Sport and Exercise Science: #ifyougoigo: Challenging stereotypes and barriers to participation to get more teenage girls, more active, more often (RS968)

Funding Providers: Torfaen County Council 

Subject Area: Sport and Exercise Sciences 

Project Start Dates: October 2026 

** (Please see the note below regarding potential earlier/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: 

• Melitta McNarry  
•  Kelly Mackintosh 
•  Amie Richards 

Aligned programme of study: Sport and Exercise Science, MSc by Research 

Mode of study: Full time 

Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus) 

Project description: 

This MSc by Research project presents a unique opportunity for an individual to be embedded within a Local Authority (LA) to evaluate their #ifyougoigo campaign. The candidate will work closely with practitioners and service providers at Torfaen County Borough Council, researchers at the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS; a pan-Wales collaboration between each of the eight Welsh Higher Education Institutes and Sport Wales), and teenage girls attending the #ifyougoigo sessions, to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the programme. 

The #ifyougoigo campaign aims to get more teenage girls, more active, more often throughout the Torfaen LA. As part of this campaign, the Sports Development Team work in partnership with Torfaen Leisure Trust to run a physical activity programme for girls aged 13–18 years. The free, 10-week #ifyougoigo programme allows participants to take part in weekly group sessions and receive personalised 1-1 support, mentoring, and guidance targeted towards the long-term adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Girls on the programme also access Torfaen Leisure Trust classes and gyms and are supported to connect with local community sports clubs. 

The physical and mental health benefits of physical activity are well-established; however, low levels of physical activity, particularly among adolescent girls, persist. The Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie et al., 2011) highlights that behaviour is likely to be influenced by multiple factors, namely interactions between an individual’s Capability, Opportunity and Motivation (COM-B model). #ifyougoigo aims to remove practical barriers and work to change how girls feel and think about physical activity, exercise, and sport. Evidence and insight show that girls are far more likely to participate in physical activity if they have someone to go with them. This principle of peer support/companionship, along with the provision of a person-centred approach within a socially inclusive, professionally supported environment, is core to the design of the campaign. 

The key aims of this MSc project are to: 
• Identify opportunities to streamline and develop a tailored package of data collection and evaluation measures that consider i) both the short- and long-term impact on the physical, mental, and overall health and well-being of teenage girls, and ii) the potential economic impact and social return on investment. 
• Conduct a comprehensive independent evaluation of the programme, including, but not limited to, the production of a final report and recommendations for the future. 

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the Torfaen Sports Development team and be based between their Pontypool site and WIPAHS, with a base at the Sport and Exercise Sciences Department, Swansea University. They will be responsible for collecting data via a variety of methods (both qualitative and quantitative) that assess the effects of the programme on the physical, mental, and overall health and well-being of teenage girls participating in #ifyougoigo and will ultimately oversee a comprehensive evaluation of the programme.

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. 

MSc by Research: Applicants 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. 

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. 

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)  

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees. 

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. RS968  

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

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

• the RS Code, RS968  
• 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 - 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: Melitta McNarry 

EMAIL: m.mcnarry@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.