University of Calgary offers PhD in Kinesiology, a doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science programme in Calgary, Canada. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 2,859 per semester (CAD 1,225 per semester for local students).
Also offered as: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree
This program is a thesis-based Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. It covers exercise science and human movement through nine areas of specialization, including biomechanics, exercise and health physiology, sport and exercise psychology, neuro-motor control and motor learning, nutrition and metabolic genetics, rehabilitation, the socio-cultural dimensions of sport and physical activity, sport medicine, and pedagogy and sport performance innovation; an interdisciplinary wearable-technology specialization is also offered. Candidates complete three courses, undertake a self-directed project applying advanced knowledge to a practical challenge in exercise science, and pass a candidacy stage involving a written research proposal and oral and written exams before advancing to an original thesis defended at an open oral examination. The program is designed to run four years full-time, with six years as the maximum time to completion. Entry requires a four-year undergraduate degree and a completed thesis-based master's degree, along with a minimum 3.0 grade point average over the final two years of undergraduate study. Applicants must secure a supervisor willing to oversee their research before admission is granted. The program suits students pursuing advanced research careers in exercise science and related health disciplines, and is delivered on the University of Calgary campus in Calgary, Alberta.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.0
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale over the last two years of full-time study (at least 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree, a four-year undergraduate degree, and completion of a thesis-based master's degree. As a thesis-based doctoral program, admission is contingent on securing a supervisor before an offer is made. Programme page's English language proficiency (ELP) section defers to the Faculty's ELP requirements in the Academic Calendar without publishing programme-specific scores, so the university-wide English Language Proficiency requirement from ucalgary.ca (IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 86 legacy scale, or Duolingo 120) is cited as the general reference per institution excerpt; exemptions apply after prior study in English per that page.
Application Details
Start Date:May, July, September and January
Application Deadline:For Fall 2027 entry, the University of Calgary opens undergraduate applications for domestic applicants on 1 October 2026 and for international applicants on 15 August 2026, both closing on the same firm application deadline of 1 March 2027, with supporting documents due by 15 March 2027 and offers accepted by 1 May 2027. International applicants follow the identical March 1 deadline; the university publishes no separate, later international closing date. Applications are not accepted on a rolling basis after the deadline for most direct-entry programmes, though a small number of programmes (e.g. Nursing) run further selection rounds into the summer while space remains. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
