Sport and Exercise Psychology student in Portsmouth FC grounds

Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc

Learn about the effect of the mind on sporting performance on our part-time or full-time Sport and Exercise Psychology Master's course. Learn skills that can be applied in a range of sports settings.

Key information

Accreditation:

This course is Accredited

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Study mode and duration
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Overview

If you're a sport science or psychology graduate or an individual seeking a career change within sport and performance systems, our accredited MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology degree course is an essential step on your journey to becoming a practitioner psychologist.

Psychology plays a huge role in behaviour in sport, exercise, and performance environments by helping – or preventing – people from achieving optimal health and performance. 

You’ll benefit from teaching unique to Portsmouth, including the psychology of elite performance and applied sport psychology, develop knowledge and skills that are critical to practitioners, and study key themes in the psychology of exercise and physical activity.

We'll provide the expertise and support you need to develop your professional practice and we’ll give you outstanding preparation and insight into becoming a practitioner psychologist.

When you graduate you'll be prepared for a career in sport and exercise psychology and you might continue your training working with professional sports clubs, national sports organisations and private clinics, perhaps by continuing your training journey on our professional doctorate.

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

Course highlights

  • This is the first course in the country to offer dual British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditations.
  • Learn from our team of BPS chartered psychologists and BASES accredited sport and exercise scientists who are experienced in research and applied practice in sport and exercise psychology
  • Benefit from modules unique to Portsmouth such as the Psychology of Elite Performance and Applied Sport Psychology to get outstanding preparation and insight into becoming a practitioner psychologist
  • Study a broad range of course work suitable for careers in healthcare, elite sport, education, professional sports clubs and the military
  • Use our psychology laboratory with specialist equipment, including a ASL (Applied Science Laboratories) mobile eye-tracking and PLATO Liquid Crystal Spectacles, to test how quickly performers respond to visual or auditory cues
  • Benefit from our links with UK Sport and the Fuchs Foundation
  • Enjoy access to our outstanding new Ravelin Sports Centre, designed to be one of the UK’s most sustainable sports facilities
British Psychological Society (BPS)

Accreditations and endorsements

This course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)

Explore MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology at Portsmouth

Find out more about our accredited MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology degree course, including what you'll study and career outcomes. 

Chris Wagstaff: This Masters in Sport and Exercise psychology is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about the theory and the practice of sport and exercise psychology. The course runs over one year, full time or two years part time. On the course you'll study a whole range of modules. We cover applied sport and exercise psychology. We cover performance psychology, and we also study exercise, psychology and physical activity. The course is accredited with both the British Psychological Society and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists, and it's the first course in the country to have those dual accreditations. If you only have a BSc in this area, in psychology or in sport exercise sciences, you can't continue on to practice as a psychologist without these further degrees. But lots of people also use this course to go and work in other sectors, such as in business, in education, in health care. The transferable skills in this course are absolutely fantastic. We really think that our students have a great opportunity in employment and in the workplace, whatever sector they leave and go on to. We think that we offer the best performance psychology insight in the country

Contact information

Admissions

+44 (0) 23 9284 5566

Contact Admissions

Modules

Full-time

All modules on this MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology are core.

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Compare, contrast and critically review theories and research pertaining to motor development and its impact across the lifespan.

  • Critically contextualise and outline methodological issues in skill acquisition research across the lifespan.

  • Appraise and integrate skill acquisition theoretical principles to relevant contemporary research that affect practice and learning design.

  • Apply knowledge gleaned from research findings to design practice environment that encompass internal and external key aspects.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the professional skills, roles, responsibilities, and competencies required of a practicing sport psychologist.
  • Critically evaluate the methods and techniques for performer assessment and develop experience of consultancy skills as a trainee practitioner.
  • Critically appraise varying theoretical approaches for applying psychology to sporting performance.
  • Critically evaluate the varying intervention strategies designed to provide support for the sports performer.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • To critically apply appropriate research philosophy and design.

  • Critically evaluate contemporary research in a defined area to develop a scientifically and ethically sound outline research proposal.

  • Produce a feasible research proposal for a project of choice, establishing viability and any ethical considerations.

  • Conduct a project that will further enhance knowledge or ability in the chosen area.

  • Evaluate and provide a written report of the projects results and findings using the appropriate qualitative or quantitative analysis tools.

