Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Thinking About a PhD? NINE DTP Studentship Competition Opens 1 September 2026, for October 2027 entry

27 August 2026

Two individuals taking their places at a starting line with the words Sport and Society layered across.

Are you considering a PhD in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, or perhaps a Master's degree as a pathway to doctoral study?

The Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP) studentship competition opens on 1 September 2026, offering an exciting opportunity to secure funded postgraduate research training. The initial Stage 1 application deadline is 27 October 2026.

Colleagues in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences are seeking to support applications through the Sport & Society training pathway. If you are passionate about social science research and have a research idea, or even the beginnings of one, that aligns with our staff expertise, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Take the First Step

Prospective applicants are encouraged to:

Explore our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences staff profiles to identify potential supervisors whose research interests match your own.
Contact a member of academic staff directly to discuss your ideas and potential supervision.
Alternatively, contact the Department's Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Cassandra Phoenix, for guidance and advice.

Find Out More About NINE DTP

Visit the NINE DTP website
Learn more about the funding scheme, training opportunities and application process by visiting the NINE DTP website.
Join the NINE DTP Information Session
📅Friday 25 September 2026
🕥10:30am (Microsoft Teams)

Meeting link:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/396972925644940?p=EeSrJs35pUMpgyUi5J

Meeting ID: 396 972 925 644 940
Passcode: 7br6R2F3

Read about our current NINE DTP students

Learn more about the research being undertaken by our current NINE DTP students within the department:

Learn about the DSES postgraduate research experience.

Learn more about student life as a postgraduate researcher in DSES, and employment opportunities.

Interested? Get in Touch Early

With the competition opening soon, now is the ideal time to start developing your research ideas and speaking with potential supervisors. While applications from all eligible candidates are welcome, we are particularly keen to hear from Home/UK applicants, given the limited number of international studentships available through the scheme.

Don't wait until the deadline. Start the conversation now and take the first step towards your research career.