Program Overview

Sport and Physical Activity

Course summary

Develop specialist research knowledge and skills, complete an independent research programme, acquire a range of high-level transferable skills, and benefit from joining a vibrant Postgraduate research community.

How you learn

As a postgraduate research student, you’ll follow an independent programme of study under the supervision of a team of leading academics with extensive experience of undertaking high quality research and academic scholarship. Supervision principally takes place through regular meetings, either face to face or using remote communication, between postgraduate research students and their supervisory teams.

You’ll have access to a wide range of training opportunities to help you work towards your research degree. These include:

• A programme of university wide doctoral training sessions.
• A programme of workshops and research support sessions delivered by the Health Research Institute postgraduate research team.
• Specialist research training and skills development relevant to your research project.
• A range of research seminar series provided within the HRI and across the university.
• Peer discussions and support as part of a post graduate research community.
• Multiple opportunities to present your work at local, national and international conferences.
• Financial support to attend academic conferences, networking opportunities and training events.

Applied learning

You’ll be part of an active research community in the Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre (SPARC), the Health Research Institute and the wider university. Your research will be closely aligned with one of the research groups within SPARC. These are:

• Sport Industry Research Group
• Sports Engineering Research Group
• Physical Activity, Wellness & Public Health
• Sport & Human Performance

Our research is delivered with national and international partners and collaborators and is one of the largest sport and physical activity research clusters in the UK. We are proud to work with organisations such as Sport England, UK Sport, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), International Tennis Federation, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Adidas, Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes and teams, English Institute of Sport, The London Marathon, Parkrun and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

We also work extensively with the health sector and charities delivering interventions and evaluations to a range of diverse populations and contexts. These organisations include the National Health Service (NHS), Department of Health, Sheffield Health and Social Care, Public Health England, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Macmillan Cancer Research, The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, and British Heart Foundation as well as industry partners such as Westfield Health.

There are multiple opportunities for you to be involved in a wide range of academic activities including teaching and knowledge exchange over the course of your programme, enabling you to further expand and enhance your knowledge and skills acquisition.

Course leaders and tutors

• Joseph Stone, Associate Professor of Skill Acquisition and Performance Analysis

Future careers

Research degrees are a vital qualification for most academic careers. The research training and the high-level transferable skills you’ll acquire are highly desirable across all sectors and will be a valuable asset whatever your career.

Equipment and facilities

You’ll have access to excellent facilities and learning resources as well as a dedicated postdoctoral office space which promotes vibrant discussion and collaboration.

You’ll also have access to our state-of-the-art specialist equipment which supports a wide range of research activities. The equipment is located on the Collegiate Crescent campus and within the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre which is part of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Where will I study?

You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Entry requirements

• All applicants should hold a strong undergraduate degree (2.1 or above) and/or a relevant masters qualification (or expectation of the same).
• All applicants must submit a completed postgraduate application form including a 1500 word research proposal.
• You are encouraged to find out more about our staff and their current research to inform the development of your research proposal and to ensure it aligns with our research themes. Before submitting your proposal, please contact the member(s) of staff listed against the relevant research theme.
• Applicants are required to give a short 10–15 minute presentation followed by an interview. Interview panel members will include the head of research degrees for the relevant research area or centre, a local postgraduate research tutor and a prospective director of studies.
• Where English is not your first language, you must show evidence of English language ability to the following minimum level of proficiency: an overall IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with at least 6.5 in each component or an accepted equivalent. Please note that your test score must be current, i.e. within the last two years.

Fees and funding

• Our tuition fee for UK postgraduate research students will be aligned to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fees which have not yet been confirmed for 2025/26. For an indication of the tuition fees, please view the 2024/25 course page. An additional bench fee may also be charged for this course, depending on the nature of your project and requirements for specialist facilities. Information on whether a bench fee is chargeable can be provided by the relevant Research Institute, and will be confirmed in your offer letter.
• If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
• Doctoral student loans: Up to £25,700 available to help you while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.
• Additional course costs: The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.