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Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences

A new sport and exercise department that has already established itself as an outstanding place for excellence in research, teaching and employability of our students.
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Welcome to the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham

We're a welcoming, collegiate, and vibrant community of world-leading academics, delivering a cutting-edge curriculum in the sport and exercise sciences.

Our taught programmes are consistently ranked in the Top 10 best sport-related degrees in the country and our department has also been ranked in the Top 100 in the QS World Rankings for 2025 for sport-related subjects. Our students benefit from studying at a globally renowned University, including gaining key employment skills identified as important by potential employers. 

Find out more about us
Top 10 The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
4th for Sports Science Complete University Guide 2025
Ranked World Top 100 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
Consistently ranked Top 10 for sport degrees in the UK, across all major rankings

Study with us

  • Undergraduate Study

    We offer high-quality teaching across two unique sport and exercise science programmes; our BA in Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity, and our BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences.

    Someone at a lectern giving a lecture to a group of students

  • Postgraduate Study

    Join our vibrant community of national and international postgraduate taught (MSc) and postgraduate research students.

    A sports team in a huddle

Undergraduate Study

We offer high-quality teaching across two unique sport and exercise science programmes; our BA in Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity, and our BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Someone at a lectern giving a lecture to a group of students

Postgraduate Study

Join our vibrant community of national and international postgraduate taught (MSc) and postgraduate research students.

A sports team in a huddle

What's new?

Filter:

  • Collaboration with the University of Tübingen

    Earlier this month, Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano visited colleagues at the University of Tübingen in Germany as part of a collaborative research project. The project centres around force control and uses high-density electromyography decomposition to evaluate the behaviour of individual motor units of the tibialis anterior muscle. We look forward to hosting Benedict, Burak, and Justus during their upcoming visit to Durham!
    Research news
    Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano in a group photo with University of Tubingen Colleagues outside

  • Twenty Durham researchers appointed to REF 2029 sub-panels

    Twenty of our researchers will take important roles in assessing UK universities’ research quality.
    Research news
    Woman in lab coat holding microscope-like device

  • Welcome Talia Ritondo

    The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences would like to extend a warm welcome to visiting PhD student, Talia Ritondo.
    Student news
    Visiting PhD student Talia Ritondo posing for a photo

  • New Co-production Guide 

    Research led by Professor Brett Smith and Dr Toni L. Williams
    Research news
    shared narrative

  • Welcoming Victor Merino Expósito

    The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences would like to extend a warm welcome to visiting PhD student, Victor Merino Expósito.
    Student news
    Victor posing outside on a tennis court

  • Rethinking autism and exercise: new study challenges old assumptions

    New research is challenging long-standing assumptions about autism and physical activity, offering fresh insights into the experiences of autistic adults.
    Research news
    A group of people in gym clothes exercising outdoors

  • Women football players as role models – an uneven playing field?

    All eyes have been on women’s football, and on the England team as the winners of the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. The players are often held up as role models but is the pressure to inspire greater on women compared to men? Professor Stacey Pope from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences has looked into this.
    Research news
    England footballer Leah Williamson talking at a press conference

Collaboration with the University of Tübingen

Earlier this month, Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano visited colleagues at the University of Tübingen in Germany as part of a collaborative research project. The project centres around force control and uses high-density electromyography decomposition to evaluate the behaviour of individual motor units of the tibialis anterior muscle. We look forward to hosting Benedict, Burak, and Justus during their upcoming visit to Durham!

Research news
Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano in a group photo with University of Tubingen Colleagues outside

Twenty Durham researchers appointed to REF 2029 sub-panels

Twenty of our researchers will take important roles in assessing UK universities’ research quality.
Research news
Woman in lab coat holding microscope-like device

Welcome Talia Ritondo

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences would like to extend a warm welcome to visiting PhD student, Talia Ritondo.
Student news
Visiting PhD student Talia Ritondo posing for a photo

New Co-production Guide 

Research led by Professor Brett Smith and Dr Toni L. Williams
Research news
shared narrative

Welcoming Victor Merino Expósito

The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences would like to extend a warm welcome to visiting PhD student, Victor Merino Expósito.
Student news
Victor posing outside on a tennis court

Rethinking autism and exercise: new study challenges old assumptions

New research is challenging long-standing assumptions about autism and physical activity, offering fresh insights into the experiences of autistic adults.
Research news
A group of people in gym clothes exercising outdoors

Women football players as role models – an uneven playing field?

