MSc
Sport and Exercise Psychology (BPS Accredited)
Taught by BPS Chartered psychologists
Course Overview
Why take this course?
The psychology of human performance in sport and exercise environments is fundamental to helping individuals to realise their physical, technical and health performance potential.
This course aims to train you to understand how the mind can impact upon human behaviour and performance within competitive sport and everyday physical activity settings.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Be taught by our BPS Chartered psychologists who have a wealth of experience in research and applied practice in sport and exercise psychology
- Use specialist facilities and benefit from our strong links with UK Sport and the Fuchs Foundation
- Complete a professional practice placement as a trainee sport and/or exercise scientist
What opportunities might it lead to?
If you have Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) from a BSc Psychology-related degree, this course has British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation enabling you to complete stage one of your training to becoming a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- various sporting governing bodies
- health and fitness companies
- UK sport
- NHS
- a variety of private healthcare companies
The units on offer were perfect for what I needed to be able to progress in this area and I am seeing the benefit already.
Lucy May, sport and exercise student 2013
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Entry
A 2:1 honours degree in a BPS accredited psychology, sports psychology or related subject that confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). Applicants who also hold a 2:1 honours degree in a related discipline and have completed a BPS accredited conversion course (eg: Graduate Diploma in Psychology) will also be welcomed.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £5,000, part-time students: £2,500 p/a* (2 years)
International full-time students: £10,500, part-time students: £5,250 p/a* (2 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science
Structure & Teaching
You can choose to take this course in either full-time or part-time mode. You will study several key topics and have the unique opportunity to complete a professional practice placement, where you will be required to perform the role of a trainee sport and/or exercise scientist within a related setting.
Here are the units you will study:
- Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology: This unit will provide a theoretical, research and practical understanding of the expertise psychology, the psychology of expertise and it's application to business.
- Exercise Programming and Behaviour Change: This unit provides a theoretical, research and practical understanding of health behaviour change.
- Applied Sport Psychology: For this unit you will identify and develop a range of professional skills associated with applied practice.
- Applied Research Methods: You will generate suitable research designs and be able to select and use the appropriate form of data analysis.
- Research Project: This unit will provide you with an opportunity to independently investigate a particular topic related to sport/exercise psychology.
- Professional Practice Placement: You will have the opportunity to observe and, where possible, participate in the delivery of psychological principles and techniques within sport or exercise settings. However, please note that this is subject to availability and appropriate screening and selection processes.
Teaching and Assessment
Our teaching approaches include lectures, seminars, laboratory workshops, tutorials and a placement experience in a relevant field setting. We aim to provide a vibrant and dynamic environment in which to study and strive to offer a high-quality and satisfying educational experience within a stimulating and supportive environment.
How are you assessed?
The varying teaching formats are reflected in the assignments. Here’s how we assess you:
- essays
- scientific reports
- reflective accounts
- presentations
- projects
Tutor's view
Dr Jenny Page
Sport and Exercise Science
This course has an applied focus and includes an innovative psychology placement in a sport or exercise setting. Teaching will be delivered by BASES accredited, BPS chartered, and HCPC registered staff and you are encouraged to apply your knowledge into industry settings, using case studies, simulations of consultancy sessions and the placement.
Facilities & Features
The Psychology Laboratory
Our lab has a range of specialist equipment
Learning Environments and Specialist Equipment
You will learn in a several different environments
Research Groups
Our academic staff have a close affiliation with sport and are research active within their chosen specialism
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
The Psychology Laboratory
Our lab has a range of specialist equipment including PLATO Liquid Crystal Spectacles allowing reaction timers to see how quickly we respond to visual or auditory cues, and various targets to assess the accuracy of skill development or performance. Our ASL Mobile Eye System enables researchers to examine exactly where individuals visually attend to when they are performing a movement or making a decision. There is also a separate interview room for non-practical research studies that houses a fully equipped media suite.
Learning Environments and Specialist Equipment
We are one of the leading departments offering sports science-based programmes in the UK according to the National Student Survey (NSS), the Times Good University Guide, the Independent University Guide, and the Guardian University Guide league tables. You will learn in a several different environments including our biomechanics, physiology and kinanthropometry labs, plus plenty of indoor space for practical activities, all located at the heart of the University. These house some of the country’s finest facilities, including:
- 3 climatic chambers for manipulating temperature, humidity and altitude
- an immersion pool
- a swimming flume
- an automated tracking system
- visual 3D software
Our academic staff have a close affiliation with sport and are research active within their chosen specialism. We have three main research areas which include biomechanics, physiology and psychology, with BASES accredited and BPS chartered members of each area possessing prolific research profiles. Here are the areas of our current research:
- Extreme Environmental Medicine and Science (co-ordinator: Dr Jim House)
- Breast Health (co-ordinator: Dr Joanna Scurr)
- Human Performance and Health (co-ordinator: Dr Jo Corbett)
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Specific careers directly related to this qualification include becoming an applied practitioner, and a researcher and/or a lecturer in sport and/or exercise psychology. Researchers tend to be employed by commercial companies and academic institutions. Lecturers in this field are employed by further and higher educational establishments.
Given the range of general employability skills developed throughout the programme, you could go on to a variety of careers in other sectors, for example, business, the police and the armed services.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- sports and exercise scientist
- lecturer in sport and/or exercise psychology
- researcher in sport and/or exercise psychology
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.