Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Background Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term condition (LTC) with significant global health implications, affecting millions of people worldwide [1]. Patients with CKD often experience a high symptom burden, which negatively impacts their health-related quality of life (HRQL) and increases mortality risk [1]. Despite the importance of symptom management in CKD, there is limited longitudinal data on the progression of symptom burden over time.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Educational Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Synaesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway. For instance, individuals with synaesthesia, known as ‘synaesthetes,’ may hear colours, taste sounds, or see letters as distinct colours (Simner, 2019: 2).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Energy Technologies
University of Worcester
About the Project Sustainability transitions have become an important and promising research agenda with a clear focus on energy, transport, and food systems (Köhler et al., 2019). Recent developments in tourism geographies, however, have demonstrated the usefulness of integrating the sustainability transitions research agenda with tourism studies (see Niewiadomski and Brouder, 2022).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Education
University of Worcester
About the Project In the UK interest in Social Pedagogy is growing, as the chasm between what our children need, and what our education system offers them, grows wider by the day. Still recovering from the pandemic, our children need nurture, yet our outcomes driven education system offers high stakes and ever mounting pressure (Solvason, 2025). Those who value Social Pedagogy see that care and learning cannot be separated. A child who feels unsafe cannot learn.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Educational Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Tourette’s Syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder involving involuntary multiple motor or phonic tics (Cavanna et al, 2009). It is often associated with swearing, but this facet – known as coprolalia – is estimated to be present in only 10% of Tourettic people (Tourette’s Action, 2025).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Child Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Over recent years, the decline in children’s mental health has become increasingly obvious and deeply concerning. This reflects a national trend and a mounting anxiety about the wellbeing of those who educate and care for our children. In response, one non-profit organisation has been commissioned by Public Health to deliver an innovative project aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of our youngest children.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Art
University of Worcester
About the Project Climate change is contributing to a worldwide increase in physical and mental health needs. There is subsequently a critical bottleneck in supply and demand for mental health services in the UK and further afield, especially for child and adolescent mental health [1].
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Engineering
University of Worcester
About the Project This PhD study will investigate the adoption of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) automation technologies used in the home or in the community by people affected by dementia. Technology has the potential to impact significantly on the health and wellbeing of people affected by dementia not least in reducing social isolation and opening opportunities for engaging in life, learning and leisure.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Biological Sciences
University of Worcester
About the Project Use of dietary supplements as ergogenic aids is common among athletes to support training and enhance performance (Maughan et al 2011). Recent research has examined effects of non-traditional ergogenic aids such as blackcurrant due to both exercise and health effects. Blackcurrant contains a high and specific content of the polyphenol anthocyanins (Kähkönen et al 2003), considered to be the essential bioactive berry compounds.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sport & Exercise Science
University of Worcester
About the Project The women’s game is becoming more prominent and attracting more funding due to previous successes and low risk investment, an increase in revenue of 590% between 2011 and 2019 (Clarkson et al. 2023).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Artificial Intelligence
University of Worcester
About the Project Investigating the impact for Inclusive Education of Universal Design for Learning with the application of Virtual and Artificial Technologies Traditional educational curricula, pedagogies, and assessment design, whether in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or in the maintained sector, often create barriers for ‘learners on the margins’, and this is especially so for learners with disabilities.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Creative Arts & Design
University of Worcester
About the Project The Covid pandemic led to a worldwide increase in physical and mental health needs, particularly amongst the young, the elderly and minority groups. There is subsequently a critical bottleneck in supply and demand for mental health services in the UK and further afield, especially for child and adolescent mental health [1].
