre (SUSIM) and Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences. Over the last year, these two groups have developed interdisciplinary collaborations and conducted pilot projects in specific sporting applications. This PhD project will now expedite this process by formally leading the exploration of viable opportunities for the application of immersive learning environments to address key performance questions in sport. The successful candidate will work with a range of existing and new high performance sporting partners of the Elite and Professional Sport research group to identify areas where immersive learning has the potential to positively impact their performance through a variety of different means (for example, but not limited to, training applications, competition environment familiarisation, data visualisation). Empirical studies will then be designed and conducted to assess the effectiveness of selected potential applications. Both of these prior two aspects of the project may also be used to help inform the design of a sports-specific immersive laboratory within the new Swansea Bay City Deal Campuses Project development. 

Interviews planned for 9th August.

Candidates must hold a UK Bachelor degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in Sports Science or similar relevant science discipline, or overseas Bachelor degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS)  in Sports Science or similar relevant science discipline and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours – see country specific qualifications.

English Language: IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 5.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here. 

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. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £1000 per year will also be available.

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

1. Course choice – please select Sports Science/ PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / October

   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 event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.

2. Start year – please select 2024
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS641 - Performance Sport’

*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.

We encourage you to complete the following to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University: 

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online form) 

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• 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.
• Two references (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 (optional) 

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact Prof. Neil Bezodis (n.e.bezodis@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.