Qualification Profile and Skills

Graduates of this doctoral programme are able to independently address issues in sports science with a high degree of scientific and methodological expertise. In addition to subject-specific and methodological competences, graduates acquire general scientific and communicative abilities that are required for successful scientific careers in academic, economic or public sectors:

• Excellent knowledge of the disciplines of sport science, especially in the core areas;
• Detailed knowledge in those areas of science that are necessary for successful completion of the dissertation, particularly in the core areas of sport science;
• Competences in the planning, realization and interpretation of scientific projects, including important methods applied in sport science for the treatment of the dissertation topic;
• Differential knowledge of accessing scientific literature, including relevant databases, and critical interpretation of literature;
• The ability to present scientific findings independently and to discuss and critically analyse one’s own and others‘ scientific findings in front of competent audiences;
• Understanding of the profession as an autonomous scientist/researcher in academic, business and public environments;
• Knowledge of the use of statistics to attain and analyse scientific data;
• The ability to author scientific publications;
• The ability to apply for financial research support

Expected Learning Outcomes for the Doctorate

Graduates are qualified junior academics. They have mastered the methods applied in research in their area and are capable of critically discussing, analyzing, and further developing theories. Junior academics possess the competence to develop and conduct substantial research projects with scientific integrity, and they are qualified to reflect on these processes scientifically and theoretically. They are also aware of issues and questions in gender research.

Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities

Increasingly multifaceted vocational requirements and the necessity to adapt one’s qualifications to changing professional challenges make top-level scientific training necessary for professional success. The doctoral programme qualifies graduates for research-oriented occupations, for leadership positions and scientific activities in all areas in which physical activity, movement and sports play a central role (motion control, training, prevention and rehabilitation, sport psychology competences). The doctoral programme qualifies graduates for all kinds of research and teaching activities in educational institutions.