Autism and healthcare: Public Health, Autism and cervical screening (RS963)

Funding Providers: Cancer Research Wales  

Subject Area: Autism and cervical screening 

Project Start Dates: October 2026 

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.) 

** 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. 

Supervisors: 

•  Dr Aimee Grant 
•  Dr Rebecca Ellis 
•  Dr Catrin Griffiths 

Aligned programme of study: Public Health, PhD 

Mode of study: Full time or Part time 

Place of study:  

• Swansea University (Singleton Campus) 
• Swansea University (Bay Campus) 

Project description: 

​​Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged under 35 in Wales. NHS Wales offers cervical screening (smear tests), but under 70% of people attend. Failure to attend smears increases the risk of people dying from cancer.  

​Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference impacting 3% of people, with limited gender difference.  Autistic people are much less likely than non-Autistic people to have smear tests, with 55% reporting to have never attended a smear. Our interview study found Autistic people find smear tests difficult because of lack of knowledge, worries about being touched and lack of pain relief offered.  

​Autistic people have informed this application and will be involved in designing the study throughout.  

​The student will: 

1. ​Conduct an evidence review that examines existing research to ask ‘why do cervical screening services not meet the needs of Autistic people?’ 
2. ​Test the concepts we identify through a Wales-wide survey of Autistic people eligible for smear tests. 
3. ​Co-develop an intervention with Autistic people and health professionals, to increase knowledge and confidence relating to smear tests and HPV self-sampling.  
4. ​Test the intervention with Autistic people and health professionals, to see if they think it is good. 

UK fee eligible applicants only  

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA (Full list of categories for HE in Wales) 

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. 

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

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.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for 2026/27). 

Additional research expenses of up to £6,800 per year will also be available. 

To apply, please complete the entire application form here.  

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. RS963  

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

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input: 
  • the RS Code, RS963  
  • 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. 

Important: If you have previously applied for the same programme & intake, do not re‑apply using a different email address. Applications submitted with an email address that differs from the one used in your original application will not be accepted or considered.  

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:  

NAME: Dr Aimee Grant 

EMAIL: Aimee.grant@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.