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The Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as Stage 1 training, which when accompanied by the BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) will provide a basis for professional development as a practitioner in the form of Stage 2 training, as well as further study, employment and enterprise.

textFacilitated by an expert team of researchers, and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered practitioners, this employment focused MSc provides you with key knowledge and practical skills to pursue a career path in sport and exercise psychology. Drawing on research led teaching, practical experiences of staff using real-life examples and innovative assessment strategies, we will ensure that you and your learning are at the forefront of a growing field.

Sport and Exercise Psychologists seek to understand the ways in which thoughts and emotions can affect performance and exercise behaviour. Practitioners use this knowledge to provide psychological skills support, increase motivation and develop self-belief at all levels. Whether that is encouraging members of the public to adopt a more active lifestyle or optimising the performance of sports competitors.

As the link between psychological wellbeing 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 Sport Psychologists to promote resilience and optimal behaviours in businesses, military, and emergency services.

Previous graduates have gone on to work across a spectrum of sports/e-sports and health-related roles locally and internationally. Some have completed further training and have become registered practitioners running their own private practice or employed with professional organisations including the English Institute of Sport, and Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC). Other students have also pursued further postgraduate opportunities such as a PhD and are fulfilling research and lecturer roles at other universities.

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
2 years Part Time
1 other options available

Department
Psychology

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Discover More | Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc

Programme leader, Dr Sandy Wolfson discusses the Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc at Northumbria University.

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Funding and Scholarships

Discover the funding options available to you.

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Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in Psychology that provides the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society, or a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a related field with relevant experience.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

Full UK Fee: £10,460

Full International Fee: £19,750



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

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* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

How to Apply

Please use the Apply Now button at the top of this page to submit your application.

Certain applications may need to be submitted via an external application system, such as UCAS, Lawcabs or DfE Apply.

The Apply Now button will redirect you to the relevant website if this is the case.

You can find further application advice, such as what to include in your application and what happens after you apply, on our Admissions Hub Admissions | Northumbria University



Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

JC7000 -

Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Psychology Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.

More information

PY0757 -

Motor Processes in Sport (20 Credits)

The production of skilled movement is a central feature of human behaviour and is of paramount importance in sport and exercise settings. In this module you will learn how movement is developed, learned and controlled in order to produce the complex patterns necessary for skilled behaviour. By considering a broad range of topics from child development through to expert modelling, you will be able to apply the principles to your own experiences of motor learning, and design practices that will address movement issues and maximise performance. Key topics within the module include:
- Human Information Processing
- Dynamical System Theory
- Attention, anticipation and decision-making
- Motor learning and the learning process
- Designing practice to enhance learning
The practical application of theoretical knowledge is a central tenet to the module and therefore, in addition to critically evaluating the research evidence from multiple theoretical perspectives, you will be required to contextualise the material in relation to current practices in sport and exercise domains.

More information

PY0758 -

Psychological Skills for Sport Performance (20 Credits)

On this module you will explore a range of issues relating to contemporary professional practice in sport psychology. You will learn how to be an evidence-based practitioner. You will understand how to apply appropriate ethical principles and guidelines to sport psychology practice and will be introduced to the theory behind current intervention techniques and professional decisions. You will learn how to assess and classify an athlete, and how to design bespoke mental training programmes for athletes for the purpose of performance enhancement. You will also learn about performance dysfunction, performance impairment and performance termination issues, and when to refer athletes to other allied professionals. You will have the opportunity to try out selected mental training techniques yourself and will learn how to teach them to athletes. You will explore and develop your own personal professional philosophy for sport psychology practice, and will develop your skills as a reflective practitioner.

More information

PY0759 -

Counselling and Interpersonal Processes in Sport and Exercise (20 Credits)

This module brings together theory, research and practice from the literature of counselling and interpersonal processes in the context of sport and exercise. You will gain knowledge of, evaluate and debate the underlying principles of the most widely used counselling perspectives (focussing on psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive behavioural approaches) and reflect on their rationale for proposing distinctive ways of working with clients in the sport and exercise domain. These perspectives will be contextualised through typical challenging interpersonal processes such as life events, belief systems, cohesion and venue effects. You will reflect critically on cognitive processes, including self-aggrandizement, unrealistic optimism, illusion of control and counterfactual thinking, and theorise on the means by which counsellors should attempt to deal with these. This module meets criteria set by the British Psychological Society for the core areas of cognitive processes, psychological skills and strategies and social processes, as well as professional skills with regard to ethics and practice, thus enhancing your graduate attributes for further qualifications and employability.

More information

PY0774 -

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)

The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.

More information

PY0756 -

Exercise Psychology (20 Credits)

On this module you will be prepared to work in the growing field of health promotion. The module focuses upon initiating behaviour change in relation to health behaviours in general and physical activity in particular. The module explores both the impact of exercise on mental health and the underpinning psychological variables that shape people’s decision-making in relation to exercise participation. The module is devised to provide you with a thorough theoretical grounding as well as giving opportunity to develop your practitioner and employability skills. You will learn about the effects of exercise on mental health as well as theories of behaviour change, and how to devise and implement tailored strategies to support exercise promotion across different populations. You will explore and develop your own working practice and will learn how to be become a reflective practitioner. This module will enable you to develop your communicating and influencing skills, to engage in decision making and creative problem solving, to work collaboratively, to gain self-awareness, to help develop others and to adhere to professional standards.

