Ph.D. in Human Movement and Sport Sciences - 42nd cycle

Ph.D. in Human Movement and Sport Sciences – 42nd cycle

Deadlines

August 24, 2026 - h. 11:59

Application deadline

September 14, 2026 - h. 10:00

Oral examination

October 2, 2026

Enrolment deadline

November 1st, 2026

Start of the activities

information about this Ph.D.

Course contact persons

Coordinator
prof. ssa Maria Francesca Piacentini

Board
prof. Francesco Di Russo
prof. Ilenia Bazzucchi

Quality Assurance/ReviewTeam
prof. ssa Maria Francesca Piacentini
prof.ssa Federica Galli
prof. Paolo Giuseppe Maria Sgrò
dr. Paolo Amoruso

Foreign Members of the Teachers' Board

PhD and Research Office
Research and PhD Area
Rectorate Building
mezzanine floor, room D203
e-mail ufficio.dottorati@uniroma4.it

sig. Marco Di Giustino
tel. +39 06 36733. 552
e-mail marco.digiustino@uniroma4.it

dott. Edmond Kola
tel. +39 06 36733.351
e-mail edmond.kola@uniroma4.it

Information and appointments
ufficio.dottorati@uniroma4.it

Location:

Piazza Lauro de Bosis, 15 - 00135 Rome

Educational framework of reference:

Department of Exercise, Human and Health Sciences

Places:

11 Duration

3 years

Cycle:

42nd cycle

Oral Examination

14 September, 2026

Beginning of activity

1 November, 2026

Credits:

180 Language:

English

Publication of notice

18 June, 2026

Ranking

Final thesis

Obtain a PhD degree

Introduction and objectives of the doctoral program

The Research Doctorates aim to train researchers by providing them with the necessary tools and skills to undertake highly qualified research activities in universities, public bodies, companies and corporations.

The University of Rome “Foro Italico” has activated a Research Doctorate within the Department of Motor, Human and Health Sciences, which coordinates the educational, cultural and interdisciplinary activities and manages the joint activities.

The mission of the PhD in Human Movement and Sport Sciences is to train researchers capable of integrating the peculiarities of different disciplines related to the phenomenon of ‘human movement’ in the fields of everyday life, work, exercise and sport, education, management, thus contributing to the promotion of health and the improvement of the quality of life.

The educational objectives of the PhD are divided into the following areas:

basic: study of the anatomo-physiological, biological and biochemical, cognitive and biomechanical responses of the service apparatus and study of the responses of the neuromuscular system to exercise;
sports: analysis of motor and sports performance and training methodology;
health: design of original sports activity programmes for health and physical efficiency; use of exercise as a therapy for special populations; development of skills in preventing and combating doping;
psycho-pedagogy: study of sport pedagogy, training of physical education teachers and coaches, special pedagogy of sport, study of autism and motor and sport activity, analysis of the motivational, cognitive, emotional and sociological processes that influence sport experience and performance and lifestyle choices related to physical activity;
managerial: development of skills for the promotion and management of research in the field of sport, including also the new field of E-sport.

You can enter the PhD programme after having obtained the master’s degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) and having passed an annually announced public selection.

The PhD course lasts three years and concludes with a public selection and the awarding of the title of Ph.D. (Philosophiae Doctor).

Previous editions of the Ph.

Internationalization of PhDs

RESEARCH AREAS

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Movement Biochemistry

Bioengineering and neuromechanics of human movement

Biology and genetics of movement

Endocrinology

Exercise adapted to different diseases

Exercise physiology

Sports medicine

Cognitive and action neuroscience

General pedagogy and special pedagogy

Psychology and social processes in sport

Public health, epidemiology and biotechnology

Sports and applied medical technical sciences

Sport Strategy & E-Sports Management (SSEM)

Functional assessment and analysis of sports performance

Selection procedure

For the 42nd cycle of the PhD programme, a standard call for applications has been issued for 11 places, of which:

8 places funded by a University scholarship;
1 place with a specific research topic: “AI for athlete training and performance analytics: challenges, solutions and practical applications” – to be carried out as part of the project “SF4Sport: AI Transformation in the Sports Industry: Bridging Education, Industry, and Market Needs”, funded under the Partnership for Innovation – Alliances action (ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-ALL-INNO);
2 unfunded places

Documents and instructions for applying to the ordinary call for applications for the a.y. 2026–2027

Call for applications for the 42nd cycle of PhD programmes for the a.y. 2026–2027 (ref. no. 3544 of 18 June 2026)
Substitute declaration of certification (Annex C)
Information on qualifications obtained abroad (Annex B)
Research project proposal form
Research proposal guidelines

Selection procedure	Documents
Decree appointing the Admissions Committee	attachment
Minutes no. 1 criteria	attachment
List of Candidates Admitted to the Oral Examination	attachment
List of Candidates Admitted to the Oral Examination (addendum)	attachment
Oral Examination Schedule	attachment
Validity of documents and ranking lists	attachment
Notice	attachment
Notice Enrollment procedures	attachment

Submission of the application for admission: the application must be made exclusively online, according to the procedure indicated in the Competition Notice, of which it is recommended that you read it carefully and completely before proceeding with the compilation of the application.

Submission deadline for applications for admission: Monday August 24, 2026 – h. 11:59 a.m.

Mode of admission: passing a competition based on titles, research project and oral test.

Evaluation of qualifications and research project: from September 8, 2026

Oral test start: September 14, 2026 – h. 10:00 a.m

Candidates with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) may make an explicit request for the aids and/or interventions they require in order to sit the oral test, by emailing tutorato.specializzato@uniroma4.it by the application deadline and attaching the certification attesting, respectively, their disability/invalidity situation (pursuant to L. 104/92) complete with the diagnosis (necessary to judge the appropriateness of the request), or the diagnostic certification (DSA – art.3 L. 170/2010). Furthermore, this email must bear the declaration, made in accordance with the law, that the attached certificates conform to the original. The University reserves the right to assess the requests received, to request any additional documentation and to verify the truthfulness of the certifications produced.

Registrations

Successful candidates who have been awarded a place in the PhD Programme – 42nd Cycle, Academic Year 2026/2027, whether with or without a scholarship, are invited to complete the enrolment procedure between Friday 2 October 2026 and Monday 12 October 2026.

Online Enrolment Procedure

Access the specific link available on the University website;
Log in to the ESSE3 Cineca reserved area “Accesso all’area riservata Esse3 Cineca” (Access to the ESSE3 Cineca restricted area
Click on “Student Office” (Segreteria) and then select “Enrolment” (Immatricolazione)
Upload the signed Enrolment Declaration for the 2026/2027 academic year in PDF format, together with a copy of a valid identity document
Upload, in electronic format, the receipt of registration to the “Gestione Separata” of INPS (separate social security scheme) in PDF format (only for candidates awarded a scholarship). Candidates residing abroad who experience difficulties completing registration with the “Gestione Separata” shall upload a self-declaration undertaking to complete the required procedures as soon as possible and, in any case, by 30 November 2026.
Select Payments, click on the relevant invoice number, and make the payment of €156.00 (€16.00 stamp duty + €140.00 regional tax) using the PagoPA procedure automatically generated by the system (mandatory procedure)
Send a passport-style photograph to ufficio.dottorati@uniroma4.it

Registration with the “Gestione Separata” (only for scholarship holders)

Since 1 January 1999, PhD scholarships have been subject to contributions to the INPS “Gestione Separata” (Separate Social Security Scheme), of which two-thirds are borne by the University Administration and one-third by the scholarship holder. It is therefore necessary to create a specific INPS contribution position. The procedure can be completed online on the INPS website.

Candidates who have been awarded a place, with or without a scholarship, and who fail to complete enrolment by Monday, 12 October 2026, will be deemed to have withdrawn from enrolment. The ranking lists will then be used to offer places to other eligible candidates, subject to the maximum number of available places.