Fully Funded DPhil Studentships in Sports Medicine, Engineering, and Technology at University of Oxford (2026) University of Oxford in United Kingdom

The Podium Institute for Sports Medicine and Technology at the University of Oxford is now accepting applications for fully funded 3.5-year DPhil (PhD) studentships starting in October 2026. These prestigious studentships are open to both UK and international applicants and are based within the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science. The Podium Institute is dedicated to advancing research in sports medicine, engineering, and technology, with a special focus on the safety and lifelong health of youth, grassroots, and professional athletes.

Students will have the opportunity to work with leading supervisors from both Engineering Science and Medical Sciences, contributing to innovative projects in areas such as biomechanics, AI-driven prediction, wearable and robotic technologies, advanced imaging, and data science. Research topics include injury prevention, multiphysics and data-driven modelling of traumatic brain injury, experimental characterization of soft biological materials, computer-vision-based injury detection, development of robotic simulators for PPE testing, functional materials for impact absorption, wearable assistive robotics, haptic interfaces in virtual reality, and the use of big data and machine learning to understand and predict sports injuries.

The studentships cover full university fees (UK: £10,470; Overseas: £34,700 for 2026-27) and provide a tax-free stipend of approximately £22,780 per year for at least three years. Applicants must hold a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree in engineering, physical sciences, or medical sciences, and demonstrate excellent English communication skills. Experience in experimental or computational research, as well as programming skills in MATLAB or Python, are desirable but not required. Candidates must submit a research proposal related to the Podium Institute's priority areas and meet the University of Oxford's graduate admissions criteria.

Applications should be submitted through the University of Oxford graduate admissions portal, quoting reference 26ENGBI_CC. The main deadline for most Oxford scholarships is 2 December 2025, with applications remaining open until 3 March 2026 if places are available. Informal enquiries are encouraged and can be directed to [email protected]. For more information on research areas, supervisors, and application procedures, visit the Podium Institute's studentships page.

The Podium Institute values diversity and inclusion, welcoming students from a wide range of academic backgrounds. Join a vibrant research community dedicated to making sports safer for everyone through cutting-edge science and technology.