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Fashion
University of Worcester
About the Project The purpose of Basketball footwear is multifactorial, the underlying substance that encompasses functionality, support and comfort which directly influences a player's performance is potentially now of less importance due to the stylistic trends that have been established due to ‘signature shoes’ which are associated with successful players.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sport & Exercise Science
University of Worcester
About the Project As the discipline of sports performance analysis experiences unprecedented growth and diversification, the role of the applied performance analysts emerges as a key component to aid coaches, athletes and stakeholders’ decision making (Martin et al., 2023). This expansion has led to the emergence of new roles and responsibilities, highlighting the dynamic nature of the discipline (Butterworth, 2023; Francis et al., 2023).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project There are currently around 982,000 people with dementia in the UK with the number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. With the number of people over 65 years old set to grow by around 50% in rural areas by 2039 (All Party Action Group on Dementia, 2023) a significant proportion will be affected by dementia.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Business
University of Worcester
About the Project This PhD study will explore the automation of hostility assessment from the human voice in real-time. The project will leverage recent advances in machine learning to train a hostility predictor model to identify and classify hostile behaviours. Demonstrating persistent high levels of hostility in are associated with several morbidities including coronary artery disease.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Business
University of Worcester
About the Project We are interested in finding ways to determine internal and external attacks on cyber systems such as IoT devices, wireless sensor networks (WSN), car electronic components, or connected computer systems. Such attacks often involve the alteration, fabrication, deletion or injection of data messages. Detecting anomalies in data message streams is therefore an important aspect of any intrusion detection system deployed for cyber security.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Business
University of Worcester
About the Project Although digital technologies bring benefits to many people, there are some groups, such as older people, people without jobs, or people with disabilities, who potentially face greater barriers to digital inclusion. As daily living switches to digital technologies and the internet, such groups face increased risk of social isolation, security vulnerabilities and exclusion from work or commerce.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Bioinformatics
University of Worcester
About the Project Demand for food production is increasing due to growing global population, reduced land availability for agriculture, concern over the effects of the environment on agriculture, and decreasing yield reliability because of climate change. We need to rise to this challenge and provide solutions to grow enough food in a sustainable way.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Biological Sciences
University of Worcester
About the Project New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) has a unique and high profile of anthocyanins (Kähkönen et al 2003). Intake of NZBC has been shown to alter resting cardiovascular function by increasing cardiac output (Willems et al 2015; Cook et al 2017) and improve cycling (Cook et al 2015) and repeated high intensity running performance (Perkins et al 2015). All these responses could have resulted from alterations in blood flow by blackcurrant.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Management
University of Worcester
About the Project We are accepting application in these (and related) areas: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Knowledge Management.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Business
University of Worcester
About the Project The University places a significant value on collaboration in learning and Worcester Business School, like other schools across the University, has built its strong reputation as a learning community invested in management education, on the delivery of opportunities for learning through collaboration and participation, working and co-creating with students.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Design
University of Worcester
About the Project This research focus should aim to explore how the principles of Universal Design (UD) can be applied to the interfaces between social, digital, and architectural spaces to foster greater inclusivity. By investigating these interfaces through anticipatory design, the project seeks to identify strategies that can accommodate diverse student needs and promote accessibility.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Information Systems
University of Worcester
About the Project Rural areas face distinct healthcare challenges, including an aging population, vast distances to cover, and inadequate transport and telecommunications infrastructure. These factors underscore the necessity for targeted research and interventions1. Living in rural communities often makes it challenging to access a clinical diagnosis, as well as subsequent support services.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are two long-term conditions that often intersect, creating complex physical, psychological, and social challenges. Individuals managing both conditions face unique burdens, including intensive self-management, frequent healthcare interactions, and heightened risk of complications.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Digital Media
University of Worcester
About the Project This PhD will investigate how individuals with long-term conditions (LTCs) use social media platforms to access informal care, social support, and advise from people with lived experience of illness. The PhD will explore the implications of these social and informatic interactions for illness beliefs, self-management practices, and engagement with formal healthcare systems.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Educational Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project The pupil-teacher relationship is known to be an influential force in the school experience (Looker & Kington, 2020; Looker et al, 2023; Whittaker, 2024).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sociology