  • Disseminate findings via a poster presentation paired or individual.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically review the psychological theories and research pertaining to sustained success in elite sport and performance domains.
  • Critically discuss the rationale for an evidence-based approach to performance psychology practice.
  • Appreciate the theoretical principles and relevant research that underpins coaching and expertise development in performance domains.
  • Apply knowledge gleaned from research findings to design psychological support programmes to enable high performance.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Effectively translate scholarly knowledge for health professionals and practitioners in applied practice.

  • Critically evaluate and apply to practice, contemporary scholarly areas of enquiry within Exercise Psychology.

  • Critically analyse and discuss various theoretical approaches to exercise/physical activity adherence and promotion.

  • Critically evaluate and discuss the relevance and significance of Exercise Psychology to population health.

Explore this module

Part-time

All modules on this MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology are core.

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically evaluate the professional skills, roles, responsibilities, and competencies required of a practicing sport psychologist.
  • Critically evaluate the methods and techniques for performer assessment and develop experience of consultancy skills as a trainee practitioner.
  • Critically appraise varying theoretical approaches for applying psychology to sporting performance.
  • Critically evaluate the varying intervention strategies designed to provide support for the sports performer.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Critically review the psychological theories and research pertaining to sustained success in elite sport and performance domains.
  • Critically discuss the rationale for an evidence-based approach to performance psychology practice.
  • Appreciate the theoretical principles and relevant research that underpins coaching and expertise development in performance domains.
  • Apply knowledge gleaned from research findings to design psychological support programmes to enable high performance.

Explore this module

All modules on this MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology are core.

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Compare, contrast and critically review theories and research pertaining to motor development and its impact across the lifespan.

  • Critically contextualise and outline methodological issues in skill acquisition research across the lifespan.

  • Appraise and integrate skill acquisition theoretical principles to relevant contemporary research that affect practice and learning design.

  • Apply knowledge gleaned from research findings to design practice environment that encompass internal and external key aspects.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • To critically apply appropriate research philosophy and design.

  • Critically evaluate contemporary research in a defined area to develop a scientifically and ethically sound outline research proposal.

  • Produce a feasible research proposal for a project of choice, establishing viability and any ethical considerations.

  • Conduct a project that will further enhance knowledge or ability in the chosen area.

  • Evaluate and provide a written report of the projects results and findings using the appropriate qualitative or quantitative analysis tools.

  • Disseminate findings via a poster presentation paired or individual.

Explore this module

The learning outcomes of this module are:
  • Effectively translate scholarly knowledge for health professionals and practitioners in applied practice.

  • Critically evaluate and apply to practice, contemporary scholarly areas of enquiry within Exercise Psychology.

  • Critically analyse and discuss various theoretical approaches to exercise/physical activity adherence and promotion.

  • Critically evaluate and discuss the relevance and significance of Exercise Psychology to population health.

Explore this module

Changes to course content

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Facilities and specialist equipment

swimming

Our £50m sports centre

Train and play in one of the UK's greenest sports centres, including an 8-lane swimming pool, virtual skiing, climbing wall and more.

Learn more
psychophysiology

Psychophysiology laboratory

Record and analyse physical responses, such as electrical activity in the brain, neural processes, blood pressure and heart rate, to explore how the body reacts to different psychological states.

eye-tracking-psychology

Eye tracking technology

Discover how eye movement can be analysed to reveal how quickly athletes respond to visual or auditory cues, using our ASL mobile eye-tracking system and PLATO Liquid Crystal Spectacles. 

Careers and opportunities

Careers this Master's prepares you for

This British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Master's course will enable you to continue to study towards Chartered status.

You'll also have the transferable skills for careers in other sectors, like business, the police or the armed forces.

Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:

  • Performance Director
  • Personal Trainer
  • Psychological Well-being Practitioner
  • Sport Psychologist
  • Senior Programme Officer
  • Corporate Partnerships Executive 
  • Operations Manager
  • General Manager
  • Lecturer
  • Teacher
  • Research Officer

Graduates of this course have gone on to work for companies such as:

  • Football Association
  • Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club
  • Great Britain Hockey
  • LED Leisure Management
  • Solent NHS
  • Hampshire County Council

Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.

Career planning

During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and our Careers and Employability Centre – which you can access for up to 5 years after you graduate.

