Sport and Exercise Research Centre
Maximising evidence-based impact from our wealth of sport, exercise and wellbeing research
About us
This interdisciplinary research centre is a dynamic hub of academics and researchers working together to identify and address pertinent issues in sport and exercise at a local, national, and international level.
Members collaborate with public and private stakeholders, industry groups, policy makers and funding agencies when undertaking research and disseminating findings, to maximise evidence-based impact from our sport and exercise research.
Our Aims
- To support the development of high-quality research outputs by members
- To support member engagement with various academic, professional and general audiences when disseminating research
- To provide a home for postgraduate / research students at the University of Winchester undertaking sport and exercise research
- To support member engagement with various stakeholders to maximise evidence-based changes to policy and practice
- To support applications for external research income by members
- To bring together researchers from across the University of Winchester and beyond in undertaking research of international significance
For full details of our research, knowledge exchange and impact, see the research strands below.
Our Collaborations
We work closely with a range of external stakeholders, including:
- Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust
- Hobbs Rehabilitation
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex
- Wessex Academic Health Science Network
- Health Education England
- The Concussion Legacy Foundation
- The Professional Footballers' Association
- The Premier League
Postgraduate research
The centre offers MPhil/PhD programmes to qualified individuals with an interest in the research areas above, which can be self-funded or supported via fully and match-funded scholarships. Students can study part-time or full-time and are supported by expert academic staff. Our research students are working a on a wide range of topics, from the psychology or turning points in tennis to the health benefits of dancing.
Everything you need to know to study for a research degree at Winchester
Contact SERC
For any enquiries about SERC, please contact the Convenor, Dr John Batten.
SERC research strands
Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
Our research aims to improve our understanding of the relationships between physical activity and health across the lifespan.
Current research
- Examining associations between physical activity, mental health, and wellbeing during COVID-19
- The effect of early exercise engagement on quality-of-life post-stroke
- The effect of interrupting sitting time on vascular and cognitive health in various clinical populations
For further information and to meet the team, visit the Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing strand webpage
Sport Performance
Through an interdisciplinary research approach, we aim to examine and provide interventions to enhance the sporting performance of athletes and teams.
Current research
- Psychological climate of team sport practice
- Representative learning designs within sport coaching environments
- Developmental experiences of elite youth athletes
For further information and to meet the team, visit the Sport Performance research strand webpage.
Brain Injury in Sport
We undertake interdisciplinary research that examines the short- and long-term outcomes of brain injury for individuals, athletes, military veterans, families, caregivers, and more.
Current research
- caregiver experiences of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from sport participation
- concussion knowledge and attitudes and athlete reporting intentions
- efficacy of concussion education programmes
- media narratives around sport-related concussion
For further information and to meet the team, visit the Brain Injury in Sport research strand webpage.
Inclusivity in Sport
We examine national and international relationships between students, athletes and various levels of organised, competitive sports and physical education.
Current research
• The experiences of North American LGBT athletes in high school and collegiate sports
• The experiences of British athletes in school-based and recreational based sports
• Examination of social media campaigns related to LGBT athletes in professional sport
• Evaluating school-based physical activity initiatives, physical education, and teacher training
For further information and to meet the team, visit the Inclusivity in Sport research strand webpage.