All eyes have been on women’s football, and on the England team as the winners of the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland. The players are often held up as role models but is the pressure to inspire greater on women compared to men? Professor Stacey Pope from our Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences has looked into this.
Research news
England footballer Leah Williamson talking at a press conference
More news

  • Collaboration with the University of Tübingen

    Earlier this month, Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano visited colleagues at the University of Tübingen in Germany as part of a collaborative research project. The project centres around force control and uses high-density electromyography decomposition to evaluate the behaviour of individual motor units of the tibialis anterior muscle. We look forward to hosting Benedict, Burak, and Justus during their upcoming visit to Durham!
    Research news
    Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano in a group photo with University of Tubingen Colleagues outside

  • Twenty Durham researchers appointed to REF 2029 sub-panels

    Twenty of our researchers will take important roles in assessing UK universities’ research quality.
    Research news
    Woman in lab coat holding microscope-like device

  • New Co-production Guide 

    Research led by Professor Brett Smith and Dr Toni L. Williams
    Research news
    shared narrative

Collaboration with the University of Tübingen

Earlier this month, Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano visited colleagues at the University of Tübingen in Germany as part of a collaborative research project. The project centres around force control and uses high-density electromyography decomposition to evaluate the behaviour of individual motor units of the tibialis anterior muscle. We look forward to hosting Benedict, Burak, and Justus during their upcoming visit to Durham!

Rob Hunter and Katie Di Sebastiano in a group photo with University of Tubingen Colleagues outside

Twenty Durham researchers appointed to REF 2029 sub-panels

Twenty of our researchers will take important roles in assessing UK universities’ research quality.
Woman in lab coat holding microscope-like device

New Co-production Guide 

Research led by Professor Brett Smith and Dr Toni L. Williams
shared narrative

Student updates

Find out what our graduates and current students are getting up to on our Durham blog.

Highlights

My experience at the Cricket World Cup

Rosie Speedy tells us all about her time at the T20 Women’s World Cup, which was held in Malaysia in January 2025
/media/durham-university/departments-/sport-and-exercise-sciences/Josie-Newman-Blog-Placement-photo-e1743435859425.jpg

How to make the most of your time as a Sport and Exercise Sciences student at Durham University

Josie passes on her advice on how to make the most out of your time as Sport and Exercise Sciences student at Durham
Jodie Newman posing with Paralympian in a gym

People

Our academic team brings together psychologists, physiologists, nutritionists, sociologists and political scientists, enabling the Department to be at the forefront of developing multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to study and research.

University student
The Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University is a global leader in research and education. Our research is grounded in social justice, inequalities, and sporting lives; our education is research-led, transformative and innovative. The academic team brings together psychologists, physiologists, nutritionists, sociologists and political scientists. We are passionate about what we do and committed to making change.
Caroline Dodd-Reynolds & Iain Lindsey
Heads of Department
Meet our people

Our research

We aim to make a positive impact on people’s lives through research.

Our research addresses inequalities, promotes social justice, and ensures better health and wellbeing.
Discover more about our research
Model head
Two boxers practising boxing

Equality and diversity

We are committed to supporting all of our students and promoting a departmental culture based on dignity, courtesy and respect. Our Equality and Diversity lead and student committee keep equality, diversity and inclusion issues at the forefront of the department's agenda.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Get in touch

If you have any questions about our department, please get in touch.

Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Durham University
Green Lane 
Durham
DH1 3LA
UK

Telephone: +44 (0)191 334 2000

Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

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