PhD in Sports Science, Physical Education and Recreation

2024/2025

What you learn

Generic skills

During this doctoral program the student acquires general competences that allow him/her to understand the problems of society in relation to physical activity and education, exercise and sport and to approach them from a perspective based on the scientific method, as well as to develop skills of relationship with other scientists and communication of science to society.

Pueden consultarse las competencias generales en la memoria verificada 2015.

Specific skills

During this doctoral program specific competences and skills related to the understanding and research of issues related to physical activity and education, exercise and sport, approached from different perspectives and biological or psychosocial paradigms are developed. Each student will attain specific knowledge, skills and abilities for the generation of scientific knowledge to understand and address specific research problems.

Professional and academic career

Professional and academic career

The two main professional opportunities after completing the doctoral studies in this program are:

  • researcher in the public or private sector andC
  • university professor (the doctoral degree is a requirement to obtain the ANECA accreditation).
  • In addition, having a doctoral degree and the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired in the program are a computable merit and added value for the performance of other professional tasks:

  • teaching in Secondary Education;
  • physical preparation, training and performance analysis in team and individual sports;
  • physical preparation or training for the protection and promotion of health;
  • physical preparation or training for the protection and promotion of health;
  • physical preparation or training adapted to people with pathologies;
  • promotion of physical activity and sports in different population groups, and
  • ports management.
  • Research lines

    This are the main research lines for current study.

    • -
    • Actividade física, entorno urbano e saude
    • Adaptacións neuromusculares e cardiovasculares no entrenamento de forza
    • Anáise do rendimento en deportes artísticos
    • Anáise do rendimento en deportes artísticos e expresivos
    • Análise do pensamiento e comportamiento do profesor/entrenador e do alumno/deportista
    • Análise do rendimento en deportes colectivos
    • Biomecánica do movemento humano
    • Comportamento motor
    • Composición corporal e gasto enerxético
    • Control motor na actividade física, saude e dpoerte
    • Emoción na práctica de Deportes na natureza
    • Entrenamento neuromuscular en xóvenes, e en deportes de equipo
    • Epidemioloxía da actividade física e a condición física saudable
    • Innovacións na evaluación de contextos naturais aplicados o deporte
    • Medo e patrón motor
    • Parámetros de rendimento no entrenamento de resistencia, e aplicacións o exercicio físico saudable
    • Psicoloxía aplicada o Deporte e o Exercicio Físico
    • Sistema de neuronas espexo
    • Socorrismo e rescate acuatíco
    • Xénero, deporte, actividade física saudable e calidade de vida

    Planning for teaching

    Additional subject teaching

    Candidates who do not meet all the necessary prior learning conditions for the programme may be required to complete additional courses in the form of subjects and modules from UDC Master’s and undergraduate programmes. The number of credits from additional subject teaching will not exceed 15 ECTS credits, which students may choose to complete before or after enrolment in the PhD programme.

    Students who do not opt to complete additional coursework prior to enrolment should register for their extra subjects or modules at the same time as the PhD. Failure to complete additional coursework within a period of three consecutive terms will result in the termination of the student’s registration.

    See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 16: Applications.

    EIDUDC teaching and training activities

    EIDUDC teaching and training activities

    Programme-specific teaching and training activities

    Supervision agreement

    The PhD supervision agreement defines the academic relationship between the candidate and the University, the rights and responsibilities of each (including any intellectual and/or industrial property rights resulting from the candidate’s research), the procedures in place in relation to conflict resolution, and the duration of the agreement. It also specifies the duties of the PhD tutor and supervisor.

    The supervision agreement must be signed by the candidate, tutor and designated university representative (or representatives) within a maximum period of one month as from the date of registration. The supervisor’s signature may be added subsequently, once a supervisor has been appointed.

    When the document has been signed by all the relevant parties, the agreement is then added to the candidate’s record of activities.

    See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 31: Supervision agreement.

    Research plan

    The candidate must prepare a research plan within six months of registration, with information regarding methodology, objectives, resources and milestones. The research plan is submitted together with the report of the supervisor and/or tutor for approval by the Academic Committee for PhD Programmes (CAPD). Improvements to the plan may be introduced with the approval of the supervisor and/or tutor based on the annual review of the student’s research progress.

    Research plans are subject to annual review by the CAPD, including the report(s) of the supervisor and/or tutor and the candidate’s record of activities. Students will be permitted to continue with their studies if the outcome of the review is satisfactory. If the outcome is negative, the student will be required to submit a new plan within a period of six months. If the committee is still not satisfied, the candidate will be removed from the programme.

    See also UDC PhD Policies and Regulations, Article 30: Research plan.

    Student mobility

    UDC holds student mobility agreements with universities and other third-level institutions across four continents. Students are offered several opportunities each year to apply to study abroad in one of these centres (for a single term or for a whole year), with the guarantee that all credits obtained will be duly recognised in their academic record upon their return.

    For each round of applications, the University publishes the list of exchange options available to students and, where relevant, the specific conditions associated with each. Students may also apply to the University for funding for international work experience placements and internships.

    Work experience placements are accredited in the student's academic record and the European diploma supplement. Students are free to decide in which host company or academic institution within the EHEA they wish to carry out their placement. To assist them in their search, the University has created an online noticeboard with jobs postings and other news.

    Work-study placements in A Coruña are arranged by the International Relations Office (ORI) of the UDC in collaboration with the international relations coordinators in the student’s home university. The general entry criteria, rights and obligations of students, and admission and acceptance procedures for the programme, are regulated by the UDC Mobility Policy.