PhD Studentship: Improving the Quality of Life of Women Returning to the Workplace after Breast Cancer

Project:

More women are living with and beyond breast cancer than ever before. However, returning to work post breast cancer treatment is an important but potentially challenging event. As such, there must be strategies in place supporting working individuals to promote their physical and mental health, alongside quality of life. Physical activity is universally recommended to reduce sedentary behaviour, improve body composition and modulate stress. However, people often find starting an exercise programme a daunting experience and there are many barriers that prevent women from getting lifestyle support.

This project will investigate if a new home-based exercise programme can improve the quality of life of women returning to work after breast cancer. The programme will be co-designed with women who have had treatment for breast cancer and aims to improve quality of life, reduce sedentary behaviours and improve body composition through ‘Exercise as Medicine’. The project will be a mixed-methods, randomised controlled feasibility trial to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the programme, collecting both quantitative and qualitative outcome measures.

For informal enquires please contact:

Dr Rebecca Vince (Rebecca.vince@hull.ac.uk)

Supervisors:

Dr Rebecca Vince (Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences) & Dr Maureen Twiddy (Hull York Medical School)

Funding:

The successful applicant will receive a fee waiver and a maintenance grant for three years which covers the research period of the PhD. The fee waiver for 25/26 is £5,006 (Home fee) and the maintenance grant is £20,780 per annum. The start date for the PhD is the 15^th September 2025.

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants should have a minimum 2:1 degree in a health, physiology and exercise related subject. A taught MSc or Masters by Research in a health-related subject would be an advantage, as would experience in exercise prescription.

For more details on our entry requirements please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage.

International applicants:

This opportunity comes with a Home fee waiver only, which will not cover the full International fee. You will therefore need to pay the difference between the Home fee and the International fee and will need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds to cover this.

How to Apply:

You will need to supply a CV demonstrating your academic background as well as a personal statement to demonstrate your skills, knowledge/qualifications and attributes applicable to this project when applying for this scholarship position. Find out more about writing a personal statement.   APPLY HERE FOR SCHOLARSHIP  

Closing Date: 11^th July 2025

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