Transforming Lives, PhD Scholarship at Sheffield Hallam University: Exercise Prescription and Physical Activity Promotion for Cancer Survivors

Applications are invited for a Transforming Lives PhD Scholarship at the School of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, commencing 1 October 2025.

The scholarship is for 3.5 years full-time study and covers home PhD fees, currently £4,786, and pays an annual stipend at the living wage foundation rate of £20,974 per year in the academic year 2024/25. This stipend payment will increase annually based on the living wage rate for the duration of the scholarship.

About the Programme

SPARC conducts research activity in a number of key areas and hosts four Research Groups:

·        Physical Activity, Wellness and Public Health

·        Sports Industry Research Group

·        Sports Engineering Research Group

·        Sport and Human Performance

https://www.shu.ac.uk/sport-physical-activity-research-centre

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), 88% of our research was rated as world-leading and internationally excellent (4* and 3*), with 80% of our research impact rated as world-leading (4* – the remaining 20% 3*) and 100% of our research environment judged to be 3* or 4*. Our innovative and applied research is funded through research councils and charities grants, in addition to investment from companies and organisations in the sport and physical activity industry. Staff have well-established national and international collaborations with academics and industry/clinical partners. We have a community of approximately 60 postgraduate students in sport and physical activity who are at the heart of contributing to our research output. All doctoral students are supported by a comprehensive programme of doctoral training and encouraged to present their research findings at national and international conferences. 

You are encouraged to contact the Director of Studies, Sarah Hardcastle [email protected] for further information prior to applying.

Project Title: Exercise Prescription and Physical Activity Promotion for Cancer Survivors

The PhD will investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of written exercise prescription and exercise prescriptions in conjunction with a motivational package to increase physical activity amongst adult cancer survivors.

The importance of physical activity (PA) for a healthy survivorship trajectory is widely documented. Despite a trend of increasing survival, cancer survivors are at an increased risk of secondary cancers, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and functional decline compared to the general population (Baade et al., 2006; Keats et al., 2017). PA reduces the risk of CVD (Stewart et al., 2017), cancer-related death and mortality (Friedenreich et al., 2019). However, few cancer survivors achieve the international PA recommendations to undertake ≥150 min/week of moderate-intensity PA or ≥75 min/week of vigorous-intensity PA or an equivalent combination of the two (≥150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA) (Arem et al., 2020). As such, there is a need to identify effective interventions to increase PA in cancer survivors.

There has been a proliferation of PA interventions, yet only a minority of cancer survivors receive PA advice or referral as part of their routine care (Fisher et al., 2015; Nadler et al., 2017; Park et al., 2015a). Oncologists review their patients regularly, in many instances for several years after diagnosis, and are often perceived by their patients as authority figures. They are, therefore, in a unique position to promote the uptake of PA. Interventions that bypass the oncologist are unlikely to be scalable or to reach many patients and hence there is a need to support oncologists to promote PA (Hardcastle & Cohen, 2017). There is currently a gap in the literature concerning the feasibility and effectiveness of brief oncologist delivered interventions to promote PA amongst survivors.

The PhD will have two research strands: (i) To explore Oncologists’ attitudes towards PA promotion and their confidence and support needs to promote PA to cancer survivors; (ii) To conduct a randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of an Oncologist written exercise prescription and an Oncologist written exercise prescription, combined with an attendant motivational package on PA and sedentary behaviour compared to usual care.

Who should apply?

Applicants should hold a BSc (1st or 2:1) honours degree (or equivalent) in sport or exercise science, Psychology, Public Health or a related area. An MSc qualification in a related area is desirable, as would experience of working with clients or patients in health promotion or exercise settings. We are offering this as a full-time PhD scholarship. We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBTQIA+, BAME and disabled communities.

International / EU applicants

Please see the funding notes section of this advert for important fee information. 

Sheffield Hallam University has a mandatory English language requirement of IELTS 7, or equivalent language qualification, for all applicants from countries not included in the UKVI exemption list:

 https://www.gov.uk/english-language/exemptions.

This qualification must have been taken within the last two years, with a score of at least 6.5 in all test areas. The qualification may be required even if you have previous qualifications from UK institutions. Please check with [email protected] prior to application, as we cannot consider applications if this essential qualification is not submitted.

How to apply

We strongly recommend you contact the Director of Studies, before making an application.

Please complete the online application form, which can be accessed via the following link: https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-physical-activity/phd-sport-and-physical-activity/full-time/2025. Please add the Project title clearly in the personal statement field.

Deadline for applications: 28 April at 12 noon. Late applications will not be accepted.

As part of your application, please ensure that you upload a detailed 1,500-word research proposal addressing the project title ‘Exercise Prescription and Physical Activity Promotion for Cancer Survivors’.

We cannot consider applications where a research proposal and any other essential attachments have not been uploaded to the application system. If you experience issues submitting your online application, or for general enquiries, please contact: [email protected].

Interviews: W/C 12 May 2025