University of Worcester
About the Project There are disproportionate numbers of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller children in state care in England, children who are ‘doubly traumatised’ by being fostered out of their culture due to the absence of foster families from these cultures (this would not be the case with other ethnic minorities).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sport & Exercise Science
University of Worcester
About the Project Global warming is causing a sustained increase in temperatures each decade, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves, which collectively is harming human health. Heat illness due to exertional activity or passive heat gain (e.g., during a heat wave) carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Business
University of Worcester
About the Project Home Automation technologies have evolved significantly in recent years to incorporate all aspects of modern living from climate control, lighting, security, safety monitoring, entertainment and energy conservation.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Nursing & Health
University of Worcester
About the Project Female sport has grown rapidly in professionalism and visibility, with increasing access to high‑quality coaching, sport science, and sports medicine support. Despite these advances, musculoskeletal injuries in females continue to occur at disproportionately high rates across a range of sports and physical activities. Previous research has highlighted significant sex‑based differences in injury prevalence and risk factors.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Health Informatics
University of Worcester
About the Project Background Feedback is widely recognised as critical for learning, yet students often struggle to interpret. When feedback is poorly understood, it can lead to disengagement, reduced confidence, and missed opportunities for improvement, particularly for students from widening participation backgrounds.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Artificial Intelligence
University of Worcester
About the Project This PhD study aims to improve information security in Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents and agentic systems. AI agents complete different tasks when we provide input for them. An agent can interact with users (like a personal assistant), autonomously execute tasks (trading bots), and operate within constraints (a recommender system) (Sapkota, Roumeliotis, & Karkee, 2026).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project The project will seek to understand the impacts, challenges, successes, barriers, sustainability issues and best practices in community-based support initiatives for people living with dementia in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The successful PhD candidate will be responsible for formulating the detail of this project, the methodology and methods with guidance by the Supervision team.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition that affects a significant portion of the population, particularly athletes and physically active individuals. It is characterized by pain around the patella (kneecap) and is often exacerbated by activities that involve knee flexion, such as squatting, stair climbing, and descending (Papadopoulos et al., 2015).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Background and Rationale While clinical guidelines unanimously recommend selfmanagement and physical activity for chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, long-term adherence to these interventions remains poor once clinical supervision ceases (Meade et al., 2019). The "Fear-Avoidance Model" suggests that for many patients, pain is interpreted as a sign of damage, leading to catastrophic thinking and avoidance of movement (Vlaeyen et al., 2016).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Child Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Kinship Care is the term given whereby children who cannot live with their birth parents are looked after by a connected person (relative or family friend). There have always been kinship care arrangements, but these arrangements have often been under resourced and overlooked.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Education
University of Worcester
About the Project Allergy, the immune system’s hypersensitive reaction to typically harmless substances, can be severe and lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction or anaphylaxis (Turner et al, 2019). Allergy prevalence is a global “major public health issue” (Sánchez-Borges et al, 2018, p.1), and one of the most common chronic conditions in Europe (Muraro, 2015). The UK particularly faces an allergy crisis.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Data Analysis
University of Worcester
About the Project A Meeting Centre (MC) is a local resource, operating out of ordinary community buildings, that offers on-going warm and friendly expert support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their families. At the heart of the Meeting Centre is a social club where people meet to have fun, talk to others and get help that focuses on what they need.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Historically, body image research has focused on females and their dieting and weight loss habits. McCreary and Sasse (2000) recognised that although some men desired to be thin for health, occupational, or recreational reasons, high levels of the drive for thinness in men from Western societies is relatively rare.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Nursing & Health
University of Worcester
About the Project Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues persist as the leading cause of work-related absenteeism. These multifaceted problems encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from lifestyle-related behaviours to injuries and pre-existing diseases that individuals bring with them into the workplace. Additionally, MSK conditions can be exacerbated by poor workplace ergonomics or physical exposures inherent to specific job roles. (Crawford et al. , 2020).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sociology
University of Worcester
