Funded PhDs and Research Degrees.

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD scholarship for a project funded by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol in the field of Psychology, to commence in October 2027.

Project Description

This PhD scholarship addresses a critical gap in educational provision in Wales: the process of identifying Additional Learning Needs (ALN) in children receiving Welsh-medium or bilingual education. Although there is a growing research consensus confirming that bilingualism is not detrimental to the development of children with ALN (Ward & Sanoudaki, 2021; 2024; Zhou et al., 2019), and may even offer broader benefits (Uljarević et al., 2016; Montgomery et al., 2022), practical concerns and challenges persist regarding access and equity in educational provision. Given the rising demand for ALN support in recent years (e.g., the number of children with an Individual Development Plan rose from 21,319 in 2024 to 32,127 in 2025; Welsh Government, 2025), it is essential to ensure that the right children receive the right support at the right time. 

At the same time, recent studies have highlighted that parents continue to receive advice from professionals to adopt a monolingual approach, which can lead to stress and limit the child's linguistic identity (Hampton et al., 2017; Lim et al., 2024; Ward et al., under review). In Wales specifically, evidence suggests that children from bilingual or minority backgrounds may face delays in receiving a diagnosis (Ward et al., in prep), often accompanied by specific concerns regarding the suitability of current assessment tools (Thomas et al., 2023). Following the introduction of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2021, local authorities have a statutory duty to identify and meet the needs of children with ALN. Given that approximately 20% of the population speaks Welsh (ONS, 2021) and many others speak other minority languages, identifying ALN in bilingual children is a crucial issue for ensuring fairness and inclusion. Early identification is essential, with a recent Wales-based study showing that ALN identification is the most influential factor in understanding learner attainment (Knight et al., 2024). Learners who waited longer to be identified as having ALN were less likely to reach expected standards. This underscores the importance of timely identification and support.

The purpose of this project is to develop our understanding of how children with ALN are identified within bilingual contexts and to identify the challenges or barriers that prevent some children from being identified and supported in a timely manner. Using mixed methods, the project aims primarily to explore the nature of the relationship between bilingualism, the ALN identification process, and subsequent support pathways for children in Wales. These steps will enable us to gain greater insight into the process of identifying and assessing bilingual children in Wales and to highlight any gaps in this process. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Rebecca Ward and Dr Richard May from the School of Psychology at the University of South Wales.

Funding

The scholarship is fully funded by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. A condition of the funding is that the thesis must be prepared and submitted in Welsh. The scholarship is available for a three-year period to cover UK tuition fees and a maintenance grant (which was £21,805 for 2026-27). Applications for part-time study are also considered, with the scholarship available on a pro-rata basis. The successful candidate may be expected to undertake occasional teaching duties through the medium of Welsh in the Department of Psychology.

Entry Requirements

The candidate should have obtained (or expect to obtain soon) a first-class or upper second-class degree in Psychology, Education, or other relevant field. A Master’s-level qualification is desirable. The candidate should be able to speak and write Welsh fluently. It would be advantageous for the candidate to have experience of statistical analysis and conducting qualitative research (e.g., conducting interviews).

More Information

For more information about the project, please contact the lead supervisor, Dr Rebecca Ward – [email protected].

For more information about the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarship, follow this link. For more information about the Psychology department at the University of South Wales, visit: Psychology – University of South Wales

How to apply

The closing date for applications is Friday, 27 November 2026. Interviews for the scholarship will take place between 5-8 January 2027. Apply online using the information given on the University website, choosing October 2027 as the start date.

The University of South Wales are delighted to offer a fully funded Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) (ESRC DTP) studentship in the Social Care, Social Work and Social Policy Pathway starting in October 2027.  

The Social Policy Research and innovation Group at the University of South Wales is a leading hub for social and public policy analysis. We have strengths in a range of areas of social and public policy including international development; global social policy; displacement and refugees; humanitarian development; geopolitics of energy; climate change; citizen involvement and participation; governance and scrutiny; equality and social justice.

Entry Criteria:    

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must 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.    Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.  

Duration of study:   

Durations of study varies from 3.5 (PhD) to 1+3.5 (MSc + PhD) years full time (or part time equivalent). The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.    

Research in practice placement:   

All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.    

International Eligibility:   

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:  

WGSSS 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 

How to apply:   

Applications should be received no later than 11/12/26 including all required documents. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.    

All applications should be submitted here (please ensure you select October 2027 entry).

Please read the competition guidance carefully before applying.

Please include the following documents with your application:   

• WGSSS Application Form
• Academic CV (two pages maximum) 
• 2 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 (see institutional requirements for entry)

WGSSS is required to report on Equality and Diversity data to the ESRC, the government research council that funds WGSSS. Before you submit your application, please complete the WGSSS Equality and Diversity Data Form. You may be required to complete a separate form when submitting your application to your host institution.

Funding:   

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £21,805 for 2026-27 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.    

For advice on the application process please contact the Graduate School [email protected]

For a general enquiry or informal discussion about a potential research topic please contact Professor Palash Kamruzzaman [email protected]

Closing date: 11/12/2026

The Centre for Criminology at the University of South Wales are delighted to offer a fully funded Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) (ESRC DTP) studentship in the Law and Criminology Pathway starting in October 2027.  

The Centre provides world-leading research-led solutions to contemporary and emerging challenges facing society, criminals, victims and the environment. Our specialist research and innovation groups include substance use; green, global and transnational criminology; violence, homicide and major crime investigation; youth justice, and state and non-state responses to crime. The results of the Research Excellence Framework 2021 recognise that 71% of our research is world leading or internationally excellent (4* / 3*). We are the first in Wales for impact, with more than 80% of our research impact being world leading or internationally excellent (4* / 3*).

We have a thriving and diverse research culture. The recruitment of exceptional postgraduate students from the UK and around the world is central to our research philosophy. We encourage applicants to read through the Centre staff profiles to identify those with similar research interests and to approach a potential supervisor to discuss their proposal prior to submitting their application.

Entry Criteria:    

To receive WGSSS studentship funding, you must 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.    Applicants should satisfy the UKRI eligibility requirements.     

Duration of study:   

Durations of study varies from 3.5 (PhD) to 1+3.5 (MSc + PhD) years full time (or part time equivalent). The duration study is dependent on prior research experience and training needs of the student which will be assessed by completing a Development Needs Analysis. We welcome applications for both full and part-time study.   

Research in practice placement:   

All WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3-months in total (or part-time equivalent). All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations.    

International Eligibility:   

WGSSS studentships are available to home and international students. Up to 30% of our cohort can comprise international students. International students will not be charged the fee difference between the UK and international rate.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:  

WGSSS 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 

How to apply:   

Applications should be received no later than 11/12/26 including all required documents. Due to the volume of applications received, incomplete applications will not be considered.    

All applications should be submitted here (please ensure you select October 2027 entry).

Please read the competition guidance carefully before applying.

Please include the following documents with your application:   

• WGSSS Application Form
• Academic CV (two pages maximum) 
• 2 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 (see institutional requirements for entry).   

WGSSS is required to report on Equality and Diversity data to the ESRC, the government research council that funds WGSSS. Before you submit your application, please complete the WGSSS Equality and Diversity Data Form. You may be required to complete a separate form when submitting your application to your host institution.

Funding:   

The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £21,805 for 2026-27 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.     

For advice on the application process please contact the Graduate School [email protected]

For a general enquiry or informal discussion about a potential research topic please contact Dr Marian Buhociu [email protected]

Closing date: 11/12/2026