Research Degree Scholarships

PhD Research Studentship (full-time) – Cross-border professional learning in the Health and Wellbeing curriculum across Wales and Scotland.

Package: £20,780 year bursary plus tuition fees (at EU/UK rate). Stipend amounts are in line with UKRI rates. For 2025/26 this is set at £20,780. For subsequent years, the doctoral stipend will match those outlined annually by the UKRI.

Project Title: Dysgu proffesiynol trawsffiniol yn y cwricwlwm Iechyd a Lles yng Nghymru a’r Alban/ Cross-border professional learning in the Health and Wellbeing curriculum across Wales and Scotland.

Project Description: Wales and Scotland have both undergone major curriculum reforms through the Curriculum for Wales 2022 and Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. Both aim to equip young people with the skills needed for life in a changing world, placing greater emphasis on teacher agency and curriculum design. A key shared area within these reforms is Health and Wellbeing, which integrates elements of physical education, personal and social education, and nutrition. While both nations share similar aims, little research has explored how teachers experience these changes — particularly in relation to their professional learning, confidence, and evolving professional identities.

This doctoral project will investigate the professional learning needs of secondary Health and Wellbeing teachers in Wales and Scotland. It will critically examine teachers’ experiences of curriculum reform, explore their professional identities, and collaboratively design and evaluate a bilingual professional learning package that fosters cross-border collaboration.

The thesis will be written in Welsh, contributing to the growth of Welsh-medium educational research and supporting the aims of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. A mixed-methods approach will be adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative studies with teachers in both countries.

Criteria:

Essential Criteria

• Fluency in written and spoken Welsh (the thesis and associated outputs must be completed in Welsh)
• A good undergraduate degree (first class or upper second-class honours) and/or a Master’s degree in Sport, Education or a closely related field
• Evidence of strong academic writing and analytical ability
• Demonstrated understanding of educational theory, policy, or practice relevant to the proposed area of research.
• Proven ability to plan, conduct, and complete independent research projects.
• Awareness of research methods in educational based research.
• Excellent communication skills in Welsh and English, both oral and written
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a research community or academic team
• Commitment to contributing to Welsh-medium research and scholarship in education

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience of research in education, for example through a Master’s dissertation or funded project
• Familiarity with the Welsh and/or Scottish education system, its curriculum, or policy context
• Engagement with or contribution to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol or Welsh-medium higher education activities
• Competence in the use of research-related software, such as NVivo, SPSS, or similar tools
• Evidence of disseminating research (e.g. conference presentation, publication, or report)
• A clear interest in promoting education and scholarship in Welsh

Supervisory Team: Dr Lowri Edwards (DoS), Dr Anna Bryant, Professor Rhodri Lloyd

Application: Applicants should provide a personal statement (max 1000 words) outlining your experience, reasons for applying and a brief outline of your initial thoughts on the area of research. Please do not submit a formal research proposal. Please send your personal statement and full CV to: Laura Lind (LLind@cardiffmet.ac.uk).

Please provide the name, address and status of two referees who are willing to provide a reference for you. One should be your present or most recent employer (unless you have not worked before) and one other who is able to describe your suitability for this post. References are normally taken up when the candidate is invited for interview.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project in more detail before applying, please contact Dr Lowri Edwards on LCEdwards2@cardiffmet.ac.uk

The closing date for receipt of applications is 9^th January 2026. Interviews w/c 16^th February 2026.