phd in physical education in europe

• Schools & departments

Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences

Introduction to Postgraduate Study

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Research profile

Why edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh is ranked first in Scotland for research power in Education and Sport (Times Higher Education, REF 2021). We offer the largest concentration of researchers in education in a Scottish university, meaning you will be supported by and collaborate with leaders in the field.

Our research activities cover a wide range of aspects relating to sport, physical education and health sciences.

Moray House School of Education and Sport staff provide supervision on a wide range of topics within the fields of:

• physical education
• sport management
• sports science
• social and cultural significance of sport
• health sciences

Many opportunities also exist for interdisciplinary research.

Research Thematic Hubs

With over 250 research staff and students, we have a vibrant and expanding research community with a broad portfolio of academic disciplines gathered within seven broad research themes with permeable boundaries. These thematic hubs are:

• Advanced Quantitative Research in Education
• Children and Young People
• Digital Education
• Language, Interculturality and Literacies
• Social Justice and Inclusion
• Sport-Related Research
• Teacher Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy

Research community

As a postgraduate research student, you will join a vibrant Graduate School community with over 150 research students. There are also several opportunities for optional training and development throughout your studies.

Research students are encouraged to attend and actively engage with the activities of School research thematic hubs, which include seminars, meetings and workshops. In addition, several academic and social events for research students take place throughout the year.

We organise an annual series of around 25 training, talks and seminar events, as well as the student-led ‘Interweaving’ conference for research students and staff.

Programme structure

The PhD is a substantial piece of independent research which makes a contribution to the state of existing knowledge in the field.

The PhD programme is designed to take three years full-time or six years part-time. The programme is examined by submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words and by oral examination.

Application

You are encouraged to contact a potential supervisor to discuss your research project before making a formal application.

You may start your studies with us either on 1 October or 10 January of a year.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Training and support

Students following the PhD degree are normally supported in their research by two supervisors.

The first of these will be a member of staff who has expertise in the general area of your proposed research topic and the second will be another expert in the field who may come from within the School, University or a field of practice.

Most students who are accepted begin a period of research leading to a PhD; however, the first year of this degree is probationary and progression to year two is dependent on satisfactory progress.

We offer a number of courses in research methodologies, which you are encouraged to take during your first year.

You will work closely with your supervisors, who are recognised experts in the field. All PhD students pursue an individually tailored programme of research training agreed with their supervisors.

Our PhD programmes provide core training in the research skills necessary to flourish at doctoral level and beyond.

PhD by Distance option

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

The programme allows students who are unable to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh full time to study for a PhD from their home country or city, however, this is not intended to be a fully online distance learning programme.

For further information on the PhD by Distance option (including criteria for eligibility, required application form and how to apply) please visit the School website:

• Moray House School of Education and Sport PhD by Distance

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent postgraduate degree with a 60% overall grade point average, and 60% in the dissertation, or its international equivalent.

We may also consider your application if you have other qualifications or substantial experience; if in doubt, please contact us to check before you apply.

You must also submit a research proposal that fits well with our staff expertise. You are encouraged to contact potential supervisors in advance to informally discuss your research proposal.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT : 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees, scholarships and funding.

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• taking out a loan
• family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

Moray House School of Education and Sport funding for postgraduate research students

Research scholarships for international students

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Admissions
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 4086
• Contact: Admissions Office
• Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr Darío Luis Banegas
• Contact: [email protected]
• Moray House School of Education and Sport
• Old Moray House
• Holyrood Campus
• Programme: Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences
• School: Education and Sport (Moray House)
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd sport, physical education and health sciences - 6 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit one reference with your application.

You must also submit a detailed research proposal using the following template:

Research Proposal template

Guidelines on writing your research proposal

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

PhD programme

About 40 junior researchers yearly receive their Ph.D. at the German Sport University in the diverse disciplines of sport science.

The German Sport University (GSU) confers the academic degree Ph.D. following the successful completion of the Ph.D. studies, a scientific dissertation and an oral examination.

For information about formal issues regarding your Ph.D. application, financing your Ph.D. or Ph.D. courses, please contact the Ph.D. Office (see contact).

The conferred degree options are:

• Ph.D. Exercise Science
• Ph.D. Natural Science
• Ph.D. Social Science

Ph.D. studies can be completed both in English or German language. The respective language requirements have to be fulfilled:

• DSHII certificate
• TestDaF TN4 certificate
• Telc C1 "Hochschule"
• TOEFL iBT ≥ 95 points
• IELTS British Council ≥ 7 points
• Cambridge C1 level

You would like to do your Ph.D. at the German Sport University, but you are lacking the financial support?

As a Ph.D. student you merely pay the semester fees amounting to approx. 330€ per semester. No further funding is provided by the German Sport University. You can find more information about costs and financing here .  

The German Sport University offers a number of internal research funds to support you. In addition you have the possibility to apply for external Ph.D. scholarships.

You can find more detailed information about our internal research funds as well as external financial support here.

In case of questions regarding financial support for your Ph.D. you can also adress the Research and Young Academics Team: Forschungsservicestelle.

The Department Gender and Diversity Management also offers a number of funding programmes to support researchers and parents in science. Further information can be found here .

Alexandra Pizzera

Telefonischer Kontakt +49 221 4982 7580 / Abteilung Forschung und wissenschaftlicher Nachwuchs

Claudia Combrink

Abteilung Forschung und wissenschaftlicher Nachwuchs (Vertretung)

Interest - First Steps

Application

Doctoral studies and doctoral thesis

Submitting the doctoral thesis

Oral examination

Publication