Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Long-Term Athletic Development, Physical Literacy, and Student-Athlete Support Leeds Beckett University in United Kingdom

Leeds Beckett University’s Carnegie School of Sport, in collaboration with Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate School, is advertising a fully funded PhD studentship in Long-Term Athletic Development. The project is embedded within an elite school sport environment and combines doctoral research with applied strength and conditioning support for young athletes.

Applicants can propose research within one of two broad themes: (1) developing motor competence in schools using a physical literacy lens, or (2) supporting the student-athlete within sport schools. The first theme focuses on youth movement foundations, physical literacy, enjoyment, inclusion, and programme design/evaluation in school settings. The second theme explores dual career development environments, student-athlete support systems, monitoring, wellbeing, and how school-based sport structures shape development over time.

The successful candidate will work closely with Queen Ethelburga’s Elite Performance Programme, contributing to strength and conditioning, performance testing, injury prevention, return-to-play support, and long-term athletic development programmes. This is a strong fit for candidates interested in sport science, youth coaching, athletic development, data analysis, and applied research in schools.

Funding: Home (UK) fees are covered and the studentship includes a £20,780 stipend. The post is full-time for 3 years and starts on 01 September 2026.

Eligibility/preferences: The advert highlights experience in youth coaching, strength and conditioning, athletic development, or sport science research, plus experience working with children and young people and an interest in research methods.

Deadline: 17 June 2026. Interviews are scheduled from 06 July 2026.

Apply using the provided link and review the Leeds Beckett University studentship page for full project details.