More information

PY0775 -

Professional Skills (20 Credits)

This module is designed to provide you with a range of professional skills important for your academic and professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It will assist with preparation for your thesis as you learn about advanced bibliographic skills, project proposals, and research management, ethical and legal issues. You will learn employment-related skills, media skills, and personal and career development skills such as presentation and communication as well as C.V. enhancement. You will also make practical applications of skills using online resources and employ self-reflective approaches to recording and enhancing awareness of your professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology.

More information

PY0776 -

MSc Thesis (Core,60 Credits)

In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

JC7000 -

Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Psychology Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.

More information

PY0757 -

Motor Processes in Sport (20 Credits)

The production of skilled movement is a central feature of human behaviour and is of paramount importance in sport and exercise settings. In this module you will learn how movement is developed, learned and controlled in order to produce the complex patterns necessary for skilled behaviour. By considering a broad range of topics from child development through to expert modelling, you will be able to apply the principles to your own experiences of motor learning, and design practices that will address movement issues and maximise performance. Key topics within the module include:
- Human Information Processing
- Dynamical System Theory
- Attention, anticipation and decision-making
- Motor learning and the learning process
- Designing practice to enhance learning
The practical application of theoretical knowledge is a central tenet to the module and therefore, in addition to critically evaluating the research evidence from multiple theoretical perspectives, you will be required to contextualise the material in relation to current practices in sport and exercise domains.

More information

PY0758 -

Psychological Skills for Sport Performance (20 Credits)

On this module you will explore a range of issues relating to contemporary professional practice in sport psychology. You will learn how to be an evidence-based practitioner. You will understand how to apply appropriate ethical principles and guidelines to sport psychology practice and will be introduced to the theory behind current intervention techniques and professional decisions. You will learn how to assess and classify an athlete, and how to design bespoke mental training programmes for athletes for the purpose of performance enhancement. You will also learn about performance dysfunction, performance impairment and performance termination issues, and when to refer athletes to other allied professionals. You will have the opportunity to try out selected mental training techniques yourself and will learn how to teach them to athletes. You will explore and develop your own personal professional philosophy for sport psychology practice, and will develop your skills as a reflective practitioner.

More information

PY0759 -

Counselling and Interpersonal Processes in Sport and Exercise (20 Credits)

This module brings together theory, research and practice from the literature of counselling and interpersonal processes in the context of sport and exercise. You will gain knowledge of, evaluate and debate the underlying principles of the most widely used counselling perspectives (focussing on psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive behavioural approaches) and reflect on their rationale for proposing distinctive ways of working with clients in the sport and exercise domain. These perspectives will be contextualised through typical challenging interpersonal processes such as life events, belief systems, cohesion and venue effects. You will reflect critically on cognitive processes, including self-aggrandizement, unrealistic optimism, illusion of control and counterfactual thinking, and theorise on the means by which counsellors should attempt to deal with these. This module meets criteria set by the British Psychological Society for the core areas of cognitive processes, psychological skills and strategies and social processes, as well as professional skills with regard to ethics and practice, thus enhancing your graduate attributes for further qualifications and employability.

More information

PY0774 -

Qualitative and Quantitative Methods (20 Credits)

The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.

More information

PY0756 -

Exercise Psychology (20 Credits)

On this module you will be prepared to work in the growing field of health promotion. The module focuses upon initiating behaviour change in relation to health behaviours in general and physical activity in particular. The module explores both the impact of exercise on mental health and the underpinning psychological variables that shape people’s decision-making in relation to exercise participation. The module is devised to provide you with a thorough theoretical grounding as well as giving opportunity to develop your practitioner and employability skills. You will learn about the effects of exercise on mental health as well as theories of behaviour change, and how to devise and implement tailored strategies to support exercise promotion across different populations. You will explore and develop your own working practice and will learn how to be become a reflective practitioner. This module will enable you to develop your communicating and influencing skills, to engage in decision making and creative problem solving, to work collaboratively, to gain self-awareness, to help develop others and to adhere to professional standards.

More information

PY0775 -

Professional Skills (20 Credits)

This module is designed to provide you with a range of professional skills important for your academic and professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology. It will assist with preparation for your thesis as you learn about advanced bibliographic skills, project proposals, and research management, ethical and legal issues. You will learn employment-related skills, media skills, and personal and career development skills such as presentation and communication as well as C.V. enhancement. You will also make practical applications of skills using online resources and employ self-reflective approaches to recording and enhancing awareness of your professional development in Health, and Sport & Exercise Psychology.

More information

PY0776 -

MSc Thesis (Core,60 Credits)

In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.

More information

Study Options

The following alternative study options are available for this course:

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

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If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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