125th Anniversary Scholarship in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation

About the project

Stress and poor mental health and wellbeing are prevalent throughout ethnic minority and disadvantaged urban communities in the UK. Additionally, ethnic minority groups in the UK tend to have less access to mental healthcare and support compared to White British groups. Women in ethnic minority urban communities of low engagement to accessing support and services are at particular increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing arising from numerous sources of psychological stress (e.g., childcare, caring and family responsibilities). With our community partner organisations, we previously conducted stress and wellbeing focus groups with women from low-engagement ethnic minority urban communities in Birmingham. Importantly, the women expressed a strong desire to learn more about ways to cope with their stress to support their wellbeing.

Building on from this initial work, the aim of this studentship is to co-design a sustainable toolkit for charities and organisations to use to deliver to women in low-engagement ethnic minority urban communities. The purpose of the toolkit is to improve women’s mental health and wellbeing through empowering them to be better able to cope with stress and the demands they experience in their lives. Targeted constructs will include increased self-esteem and self-worth, improved emotion regulation, and increased resilience. This will enhance their ability to cope with stress and as a result improve indicators of mental health and wellbeing.

The toolkit will be co-designed with a steering group of minority women from our target community to ensure it is culturally appropriate and empowering. These discussions will cover the content of the toolkit and develop training resources for the delivery of the toolkit by women from ethnic minorities. The toolkit will then be pilot tested on a group of women in our community organisations and changes made based on discussions with participants before the toolkit is implemented more widely within our community partner organisations. We will then evaluate the effectiveness and perceptions of the toolkit within this population. The feedback will be used to finalise the toolkit in preparation for use by other community organisations.

Development Opportunities

If successful, the student will receive support to develop key research skills (e.g., literature searching, study design, mixed-methods data analyses, writing for publication). They will also develop dissemination skills to both scientific and broader audiences. The student will gain invaluable knowledge and experience in how to conduct community-based work with diverse populations. In addition, they will learn how to translate research findings into materials that can be implemented in a broader setting. Therefore, the PhD student will have invaluable experience on the broader impact of research on other areas of work. The research team and collaborating partners have links with different community and health care organisations. The student will have access to these different organisations and will be able to present their work to some of these different audiences.

Entry Requirements

We are looking for a highly talented and dedicated PhD student with a 1st class or 2:1 degree in either the field of (Health) Psychology, Health Sciences, Behavioural Sciences or a similar subject. The candidate will need to work well both independently and as part of a team, have excellent communication skills, and possess an ability to learn research skills quickly and efficiently.  

Who can apply?

These scholarships are designed to create opportunities and address the underrepresentation of talented Black or Black mixed heritage students in academia. Applicants who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:

1. Students classified as 'Home' for tuition fee payments
2. Members of one of the following ethnic groups:
   • Black African
   • Black Caribbean
   • Black Other
   • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
   • Mixed – White and Black African
   • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
3. Not already enrolled on a PhD programme at the University of Birmingham

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £20,780 per year for the 2025/26 academic year, and will be paid to you in regular instalments. Successful awardees will also have their tuition fees covered at a minimum of £5,006 per year. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree, such as covering tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant at £2,250 across the duration of the PhD. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.

Contact the supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.

The lead supervisor for the PhD is Dr Sarah Williams, a Lecturer in Sport Psychology and Coaching Science, and the Sports Participation to Performance Deputy Theme Lead, who is internationally known for her work in imagery to enhance performance and wellbeing. She is an expert in devising and implementing techniques to regulate stress and improve mental health and wellbeing. She investigates and establishes how techniques and interventions can relate to better mental health through psychological mechanisms such as coping with and appraising stress more positively. The co-supervisor is Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, a Senior Lecturer in Biological Psychology, and the Director of Graduate Research, College of Life and Environmental Sciences. Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten’s interdisciplinary research focuses on the influence of behaviour on psychological and physiological health and wellbeing in various populations, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, older adults, and young people.

Application portal tips

• You don’t need to complete your application in one session. Simply save it and come back to it when you’re ready.
• Avoid delays by checking all your information is accurate and complete.
• Your application won’t be processed until you’ve completed all the relevant sections and submitted it.
• If you have any issues, visit our Admissions FAQ hub where you can find support for a range of queries or you can submit a form response for further help.

What happens next?

Once you’ve submitted your application, we’ll send you details on how to access your applicant portal. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application, update your personal information, view decisions and accept offers.

Your application will be ‘pending’ on your portal while we check your application.

You can add or edit some details or documents within your application after it’s been submitted through your applicant portal.

Find out more

For more information about the scholarship programme, including announcements of available projects and the application process, please register your interest using the form below.