Psychology: Fully Funded Centre for Military Gambling Research (MilGAM) PhD Scholarship (RS433)

Funding provider: Gambling Commission - Social Responsibility Funds (by way of Regulatory Settlements) 

Subject areas: Clinical psychology, mental health, public health, military health, data science

Project start date: 1 January 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-December) 

Supervisors: 

• Professor Simon Dymond
• Dr Martyn Quigley
• Dr Sebastian Whiteford

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Psychology

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

The present scholarship is to support the creation of the first-ever Centre for Military Gambling Research (MilGAM) that will: 

• Work with key stakeholders and beneficiaries to design and evaluate safer gambling interventions across the UK Armed Forces to help them understand, identify, and support those most at-risk and affected others. 
• Build research and treatment evidence for policy and Defence-led organisational changes through an evidence hub and knowledge exchange services to be extended and replicated globally. 
• Explore pathways to impact, raise awareness of gambling related harm among military researchers and treatment providers, and evaluate cost effectiveness of proposed treatment solutions. 
• Embed lived experience of gambling harm and military service within all aspects of the Centre’s work. 
• Develop links with routine-collected data sources, consultation-based healthcare coding, and financial support services to identify trends, conduct regular screening, and ensure individualised treatment and support for service personnel and affected others. 
• Disseminate and share findings and methods, open access, with relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries. 

There is, therefore, potential scope for the successful candidate to propose and agree a programme of research in keeping with both their interests and the MilGAM Centre’s aims. Potential projects include, but are not limited to: 

• Harmful gambling screening tools and financial management for service personnel and transition-focussed veterans. 
• Digital platform interventions for harmful gambling and co-occurring challenges. 
• Understanding the lived experience of service personnel, veterans, and affected others coping with harm from gambling. 
• Improving data linkage opportunities among routinely collected military and general population information sources. 

Interested applicants are welcome to refer to one or more of these potential projects, or propose their own projects, within their application. 

Candidates must hold an Upper Second Class (2.1) honours degree. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements (see country specific qualifications). Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.  

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. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is not open to applications from international students (unless eligible to pay UK tuition fee rates as defined by UKCISA regulations). 

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 UK tuition fees for three years and an annual stipend of £18,622 at the UKRI rate.

Additional research expenses will also be available. 

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

1. Course choice – please select Psychology / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / January

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 'RS433 - MiLGAM1'

*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 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.
• 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 Professor Simon Dymond (s.o.dymond@swansea.ac.uk / 01792 295602) 

*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.