PhD Programme in Physical Activity and Sports

PhD Programme in Physical Activity and Sports

ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

Coordinator:

  • Dr. Joaquim Reverter Masia  (acting for Dr. Manel Portero Otín) - ed.afe@udl.cat

3 members:

  • Dr. Estela Inés Farías Torbidoni
  • Dr. Antoni Planas Anzano
  • Dr. Carlota Torrents Martin

1 PhD Student:

  • Ms. Cristina Calvo Estelrich

 

You can contact with Academic Committee’s members through Virtual Campus

 

CALENDAR OF MEETINGS OF THE 2026/2027 COURSE

  • October 6, 2026
  • November 3, 2026
  • 1 December 2026
  • 12 de gener de 2027
  • February 9, 2027
  • March 9, 2027
  • April 13, 2027
  • May 18, 2027
  • June 15, 2027
  • July 13, 2027
  • September 7, 2027

DELEGATE COORDINATION OF INEFC LLEIDA

Estela Inés Farías Torbidoni

E-mail address: efarias@gencat.cat

 

HEAD OF RESEARCH AND PhD AT INEFC LLEIDA - SECRETARY

Montserrat Sanmatí Vilella

Telephone: 973 27 20 22. Extension 250

E-mail address: msanmarti@gencat.cat

 

NUMBER OF PLACES

15 places are offered for new entrants.

 

ADMISSION PROFILE

1) Admission without additional training:

Have completed a bachelor's degree in disciplines related to Physical Activity and Sports Sciences.

In addition, having completed a Master's Degree in a discipline in the field of Physical Activity and Sport including one of the following official Master's Degrees:

  • Master's Degree in Sports Director
  • Master's Degree in Sports Law
  • Master's Degree in Sport Management

As an alternative to the Master's Degree, you can access the Doctorate in Physical Activity and Sport without the need for additional training, in the following cases:

  • If Research Proficiency has been obtained
  • If the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) has been obtained through programmes related to Physical Activity and Sport.

These entry routes are not exclusive. Other bachelor's degrees, bachelor's degrees and master's degrees will also be considered for the areas included in the programme. In these cases, the completion of complementary training may be required, which will be defined by the Academic Committee of the programme in each specific case, as indicated below.

2) Other income that may require additional training:

In the event that the student has completed a Bachelor's Degree outside the field of Physical Activity and Sport although he or she has subsequently completed a Master's Degree in the field of Physical Activity and Sport, the Committee will assess whether he or she must take complementary training. This will also happen if access is made through a Master's degree that is not in the field of Physical Activity and Sport.

The Doctoral Academic Committee will assess each case to determine which complementary training is required in each one. The complements may be specific courses of the Master's Degrees in Physical Activity and Sport that are carried out at the University of Lleida. They may also be University Master's Degree courses offered by other Institutions that the Academic Committee considers appropriate based on their quality and subject matter.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

The admission criteria, once the requirements that must be met by law have been confirmed, are hardly existing. This attitude aims precisely to be able to give access to people from different profiles of university master's degrees. It will be at the time of carrying out all the training activities when we will really seek to confirm the achievement of the different competencies of these studies by the students. In other words, in the event that we have places available, the access criteria will be those required by law and, in order to end access, we must ensure that the skills have been developed by tod@s, regardless of the origin.

The Academic Committee of the programme will be in charge of admitting and selecting students. In the event that the demand for the programme exceeds the maximum number of places offered, the selection criteria on which the academic committee will be based will be the following:

  1. To be in possession of a master's degree with the characteristics indicated in the admission profile (up to 5 points).
  2. Overall academic record of the degree that gives access to the program (up to 3 points).
  3. Professional experience in areas related to the programme (up to 1 point).
  4. Other merits (end-of-degree award, publications, other qualifications, etc.) (up to 1 point)

The academic committee of the programme will detail the scale used in the admission process, which will be public and known to the applicant.

