Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

By studying for a PhD with us, you will be joining a thriving research community of over 200 Doctoral Researchers from across the globe. You will add to world-leading research that is helping to shape the latest advancements across the sport, exercise and health sectors. The Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences programme is offered at Loughborough
University.

Ranked first in the world for sports-related subjects for seven years in a row by the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2017-2023), our research activity encompasses a broad range of social and natural sciences within the themes of: sport performance; lifestyle for health and wellbeing; and sport, business and society.

A number of funded studentships across a diverse range of disciplines within sport, exercise and health sciences are on offer. We also welcome research proposals relevant to our wide-ranging expertise, encompassing: medicine, molecular biology, nutrition, biomechanics, economics, pedagogy, psychology, sociology, sport management and more.

We have extensive links and research contracts with industry and education partners, as well as with sport and health organisations. We also have extensive state-of-the-art facilities to give you the advanced skills and techniques needed to conduct leading research.

As well as benefiting from the expertise of our academic staff and ongoing investment in world-leading facilities at the University of the Year for Sport*, our Doctoral Researchers are able to take advantage of access to our internationally recognised research centres:

• The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (East Midlands)
• The Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
• The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport
• The Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour

Career opportunities

Graduates who have undertaken postgraduate research degrees in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences are ideally prepared for research careers in academia or with research institutions.

Our recent graduates of  Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences programme from Loughborough University Loughborough University  have also gone onto careers with the NHS, Archery GB, the English Institute of Sport, the Chamber of Advocates – Malta, Kuwait Television, and the British Wheelchair Rugby Association.

Graduate roles include Research Associate, Senior Lecturer in Sports Science, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Senior Bioinformatician, Performance Nutritionist, and Sports Scientist.

Research areas

• Sports Performance

• Lifestyle for Health and Well-being

• Sport, Business and Society

• Gender and Sport Centre for Doctoral Training