Portuguese Sports Science Doctorate Program Receives 71 Applications for 20 Slots

Portugal’s first joint doctorate in Sports Science, coordinated by the Politécnico de Viana do Castelo and supported by the SPRINT research centre, opened 20 places across a consortium of six polytechnics (Viana do Castelo, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Beja and Guarda). The programme, accredited by the Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior (A3ES), attracted 71 applications in its first admission round, filling all slots and eliminating the need for a second phase. Coordinators highlighted the demand for advanced training in sports and health, noting that the collaborative model links institutions from north to south of the country and aims to strengthen scientific capacity in the sector.

All candidates will be enrolled online between 27 and 30 July 2026. The doctorate covers areas such as physical activity, health, sports performance, human behaviour and technological innovation in sport, and will benefit from the research networks of the ten institutions involved in the SPRINT centre.