Key facts
Award
MPhil, PhD
MPhil, PhD
Start date
1st day of any month
1st day of any month
Duration
3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
3 years full-time, 6 years part-time
Mode of study
full time, part time
full time, part time
PhD Sports Studies
Study a PhD in Sports Studies at Stirling - where sport and exercise are in our DNA, and our research reflects our passion to make an impact on the global stage.
As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, we pride ourselves on game-changing research that benefits individuals and organisations by changing policy and practice in both health and sport. Our research sheds light on the social impacts of sports mega-events, sport and mental health, physiological responses and adaptations to exercise and nutrition, individual differences and gender differences in health and disease, technology to support health and how to take a lifespan approach to healthy habits like physical activity. Sport and exercise are in our DNA, and our research reflects our passion to make an impact on the global stage.
Students will benefit from our strong connections across the sport, health, and exercise sectors. We work closely with governments, charities and sports organisation, as well as hosting the Stirling 1000 Elders network. Our campus is home to Olympic athletes, national academies for tennis and swimming and unique five-star facilities. This creates a dynamic environment where theory and practice are closely interlinked allowing research to have impact and placing students well for future employment.
A PhD or MPhil in Sport Studies can be in the topic areas covered by Sport and Exercise Sciences. This can be undertaken in diverse contexts from high performance sport to population health. Staff specialisms include genetics and molecular biology, nutrition and hydration, neuro-muscular function, and physical activity. Doctoral students join a dynamic, internationally recognised academic community carrying out innovative studies that improve human health and / or sport performance and address global challenges.
A PhD or MPhil in Sport Studies can also be in the topic areas of Sport Management, Sport Psychology, and Sport Coaching. This allows students to address key issues in sport and exercise with supervisors expert in areas including athlete development, coach education, sport for social change, sport and identity, mental wellbeing in sport, and sport mega events.
We're ranked 1st in Scotland for research outputs in Sport and Exercise Sciences. 80% of our research in Sport and Exercise Sciences is classed as world leading or internationally excellent. (REF 2021)
Entry requirements
An upper second class honours Bachelors degree or higher qualification. For some studentships and programmes of study a suitable masters degree may be specified.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
Propose your own PhD topic or apply for an existing opportunity
To propose your own PhD topic in Sports Studies, follow the application guidelines below.
You can also explore a range of Health Sciences and Sport PhD projects that are currently seeking applicants.
How to apply
Follow these steps to apply for a research degree at the University of Stirling.
Step 1: Develop your research proposal
Before applying for a research degree, it’s important that you have a clear idea of what you would like to research, what you hope to achieve, and how you plan to achieve it. Your research proposal is your chance to lay out all of these details as part of the application process.
A research proposal should include a background, rationale and context as to why you want to undertake your research, as well as detailing clear aims and objectives. The proposal should also include more detail about your expertise, methodology and how you will approach your study.
For guidance on how to produce a good research proposal, you can take a look at our guidance on writing a research proposal.
You’ll submit your research proposal as part of the online PhD application form.
Step 2: Choosing a subject area and finding a supervisor
Once you’re confident you have a good core idea for the research you’d like to carry out, you should identify the subject area your research will fall under.
Our PhD subject areas page shows all of the broad topics we offer supervision in, but we appreciate that every PhD is an original idea and may not sit neatly under a single subject area. You should apply for the area that seems most relevant to your research proposal, and we can always reallocate applications to the most suitable subject area after you apply.
Supervision
Before starting the application process, we recommend that you try to identify a supervisor who you would like to guide and mentor you during your studies. By using our Find a Supervisor tool, you can search for members of staff operating in your chosen field and make contact with them to check their availability and discuss your research proposal.
You can still apply for a research degree without naming a supervisor in your application form, but making initial contact with one of our experts can be a helpful way to ensure your application is as strong as possible.
Step 3: Apply
Use the apply link on any subject area page to start your PhD application.
The application form will ask you for a range of information and documentation, including your research proposal, how you plan to fund your studies, proof of qualifications, an academic reference and a CV.
If you’re applying for a PhD in English Studies, Publishing Studies, French, Linguistics, Religion, Spanish, Translation Studies, Global Cinema or Creative Writing, you’ll also be asked to upload a writing sample – see our supporting documents guidance for more information.
You can save your application form progress at any time, so even if you don’t have everything you need to hand right away, you can come back and fill in the blanks later.
If you meet the initial entry requirements, the Admissions Office will pass your application to Faculty for academic review. You will also receive an email with details of how to access the applicant portal and track the progress of your application. We look forward to hearing from you.
Fees and funding
| UK students | Overseas students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £4,786 | £18,200 |
| Part-time | £2,393 | £9,100 |
| Registration-only fee | £480 | £480 |
| UK students | Overseas students | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £5,006 | £19,500 |
| Part-time | £2,503 | £9,750 |
| Registration-only fee | £490 | £490 |
Important information about fees
If you're studying a PhD full time, fees will be payable for your first three years. For subsequent years you'll only pay an annual 'registration-only' fee. Part-time PhD fees are payable over six years, followed by the annual 'registration-only' fee.
If you're studying an MPhil full-time, fees are payable for your first two years, followed by an annual 'registration-only' fee. Part-time MPhil fees are payable over four years, followed by the annual 'registration-only fee.
Fees are charged each year. Overseas PhD fees are fixed at the point of entry, so you will be charged the same fee each year, based on when you started your programme. For UK students, fees are subject to change each year.
Funding opportunities and scholarships
Explore options for funding your PhD and associated living costs while you study
Supporting your studies
The Institute for Advanced Studies supports our thriving PhD research community with resources and networking opportunities. The Institute connects you with a global community of scholars, industry experts, leading academics and employers from a diverse range of interdisciplinary research areas.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about studying a PhD at the University of Stirling, please contact us.