 

PROGRAMME INDICATORS DOSSIER

Dossier of Indicators of this Doctoral Programme (according to the indicators of the AQU Catalunya Accreditation Guide)

SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING

Students entering the doctoral program with a research-oriented master's degree will be admitted without the need for additional training. Those entering with a master's degree lacking such a profile will complete their training through activities determined by their thesis supervisor and academic tutor, subject to the approval of the program's Academic Committee.

COMPETÈNCIES

Basic competences

- Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of the abilities and research methods related to this field.

- Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.

- Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through an original search.

- Ability to perform critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.

- Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and society in general about their fields of knowledge in the ways and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.

- Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural advances within a knowledge-based society.

Capabilities and personal skills

- Develop in contexts where there is little specific information. 

- Find the key questions that need to be answered to solve a complex problem.

- Design, create, develop and undertake new and innovative projects in their area of knowledge.

- Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.

- Integrate knowledge, face complexity and make judgments with limited information.

- Criticism and intellectual defense of solutions.

INDEXING OF THESES ARTICLES BY COMPENDIUM OF THE PhD PROGRAMME IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS

A minimum of 2 articles "published in journals that occupy relevant positions (quartile 1, 2 and 3) in the Science edition or the Social Science edition of the Journal Montmrern Reports. Likewise, journals that occupy these same quartiles in the Scimago Journal Rank according to the Suject Category or the journals contained in databases such as Science Citation Index (SCI), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), Arts & Humanities Gelin Index (A&HCI), Scopus or the Carhus plus lists (A or B) are considered"; and 2 articles drafted.

THE PhD PROGRAMME IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS HAS NEXT SPECIFIC DOCUMENTS: 

RESEARCH LINES

Description: The line focuses on the application of research methods of both systematized observation and Mixed Method designs applied to sport and motor skills, as well as in teaching intervention in the field of Physical Education. Automated categorization software has been designed that allows the transformation of data in different existing analysis programs such as SAS, SPSS, SDIS-GSEQ, THEME. Specific programs are used to obtain both temporal patterns (T-patterns) and sequential patterns of observable ducts. Several Mixed Method designs of integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative data are also applied. This line also includes studies applied in the different areas of education, culture and well-being, with special emphasis on innovative teaching methodologies and strategies used and their effects on the motivation and learning of the participants.

Responsible: Dr. Carlota Torrents Martín carlota@inefc.udl.cat

Members:

Description: The line studies motor practices in general, and games and sports in particular in different contexts. It includes a study of the impact of the different families of sports and sports games on emotional and relational well-being, with special attention to the transformation of conflicts, and the improvement of socio-affective relationships, incorporating the gender perspective and cultural diversity from an ethnomotor perspective. Research on the motor behaviours of athletes in different types of sports and competitions is also integrated. Likewise, this line also incorporates research on the effects of physical activity on mental health and psychological well-being, addressing aspects such as quality of life, emotional regulation, self-concept, sense of coherence or resilience. The study of psychoeducational and healthogenic interventions is promoted, which favor the connection with nature and the promotion of active, sustainable and healthy lifestyles. Research on the positive psychological resources associated with physical activity and meaningful bodily experience in different social and educational settings is also enhanced.

Responsible: Dr. Pere Lavega Burgués plavega@inefc.udl.cat

Members:

Description: In the lines of research focused on sports management and sports law, we develop this research that from a social perspective analyzes the phenomena of the organization of sport in the contexts of public administrations, associative entities and commercial entities that promote and manage sports activities and sports facilities.

The regulatory impact on organisational aspects, sports discipline, doping and professional sport, both in the regional, national and international contexts, are the main focus of study of these lines of research

Responsible: Dr. Andreu Camps Povill acamps@inefc.udl.cat

Members:

Description: This line of research is aimed, on the one hand, at the interdisciplinary study of the factors that explain, modulate and optimize sports performance and, on the other, at the study with an applied vision of physical activity and physical exercise for health and with special populations. Its objective is to generate knowledge that contributes both to the improvement of sports performance and to the promotion and prevention of health through physical activity and physical conditioning. It includes research that addresses the physiological, biochemical and molecular study of the response and adaptation to exercise; the psychological and behavioural analysis of the factors that influence sports performance and adherence to the practice of physical activity; injury prevention and functional rehabilitation; the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions to improve performance, health, and quality of life; the use of advanced technology, such as wearable sensors, data analytics and artificial intelligence, to monitor, quantify and optimise training, workload, performance and health; research on tactics and decision-making in team sports; and the promotion of physical activity within the framework of public health, developing and evaluating strategies to increase the practice of physical exercise in general and specific populations. Likewise, this line integrates research on mental health, subjective and emotional well-being, and positive psychological resources in relation to sports performance. The analysis of how these factors affect the improvement of performance, psychological resilience and the management of competitive stress, as well as the recovery and return to activity processes after the injury, is promoted. Psychoeducational interventions aimed at promoting personal development, self-regulation and adherence to sports practice in high-performance contexts are also included.

Responsible: Dr. Xavier Peirau Terés xpeirau@inefc.udl.cat

Members:

TRAINING ACTIVITIES

Specific training activities of the PhD Programme in Physical Activity and Sports

No. of hours: 20

Typology and content: The number of 20 hours is a minimum.

A minimum of 100 hours of training activities is required in which there are at least two types of activities, according to the agreement of the Doctoral School, of February 7, 2019. Depending on the course, it would include theoretical and scientific, methodological or applied training. Tutorials/thesis supervisors are recommended to promote attendance at all the courses that are necessary for the training that facilitates the adequate development of doctoral dissertations.

Character: Students choose the activities offered by the Library and Documentation Service and the Professor's Training Centre. In addition, the committee can validate those courses taken at other universities or research centres as long as they are related to the topic or methodology of the thesis.

Teaching modality: Depending on the activity, it can be face-to-face, blended or virtual.

Time planning: It is communicated by the corresponding services. It is a non-rigid system that allows activities carried out in other universities or research centres to be incorporated, upon request for validation. The initial proposal of this program is expanded and improved.

Full-time students must take them during the first two years and part-time students during the first three years.

Competencies:

  • CB11 Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
  • CA01To function in contexts in which there is little specific information.

Human and material resources: Sufficient resources offered by the university itself.

Evaluation and control procedure: The trainee researcher must include in the doctoral activities document (RAPI) the list of all the activities carried out in research groups that he or she has been attending in each academic year. In addition, they must specify in the RAPI: date, title and attach the certificate accrediting their participation.

This will be evaluated by the Academic Committee of the program that will prepare an evaluation report of the doctoral student

Mobility: This activity does not necessarily require mobility.

However, it is possible that transversal training courses are carried out in other centres. Therefore, activities carried out and controlled in other recognised Higher Education or Research Institutions will be recognised.

No. of hours: 20

Description: The 20-hour number is a minimum for those who choose this option.

They can be an important number depending on the integration that students have in the research teams.

Typology: Depending on the activity, it would include theoretical and scientific, methodological or applied training. And most importantly, the development of teamwork within the framework of the current projects of the group to which the doctoral student has joined.

Content: Meetings, seminars, presentations of results, discussion of articles.

Character: Despite the fact that the Doctoral School requires two types of Training Activities and, therefore, this one is not mandatory, it is common sense for students to participate in the team that hosts them and, therefore, a number of hours will appear in this type of activity.

Stays outside the University of Lleida of varying durations are recommended.

Teaching modality: Face-to-face/Blended/virtual

Time planning: The link with the research group to which the director belongs occurs from the first moment. It will be planned according to the course. First-year students will participate in activities related to the objective of the preparation of the Research Plan.

Those of other courses will also tend to expand the scope of relationship to make contacts – taking advantage of attendance at congresses – or stays of different durations depending on the resources they can attract from the calls of public and private institutions or the university itself. In this sense, our program has a call for grants for the presentation of communications to congresses, as we will see in the following typology.

Competencies:

  • CB11 Systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of research skills and methods related to that field.
  • CB12 Ability to conceive, design or create, implement and adopt a substantial process of research or creation.
  • CB13 Ability to contribute to the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge through original research.
  • CB14 Ability to carry out critical analysis and evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas.
  • CA02 Find the key questions that need to be answered to solve a complex problem.
  • CA03 Design, create, develop and undertake novel and innovative projects in their field of knowledge.
  • CA04 Work both in a team and autonomously in an international or multidisciplinary context.

