The Faculty conducts research in the following overlapping areas:
- Sport, Exercise, Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
- Health, Wellbeing, Social Care and Social Work
- Play, Playwork and Performing Arts
Research in the Faculty has been rated as internationally excellent, and much of this research is applied, involving close collaboration with a range of research partners. This provides an excellent environment for research students, who join a large community of postgraduate students. Students regularly present research findings at national and international conferences, and take part in a Faculty research seminar programme.
Over the past couple of years we have carried out applied research for a variety of organisations including: Play England, Active Gloucestershire, Foundation Degree Forward, the Football Association, Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Skills for Care, Greenwich Primary Care Trust and Greenwich Leisure Ltd, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council.
The Faculty is located at the Oxstalls Campus, and provides outstanding modern purpose-built facilities for research, networking and professional development. Research students benefit from dedicated space and excellent learning resources.
For all higher degrees by research (i.e., MRes, MA or MSc by research, MPhil and PhD) you’ll be required to investigate an approved topic that will result in an independent contribution to knowledge, and you’ll also demonstrate by thesis an understanding of research methods appropriate to your chosen topic. The PhD also requires an original contribution to knowledge.
Training in research methods
All research students who have not already completed a relevant
masters degree, or other appropriate postgraduate research methods training, are required to complete the postgraduate certificate in research methods.
Entry requirements
- an honours degree of upper second class or above from a UK university, or an equivalent qualification, is normally required in a subject area relevant to your chosen research topic
- in exceptional circumstances, we will consider applications from non-graduates with experience of undertaking research or graduates who wish to work in a new subject area
- registration is usually for MPhil or MRes or MA/MSc by Research with the possibility of transfer to PhD
- candidates with a master’s degree in a relevant subject that contains appropriate research methods training may register for PhD directly.
Staff offering supervision
For an up to date list please see the faculty research pages.