PhD Sports and Exercise Science

About the project

• Research

PhD Sports and Exercise Science

• Overview
• Degree details
• Our students
• Research
• Entry and fees
• Careers
• Facilities
• Supervisors
• Recently viewed
• Related courses

Overview

The PhD Sports and Exercise Science provides an opportunity to undertake advanced research in the science of human performance, health, exercise and physical activity.

Our research degree is designed for ambitious researchers who wish to make an original contribution to knowledge in sport, exercise and health sciences. You will work closely with expert supervisors and join a research environment that combines scientific rigour with real-world impact.

Research within the course addresses contemporary challenges in sport, health and wellbeing. Projects may involve laboratory, field-based, clinical or community settings and can draw upon quantitative, mixed-methods or intervention-based approaches.

Whether your interests lie in enhancing athletic performance, understanding physiological responses to exercise, preventing injury, or improving health through physical activity, our PhD programme provides the support and expertise needed to develop high-quality research.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in topics including:

We also encourage interdisciplinary projects that connect sports and exercise science with psychology, behavioural science, healthcare, technology, data analytics, education and public policy. Details of specific PhD opportunities will be listed below when available.

This PhD is available for you to study:

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise in the " supervisors " section lower down the page.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

• exercise for health and wellbeing
• physical activity and public health
• sports medicine and injury prevention
• biomechanics of movement
• exercise physiology
• physiological markers of health and disease
• human performance and sport performance optimisation
• development and evaluation of sport and exercise interventions
• health behaviour and physical activity interventions
• applied sport and exercise science.
• full-time or part-time
• on-campus or online
• starting in September or February.

About your degree

During your PhD in Sports and Exercise Science, you will have a supervisory team made up of a Director of Studies with expertise in your chosen field, a further supervisor and, where appropriate, an additional adviser. Your research will be judged through the presentation of a thesis or artefact and a viva voce for academic assessment. We provide a stimulating and supportive environment where you will benefit from:

Our online PhD allows you to undertake a postgraduate research degree from a location that fits with your lifestyle and commitments. As part of your application, please state that you are applying for an online PhD. As an online PhD student, you will not be required to visit the campus: all supervision, training, reviews and the viva voce examination are provided online.

An online PhD may not be suitable for all projects, and consideration will be given to the suitability of the research project and whether it can be completed successfully without regular access to campus facilities.

This PhD in Sports and Exercise Science is available for you to study full-time or part-time, online or campus-based.

All PhD students will have access to the University’s student support services , the Library’s e-resources collection and IT support services . You are also welcome to attend the annual doctoral students’ conference on campus.

A PhD is founded on independent research. You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement. You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the capital or further afield – ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a PhD in Human and Social Sciences, please contact Professor Tom Dickins .

• peer feedback and discussion
• a series of masterclasses and lectures from industry figures
• support by a supervisor and a second supervisor suited to your project.
• PhD opportunities
• Support
• Networking

Research areas

• Delivering exercise training interventions: healthy ageing across the female life-span Supervisors: Dr Alan J Metcalfe, Dr Steven Eustace, Dr Siobhán Strike, Dr Tess Flood Contact email: [email protected] Background and Rationale This project aims to co-design exercise interventions to enhance physical activity and quality of life for women across the lifespan, equipping women and practitioners with evidence-based strategies for healthy ageing. The benefits of physical activity are well established as a facilitator for healthy ageing. Yet a substantial proportion of the population do not engage with exercise, and the reasons are multifactorial and complex. Through focusing on women and women’s health, this project aims to use a co-design method, with participants involved in shaping the research aims, the development and the dissemination of the knowledge. We welcome research that analyses different stages through the female lifespan, though particularly from perimenopause to older age. The evidence base for exercise as an intervention in women continues to grow; however, a critical gap persists. The extent and quality of the research which details how to personalise and implement these interventions is weak. Thus, there is currently no framework by which fitness and rehabilitation professionals can co-develop, assess, monitor, and track the real-life impact of personalised, structured exercise interventions for this population in community settings. Existing research tends to be clinical in nature, laboratory-based, or focused on pharmacological management, and largely lacks the applied, user and practitioner-facing dimension necessary for widespread adoption outside of specialist clinical environments. A further gap concerns the behavioural dimension of exercise participation in this population. Research is required to develop our understanding of why women disengage from or fail to initiate structured exercise programmes in community settings. Factors such as low confidence in gym environments, lack of tailored professional guidance, and the absence of female-specific attitudinal considerations have been identified anecdotally, but have not been systematically studied. Without understanding these barriers, even well-designed interventions risk poor uptake and retention. Possible research questions, which can be adapted to the specific female population, include: What are the barriers and facilitators to exercise, and how can practitioners work with exercisers to address these How do markers of physical fitness associate with physical activity levels and quality of life What does an exercise intervention look like for this population, and how can we evaluate its effectiveness, using a biopsychosocial model What are effective strategies to disseminate the knowledge to both women and practitioners. The project is of direct relevance to sport and exercise scientists and practitioners, supporting the development of audience-specific interventions, monitoring protocols and the development of practical guidance. The project will support knowledge exchange through targeted dissemination, focusing on: Disseminating interventions in a co-designed manner Building a practitioner toolkit.

