Sport Research Degrees

With around 30 current PhD students, we have a vibrant and diverse postgraduate community conducting research in a wide range of sport disciplines.

A recent Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) revealed that 90% of students were satisfied with their programme and 100% of students were satisfied with the development of their research skills as a result of their supervision.

Our research in the Institute of Sport spans 6 broad themes and these encompass a range of research interests and approaches.

If you have a research idea you would like to pursue or just want to find out more about PhD research please do get in touch with our Research Degrees Co-ordinator Jason Lake on j.lake@chi.ac.uk. Please also feel free to contact potential supervisors to arrange preliminary discussions about PhD research with us.

South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership: funding available in this subject pathway

We are one of just four universities making up the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) – an exciting collaboration delivering the latest in research methods and skills training for social scientists.

Backed by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the South Coast DTP provides a range of funding opportunities to doctoral students, and fantastic opportunities for postgraduate and postdoctoral study.

Browse our staff and their fields of study

Dr Phil Birch

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Professor Sam Blacker

Professor of Exercise Physiology and Nutrition

Dr Sarah Edmunds

Senior Lecturer in Exercise Psychology

Dr Suzanne Everley

Reader in the Sociology of Physical Education, Activity and Health, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Deputy Director South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, Chair of the Association of Child Protection Professionals’ Special Interest Group Safeguarding in Sport, Development Lead for the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy

Dr Chris Hodgson

Senior Lecturer in Adventure Education

Dr Penny Hudson

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

Professor Jason Lake

Professor of Strength and Conditioning Biomechanics

Professor Mike Lauder

Executive Dean Faculty of Health, Science & Engineering

Dr Jordan Matthews

Senior Lecturer in Sport Management

Dr Sarah Needham-Beck

Associate Lecturer in Dance Science and Physiology

Dr Julia Potter

Head of Physical Education and University Coordinator of Advance HE Provision

Dr Carla Amanda Rue

Research Fellow

Dr Jenny Smith

Innovation Lead, Reader in Performance Psychology

Dr Neal Smith

Reader in Biomechanics

Professor Mark Willems

Professor of Exercise Physiology

Meet our PhD students

Toby Richards

Part-time PhD Student

Simon Federer

Part-time PhD Student

Guillermo Martinez-Arastey

Part-time PhD Student

Dr Tilly Spurr

Senior Lecturer Sports and Exercise Nutrition