Doctor of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Part Time | October Start
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Please note: this course is subject to validation. The first year of entry for this course is October 2025.
Northumbria’s Sport & Exercise Psychology doctorate: your route to professional accreditation and registration.
The Doctor of Sport (DSport) and Exercise Psychology at Northumbria aims to provide a qualification which, by meeting the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards, will act as a route to chartered status and practitioner psychologist registration via a doctorate award.
At the heart of the course is the fusion between academic theory and real-world practice. You will engage in evidence-based practice under the supervision of Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologists. You will also complete a doctoral research study that has specific relevance and application to your area of practice. The work that you undertake on this course will facilitate your growth as a researcher and practitioner, offering insights that drive meaningful change and enable you to enhance your working practice. It's a journey of growth, innovation, and practical impact!
In your supervised practice, you will apply psychological theory to the real world of sport and exercise. You will develop an evidence base for your practice and will reflect critically upon your own practice decisions and experiences.
Throughout your studies, you'll refine your research skills and learn to critically evaluate and apply your findings to make a tangible impact. By the end of the programme, you'll not only develop advanced research expertise but also contribute original, evidence-based solutions that benefit your professional practice, your organisation, and the broader field of sport and exercise psychology.
This course is also available as full-time study.
UK Fee in Year 1: £4,968
International Fee in Year 1: £13,186
Please note, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme is not eligible for the Doctoral Loan. Further information can be found on the Government website.
Click here for UK and International Scholarship, Fees and Funding information.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
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To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
Upon successfully completing this course, you can simultaneously achieve both a Doctoral level qualification and a professional qualification that legally confers your fitness to practice in the field of sport and exercise psychology.
Teaching and learning strategies and assessments have been specifically designed to create opportunities for you to develop and evidence the key competencies required by the BPS and HCPC.
The doctorate is designed to help you grow as a skilled researcher-practitioner, blending academic research with real-world application. It also opens pathways to potential academic careers if desired.
You’ll develop practical skills like problem-solving, professional judgement, ethical decision-making, creative thinking, and advanced research techniques, all tailored to address real challenges in your field. The course emphasises impactful, high-quality research, helping you design effective, ethical solutions for complex problems in your professional practice.
Throughout your studies, you'll also have access to the Graduate Futures Team, who offer personalised career advice, resources, and opportunities like volunteering, internships, and work experience to support your career growth.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
The tutors involved in this course are highly experienced, BPS Chartered and HCPC registered practitioners. Staff are also research-active across the Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation and Psychology subject areas. Access to this broad range of staff will provide you with the opportunity to choose from a varied selection of research topics and methods to suit your personal and professional interests.
Research supervisors are normally allocated, where possible, to reflect both your interests and the expertise of the university’s staff.
These research areas may include:
As a Doctor of Sport and Exercise Psychology student at Northumbria, you may have access to facilities related to your chosen specialism and research type, be that qualitative, quantitative or both. This may include specialist laboratories and interview spaces.
As well as this, postgraduate students may also have access to the Research Commons on City Campus. This is a dedicated space designed to foster interdisciplinary networking, collaboration, and digital scholarship for postgraduate research students and academic staff.
Facilities include individual study areas with PCs, Macs, and dual-screen monitors, as well as collaborative spaces and consultation rooms, and a central hub with soft seating and research reference collections. Drop-in sessions with library staff may provide expert support on topics like copyright, scholarly communication, and reference tools.
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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