Postgraduate research opportunities
'I am very proud and glad to study with the world-class researchers here' - Yi-De Liu - Current PhD student
The Sport Industry Research Centre attracts students from around the country and the world. Our subject experts provide an excellent supervisory and support network for the research students within the research centre.
We offer doctoral research under the following themes
- economic impact of major sports events
- sponsorship evaluations
- sport policy and planning
- sports facilities' performance measurement and management
Beyond these formal research programmes our staff have international reputations for research excellence in areas associated with the wider social and cultural dimensions of sport. We would welcome applications from students considering doctoral research in these areas.
We also offer a professional doctorate in sport and exercise science, which is equivalent to a PhD.
Current PhD students and their topics include
Daniel Plumley - BSc (Hons), MSc, PG Cert
The financial sustainability of English professional football.
Dan has been involved in the Sport Management industry since 2006 and has completed undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at SHU. His main research interests are in the finance and governance of professional team sports and he is currently undertaking a PhD at SIRC into the financial sustainability of English professional football. He has presented at major European Sport Management conferences in recent years. Dan is an active researcher at SIRC and has experience working in major contracted event projects including the economic impact of major sport events such as the Virgin London Marathon, the ATP World Tour tennis finals, the Women's British Open golf, the British and European Badminton Championships, as well as being involved in large research projects like the 'School Games' commissioned by UK Sport and the Youth Sport Trust.
Supervised by Simon Shibli and Robert Wilson
Paul Donnelly BSC, MSc
'Measuring national levels of physical activity to monitor health benefits'
Supervised by Simon Shibli and Themis Kokolakakis
Kath LeFlay BSc MA
Kathryn Leflay studied for a BSc Sport and Society at Sheffield Hallam before working in sports management and as a part-time college lecturer. Alongside working in the sports industry Kathryn studied for an MA in Sport and Popular Culture progressing to the PHD during the second year of the course. Kathryn's PHD research is based around sport and celebrity, in particular the growing 'off field' culture of football.
Supervised by Tony Blackshaw and Tim Crabbe
Richard McCormick BA, MA
'The cost effectiveness of Sport Northern Ireland's investment in major sports'
Supervised by Simon Shibli and Chris Gratton
Chris Stone
'An investigation into the role of football in everyday life'
Supervised by Tony Blackshaw and Tim Crabbe
Thesis topics of recent postgraduate students from SIRC
| 2008 | Leah Donlan | The contribution of sports sponsorship to consumer-based brand equity |
| 2007 | Yi-De Liu | Performance measurement of English public sport facilities - aggregate analysis and its practicability |
| 2005 | Edgar Oldenboom PhD | Costs and benefits of major sports events - a case study of Euro 2000 |
| 2004 | Robert Wilson MPhil | The economic impact of four elite swimming events in England |
| 2004 | Harry Solberg PhD | Economics of major sports events |
If you wish to study at Sheffield Hallam University please fill out the application form and return to the address below.
Susie Thompson
Sport Industry Research Centre
Sheffield Hallam University
Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Crescent
Sheffield
S1 1WB
E-mail susie.thompson@shu.ac.uk
The postgraduate courses web page offers details on how to apply, fees and entry requirements.