Theoretical and practical training; teamwork.

Human and material resources: In principle, those of the university itself. And the call for scholarships commented on.

Evaluation and control procedure: The trainee researcher must include in the doctoral activities document (RAPI) the list of all the activities carried out in research groups that he or she has been attending in each academic year. In addition, they must specify in the RAPI: date, title and attach the certificate accrediting their participation.

This will be evaluated by the Academic Committee of the program, which will prepare an evaluation report of the doctoral student.

Mobility: This activity includes the mobility of the doctoral student to the place where the meetings are held. It will involve a training experience, both in terms of learning and in terms of the exercise of exchanging knowledge and experiences with other researchers in training and experienced.

No. of hours: 20

Description: Presentation of communications to congresses.

The number 30 hours is a minimum for those who choose this option.

Typology:

  • Methodological training (scientific method, experimental, statistics, qualitative analysis, etc.).
  • Dissemination of research.

Content: Dissemination of the doctoral student's research.

Character: Optional.

Teaching modality: Face-to-face/Blended.

Time planning: According to the progress of the research. Full-time students must take it during the second and third years; and part-time students during the fourth and fifth years.

Our program has already carried out on three occasions (2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 academic years) the mandatory activity of presenting the results of the thesis in 3 to 5 minutes, when the second year has ended. The activity has been developed towards mid-October by the students who start third grade. It has generally been divided into two areas, philology and history, geography, ...

Competencies:

  • CB15 Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
  • CB16 Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society.
  • CA05 Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity, and make judgments with limited information.
  • CA06 The critique and intellectual defense of solutions.

Fundamentally, the development of the capacity for structured presentation of the results of the research of the doctoral thesis. Human and material resources: Those of the research team. To facilitate the submission of papers, in the last two years a call for grants has been made using resources from the doctoral programme itself.

Evaluation and control procedure: The trainee researcher must include in the doctoral activities document (RAPI) the list of all the activities carried out in research groups that he or she has been attending in each academic year. In addition, they must specify in the RAPI: date, title and attach the certificate accrediting their participation.

This will be evaluated by the Academic Committee of the program that will prepare an evaluation report of the doctoral student

At a rate of 30 hours if it is a national congress and 40 hours if it is international.

Mobility: This activity includes the mobility of the doctoral student to the place where the meetings are held.

No. of hours: 30

Description: The 30-hour number is a minimum for those who choose this option.

Typology:

  • Methodological training (scientific method, experimental, statistics, qualitative analysis, etc.).
  • Dissemination of research.

Contents:

  • Mainly the publication of scientific articles.
  • Dissemination of research.

Character: Optional

Teaching modality: Written documents.

Time planning: According to the progress of the research. Full-time students must take it during the second and third years; and part-time students during the fourth and fifth years.

Competencies:

  • CB15 Ability to communicate with the academic and scientific community and with society in general about their fields of knowledge in the modes and languages commonly used in their international scientific community.
  • CB16 Ability to promote, in academic and professional contexts, scientific, technological, social, artistic or cultural progress within a knowledge-based society
  • CA05 Integrate knowledge, deal with complexity, and make judgments with limited information.
  • CA06 The critique and intellectual defense of solutions.

Fundamentally, the development of the capacity for structured presentation of the results of the research of the doctoral thesis, as opposed to anonymous evaluation at least by peers.

Human and material resources: Those of the research team.

Evaluation and control procedure: The trainee researcher must include in the doctoral activities document (RAPI) the list of all the activities carried out in research groups that he or she has been attending in each academic year. In addition, they must specify in the RAPI: date, title and attach the certificate accrediting their participation. This will be evaluated by the Academic Committee of the program that will prepare an evaluation report of the doctoral student

It is the journals that evaluate the works. Depending on the level of the journal, the commission will grant a number of hours to each published article.

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