Gambling related harm: PhD Psychology studentship - Gambling Harms Research UK (RS972)

Funding Providers: UKRI 

Subject Area:  Psychology 

Project Start Dates: January 2027 

** (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: 

• Prof Simon Dymond 

•  Dr Martyn Quigley 

•  Dr Jamie Torrance 

•  Dr Alice Hoon 

Aligned programme of study: Psychology, Ph.D. 

Mode of study: Full time 

Place of study: Swansea University (Singleton Campus) 

Project description: 

The GREAT Centre at Swansea University is a world-leading centre of excellence for research on gambling behaviour and gambling-related harm. The GREAT Centre oversees basic, applied, translational and clinical treatment research to mitigate the impact of gambling-related harm for individuals, families, and communities. Its members co-create and disseminate their policy-led work with the support and input of those with lived experience of gambling harm.  

Swansea University was ranked Welsh University of the Year in The Times Good University Guide 2025. Our commitment to research with real-world benefits has led to 86% of the University’s overall research being rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). The proportion of graduates in employment, study and/or other activities is 94% (HESA 2024). 

Our stunning waterfront campuses make us a desirable location for students and staff from around the world, and our multicultural community provides a global perspective, enabling those who join us to develop skills and knowledge that set them on successful and enriching careers.

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.  

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate: 

(£20,780 for 2025/26). - July 2026 

(£21,805 for 2026/27) - October 2026 onwards 

Additional research expenses of up to £600 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete the entire application form here

Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants

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. RS972

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

•  In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:

•  the RS Code, RS972
• 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 (max 3 pages)

•           Degree transcripts and certificates (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)

•           One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form.

If shortlisted, applicants will be required to arrange for two reference letters to be available.

• A personal statement of no more than 800 words.

Tips for writing a personal statement for your PhD studentship application:

Your personal statement is an opportunity to set out why you are a suitable candidate for these studentships and why this is the right step for you.

The tone of your statement should be professional and focused mostly on your academic background, research experience and relevant work experience. However, you can still get across aspects of your personality and what you would bring to the programme that might be different to other students.

We will be looking for a good awareness of what the programme involves and that you have the skills and attitude necessary to succeed. So, you should tell us what it is about the programme that appeals to you and why you want to do your PhD at our universities. You should also provide evidence of your general suitability for a PhD, including your academic rigour, capacity for independent learning, project management skills and your ability to sustain commitment over a long time period. Finally, you should discuss your interest and experience, where appropriate, in research on gambling, your specific research proposal and the methodological skills you will bring to the programme.

Overall, your personal statement should convince the selection committee that if we offer you a place on the programme, you would: (i) successfully complete the PhD to a high standard; (ii) be suitable for this particular PhD programme and make the most of the opportunities it offers and (iii) make a contribution to future research, policy or practice that helps to reduce the harm caused by gambling.

•           Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable - please note that you do not need to hold a valid English Language test at time of application, as any offer made can be conditional upon the appropriate level of English. Please find further information on what we can accept via our English Language policy pages here).

•           Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)

•           Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:

NAME: Professor Simon Dymond

EMAIL: s.o.dymond@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.