Applied Sport and Exercise Science

Award

MSc

Key facts

Location:: Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:: Part-time, distance learning
Duration:: 2 Years
Start date:: 26 September 2022
School:: School of Health, Science and Wellbeing

Delivered online and flexible part-time study.

The only UK-based sport and exercise science course taught fully online. Study when it suits you.

Get connected

We have strong links with leading sport and business organisations

Expert subject specialists

Staff have 10+ years’ experience of delivering online courses

This MSc provides you with a critical understanding of current issues relating to the theory and practice of sport and exercise science. It’s been developed to support individuals whose work, family commitments or location making attending a traditionally delivered course a challenge.

As the course is delivered exclusively online, you’ll gain access to a highly flexible and effective way to develop your knowledge, expertise and professional skills without disrupting your working life.

You’ll collaborate with staff and your peers in a dynamic learning environment. You'll engage with content directly via video lectures, synchronous and asynchronous text and audio discussions, supported by 24/7 access to a wide range of online resources.

The curriculum is focused on the key sub-disciplines of sport and exercise science covering areas such as sports biomechanics and injury, physiological support of athletes, applied research methods and the practice of sport psychology.

All modules are designed and delivered by staff with an international research reputation alongside excellent applied links with sports organisations, businesses and professional bodies.

The course is underpinned by research excellence – in the 2018 REF, our research was rated as being of international quality overall with 78% of the research considered either world-leading or internationally excellent.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science

Course content

On this part-time course you study a mix of 20 and 40 credit modules, one module at a time, over a two-year period. The first two modules you study (60 credits) contribute to the PG Certificate. These modules in combination with the following two lead to a PG Diploma (120 credits), with successful completion two final modules (180 credits) related to a research project, leading to the MSc.

You study 3 modules (80 credits) in Year 1 and 3 modules (100 credits) in Year 2.

MSc Applied Sport & Exercise Science

Video

Course Leader John Erskine provides more detail about the MSc.

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Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Advanced Research Methods And Data Analysis	30 credits
Physical Activity & Mental Health	15 credits
Practice Of Sport And Exercise Psychology	30 credits
Sports Biomechanics And Injury	15 credits

Year 2 compulsory modules
Year 2 compulsory modules
Masters Research Project (Sport)	60 credits
Physiological Support Of Athletes	30 credits

Entry requirements

You’ll need an undergraduate Honours degree (grade 2:2 or higher) in Sport and Exercise Science or a related discipline, from a UK university or international equivalent.

You must be able to demonstrate a good standard of English. We require a minimum score of IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands) or an equivalent qualification.

8 Myths of distance learning degrees at Staffordshire University

Video

In this video we debunk 8 of the key myths regarding distance learning degrees at Staffordshire University.

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For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

Facilities

Sports Psychology Lab

The Basil Ashford Sports Psychology laboratory and consulting room are used extensively for teaching, research and consultancy in the areas of Sports Psychology, Exercise Psychology and Motor Learning.

Physiology and Nutrition

Our Physiology and Nutrition laboratories hold an array of apparatus, which allows us to teach endurance capability/cardio-pulmonary fitness, maximal intensity exercise performance, muscular strength and power and much more. Our facilities allow our students to gain a hands-on approach to laboratory work and research.

Biomechanics Facilities

The Gait Analysis Laboratory within the Biomechanics Facility consists of motion capture and associated software, force platforms, digital video camera and associated kinematic analysis software and plantar pressure measurement system. Our facilities allow for teaching, learning support and research.

Support for distance learners

Studying remotely doesn't mean that you will be left to study alone. Which is why we ensure that however you study with us, you'll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students.

Blackboard (VLE)

Blackboard is a virtual learning environment which houses your learning content. It enables online teaching/learning, provides spaces to build online communities and knowledge sharing.

Careers

The course provides a grounding if you’re seeking to develop a career as a sport and exercise science professional. It provides the required postgraduate qualification if you’re seeking to engage in the accreditation process with the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) in support of a career in sport and exercise science.

