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PhD

Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Therapy

Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences provides an excellent environment for undertaking your PhD. We have an active group of both full-time and part-time postgraduate research students in the School and staff with expertise in a number of areas in sports science and therapy, including exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, injury, rehabilitation and psychology.

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Key information

Start
Preferably in September or January
Location
Canterbury
Study mode
3 to 4 years full-time, 5 to 6 years part-time
Fees (per year)
UK:
International:
Typical offer
2.1 or above in an acceptable subject
All entry requirements

Overview

The breadth of staff research interests enables us to supervise research degrees in a number of areas, in the sport and exercise sciences and in sports therapy. These areas include: exercise physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, injury, rehabilitation, psychology. More specifically, we can offer research in the areas of: mental fatigue; perceived effort and exercise capacity; training and sports performance; cycling efficiency, mega sporting events and their legacy; rehabilitation; physical activity in various populations; threat and challenge in sports psychology; sports nutrition; exercise immunology, pre-habilitation and rehabilitation from injury or surgery; and manual therapy in sport and lower back pain.

Funded PhD studentships

The School’s latest PhD opportunities are announced throughout the year and can be found on the FindAPhD website or through the University of Kent scholarship finder.

Self-funded applicants

If you have private or other funding you are welcome to apply for a PhD at any time, provided that your research interests are in line with the interests and capabilities of one of our research groups. In order to apply, you need to complete the following steps:

  • Identify an academic member of staff who you would like to act as a potential supervisor

  • Contact the potential supervisor directly by email to discuss the possibility of undertaking a PhD under their supervision. Please outline your interest in the research, supply a CV including details of all relevant experience and details of how you will fund your study.

  • Make an online application to study (click 'Apply now').

About Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences

Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the most exciting and innovative sports departments in the UK.

Based on our Canterbury campus, we have well-equipped, state-of the-art sports science laboratories, a sports therapy clinic, sports rehabilitation gymnasium and respiratory clinic. Our laboratories include the latest equipment, such as:

  • anti-gravity treadmill, originally developed to help NASA astronauts to exercise in space

  • cycling and rowing ergometers to measure anaerobic capacity

  • isokinetic dynamometer to measure muscle and joint function

  • brain and muscle stimulators

  • 3D motion video analysis

  • imaging and treatment ultrasound

  • gait analysis and force pedals

  • blood testing and gas analysis equipment

  • rehabilitation gymnasium

  • environmental chamber, which can recreate the atmosphere in the Brazilian jungle or at the top of Everest.

You'll also have access to some top-class leisure and study facilities. For example, the Sports Centre/Pavilion provides:  

  • an air-conditioned fitness suite across two floors 

  • dance and fitness studios with numerous classes 

  • indoor courts for badminton, basketball, netball, volleyball and squash 

  • training facilities for martial arts, boxing and combat sports 

  • outdoor pitches for rugby, football and American football.

The course

How you'll study

Postgraduate taught modules are designed to give you advanced study skills, a deeper knowledge of the subject, and the confidence to achieve your ambitions.

Entry requirements

2.1 or above in an acceptable subject

An MSc, or a first or upper-second class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science or related subjects.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.

Fees and funding

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for this course are:
  • Full-time (UK)
  • Part-time (UK)
  • Full-time (International)
  • Part-time (International)

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.

The 2026/27 annual tuition fees for UK postgraduate research courses have not yet been set by the Research Councils UK. This is ordinarily announced in March. As a guide only, the full-time tuition fee for new and returning UK postgraduate research courses for 2025/26 is £5,006.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Funding

Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent. 

Additional research fees

Please note that, due to the technical requirements of certain laboratory-based research projects, some projects incur additional research costs to support consumable requirements.

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

International scholarships

Unlock your potential with scholarships up to £5,000

Research

Kent is a leading research university, meaning that you will be informed about new discussions and developments by the people making them. This means your work will have real potential to make a difference.

Staff research interests

Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘find a supervisor’ search to search by staff member or keyword.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.

Your future

Our programmes have been developed and designed to provide students with the required knowledge and skills to work autonomously in the field of sport science and sports therapy. The programmes provide opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate both specialist academic and transferable skills such as good communication, problem solving, critical analysis and the ability to work independently to a high standard. The programmes also aim to give you the opportunity to build long-term careers within your chosen field.

Postgraduates earn

£6,000
more per year than graduates (Graduate Labour Market Statistics, 2021).

A degree can boost average lifetime earnings by over

£300,000
Graduate employment outcomes - Universities UK

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

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