How to apply

Step 1: Choose your preferred university

Applications should be submitted through one of the following universities

• University of Glasgow

• University of Sheffield

• Swansea University

We will then assess all applications together to identify the six strongest applicants. Successful applicants will be offered a studentship at their preferred university where possible or an alternative university if not. We anticipate some successful applicants may find it difficult to take-up an offer at an alternative university and we will attempt to find solutions where possible, taking into account people’s caring responsibilities, other personal circumstances and the availability of supervisory teams at each university.

All final offers will be for a place at a specific university and applicants will not be able to transfer the offer between universities.

Please be aware that full details of your application, including personal information, will be shared with the recruitment team at all three universities to allow us to select the best applications.  

You can find more information about each university and their gambling research teams on our Participating universities page.

Step 2: Prepare your application documents

• Your CV – maximum 3 pages of A4 in PDF or Word format (jobs.ac.uk has a useful template for academic CVs).

• Degree certificate(s) and academic transcript(s) listing your courses or modules and the marks you received.

• Two references, including one academic reference where possible. Choose referees who know you well and are able to comment on your skills, ability, and compatibility with the PhD.

• A personal statement of no more than 800 words explaining why you are the right person for these PhD studentships. We have prepared a short guide with tips for writing your personal statement. 

• A 1,500-2,000 word research proposal for your chosen topic area or project from the list provided here. 

You may also wish to include the following documents where relevant:

• Widening participation form (download form and see our Eligibility and Inclusivity page for more information)

• Evidence of academic publications or academic prizes

Step 3: Submit your application

Detailed submission guidance for each university is available below.

University of Glasgow

Scroll down to the 'How to apply' section of this page and include the following within the application system:

• Name Christopher Bunn as the Principal Supervisor (you will choose your actual supervisor during the six-month training phase)

• Enter UKRI Gambling Harms as the Research Title

• Enter UKRI Gambling Harms funding in the funding section of the application form

Any application that does not include these three elements will be treated by the system as a standard PhD application and will not reach our recruitment team. 

University of Sheffield

Applications should be made via the University of Sheffield's online portal. Please ensure you include the following details within your application to ensure it is processed correctly:

• Supervisor: John Holmes (you will choose your actual supervisor during the six-month training phase)

• Project topic: URKI Gambling Harms

• School: School of Medicine & Population Health

• Start date: January 2027

Swansea University

Please follow the more detailed guidance on this page to submit your application. 

Writing your personal statement

Download our tips for writing a good personal statement.

Your personal statement should explain:

• Why you want to undertake this PhD

• Why gambling harms research matters to you

• What relevant skills and experience you bring

• Why you are a strong fit for this programme

Writing your research proposal

We will use your research proposal to assess the quality of your ideas and your ability to design an ambitious and feasible research project. You will develop this proposal further during the first six months of the PhD programme, we do not expect it to be perfect or fully formed. However, we do expect you to demonstrate a good understanding of why the topic is important, previous research in your area and the methodological techniques necessary to carry out the research. 

Your research proposal should be between 1,500 and 2,000 words long and include the following sections (in addition to any others you may want to add):

• A title

• An explanation of the importance of your topic

• A review of the relevant literature

• A set of research questions, aims and objectives

• A description of the proposed research methods

• A proposed timetable for the 3.5 year project

Lots of guidance on how to write a PhD research proposal for different disciplines is available online. This blog from the University of Manchester is a helpful example.