Sports Science: Tuition fee ONLY Torfaen County Borough Council MSc by Research: Challenging stereotypes and barriers to participation to get more women, more active (RS602)

Tuition fee ONLY Torfaen County Borough Council MSc by Research Scholarship: #ifyougoigo: Challenging stereotypes and barriers to participation to get more women, more active, more often

Funding providers: Torfaen County Borough Council

Subject areas: Sport and Exercise Sciences – physical activity; behaviour change; health and well-being; psychology 

Project start date: 

• 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Project supervisors: 

• Professor Joanne Hudson (First)
• Professor Kelly Mackintosh (Secondary Maternity Cover) and Professor Melitta McNarry (Secondary)
• Dr Amie Richards (Amie.richards@swansea.ac.uk)

Aligned programme of study: MSc by Research in Sports Science

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

This MSc project presents a unique opportunity for an individual to be embedded within a Local Authority (LA) to evaluate their #ifyougoigo initiative. 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 women attending the #ifyougoigo sessions, to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the programme.

The #ifyougoigo initiative aims to get more women, more active, more often throughout the Torfaen LA. As part of this initiative, the Sports Development Team work in partnership with Torfaen Leisure Trust to run a physical activity programme for women aged 18-59 years, who have identified at least one physical- or mental- health-related reason they feel limits their engagement in physical activity, exercise and/or sport. The free, 10-week #ifyougoigo initiative allows local women to participate in weekly group exercise sessions and receive personal 1:1 training, mentoring, and nutritional advice targeted towards the long-term adoption of a healthier lifestyle. Women 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 physical activity levels, particularly in women, persist. Behaviour is often influenced by multiple factors, namely, interactions between an individual’s perceived capability, the opportunities available, and their motivation. #ifyougoigo aims to remove practical barriers and work to change how women feel and think about physical activity, exercise, and sport. Evidence and insight show that women are far more likely to exercise 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 initiative. 

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 women participating in #ifyougoigo and will ultimately oversee a comprehensive evaluation of the programme.

Candidates must hold an Upper Second Class (2.1) honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science or relevant similar discipline. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship 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. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, 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 and additional research expenses.

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

1. Course choice – please select Sports Science / MSc by Research / Full-time / 1 Year / October

   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 ‘RS602 - Challenging Stereotypes'

*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 e-mail). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised application closing date. Please note that your application may not be considered without the documents listed:

• CV (2 page)
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter (2 page maximum) 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 Dr Amie Richards (Amie.richards@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.