Sport and Health Sciences
Internationally recognised research underpins our teaching and provides the foundation for the development of leading-edge practice across our subject areas.
We offer the following research degrees:
- MSc by research
- MPhil
- PhD
- PhD by published work
Support
You can expect:
- Supervision from top-class academics
- Membership of a structured doctoral programme
- Part-time opportunities for students based in the workplace
- Excellent facilities giving access to the latest technology
- A mixture of funded and self/ externally funded places
- Opportunities to develop teaching skills and gain a qualification
- High-profile research events.
Research Areas
You can undertake research degrees in the following areas:
Movement Science - including exercise rehabilitation and exercise
- Immediate physiological and psychophysical exercise performed at different intensities
- Effects of restricted fluid intake in people with MS on temperature control, energy levels, balance and cognitive and physical performance
- Feasibility of supporting people with long-term neurological conditions to exercise in the community
- Exercise responses in children with physical disabilities
- Role of physical activity in the lives of drug users.
Human Health and Performance - including nutrition, endurance and skill
- Effect of fluid and carbohydrate intake on rowing skill and performance
- Relationship between levels of physical activity and blood levels of neuroactive proteins induced by exercise
- Green tea effect on competitive cycling performance.
Functional Foods and Nutrition - including glycaemic index and diabetes
- Effect of ginger on GI of foods
- Nutrient losses in cooking
- Epilepsy and the effect of diet
- Nutritional interventions in children
- Cyclic hormone levels and their effect on appetite and metabolism.
Rehabilitiation and Enablement - including neurology and clinical skills
- Outcomes of hip and knee surgery
- Shoulder movement following radiotherapy for breast cancer
- Neurorehabilitation - impact of creative activity on recovery
- Use of assistive technology to improve independence
- Mental imagery as a therapeutic approach for patients after stroke.
Funding
We receive a range of funding from charities, research funding bodies and employers. Some funding is available through the NHS training schemes and some students have gained bursaries from trusts and foundations. Nationally advertised research studentships are available from time to time. Self- financing students, and students financed by their employers, are encouraged to apply.
Consultancies
The department also offers its high quality services and facilities to external clients. Consultancy services are available from:
- Human Performance Unit
- CLEAR Unit (Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit)
- Functional Food Centre.
