PhD Expressive Arts (Lles)

PhD Studentship: Expressive Arts, Language and Well-Being

Cardiff Metropolitan University School of Education and Social Policy, and School of Sport and Health Science are delighted to offer a four-year fully funded Lles studentship on: ‘A critical examination of the role of the expressive arts in supporting language development and the impact this has on well-being among young bilingual learners aged 7-11’.

The studentship is part of an AHRC-funded Doctoral Fund Award entitled Lles, which will fund 28 studentships across Wales’ universities. It will commence in October 2026.

About Lles

Lles is a consortium of all Wales’ universities, working in partnership with Welsh public and third-sector bodies. It will fund and train PhD students to investigate issues relating to wellbeing through the arts and humanities. Lles is a Welsh word that means ‘benefit’ or ‘wellbeing’. Its use here captures both how Lles students will benefit from training and career development and how their research on wellbeing will be for the benefit of wider society in Wales and beyond.

Lles and its studentships are guided by the ambition, principles and requirements of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This legislation is globally unique and obligates Welsh public bodies to set objectives and take steps to improve the economic, social, environmental, and cultural wellbeing of Wales against seven goals: prosperity, resilience, equality, health, cohesive communities, vibrant culture and Welsh language, global responsibility. Lles seeks to use the arts and humanities to meet and understand these goals.

Lles will fund 28 PhD studentships over 4 cohorts. Lles studentships will explore and demonstrate how the arts and humanities can contribute to a healthy planet, people, and places. At the project’s heart is the Well-being of Future Generations Act (Wales) 2015. This unique legislation was designed to improve the wellbeing and sustainability of people and places in Wales. The underpinning goal of Lles is to work with and take forward that vision. All its students will receive bespoke training delivered in collaboration with the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales about the Act, its five ways of working and how these can be used in public life and policy. Every Lles student will undertake a sustained placement with a Welsh public body where they will develop their research and employment experiences.

Project overview

Education in Wales has undergone significant reform with the introduction of the Curriculum for Wales, a statutory framework for learners aged 3–16. It aims to foster lifelong learning via four core purposes: developing ambitious learners, creative contributors, healthy individuals, and ethical citizens. The curriculum is organised into six Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLEs) - including Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, and Language, Literacy and Communication - emphasising progression, inclusivity, and cross-curricular skills.

Expressive Arts occupies a unique position in the Curriculum for Wales as a subject and a teaching approach that enriches learning. Linked to improved well-being and language development, its role in minority language contexts like Welsh is underexplored. While the Curriculum promotes collaboration with artists and creative practices to enhance learning, limited training in initial teacher education undermines practitioner confidence and consistent delivery.

Expressive arts also supports language acquisition by creating authentic, low-pressure opportunities for communication. Activities such as drama, storytelling, and music foster vocabulary growth, oral fluency, and phonological awareness—key for literacy. In Welsh-medium and bilingual settings, these strategies help normalise language use and embed it within cultural practices. Despite this potential, research on their role in minority language development remains scarce.

This study will work with 5-10 primary schools to evaluate how expressive arts supports emerging Welsh language skills and learner well-being at Progression Stage 1. The project will also establish a collaborative network of practitioners and learners, ensuring co-created, contextually relevant, and sustainable strategies that support language development, well-being, and professional growth.

Objectives include:

Investigate how expressive arts aid early Welsh language development in learners.
Examine their role in sustaining learner well-being.
Develop and evaluate an expressive arts framework to support Welsh language acquisition and well-being.

Anticipated methods include standardised well-being measures and Welsh language assessments, observations, semi-structured practitioner interviews, and learner input via the Mosaic Approach.

This PhD will be supervised by Dr Rhiannon Packer, and Dr. Mirain Rhys, with Eve Oliver as Professional Advisor.

Placement

All Lles students are required to undertake a placement that totals at least three months. For this project, the placement consists of several elements that support the student to design a collaborative framework that integrates expressive arts to enhance bilingual literacy and learner well-being. Professional development will be guided by Eve Oliver, who leads Art and Design across Initial Teacher Education programmes. With extensive experience as a Curriculum Leader, Eve will ensure placements reflect best practice in expressive arts pedagogy.

An induction programme will introduce expressive arts pedagogy, safeguarding, and lesson planning, followed by lesson observations in partner schools.
The student will work in one of the partner schools to gain further insight into how expressive arts can aid early Welsh language development and sustains wellbeing.
Through the Cardiff Partnership for Initial Teacher Education, the student will access a network of schools across South Wales for research and placements. A skills audit will inform an individualised development plan, supported by institutional training opportunities.
Working closely with teachers and learners, the student will foster professional dialogue, share innovative practices, and create opportunities for practitioner development.
To strengthen the pedagogical foundation, the student will explore shadowing opportunities with creative practitioners through partnerships with arts organisations in Wales. These experiences will inform a practical framework for integrating expressive arts into bilingual education.

Applicant webinar

A webinar for applicants will be held on 3 March at 4pm. This will be an opportunity to understand the Lles project and ask questions.

Entry Criteria

To receive Lles studentship funding, you should have qualifications or experience equivalent to an UK honours degree at a first or upper second-class level, or a masters. Students with non-traditional academic backgrounds are also welcome to apply.

Welsh language requirements

The successful candidate must be a proficient user of Welsh (C1-C2 CEFR categorisation). It is intended that the successful candidate will collaborate bilingually within the project, but that the language of submission is open for discussion.

Welsh language competency will be assessed as part of the application process.

International Eligibility

International students are eligible to apply for this studentship but must adhere to the aforementioned Welsh language requirements.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Lles is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

Assessment

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview. As part of the interview process, applicants will be asked to give a short presentation and answer a series of panel questions. Interviews may be held in person but should also be available through Zoom/Teams for all students who wish to participate in that way. We offer travel reimbursement and overnight accommodation for interviews. Interviews can be conducted in both Welsh and English.

How to apply

Applications, including all required documents, must be received by 27 March 2026 to ESSHResearchDegrees@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

Your application must include:

CV - This may be in a narrative form, demonstrating how your lived experience, educational and/or work journey showcases your potential
Statement outlining your interest in this project, your ideas for it and your suitability to undertake it (2 pages max)
Academic or professional references (candidates must approach referees themselves and include references with their application. The reference must detail the applicant’s research strengths).
Degree certificates and Transcripts (including translations if applicable)
If relevant, proof of English Language Competency

Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.

Following a selection process, the successful candidate will be invited to enrol onto our PhD programme via our Self-Service application portal. Here you will be required to complete Cardiff Metropolitan University’s application form and upload all supporting documentation.

Funding

The studentship funded by the AHRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £20,780 for 2025-26 full-time) and includes access to a Research Training Support Grant. Full and part-time applications are welcomed. If you have a disability, you may be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on top of your studentship.

This studentship is funded as part of a wider doctoral focal award funded by the AHRC entitled ‘Lles’.