Key Information
Funding providers: This project is co-funded by the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University and Scarlet’s Rugby
Subject area(s): Sports nutrition
Project start dates:
- 1 April 2025 (Enrolment open from mid–March)
- 1 July 2025 (Enrolment open from mid- June)
Supervisors: Dr Mark Waldron, Dr Richard Metcalfe, Prof. Liam Kilduff
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Sports and Exercise Science
Mode of study: Full-time
Project description:
Keeping players available for selection and ready to perform at a high level is a key challenge in elite sport. Indeed, professional rugby is an intense, collision-heavy sport that places severe demands on players, who are regularly exposed to pronounced exercise-induced muscle damage and soreness, which are present for several days after a match and persist throughout an entire competitive season. This can impair performance and result in injury or illness. Therefore, identification of optimal recovery strategies to alleviate post-exercise muscle damage and soreness is crucial.
Post-exercise nutrition and sleep practices are key components in an optimal recovery strategy. For example, several dietary supplements are purported to reduce post-exercise muscle soreness and enhance sleep. However, the evidence to support these supplements is often based on small and poor-quality studies that have not been conducted in elite athletes with appropriate dietary controls that reflect applied practice.
Recognising a need to bridge this gap, and better understand how to utilise resources to optimise their current recovery practices, Scarlets Rugby seeks to collaborate on a series of cutting cutting-edge research studies, focusing on dietary and sleep strategies to promote recovery and improve performance in elite Rugby players.
Eligibility
PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Sports Science or similar relevant science discipline. See – Country-specific Information for EU and International Candidates.
English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (5.5+ each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.
Funding
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).
Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information
- Course choice– please select as per preferred mode of study, either:
(Full Time) Sport and Exercise Science / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / April
or
(Full Time) Sport and Exercise Science / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / July
2. Start year– please select 2025
3. Funding (page 8 on the application process)
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.
- ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
- ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS789 Rugby Union’
*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 Mark Waldron on mark.waldron@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.
