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HARTXR: Develop an immersive digital rehabilitation system for upper limb using gamification and eXtended Reality (XR)

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information

This funding model includes a 36-month funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with the Research Council values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Tuition Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice.

International applicants are reminded that it if they are successful following interview, they are liable to pay the fee difference between the Home and International Tuition Fee Rate. The tuition fees for new doctoral researchers are listed here. 

All applicants would receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status.  

Application Closing Date:

Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 26th November 2025 for a start date of May 2026.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form here: Computing Research Degrees - PhD - 2025/26 Entry | Birmingham City University
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s).
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below:

Project title: HARTXR: Develop an immersive digital rehabilitation system for upper limb using gamification and eXtended Reality (XR)

Project lead: Dr Xi Guo xi.guo@bcu.ac.uk 

Project ID: HARTXR - 44834380

Project description:

Stroke is a major health concern in England, affecting people of all ages. Every year, around 100,000 strokes occur, and currently, approximately 1.3 million people in the UK are living with the long-term effects of a stroke. Recovering from a stroke requires timely rehabilitation in hospital settings, but continued exercise at home is just as crucial for regaining mobility and independence. Unfortunately, many patients struggle with home-based rehabilitation due to a lack of motivation and difficulty maintaining effort over time. Additionally, existing rehabilitation tools often fail to effectively monitor patients' progress and engagement.

This project aims to address these challenges by developing an immersive digital rehabilitation system that helps stroke survivors regain upper limb function through engaging, home-based therapy. Using eXtended Reality (XR) and gamification, the system will transform rehabilitation exercises into interactive and enjoyable experiences, making it easier for patients to stay motivated. Additionally, portable haptic technology (which provides physical feedback during movement) will be incorporated to ensure precise monitoring of patients’ progress in a natural and intuitive way.

By combining these innovative technologies, this project seeks to create a more effective and accessible home rehabilitation solution, ultimately improving recovery outcomes for stroke survivors.

Anticipated findings and contributions to knowledge:

This research is expected to demonstrate that immersive digital games can enhance engagement in stroke and elderly rehabilitation by integrating gamification and Extended Reality (XR). It will provide research into how sensory feedback (visual, audio, and haptics) improves rehabilitation outcomes by delivering accurate, real-time feedback and personalised training experiences. Additionally, the study will explore strategies to sustain long-term engagement, addressing a key challenge in home-based therapy. 

The anticipated contributions to knowledge include:

Advancing Digital Rehabilitation – Providing new evidence on the effectiveness of immersive technologies in therapy.

Optimising Sensory Feedback – Establishing frameworks for multimodal feedback to enhance motor recovery and patient adherence.

Enhancing Long-Term Engagement – Identifying design principles for maintaining motivation in rehabilitation. 

Contribution to Research and Industry:

Academic Publications – Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and conferences in digital health and HCI.

Industry Collaboration – Working with healthcare providers, and haptic technology firms to refine and implement solutions.

UK REF Contribution – Aligning with the Research Excellence Framework (REF) by demonstrating healthcare innovation, patient impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

This study will generate both theoretical and practical advancements, informing next-generation immersive rehabilitation solutions.

Person specification:

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our innovative project aimed at developing an immersive digital rehabilitation system for stroke survivors. The ideal candidate will possess strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and excellent communication skills. 

Experience in game development using industry-standard game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine and/or Unity), XR technologies (e.g., Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, or Mixed Reality), gamification, and haptic technology is highly desirable. The successful candidate will contribute to transforming rehabilitation exercises into engaging, home-based therapy experiences, while ensuring accurate monitoring of patients' progress. This project presents a unique opportunity to enhance recovery outcomes for stroke survivors through the application of cutting-edge technology.

Entry Requirements:

- To apply for our Computing PhD research degree you should have, or expect to be awarded, a Masters degree in a relevant subject area from a British or overseas university.

- Exceptional candidates without a Masters degree, but holding a first class or upper second class Bachelors degree in a relevant subject area, may be considered.

- We also welcome enquiries from potential PhD researchers with appropriate levels of professional experience.

- International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.