Welsh, Sociolinguistics: Fully Funded PhD in Understanding and Supporting Adult Motivation to Learn Welsh (RS917)

Funding Providers: Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Swansea University's Postgraduate Research Office through its central equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) funding.

Subject Areas: Welsh, Sociolinguistics

Project Start Dates: October 2026 **Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates

Supervisors: Dr Gwennan Higham; Dr Rhian Hodges (Bangor University)

Aligned Programme of Study: PhD in Welsh

Mode of Study: Full-time / Part-time

Project Description

Although large numbers of adults attend Welsh for Adults classes nationally, statistics from 2019–2024 show that only around 26% progress beyond Entry level (CEFR A1; National Centre for Learning Welsh, 2025). Increasing these progression rates is a key aim of the Welsh Government’s strategy to reach one million speakers by 2050 (Welsh Government, 2017; 2025). Achieving this requires a deeper understanding of learners’ changing motivations, and ensuring that Welsh tutors draw on current evidence to sustain learner engagement over time.

Motivation is a major factor in second language acquisition (Yousefi & Mahmoodi, 2022). The L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS; Dörnyei, 2005) is widely used to explain variation in learners’ motivation. However, questions have been raised about its suitability for languages other than English and for minority-language contexts (Dörnyei & Al-Hoorie, 2017; Zhu, 2019). There is very limited research on the motivations of adult Welsh learners, and no studies have yet applied the L2MSS to Welsh. This project will address this gap by developing a systematic understanding of adult Welsh learners’ motivations and evaluating the suitability of contemporary motivational theories for a minority indigenous language context.

Aims and Research Questions

Overall Aim

To investigate motivational processes among adult learners of Welsh during their first year of learning, and to evaluate the suitability of contemporary motivation models for this context.

Research Questions

1. How do learners’ motivations develop over the first year of Welsh for Adults classes?
2. Which individual and contextual factors have the greatest influence on these changes?
3. To what extent is the L2 Motivational Self System an appropriate model for explaining the motivation of Welsh learners?
4. What adaptations or interventions could help Welsh tutors sustain learner engagement?

Methodology

A mixed-methods approach will be used, combining questionnaires with semi-structured interviews. Data will be collected from Entry Level 1 learners in two teaching contexts: Dysgu Cymraeg Ardal Bae Abertawe (Swansea, Port Talbot, Neath) and Dysgu Cymraeg Gogledd Orllewin (Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy). Data collection will take place in four stages:

• Stage 1: Following focus groups and piloting, an initial questionnaire will be administered within the first two months of the course to gather motivational, attitudinal and demographic data.
• Stage 2: Semi-structured interviews with a diverse sub-sample (N=12) to deepen the analysis.
• Stages 3 & 4: Re-administration of the questionnaire and follow-up interviews within the final two months of the course, in order to track motivational changes over time.

Quantitative analysis will include factor analysis, structural equation modelling and regression analysis using SPSS and SPSS Amos. Qualitative data will be analysed thematically using NVivo.

Expected Contribution and Impact

This research has the potential to directly improve Welsh tutor practice through close collaboration with the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Findings can be translated into practical guidance on motivation for course handbooks, training and professional development, contributing to improved learner retention in the long term.

Academically, the project offers an original contribution to an under-explored field, with potential to stimulate new scholarship on motivation in indigenous minority languages and to generate broader international interest.

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis.

English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.

This scholarship is funded jointly by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and Swansea University's Postgraduate Research Office through its central equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) funding for three years and commences in September 2026.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for 2025/26).

Additional research expenses of up to £500 per year will also be available.

*Please note that the ability to speak and write in Welsh is essential. *

To apply, please complete the entire application form on Learner Gateway.

In order to be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS917

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)

i. In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input both:

• the RS Code, RS917 and
• the scholarship title.

ii. Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank

iii. Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank

iv. In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload?*’(Mandatory) Please select Yes

v. Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf)

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1. Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).
2. Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.
3. Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact: Dr Gwennan Higham g.e.higham@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.

** In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.