Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc

Duration

13 Months

2 Years

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Explore how psychology affects human performance, health and wellbeing and learn from experts who are internationally renowned for their research and applied practice in sport and exercise psychology on our online Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc.

Take our MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology and you’ll be part of a diverse and supportive community of students. They include athletes, coaches and those with other professional skills who want to carve out new careers or improve their current practice.

The MSc looks at the links between physical activity and mental health, how athletes perform under pressure and wider strategies for handling stress. You’ll also cover group dynamics and leadership - giving you the skills to help others - as well as data analysis and the fundamentals of sport psychology professional practice.

If your goal is to become a sport and exercise psychologist, the course also counts as the first stage of your training as it’s accredited by the British Psychological Society (depending on your undergraduate degree programme). During our accreditation, the BPS awarded us four commendations for our outstanding work in student support, delivering a high quality student experience, excellent assessment feedback, and research collaborations between staff and students.

We place a key focus on combining theory and practice, so you’ll get to put what you’ve learnt into action through various interactive tasks such as role plays and group debates.

As the course is taught entirely online, you can fit your studies around other commitments and from anywhere in the world. Alongside video lectures, weekly tasks and discussions with other students, there will be regular drop-ins and networking opportunities.

We also have links with professional sports teams and a range of sport and business organisations that allow us to welcome exciting guest lecturers as well as potential for research collaborations.

Our staff bring a wealth of research expertise too, ensuring teaching is informed by the latest knowledge and research is at the heart of what you learn. They have presented at worldwide conferences and built international reputations. Their specialist areas range from social identity and leadership, applied practice, career transitions in sport, psychophysiological responses of human performance, action observation and motor imagery amongst others.

The innovative assessment process will involve recording and uploading presentations, producing reports and responding to case studies.

Although the MSc is completed through distance learning, you can also visit us on campus and use our specialist labs and other facilities. There is plenty of flexibility as well, with options to study full-time over one year or part-time over two years.

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 in the area of sport and exercise psychology without disrupting your working life.

You’ll collaborate with staff and your peers in a dynamic learning environment, 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 psychology covering areas such as performance under pressure, mental health, group dynamics and leadership, 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, the military, and professional bodies.

The course is underpinned by research excellence – in the 2014 REF, our research was rated as being of international quality overall with 64% of the research considered either world-leading or internationally excellent.

The course consistently achieves 90%+ Student Course Satisfaction in the annual Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) Results.

This MSc involves seven compulsory modules and can be studied full-time over 1 year, or part-time over 2 years.

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

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

Part-time study

During part-time study, the six compulsory full-time modules will be spread out over 2 years.

Part-time study

During part-time study, the six compulsory full-time modules will be spread out over 2 years.

Course content

Entry requirements

  • A First, 2:1 or 2:2 (Hons) degree (or equivalent) in Sport and Exercise Psychology or Psychology as recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as providing Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC). Or a First, 2:1, or 2:2 (Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences as endorsed by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
  • An academic reference.
  • A personal statement outlining your interest in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

If you do not meet our entry criteria:

  • If you have a BSc in a sport/exercise- or psychology-related discipline (e.g., Sports Coaching/Physical Education) at a First or 2:1 level and recent relevant experience or other relevant qualifications, you may be eligible to apply for the course. In such cases, admission normally follows interview with the course leader, and is at the discretion of the course team.
  • To be clear, this is not a conversion course and students within this category would be required to undertake a conversion course after graduating should they wish to become a member of BPS and or pursue further studies to become a sport and exercise psychologist.
  • For students whose first language is not English, they must have achieved Level 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in any component of IELTS (or equivalent).
  • A First or 2:1 (Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology or Psychology as recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS), providing Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC). Or a First or 2:1 (Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences as endorsed by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
  • An academic reference.
  • A personal statement outlining their interest in Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Please note: Completion of the course does not give BPS accreditation to students from a sport and exercise science background. However, a BPS accredited MSc like ours is recognised by the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) meaning that students with a BASES accredited Sport and Exercise Sciences undergraduate degree are able to go on to Supervised Experience with BASES (SEPAR) upon successful completion of the MSc to become a HCPC registered sport and exercise psychologist.

More information is available on how to become a sport and exercise psychologist here.

If applicants do not meet our entry criteria:

  • If they have a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology, or Sport and Exercise Sciences at a 2:2 level and recent relevant experience or other relevant qualifications, they may be eligible to apply for the course. In such cases, admission normally follows interview/preliminary task with the Course Leader and is at the discretion of the Course Leader.

  • If they have a BSc in a sport/exercise- or psychology-related discipline (e.g., Sports Coaching/Physical Education) at a First or 2:1 level and recent relevant experience or other relevant qualifications, they may be eligible to apply for the course. In such cases, admission normally follows interview/ preliminary task with the Course Leader and is at the discretion of the Course Leader.

  • To be clear, this is not a conversion course and students within this category would be required to undertake a conversion course after graduating should they wish to become a member of BPS and or pursue further studies to become a sport and exercise psychologist.

  • For students whose first language is not English, they must have achieved Level 6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in all components of IELTS (or equivalent).