Delivering exercise training interventions: healthy ageing across the female life-span

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

We provide structured research training, expert supervision and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Supervisors: Dr Alan J Metcalfe, Dr Steven Eustace, Dr Siobhán Strike, Dr Tess Flood
• Contact email: [email protected]
• What are the barriers and facilitators to exercise, and how can practitioners work with exercisers to address these
• How do markers of physical fitness associate with physical activity levels and quality of life
• What does an exercise intervention look like for this population, and how can we evaluate its effectiveness, using a biopsychosocial model
• What are effective strategies to disseminate the knowledge to both women and practitioners.
• Disseminating interventions in a co-designed manner
• Building a practitioner toolkit.
• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

What our students say

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other doctoral research candidates.

Abdulazeez Rotimi - PhD

Research Repository - Human and Social Sciences

Browse our Social Sciences repository to view research output by our research students and academic staff.

Research at the School of Human and Social Sciences

Learn more about our research specialisms and available PhDs within the School of Human and Social Sciences.

Research impact

Learn how our research has helped communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

We look for individuals with:

Applicants should also submit a well-considered and persuasive research proposal, clearly outlining their aims, context and potential contribution to the field.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.
• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.
• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme.
• An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).
• dedication to undertaking rigorous and meaningful research
• enthusiasm for contributing to academic and creative practice
• a genuine passion for their chosen subject area.

Fees & funding

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

Find out more about funding opportunities .

Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website (except for funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

We offer other generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships and bursaries .

Please note that the following writing-up fees apply for the final year of full-time PhD study , a reduced amount from the standard fee per year:

Writing-up fees do not apply for the final year of part-time PhD study. The standard fee applies.

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• employers
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).
• On campus PhD (Year 4): UK £1,900. International: £6,000
• Online PhD (Year 4): UK £1,000. International: £3,000.
• Fees for the 2027/28 academic year and onwards may be subject to change.
• Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course and you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year, except if otherwise stated.
• If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (e.g. The Ministry/Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the sources of funding for international students guide.

The PhD Bursary is available to home and international students enrolling on a full-time PhD course in 2026/27. The Bursary consists of a £500 fee reduction in your first year of study and for each subsequent year of study, subject to successful progression, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Your future career

A PhD in Sports and Exercise Science enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge whether you are planning to work in industry or to develop expertise to teach in academia. Graduates will be equipped with the advanced methodological, analytical and communication skills required for leadership positions across research, industry and practice.

Career fields

• academic research and higher education
• professional sport and performance environments
• sports science support services
• health and wellbeing organisations
• public health and healthcare sectors
• research consultancy
• government and policy organisations
• commercial research and development roles.

Sport and Exercise Science facilities

We offer a range of cutting-edge facilities to aid your studies, including force platforms, 3D motion capture, expired gas analysis, blood analysers, lung function testing, ECG (electrocardiogram), gym and exercise equipment, a Physiology Lab and Biomechanics Lab.

Psychology facilities

We offer a range of excellent psychology facilities, including a industry-standard brain-imaging electroencephalogram (EEG), eye-tracking equipment, observation laboratory and virtual reality technology.

Biomechanics Lab

Our Biomechanics Lab is a specialist facility offering advanced movement analysis, rehabilitation assessment, and performance testing. This is where we have our 3D motion capture system, force plates and cycle ergometers.

Physiology Lab

Our Physiology Lab is a modern, flexible testing space equipped with professional-grade fitness and physiology equipment. Here, you will do performance testing, health monitoring, gait analysis and more, using specialist equipment including a treadmill, lactate analyser, spirometry equipment, ECG and heart rate monitoring.

Brain-imaging electroencephalogram (EEG)

Our electroencephalogram equipment allows researchers at SHSS to study cognitive patterns through measuring the electrical activity of the brain.

Eye-trackers to observation room

Tobii TX300 eye-tracker – used to investigate online interactions. Biopacs – used to measure physiological indicators such as heart rate, sweat responses and electromyography (EMG). Cantab cognitive research software – used to measure cognitive functions against neural networks to understand the role of specific brain functions across a range of disorders and syndromes. Observation room – with wall-mounted cameras and live video feed.

Immersive Room

Our Immersive Room is a flexible, technology-enabled space designed for immersive experiences, training and creative projects. It has immersive audio-visual capabilities with a multi-purpose layout, so can be set up to interact with a wide range of scenarios.

Library

UWL Libraries will help you to succeed as you progress through your studies. Find out more information about our libraries.

The Graduate School

If you are interested in studying for a PhD or Professional Doctorate, the Graduate School is here to support your research.

Rami Ranger House (Postgraduate Student Centre)

Rami Ranger House is a focal point for the University’s postgraduate and international students, providing dedicated space for social and learning interaction.

This building, which is three storeys high, offers spaces for collaborative working, socialising, supervision and mentoring on the ground floor. The first floor has work spaces for the postgraduate support teams to use, while the second floor provides guest accommodation for visiting scholars.

Psychological and sport sciences

Gain a stronger understanding of the processes that influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviour, with one of our career-focused undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in various psychological sciences at the University of West London.

Find out more

Discover seven reasons to study with us and how studying at UWL will support your future career.

Find out about student accommodation and the support for students.

Explore our campus and sites and book onto a campus tour or open day .

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

Rankings

• † Fees - the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the course. Fees are subject to change. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full-time taught international fees are subject to an annual increase.
• Teaching - your course will primarily be delivered in-person, however it may include delivery of some activities online, either in real-time or recorded.
• Testimonials - quotes are provided by current or former UWL students. These are mostly from the course but quotes from a UWL student on another course may be used if, for example, the course is new.
• Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.
• Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming, however staff and course content may have since changed.
• Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route and a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.
• The National Student Survey 2026 result is based on the average of all answers by the taught student populations.
• Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and after, 1992.
• PRES - rank out of 53 institutions.

Research areas