Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science

Develop your practice through doctoral level applied research in professions allied to sport through study at an internationally renowned department.

The main aim of the programme is to enable individuals associated with the professions allied to sport (e.g. sport and exercise scientists, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, sport educators, sport managers etc) to develop their practice through applied research.

The programme will develop your ability to conduct original research which has professional, organisational and/or developmental implications. Working with staff from World leading School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences you will develop the ability to critically reflect on your philosophy, practice and organisational context and through research activities increase your competence in knowledge generation and implementation. Whereas the traditional PhD, may be seen as academic research training, the Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science is a more practically focused degree, which will develop your research competence and the ability to apply it in appropriate contexts. It is ideally suited for those sport professionals interested in becoming practicing professional researchers. Through this programme you will develop as a researching professional, who can undertake research and activities that inform the professional practice both within their organisation and more broadly within sport and exercise.

The highly competitive nature of the sports industry and the continued need to improve practice quality drives the need for high level CPD opportunities for those involved in sport. The main aim of this programme is to enable individuals associated with professions allied to sport to develop their practice through applied research.

The Doctoral programme is concerned with original research which has professional, organisational and/or developmental implications. The aims of the programme are:

• To create and interpret new knowledge associated with professional practice in Sport and Exercise Science
• To enable students to acquire a detailed understanding of, and innovate in, applied research methodology appropriate to professional practice in Sport and Exercise Science
• To improve students’ ability to develop and apply research in their chosen area of professional practice
• To support individuals to develop strategies to optimize personal and professional growth in order to maximize the potential to create change in themselves and others

The programme will enhance your effectiveness in these areas through developing you within the researcher-practitioner paradigm. Interaction with the learning strategies on the programme will allow you to develop the skills associated with research, critical analysis, problem solving, innovation, project-management and information dissemination. You will be challenged to develop your personal professional practice and to plan, direct and evaluate your own learning. These skills reflect important attributes required in high level practice in high performance sport and other organisations.

Employability

The programme attempts to enhance the employability of graduates through doctoral level research training relevant to professional practice. The development of research skills, critical analysis, problem solving, innovation, project-management, dissemination of information, development of professional practice standards and planning, directing and evaluating their own learning to a level commensurate with doctoral study will facilitate career transitions and progression. Potential careers for those completing the programme would include management and leadership roles in high level sports organisations.

Students will be required to hold an undergraduate degree and a M level qualification (including research degrees; MRes, MPhil) in a discipline related to sport and exercise science (e.g. sport and exercise scientists, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, sport educators, sport managers etc). No student will be admitted onto the programme who does not possess a suitable knowledge base of research methods acquired through M level training. The professional vocation of the student will, in certain situations (e.g. medicine and physiotherapy) also inform the appropriateness of the application and the area of research that they undertake and hence their ability to obtain a specific named award (e.g. physiotherapy/medicine).