Sport and leisure cultures PhD
The University of Brighton took a pioneering role in the development of sport and leisure research and it has been a key discipline at the university for over 40 years.
Research of international standing and impact has characterised the department throughout this time, and we welcome PhD students to join an environment that takes a critical perspective on sport and leisure and develops a public-facing, interventionist social science.
Current areas of expertise include race and racism; the politics of, in, and surrounding sport; coastal and seaside leisure, refugees; migration; the politics of movement; identity politics; social movements; football cultures and fandom; labour rights; sport and international development; gender and sexuality; sports tourism; combat sports; and sports media and journalism; sport and violence; acculturation; coach-athlete relationships; and cross-cultural communication.
Our current and recent sport and leisure PhD students are investigating a range of topics in relation to marginalised communities in sport, such as women in Palestine, refugee women, bisexual sportspeople, transgender sportspeople, community action in Rio de Janeiro, and seaside gentrification.
Much of our work has real-world application and staff are well-connected to a variety of sporting, development, social justice and human rights organisations. We have our own Sport for Development and Peace NGO, Football4Peace International, and are home to the Love Fighting, Hate Violence anti-violence initiative.
We offer PhD study in both full and part-time modes and welcome students with significant professional experience, who are able to use and share the career skills they have developed, as well as those who have recently completed first degrees and wish to take advantage of their academic momentum.
Many of our graduates continue in academia, becoming lecturers or post-doctoral researchers. Other recent jobs include Head of Commercial Activity at a professional club in Scandinavia and Head of Community Development at a professional club in England.
Campus Information
City campus
Our City campus is in the cultural heart of Brighton, a short stroll from the beach and the pier. The nearby Phoenix Brewery halls of residence are home to 300 students. The city centre is just a short walk away, including the popular Kemp Town, Hanover and Queens Park areas.
Intakes
- Jan
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 10
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
The Careers team is here to support you from your first day at the university.
We can help you decide what career is right for you, develop the skills you will need to follow it, and get a job when you finish your studies.
We can also offer support and advice about placements, volunteering, mentoring and business startup.
The Careers team are offering their full range of services, including one-to-one appointments remotely. These mainly take place via the Microsoft Teams app If you are having any issues with setting up Microsoft Teams please get in touch.
Work and further study
Vacancy service
Make the most of our vacancy service, social media, paper and media resources.
Careers advice
Decide what career is right for you. Help with CVs, applications and interviews.
Resources for finding a job
Find graduate jobs, part-time work, and location-specific work.
Meet employers
Meet employers at careers fairs and events organised throughout the year.
Postgraduate study
For students considering postgraduate study at Masters level or higher.
PSW Opportunity
- 2 Years PSW is applicable after completing a minimum duration of 9 months course (like- Undergraduate, Postgraduate Level)
- 3 Years PSW is applicable after completing PhD level courses.
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
You will apply for entry to a named disciplinary area. Your final award will not use this name, it is only for application.
The entry requirements for the PhD are:
- a recognised Masters degree with a significant research component, for example MPhil from another university, or similar qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant
- or substantial appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level which resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment. An application made by someone with this experience will be considered on its merits and will normally require independent academic references
- or, unless a School exercises their right to specify more stringent entry requirements, we may consider a first or upper second honours degree or other qualification which is regarded by the University of Brighton as being equivalent and relevant.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the minimum standard of English competence accepted is normally equivalent to the following International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores:
- Normally we require an overall score of 6.5 with 6.5 in reading and writing, 6.0 in listening and speaking.
The University of Brighton will continue to accept non-SELT tests such as ‘IELTS Academic’ and ‘Pearson Test of English Academic’, as long as your test results meet the course requirements.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Doctoral Degree/PhD
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
60504 GBP
Average Cost of Living: 13632 GBP /year
Application Fee: N/A