PhD Studentship - Fully Funded Scar Free Foundation/HCRW PhD Scholarship: RESECT - Service redesign in skin cancer management

Funding providers: Scar Free Foundation/Health and Care Research Wales

Subject areas: Skin cancer, Health services research, Health services redesign

Project start date: 1 January 2022 (Enrolment open from mid-December)

Project supervisors: 

• Primary: Professor Iain Whitaker
• Secondary: Professor Hayley Hutchings

Project description:

Skin cancer is a significant and growing societal health problem, with Wales having one of the highest rates of melanoma in the UK. Among Caucasian populations, the incidence of skin cancer is rising faster than that of any other malignancy, with this trend expected to continue. With an ageing national population, longer life expectancy, higher patient expectations and the long-term impact of greater foreign travel now being realised, it is unlikely that the health service will be able to cope unless care services are designed and planned effectively.

The aims of this PhD are to: 

• map the characteristics of patients and services relating to skin cancer in Wales
• determine the burden of morbidity and associated healthcare to patients and society
• calculate the associated healthcare costs of providing skin cancer care

This will contribute to a better understanding of existing skin cancer care in Wales, which will serve as a basis for developing new and more effective ways of providing care and condition management in skin cancer, supporting the Welsh Government’s ‘prudent healthcare’ agenda.

For more information, visit the Reconstructive Surgery & Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (ReconRegen) website

Eligibility

Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only.

Additional Funding Information: This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,650.