The first PhD in Sport Sciences within the Portuguese polytechnic system, supported by SPRINT, has been accredited by A3ES for a period of six years, marking a historic milestone in national higher education.
The program results from a collaboration between six institutions within the Portuguese polytechnic subsystem, spanning from the north to the south of the country. It will be available from the 2026/27 academic year, offering advanced training and applied research in the field of Sport Sciences.
The PhD emerges as a natural continuation of the undergraduate and master’s programs already offered by these institutions and aims to strengthen research in Sport Sciences by promoting applied projects in both academic and non-academic contexts. The program has been designed under a collaborative interinstitutional model, coordinated at the national level, allowing applications to be submitted at any of the participating institutions. It is also structured to foster applied research in partnership with companies, clubs, associations, federations, and other entities within the sport sector.
This initiative represents an unprecedented milestone in polytechnic higher education in Portugal, bringing together institutions from across the country and creating unique opportunities for collaboration, advanced training, and knowledge transfer to the sport sector, businesses, and local communities. This structured connection with the economic and social fabric reinforces the dimension of knowledge transfer and applied innovation, consolidating the mission of polytechnic education in producing science with direct impact on society.
The operational model foresees a single doctoral program, nationally coordinated and jointly delivered by the six institutions.
Applications may be submitted at any of the partner institutions, with the program being implemented in an integrated and coordinated manner. The application period is expected to take place between July and September of this year.
