Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc
2 Years Part-Time | September Start

At Northumbria, we take a practical approach to learning and assessment. You will be based in our well-equipped laboratory facilities and the state-of-the art Sport Central.

You’ll find that many modules use real-world scenarios, providing an opportunity to satisfy your intellectual curiosity as you work your way through evidence that often seems contradictory or controversial. You may find yourself helping to solve a real-life athlete issue; implementing intervention strategies to assist with performance; or developing a strategy to encourage behaviour change.

Assessment methods are varied. Much of the course-based assessment has been developed to illustrate how the principles of sport and exercise psychology are applied in real world contexts. These may include reflections, case study reports, client/athlete needs assessments presentations, and handouts to coaches.

You can do it all  - balance study with your life 

Your workshops, seminars and lectures will all be timetabled on a Tuesday (Year 1) and a Monday (Year 2), making it easier to plan fitting in your study with your other commitments.

For a part-time master’s we expect a commitment of around 17.5 hours per week (these include the above hours of study on campus/online learning).

With our City Campus Library and the University Library Digital Commons open 24/7 during term-time, you are free to do  your self-directed study when you choose and fit your studies around your life.

We know that embarking on a masters course is a big decision and knowing whether you will have enough time to balance all of life’s other demands is important.  

During this course your on-campus lectures, workshops and seminars will all be timetabled on a Tuesday in year one and Monday in year two. For a masters programme like this we expect a commitment of around 35 hours per week - how you do your self-directed study is completely up to you. We want you to be able to fit your studies in with your life, whether that be at our City Campus Library, the University Library Digital Commons, open 24/7 during term time, or at home with access to e-books and journals - make it work for you.      

The teaching team includes a number of BPS Chartered and HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologists who have links to high profile governing bodies and sporting organisations including The Football Association (FA), Newcastle United Foundation and the UK Institute of Sport, so when you choose this course you can be sure the knowledge and skills you will gain will be current and industry-relevant.

You will learn from research-active academics from across the Department of Psychology and Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, a valuable combination not found in most institutions. The experienced, cohesive teaching team have been praised by the BPS, external examiners and students alike for their knowledge, enthusiasm and high levels of student support.

You will learn in a professional research environment with access to state-of-the-art laboratories, equipped with industry-standard equipment. You will be able to collect and analyse your data using the most up-to-date software tools. 

You will spend much of your time in the Experimental Psychology Lab, which has been designed to facilitate group work. You will have access to a designated working space for Masters students. You will make constant use of the eLearning Portal, where electronic reading lists, lecture capture and online submission and feedback tools will support your learning.

Depending on which area you choose to explore for your thesis, you will have access to the facilities in one of Northumbria’s innovative research centres including the Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Centre and The Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research.

Throughout the course you will develop an understanding of research-informed practice and learn to apply this practically, through solving case studies, assessing clients for psychological skills intervention, and interpreting patterns of behaviour.

You will draw from the strengths of research active academics whose interests cover wide-ranging subjects from investigating the effects of venue on sports performance, interpersonal processes in sport, the psychological influence of injury, alcohol consumption in student athletes and the impact of physical activity on psychological wellbeing.

Your MSc thesis is submitted in journal format which allows for ongoing review and evaluation. This eases the process of submitting for publication, can strengthen a scholarship or funding application, and improve the prospect of securing employment in an academic environment.

Almost three quarters of Northumbria’s psychology research is judged to have outstanding reach and significance for its impact, placing us top 20 in the UK (REF 2014).

As the link between psychological well being and physical activity becomes more defined, the demand for exercise psychologists in the healthcare sector has increased, particularly in the areas of health promotion and rehabilitation. This course is the perfect step to get you onto the ladder and towards a career in sport and exercise psychology. You will graduate with a wide range of professional skills, which include the ability to:

• Critically evaluate current theories and evidence which can be applied to understand and solve complex issues in real world contexts.
• Communicate your ideas and findings effectively to variety of audiences, whether it be coaches, parents, athletes or exercise enthusiasts.
• Apply relevant ethical, legal and professional practice frameworks (such as those required by the BPS and HCPC).

Your transferable skills will include oral and written communication, critical evaluation, problem solving, time management, IT and advanced statistical and qualitative analysis techniques.

Graduates with Stage 1 and Stage 2 qualifications who are interested in sport psychology will be in a strong position to work with major sports teams or field-based consultation at major sporting events. Options for exercise psychologists include working in private rehabilitation, gyms, the NHS, GP exercise referral schemes and local Councils.

Some of our recent graduates now work as teachers, coaches, consultants, in the healthcare sector and for organisations including the English Institute of Sport and Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC). Many of our students have gone on to further postgraduate opportunities such as Ph.D. study whilst some have also secured placement opportunities in elite, amateur and recreational level sport. 

As the link between psychological well being and physical activity becomes more defined, the demand for exercise psychologists in the healthcare sector has increased – particularly in the areas of health promotion and rehabilitation. Similarly, there is a growing demand for sports psychologists to deliver support from grassroots level through to performance athletes. This Master’s degree programme will help develop the professional skills that will give you the edge in this evolving area of psychology.

For applicants who already possess the Graduate Basis for Chartered membership (GBC) and who successfully complete the course, you can then go on to complete the BPS Stage 2 Qualification in Sport and Exercise Psychology. After completing both Stage 1 and Stage 2 qualifications this will then enable you to become an HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist practitioner, a legally protected title.