About the Project Right-wing populist political voices, movements and values have been on the rise. Europe has been witnessing tendencies that are frequently associated with identity politics, ethno-nationalism, racism, sexism, anti-elitism and a general sense of ‘them vs. us’ attitude. In essence, political perspectives that work to polarise the public for the sake of gaining political power have been rampant.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Background There is plenty of research and a large body of evidence that shows that, for older people living with dementia, pain assessment and management is suboptimal as compared to other older people with similar health conditions in hospitals, residential care, nursing care and in their own homes. However, there is no evidence relating to people living with dementia in Extra Care Housing (ECH).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Cancer Biology
University of Worcester
About the Project Bladder cancer is the ninth most common malignant disease in the world (Ferlay et al. , 2015). Following removal of diseased tissue, cancer reoccurs in approximately 40% of patients and in 8% it metastasises into other tissues. Since lymph node metastases decrease the chances of long-term survival (Collà Ruvolo et al. , 2021), surgeons often elect to remove lymph nodes at the same time as the tumour.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Creative Arts & Design
University of Worcester
About the Project Within the field of contemporary arts there has been a significant shift over the last decade towards collaborative, participatory and socially engaged arts practices that could be re-purposed for wider and specific public health needs.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Education
University of Worcester
About the Project This PhD opportunity sits within the work of the Inclusion by Design Research Group at the University of Worcester and invites proposals that explore teachers’ lives, identities and stories.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Artificial Intelligence
University of Worcester
About the Project This self-funded Ph.D. opportunity seeks to contribute to current research in the field of marketing communication, Artificial intelligence (AI) related technologies, and consumer behavior and well-being. The proposed research should relate to addressing the current challenges and opportunities in demonstrating responsible virtual service assistants.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Nursing & Health
University of Worcester
About the Project Approximately 15 million people in England, representing 1 in 4 adults, have one or more long-term conditions (LTCs). 1 2 A LTC is an illness that cannot be cured, but may be controlled with medicines or other treatments. 3 People living with LTCs face considerable challenges around the management of their long-term physical and mental health.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Educational Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project The proposed project will focus on the complex decision-making which school leaders and leadership teams undertake in their roles and the implications of this for professional development. School leaders and leadership teams are responsible for the healthy functioning of the organisation and the individuals within it (Connolly, James & Fertig, 2019).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Cancer Biology
University of Worcester
About the Project The BCAT1 gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of many cancer types, including acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)1–4. Recently, our group identified a novel antioxidant role for BCAT1 in AML cells5. We demonstrated that BCAT1 was able to protect AML cells from damaging effects mediated by oxidative stress, keeping the AML cells in a tumorigenic state.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Biochemistry
University of Worcester
About the Project The InDiCo Study (Inflammation, Diets, Body Composition) is a pre-clinical study currently conducted at the University of Worcester. The study investigates links between dietary habits, biomarkers of cell function, and body composition. More information about the study can be found here: The InDiCo Study .
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Waiting lists for hospital treatment have steadily increased since 2016 (2016 was the last time that the 18-week treatment target was met by the NHS). Waiting times have risen at a faster pace from 2020/2021 (Pope 2023).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Midwifery
University of Worcester
About the Project The interest in investigating UK maternity care quality is ongoing. Initiated by the Kirkup (2015) report highlighting the improper maternity care at Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, followed by the Ockenden (2022) report on maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, and the more recent Kirkup (2022) report on East Kent, and the anticipated report on Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, it is clear that maternity care culture is a serious and ongoing…
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Education
University of Worcester
About the Project The population aged over 65 is rapidly growing and is projected to triple by 2050 (United Nations, 2023). Coupled with an increasing number of individuals aged 90 and over in the UK (Office for National Statistics, 2024), this demographic shift is expected to increase the number of older adults with complex health and social care needs by 54%, placing greater demands on expert nursing within the social care sector (Age UK, 2019).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Artificial Intelligence
University of Worcester
About the Project There are currently around 982,000 people with dementia in the UK with the number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040 (Alzheimer’s Society, 2025). With the number of people over 65 years old set to grow by around 50% in rural areas by 2039 a significant proportion will be affected by dementia. Low diagnosis rates are associated with rurality (All Party Action Group on Dementia, 2023).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Biochemistry
University of Worcester
About the Project Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide [1] and is increasingly prevalent in regions such as the USA and UK [2, 3]. The growing burden on public health systems is exacerbated by overlapping risk factors, including obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, type II diabetes, and dyslipidaemia [4,5].
