Deakin Project Supervisor
Additional Supervision
Dr Petros Lameras (Coventry)
Dr Bahareh Nakisa (Deakin)
Prof Sylvester Arnab (Coventry)
Prof Ben Horan (Deakin)
Deakin School
Deakin Faculty
Location
Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus (Australia) and Coventry University (United Kingdom)
Research topic
This is a doctoralco-tutelle project between Deakin University (Australia) and Coventry University (United Kingdom).
The successful PhD Student will be awarded a scholarship from Coventry University with the supervision team being drawn from Deakin University and Coventry University. The PhD Student will graduate with two testamurs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program. The program is for a duration of 3.5 years and scheduled to commence in September 2025.
The successful applicant will spend the 1st year at Deakin University and the following year at Deakin Coventry, and then the final 1.5 years at Deakin University. The supervision team will be drawn from the two Universities.
This project develops and evaluates a culturally adapted, gamified Extended Reality (XR) mental health intervention for Indian international students in Australia and the UK. Combining immersive environments, biometric feedback, and reinforcement learning, the intervention aims to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression while promoting resilience. Grounded in Design Science Research, the study uses co-design workshops, XR prototyping, and a randomised controlled trial to ensure cultural relevance, engagement, and efficacy. By addressing a critical service gap with personalised, culturally resonant digital support, the project offers scalable solutions for enhancing student wellbeing and informs future integration of XR into university mental health services.
Project aim
This research aims to design, develop, and evaluate culturally adapted gamified Extended Reality (XR) mental health interventions to support the psychological wellbeing of Indian international students in Australia and the UK. By integrating game mechanics, adaptive technologies, and co-designed cultural motifs into immersive environments, the project seeks to enhance engagement, emotional safety, and mental health outcomes in a population experiencing high acculturative stress and low service uptake.
The project seeks to address the psychological challenges faced by Indian international students by developing immersive, gamified XR mental health interventions that are culturally resonant and psychologically effective. It aims to bridge the gap in culturally adaptive digital therapeutics by incorporating Indian cultural frameworks into the design of game elements, enhancing user engagement through personalisation, and embedding biometric feedback for real-time adaptation. The project also intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention through a randomised controlled trial and identify strategies for integrating XR-based solutions into university mental health services.
Important dates
Applications close 5pm, Monday 30 June 2025
Benefits
This scholarship is supported by Deakin University, is available over 3 years and includes:
- Stipend of $35,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
- Relocation allowance of $500-1500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
- International students only: Single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.
Tuition fees offset for the duration of 4 years. Funding to support travel of PhD Student between Deakin University and Coventry University.
Eligibility criteria
o be eligible you must:
- be either a domestic or international candidate currently residing in Australia. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
- meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Coventry university, including English language proficiency requirements
- be enrolling full-time or part-time
- be able to physically locate to both Coventry University (UK) for a minimum of 6 months and maximum of 12 months and Deakin University (Australia)
Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page and Coventry’s research entry criteria page for further information.
How to apply
Applicants should firstly contact Dr Kaja Antlej
After discussions, you will be invited by Deakin University to lodge a formal HDR application.
Please be aware that screening for this advert will commence immediately and the scholarship may be awarded prior to the closing date.
Contact us
For more information about this scholarship, please contact:
Dr Kaja Antlej
Email kaja.antlej@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 524 79546