• Adapted Physical Activity:听Focus on an interdisciplinary understanding and the promotion of physical activity participation among people with disabilities, including developmental, emotional, intellectual, and/or physical. Studies will center on motivation, self-determination, coaching, participation, and/or social inclusion of people with disabilities within sport/physical activity contexts.
• Biomechanics and Neuroscience:听Engage in research to better understand human structure and function interactions between biology, mechanics, and/or the nervous system, exploring various health conditions within different population groups and in a variety of settings.
• Exercise Physiology:听Explore the effects of exercise and physical activity on functional, health, and performance outcomes in healthy, clinical, and athletic populations.听Areas of interest may include听aging cardiovascular and respiratory (patho)physiology, nutrition and exercise metabolism, musculoskeletal health, prevention and management of chronic disease, and rehabilitative exercise training.
• Social Aspects of Sport, Health, & Physical Education:听Research sport and physical activity in diverse community contexts, delving into how social, cultural, and historical patterns听may affect how sport, physical activity, and physical education can help to foster (or strain) the health and wellbeing of young people.
• Sports and Exercise Psychology:听Study how psychological and social factors influence an individual鈥檚 behavioural outcomes in sport and exercise performance and motivation and how participation in sport and exercise influences psychological and social development, health, and well-being. Students may opt for a sport psychology emphasis (e.g. coaching,, anxiety, aggression, gender issues) or an exercise psychology emphasis (e.g. social influences/support, interventions, self-esteem, body image, quality of life, special populations).

Kinesiology Sciences (Ph.D.) (18 credits)

Offered by: Kinesiology and Physical Ed听(Faculty of Education) 听 听
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program credit weight: 18

Program Description

The Ph.D. in Kinesiology Sciences focuses on in-depth research experience in (an) area(s) of kinesiology research. The program includes graduate research training in kinesiology-related areas such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control, physical and health education pedagogy, and sport, exercise and health psychology.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (12 credits)

听Complementary Courses (6 credits)

A minimum of 6 credits from the following; other courses, at the 500-level or higher, on these topics from the Faculty of Education or other Faculties may be selected subject to approval of the program adviser.

Select the links below to reveal lists of potential supervisors.

(Note that individual supervisors may list further details, such as when they are taking new students and application instructions in the Graduate Supervision section at the bottom of their individual profile pages.)

• Adapted Physical Activity Supervisors
• Biomechanics and Neuroscience Supervisors
• Exercise Physiology Supervisors
• Social Aspects of Sport, Health, & Physical Education
• Sports and Exercise Psychology

The minimum requirement is a cGPA of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0. Please contact the studentaffairs.kpe [at] mcgill.ca (Administrative & Student Affairs Coordinator)听for further inquiries.

Step 1: Contact potential graduate supervisors (see the section above) before applying to the program.

Step 2: Applications should include the following documentation:

• Completed application form through
• Two (2) official or certified copies of academic transcripts of post-secondary studies from all previously attended universities
• Curricula vitae
• Two (2) recent letters of recommendation from academic sources on institutional letterhead paper with original signatures. It is strongly recommended that one of the reference letters is from the candidate鈥檚 most recent research supervisor. Letters should highlight your accomplishments and potential as a graduate student and may be used to support funding applications.
• A personal statement letter outlining your:
  • Proposed research topic
  • Potential supervisor(s)
  • Expected professional directions and/or career goals
  • Academic and work experience
  • Motivation for pursuing a Ph.D. in Kinesiology Sciences
  • Suitability for acceptance into the program
• Evidence of English language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) if your situation falls into the following conditions: Your mother tongue is not English and your听undergraduate or graduate degree was issued by:
  • A recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction
  • A recognized Canadian institution (Anglophone or Francophone)

Note a minimum TOEFL score of 600 is required on the paper-based test or 96 on the internet-based test with each component score not less than 20.

Complete applications must be received by the dates indicated below. Kindly note that no applications are accepted for Summer Semester admission.

Canadian Applicants:
Fall Admission: February 15
Winter Admission: October 1

Special/Exchange/Visiting Applicants:
Fall Admission: February 15
Winter Admission: July 15

Special/Exchange/Visiting Applicants:
Fall Admission: June 30
Winter Admission: July 15