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Education
University of Worcester
About the Project Social capital in educational settings often refers to the network of relationships and shared norms between groups of students which can lead to positive educational outcomes. For example, high social capital can allow individuals to access support, information, and collaboration opportunities, ultimately enhancing their learning.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Creative Arts & Design
University of Worcester
About the Project Who is this for : creative and health practitioners wishing to explore artistic practice within discourses of socially engaged art practice, placemaking and folk cultures, and to benefit from the emerging professional opportunities for artists working in the field of creative health. We would particularly welcome practitioners working in the Midlands or South West.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project As a core focus for organisational Equality Diversity & Inclusion policies, the current drive to train emotional skills in the workplace shows no signs of abating. For instance, emotional intelligence has experienced a recent resurgence in popularity, being advocated as a way for organisations to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through employee training (see e.g., United Nations, n.d.).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Nursing & Health
University of Worcester
About the Project People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) consistently report a strong desire to participate in physical activity (PA), yet face persistent structural, educational, and interpersonal barriers throughout their lives.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Environmental Engineering
University of Worcester
About the Project Hydromorphology is synonymous with physical habitat in rivers and describes the combination of the morphological and hydrological / hydraulic components of river channels. It is one of the key drivers influencing the structure and function of aquatic communities.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) brought the impact of vaccine-related hesitancy on healthcare planning and delivery into sharp focus (Clark et al, 2025). Concern is growing about mRNA vaccine-related hesitancy beyond COVID-19 vaccines (Xu et al, 2024) given their wide-ranging application including disease prevention, and curative therapies for cancers (Li et al, 2023; Rzymski et al, 2023).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Sport & Exercise Science
University of Worcester
About the Project Research concerning Coach Developers has steadily increased in volume over the last decade (e.g., Stodter and Cushion 2019; North 2010; Kraft, Culver, and Din 2020). A small number of studies have explicitly investigated how Coach Developers learn and have sought to inform the field as to how such practitioners might be best supported (e.g., Campbell, Fallaize, and Schempp 2021; Culver, Werthner, and Trudel 2019).
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Higher Education
University of Worcester
About the Project A PhD student can focus upon one of the following topics: Social pedagogy as a solution to the current education crisis. An exploration of the value that pedagogical approaches can offer HE. An exploration of the role that social pedagogy can play in building communities. The Social Pedagogy ideology is both complex and diverse; as its basis sits within social work it is found within a range of specialist provision outside of the mainstream education sector.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Health Psychology
University of Worcester
About the Project Discourse about dementia and best practice in addressing its malign outcomes has progressed over the last generation from a purely medicalised lens, through person centred and personhood approaches, to those where the social citizenship of individuals is promoted. This champions the human rights of individuals and an “everyday” approach to citizenship - where what people do and their ability to do the things they wish to do is key.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
Medicine
University of Worcester
About the Project Although there is no cure for dementia, the experience can be shaped by the individual’s’ coping style, life history, health, neurological impairments and social environment. Perceived self-stigma can be a barrier to gaining support and a great deal of the existing support for life with dementia had been developed and provided in urban environments.
- Location
- Worcester, United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Deadline
- Year-round applications
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only