Female student standing at careers and employability help desk

Career support

You'll benefit from:

  • Networking events
  • Applied projects with employers
  • 1-to-1 appointments
  • CV and cover letter advice
  • Interview preparation and practice
  • Workshops to enhance your employability skills
  • Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
  • Support starting your own business

Learn more about your career support

Placements and industry connections

There are no formal work placements as part of this course, but the Applied Sports Psychology module has been designed specifically to prepare students for work as a professional sports psychologist. Some of our students organise their own work experience and shadowing opportunities through our partners and professional contacts at organisations such as Portsmouth Football Club.

Every year, we welcome guest speakers from across sport, exercise and performance psychology, including British Sailing and the Football Association, as well as colleagues from the University of Portsmouth Counselling and Wellbeing Service.

How you'll spend your time

We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.

We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.

Course structure

All teaching is campus based and in person and usually takes place on Thursdays, so you can fit it into your work or familly schedule.

You can expect to spend 180 hours on each module, incuding preparation, resaerch and assessment.

In the last few months of the course you'll focus on your Research Development and Practice final project and presentation.

Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.

You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.

Teaching on this course includes:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • laboratory workshops
  • tutorials

Assessment

You'll be assessed through:

  • essays
  • scientific reports
  • reflective accounts
  • infographics
  • presentations
  • projects

You'll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on practice and formal assessments so you can improve in future.

Full details of assessment can be found in the modules in the 'What you'll study' section.

Teaching staff

These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:

Christopher Robert David Wagstaff Portrait

Professor Chris Wagstaff

Professor of Applied Psychology

Chris.Wagstaff@port.ac.uk

School of Sport, Health, and Exercise Science

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

Read more
Richard Charles Thelwell Portrait

Professor Richard Thelwell

Interim Executive Dean

Richard.Thelwell@port.ac.uk

School of Sport, Health, and Exercise Science

Faculty of Science and Health

PhD Supervisor

Read more

Term dates

September start

The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.

See key dates

Graduation Class of 2021

Joining us as an international student

You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.

Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in. 

Information for international students

Supporting you

Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of support

Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your Master's.

As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.

You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.

They can help with:

  • improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
  • understanding and using assignment feedback
  • managing your time and workload
  • revision and exam techniques

As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University’s Academic Skills Unit (ASK) for one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • academic writing
  • note taking
  • time management
  • critical thinking
  • presentation skills
  • referencing
  • working in groups
  • revision, memory and exam techniques

Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.

You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.

If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.

They'll help you to:

  • discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
  • liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
  • access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
  • liaise with external services

Library staff are available in person or by email, phone or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from the faculty librarian for science.

The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.

If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.

The Maths Café offers free advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.

Course costs and funding

Tuition fees (September 2024 start)

  • Full-time: £8,900
  • Part-time: £2,970 in year 1 and £5,930 in year 2

(including Transition Scholarship)

  • Full-time: £8,900
  • Part-time: £2,970 in year 1 and £5,930 in year 2

  • Full-time: £17,200
  • Part-time: £5,730 in year 1 (60 credits) and £11,470 in year 2 (120 credits)

University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount

Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.

You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Funding your studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.

A University of Portsmouth Sports Scholarship student

Sport scholarships of up to £3,000 for student athletes

If you're competing at national standard or above in your sport, you may be eligible for funding. Around 20 student-athletes are awarded bursaries between £500 and £3000 per year.

Find out if you're eligible

Loans, scholarships and bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

Female Master's student
Explore funding

Funding for international students

Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.

international business students
Discover your options

Fees and funding for Master's courses

Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.

Postgrad students on campus
Explore funding

Additional costs

These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:

  • Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
  • Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
  • General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
  • Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.

Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.

Entry requirements​

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

September 2024 start

  • An upper second-class honours degree or equivalent in a Sport and Exercise Science, Psychology, Sports Psychology or related subject. Alternative qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.

To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification. 

  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

  • you have a UK degree
  • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
  • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

How to apply

Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.

There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.

If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.

You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.

Extra information for international students

If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.

You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Start this course in September 2024

Apply now (Full-time)

Apply now (Part-time)

I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate

If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2023, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:

  • a shorter application form to complete
  • access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
  • a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses 

Learn more about fast track

After you apply

Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.

You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.

Learn more about how we assess your application.

Admissions terms and conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.