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What is a PhD in sports science?

Sport and exercise science brings together a multidisciplinary set of research methodologies dedicated to all aspects of human movement and performance.

Drawing on disciplines allied to sport and exercise science, research brings new knowledge of the exercising body's tolerance of extreme conditions, nutritional requirements, its effect on mood and stress and the vast range of well-accepted benefits exercise can bring to physical and mental health and well-being. 

A PhD in this field will bring an array of skills and experiences, as you conceive research studies that enable you to work with different populations, analysing different kinds of data and disseminating findings to maximise impact.

With a booming fitness industry and a growing culture of sport performance analysis at all levels, the importance of sport and exercise science is clear. From elite training to cardiac rehabilitation to fall-prevention initiatives and programmes for participation based on world sports events, more and more highly-trained sport and exercise scientists are involved with public health initiatives as well as athlete and team preparation.

In this context, if you join our research team as a postgraduate research student, you will address the challenge of using exercise as a critical vehicle for happier, healthier and fitter living.

Specialist laboratory research facilities in sport and exercise science

Our specialist laboratories provide facilities where supervision by experienced experts will structure and develop your project in one of our specialist areas: Environmental Extremes, Exercise for Health and Wellbeing, Expertise and Cognitive Neuroscience, Fatigue and Exercise. 

Our sport and exercise science facilities include:

• biochemistry lab
• biomechanical lab with running track and 3D motion analysis
• blood analysis lab
• data analysis room
• environmental physiology labs (x2), one of which houses our dual temperature and hypoxic environmental chamber
• exercise rehabilitation gym
• neuromuscular lab housing our isokinetic dynamometers
• psychology lab
• physiology lab
• research lab
• strength and conditioning suite.

Environmental Extremes Laboratory

At the Environmental Extremes Laboratory, a growing body of internationally-renowned research addresses the challenges of environmental extremes on human health and function.

We develop and evaluate applied interventions using scientific methodologies to influence policy, product development, practice and people aiming for improved health, occupations and sports performance.

Our vision is for our high-quality research to translate into advocacy globally, on how to live, work and safely engage in physical activity whilst in extreme environments, prioritising risk stratification and mitigation / therapeutic strategies to benefit at-risk populations (e.g. clinically symptomatic, elderly, occupations exposed to environmental stressors, athletes).

Our team of academics and postgraduate PhD students works on consultancy with major community and business interests. The four core, guiding principles which underpin our mission and vision are:

• High quality research
• Excellent training and learning opportunities for our students and staff
• Commitment to translation of theory and evidence into practical settings
• Collaboration with industry, charities and governing bodies outside the university

Find further information on the Environmental Extremes Laboratory

Exercise for Health and Wellbeing Laboratory 

The research within this lab encompasses a range of methods and applications, from cell and molecular approaches to whole body measures and application. At the cellular level we are particularly interested in stem cell responses to exercise and application to health and injury recovery. The group has also experience and opportunities for research into lifestyle modifications such as exercise and nutritional interventions in special populations (e.g. elderly; sedentary; physically disabled, heart conditions or overweight).

Aim of interventions may be either to reduce health risks in these populations or to optimise health and assist performance and recovery, with some work conducted with paralympians.

Some recent work has focused on tendinopathies; cardiac damage and marathon running; mindfulness eating, eating disorders and exercise; acute and chronic effects of exercise on metabolism and health.

Expertise and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (ExCeL)

Researchers within ExCeL examine human performance and learning, motor behaviour and its sub-areas of skill acquisition and expert performance, cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, and psychophysiology.

Recent research projects investigate cognition in gait and locomotion; anticipation and decision-making in sports, sensory processing in exercise, the development and improvement of expert performance; and practice, training and acquisition/learning.

This work is conducted across a range of domains, including sport and exercise; education; and medical.

Fatigue and Exercise Laboratory

We are specifically interested in the mechanisms of fatigue during exercise and want to understand better the physiological and behavioural limitations to exercise. Our findings give exercise scientists, clinicians or other practitioners evidence for the development of robust science-based interventions such as effective training programmes or ergogenic aids. These may be to enhance human exercise tolerance or more broadly to improve overall physical fitness.

Our group also seeks to explore the relationship between physical exercise, psychophysiological stress and well-being. We see physical exercise as a potent stressor to human homeostasis for long-lasting beneficial effects on human health. More specifically, we want to understand better how exercise can treat chronic physiological dysfunctions in some populations (chronic fatigue, mental health, musculoskeletal conditions).

Research supervisors for your PhD research programme in sport and exercise science

Research training and support for PhD Sports Science and PhD Exercise Science students

Postgraduate degree resources for your doctorate in sport and exercise science

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences

Students have a base on the ¹ú²ú°É¾«Æ·¸£Àû of Brighton's Falmer Campus where PhD students from sports science, sports education and a range of health disciplines can meet and exchange ideas.

You and your fellow postgraduate researchers will have the opportunity to attend and present at research seminar sessions, and to integrate with researchers over a range of relevant specialisms. You may find closely aligned researchers in one of the university's Centres of Research and Knowledge Exchange Excellence (COREs) or Research Excellence Groups (REGs).

This is where our disciplinary facilities and our supervisory staff can normally be found. 

Our school has a dynamic and vibrant research community. Each student receives personal attention and guidance throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful research degree, and subsequent career. Our PhD students rapidly become members of our academic team with various opportunities to contribute to the life of our department: consultancy projects, world-leading collaborative research, seminars, journal clubs, engagement within our community and teaching. 

Alongside sports and exercise sciences the academic profile of this part of the university includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists and osteopaths as well as healthcare and public health experts. We also collaborate closely with staff from other parts of the university, for example, Brighton and Sussex Medical School. We have professional networks and collaborate with departments in other universities together with clinicians and managers locally.

The school is proud of a long-standing strength in professional practice and education, with accreditation of our taught courses by regulatory and professional bodies including the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, the Department for Education and the Health and Care Professions Council.

Our leafy Falmer Campus brings sports science and sports culture researchers together alongside all aspects of health science and healthcare.

Supervisory staff for sports and exercise PhD