As with many postgraduate taught qualifications, students use the qualification to enhance an already existing career as part of CPD activity. So, lecturers in colleges of further and higher education/ teachers in the primary and secondary sectors can use the qualification for career progression. In addition, graduates use the qualification to go on to further study by commencing a PhD, having been able to obtain a Masters without the need to disrupt busy working lives.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

As a distance learning student, you'll be an active learner interacting with content, your fellow students and your module tutors. Support is available when you need it. You can contact your module tutor, your personal tutor, digital services staff and a subject specialist librarian by phone, email or in person.

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are via your PC, tablet or phone. This includes accessing video, audio and discussion forums where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students.

Assessment

This course is assessed 100% via coursework that is submitted, graded and returned to you electronically.

You’ll experience a wide variety of assessment formats including project briefs, negotiated assignments, self-initiated proposals and reports tailored in the form appropriate to professional outcomes required for each module.

For each assessment undertaken, you receive a set of guidelines and a set of specific grading criteria outlining the standards expected.

Summative assessment is provided in the form of a grade percentage, an annotated assignment and accompanying summary feedback sheet outlining strengths and areas of improvement.

Learning support

You’re supported throughout the course by specialist tutors within the modules you study and are also allocated a personal tutor during your time with us. We have a well-developed personal tutorial system and staff are only a phone call, email or Teams/Zoom chat away. In addition, you are carefully introduced to the online learning process via an online preparatory course, and, have access to a subject specialist librarian and course administrator.

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Inclusion Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way. Mental Health support is also available via our Student Wellbeing Service.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do.

We will normally give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days.

For a given module you will typically need to devote 10-15 hours engaging with the weekly tasks set up. In addition, you will need to spend some time on preparing for and submitting assignments to demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes of each module studied. Actual study time will of course vary from student to student.

Independent learning

The focus of this course is supported active learning, combining individual study with peer-to-peer interaction to facilitate a cohort driven, learning community approach to your study.

Your study time will consist of a mix of tasks:

Watching and interacting with video-based presentations
Reading and discussing set material from a core text or identified readings
Commenting on and critiquing e-journal research with your fellow students
Searching for additional resources to support assignment preparation

Staff

You'll be taught by staff who have a range of academic and industry experience.

John Erskine

Senior Lecturer

John Erskine has been teaching at the University for 20+ years and is a member of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences. His teaching expertise lies in the areas of exercise psychology and on how skilled behaviour is acquired in sport.

John's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 26 September 2022 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for MSc-Part-time, distance learning
Study option	UK / Channel Islands	International
Part-time	£8,235 per course	£8,235 per course

The expected study pattern on this programme enables you to complete modules totalling 80 credits in your first year of study and the other 100 credits in your second year of study.

You will be invoiced for the modules that you register for each year, so if your study pattern is different from the expected pattern, you will pay more or less each year accordingly.

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:
The module fee does not cover any required core learning resources.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are resident in England and studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £11,836 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options; part-time, full-time and distance learning. Loans are also available for student’s resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

For more information and how to apply visit masters loan.

Our students

It has been a demanding, but ultimately very rewarding experience and one which I would recommend to others.

The delivery format gave me a unique chance to obtain a postgraduate qualification in Applied Sport and Exercise Science. There are no opportunities for postgraduate study in sport and exercise science either locally or regionally, and my desire to keep working while studying meant that the online masters from Staffs fitted my circumstances perfectly. It has been a demanding, but ultimately very rewarding experience and one which I would recommend to others.

Lorinda Slater

MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science

The skills I acquired on the course have really benefitted me, my career, and now my business.

The online MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise science allowed me to pursue my ambition of teaching sport science at a Higher Education level, which I achieved leading a foundation programme at a local college, and then onto a commercial role at a local university, without having to interrupt my working life.

My experience of studying the MSc online really inspired me and made me an avid fan of the online learning approach, and it is this that I know use for my own education business, which uses an online approach to deliver nationally recognised vocational qualifications in fitness instruction and personal training.

So, a big thank you to the team; the skills I acquired on the course have really benefitted me, my career, and now my business.

James Luscombe

MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science

Apply

Location	Award	Study option	Start date	Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus	MSc	Part-time, distance learning	26 September 2022	Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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