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology - Postgraduate Webinar Series

Event

Discover our online MSc Sport & Exercise Psychology and how it can launch your postgraduate career in performance, health & wellbeing.

Facilities

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. Read more

However you study with us, or wherever in the world you’re based, you’ll still be able to access the same services as our on-campus students, including IT and study support, online library, careers and wellbeing service. We’ll help to connect with other online learners to help you get the most out of your learning experience and feel a part of the community. Find out more: Support for distance learners

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.

Sports Equipment

Our facilities include a vast array of industry standard equipment, from our cryotherapy and electrotherapy machines to our eye tracker software.

Careers

The MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology is accredited by the BPS. Alongside GBC (graduate basis for chartered membership, acquired through a BPS recognised undergraduate degree or GBC conversion course during/after the MSc), it counts as stage 1 of the training to become a chartered psychologist and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a practitioner sport and exercise psychologist. Stage 2 involves a minimum of two years of supervised practice.

Successful completion of the MSc provides the academic knowledge required to begin a training process to become a Chartered (and therefore practicing) Psychologist in sport and exercise psychology, together with GBC. The award can also provide the required postgraduate qualification for an individual seeking to engage in the accreditation process with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) that can also support a career in sport and exercise psychology.

The award can lead to a range of other career options as well. These can include roles within sports clubs and other organisations or as private consultants.

Many students use the MSc to enhance their existing careers in areas such as sport coaching or teaching in schools and colleges.

Graduates can also go on to undertake PhDs.

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

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

As a distance learning student you will be an active learner interacting with content, your fellow students, and your module tutors.

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard, and supported by Microsoft Teams. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are, on desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This includes discussion forums where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students. It also includes webinars, video lectures and podcasts.

As a distance learning student you will be an active learner interacting with content, your fellow students, and your module tutors.

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard, and supported by Microsoft Teams. This means you can access a range of materials to support your studies wherever you are, on desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This includes discussion forums where you can debate subjects with your tutors and fellow students. It also includes webinars, video lectures and podcasts.

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 critical essays, online presentations, data analysis reports, research projects, and a viva voce 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, and annotated assignment and accompany summary feedback sheets.

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 critical essays, online presentations, data analysis reports, research projects, and a viva voce 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, and annotated assignment and accompany summary feedback sheets.

Learning support

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

As an online student of the University you have access to all our facilities, including our laboratories and online resources and software to support your Masters Research Project.

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.

Feedback

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

We give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

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

We give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

Staff

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

Karla Drew

Lecturer

I am a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, and Course leader for the MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology programme. I am also a BPS Chartered, and HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Karla's profile

Matthew Slater

Professor Of Sport & Exercise Psychology

Matt is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology and recognised as an internationally leading scholar on the psychology of leadership and group dynamics.

Matthew's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for MSc-Full-time, distance learning
Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,165 per course £9,165 per course

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for MSc-Full-time, distance learning
Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Part-time £9,135 per course £9,135 per course

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.

Alumni discount

If you've previously completed a University of Staffordshire undergraduate degree (excluding HND and foundation degrees) you may be entitled to a discount of up to 25% off your course fees for any subsequent postgraduate taught course (terms apply, see the alumni discount page for details). If you have any questions about how this relates to you, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

Our students

The staff I have worked with at Staffs have been fantastic.

The staff I have worked with at Staffs have been fantastic. Despite being remote, their communication has been brilliant and they are always understanding to the unique stresses of distance learning – they are always on the end of the phone or email which has always been reassuring.

The contact days have been great to meet the staff and expand our knowledge/ share best practise but also to meet your peers – over the last two years I’ve made lifelong friendships which I didn’t think I would do on a distance learning course. 

Kelly Jones

Athlete Support Office – Southampton Solent University. Graduate, MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

I would highly recommend the course. As someone who graduated initially in 2006, re-entering higher education was quite daunting, but the intensity of the course was managed very well. The variety of content was also very impressive (podcasts were particularly useful on the commute to work!) as was the support from all the tutors, who are hugely passionate. 

This course is not just stuck in the world of theory. Throughout the two years we were tasked with presenting, debating, and even applying our skills to a real world athlete. All in all it was a fantastic course and an experience I will always look back on with fondness and pride.

Pete Jackson

Strategy Director (Marketing) and Sport Psychology Consultant. Graduate, MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

I have since been able to apply many of the learnings from this qualification in a full-time applied role in the sport industry.

My time on the MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University was extremely rewarding in terms of the skills I developed, the quality of the teaching, and the overall level of enjoyment I experienced. The distance learning aspect of the course was unique and challenged me to take ownership of my work whilst having fantastic interactive online resources available to communicate and share ideas with fellow students and tutors.

Support and guidance was always available from the tutors, responding promptly to any queries and offering great insights from their various experiences of working in sport. I have since been able to apply many of the learnings from this qualification in a full-time applied role in the sport industry.

Joe Dixon

Lead Sport Psychologist - Stoke City Football Club. Graduate, MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date Apply Link
Stoke-on-Trent campus MSc Full-time, distance learning 22 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

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

Students of University of Staffordshire 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

Have you considered?

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021