Thirteen new studentships are open for application at University of the West of Scotland (UWS), which aim to discover research-led solutions to major global problems.

The funded Vice-Chancellor studentships and match-funded studentships are prestigious scholarships awarded to exceptional students who are pursuing postgraduate research degrees. These studentships are designed to provide individuals with the financial support they need to undertake research projects that have the potential to make a significant impact in their field and on society.

These highly selective studentships span a wide range of disciplines, from early detection of malware, exploring widening participation in higher education, and nutrition in women’s football; to the care and treatment gap of those with dementia in prison and rehabilitation pathways for those with colorectal cancer.

The studentships are all aligned with the University’s Strategy for 2030 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

 

I am incredibly proud to offer these fully funded, cross-disciplinary studentships, creating fantastic opportunities for talented, aspiring academics. The subject areas closely reflect our ambitions and will further enhance our commitment to addressing global challenges, particularly those outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS

 

The scholarships include studies looking at the following important subjects:

·      Exploring the Impact of ADHD on Women’s Self-Esteem and Identity: A Qualitative Study

·      Nourishing Development: age and stage appropriate nutrition for female football (soccer)

·      Co-design of an NHS peri-operative prehabilitation and rehabilitation pathway for colorectal cancer: an action research approach

·      Data driven discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease: Linking clinical biomarkers, novel proteomic signatures, and demographics for advanced early risk prediction

·      The impacts of urbanisation on small mammal occurrence, behaviour and health

·      Exploring the care and treatment gap for people with likely dementia in prison

·      Invisible Professional Learning in Prison Education: Recognising and Evidencing the Hidden Curriculum of Educator Development

·      Community-Centric Heritage Tourism and Post-Industrial Regeneration: A Participatory Study in Scotland

·      Songwriting as Scottish Place: A Radical Embodied Cognitive Science approach to the role of place within the creative process

·      Early Detection of Distributed File-less Malware Using Vision Transformers

·      Adaptive Collocation Methods for Fractional Differential Equations

·      AI, Academic Literacies, and Responsibility in Widening Participation Higher Education

·      Perceiving the unseen: communicating the ecological impacts of non-charismatic invasive species

 

The studentships provide students with the opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers on cutting-edge research projects. Utilising state-of-the-art facilities, students benefit by gaining valuable experience and develop skills that will be invaluable throughout their careers. 

Studentships also provide monetary support that can help to alleviate some of the financial burden associated with pursuing a postgraduate research degree.

Professor Miller continued: “Vice-Chancellor Studentships are a crucial investment in the future and enhance our diverse research portfolio. By supporting talented students and equipping them with the resources they need to pursue their passions, we can unlock groundbreaking discoveries, push the frontiers of knowledge, address societal challenges, and create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.”

The UWS Vice-Chancellor’s studentships were established in 2021 with this round of studentships beginning on 1 October 2026.

To find out more and apply, click here. Applications close on 15 June 2026.