WHSU started its graduateprogram in 1960 and is one of the first institutions to offer graduate-level education inP.E. Initially, it only enrolled graduate students in gymnastics teaching and training as well as sports theory. WHSU obtained the qualification to confer master's degrees in 1986. In 2003, the university began admitting joint-education doctoral students, which became an independent program in 2007.

In 2005,WHSUbecame one of the first institutions in China to offer master's degree education in sports, after receiving approval from the Academic DegreesCommittee of the State Council. In the same year,the university received the Excellent Award in the evaluation of graduate training conditions organized by the Academic Degrees Committee and the Education Department ofthe HubeiProvincial People’sGovernment. In 2006, the university was included in the list of institutions authorized to grant doctoral degrees by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, and became a provider of in-service master's degree education for teachers in higher education. In 2010, theuniversity was granted the authorization to confer doctoral degree in the first-level discipline of P.E. and obtained the qualification of recommending excellent undergraduates to be exempted fromgraduate entranceexams, and was approved to have a post-doctoral research station in P. E. in 2012.

WHSU's first-level discipline of Physical Education has been ranked as Grade A in the fourth and fifth rounds of national discipline evaluation organized by the Ministry of Education, indicating its prominent position in China.

Theuniversity offers one doctoral degree program in the first-level discipline of Physical Education, six first-level discipline master's degree programs, and four professional master's degree programs. In total, there are 28 doctoral and master's degree programs, with more than 2,300 graduate students, making WHSU one of the largest sports institutions with the most majors in China.

WHSU has made significant progress in its postgraduate education, leading to a continuous enhancement in the quality of talent cultivation. This has played a crucial role in improving the quality of innovative high-level talent cultivation in Hubei, providing essential services for local economic growth, and receiving high commendation from theAcademicDegrees Committeeand the Department of Education ofthe HubeiProvincial People’sGovernment, and various sectors of society.