Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc

Postgraduate

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This course is ideal for sport graduates or those from a psychology background wishing to pursue a career in the field of sport psychology.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
With Professional Placement

Duration

1 year full-time
Up to 2 years full-time with professional placement

Course code

EEST055

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

Ideal for those aspiring to build a career in sport and exercise psychology, this course offers in-depth knowledge of talent development, group dynamics, performance enhancement, and working with special populations. It aims to foster your skills in designing and implementing evidence-based support for diverse global clients.

Gain comprehensive knowledge of sport psychology theory and practical opportunities to apply this knowledge, offering solutions for performance-oriented individuals and teams.
We provide a stimulating learning experience that encourages an inquisitive approach, empowering you to become a lifelong learner with a global outlook.
Enhance your skills in designing, delivering and evaluating effective, evidence-based interventions for varied client groups, helping you to advance as an independent practitioner.
The course integrates the International Certificate of Digital Literacy (ICDL) module Data Analytics. You will be awarded an ICDL certificate and electronic badge on successful completion of the ICDL module.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Employability development will be a key theme embedded throughout the degree. The structure of the course enables you to reflect on where you are and develop a constantly evolving development plan.

This course, mapped to the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) competencies, provides you with a clear route to becoming a CASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist (Psychology). CASES Accreditation is gained after completing this MSc and a period of supervised experience, typically lasting two to three years.
This programme prepares you for in-demand roles in sport psychology, with a strong focus on enhancing performance and wellbeing in athletes at all levels.
You'll receive applied training in sport psychology practice, including communication, reflection, and problem-solving skills, all under the expert guidance of experienced professionals.
Taught by industry experts and accredited practitioners, you'll have ample opportunities to engage with the latest research and innovative intervention methods.
Gain practical experience and boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.²

What you'll study

Course content has been designed to expand your understanding of sports psychology principles and their role in the development and support of a range of client groups.

Learn about the scientific basis of sports psychology that covers the theory, principles and background required, to inform assessment and interventions in sport performance. Explore issues related to talent development and management in sport, group dynamics, conceptual issues, performance enhancement and professional practice.

Modules

Applied Skills in Sports Psychology – 30 credits

Develop an in-depth understanding of the practical challenges faced globally by a sport and exercise psychologist. Critically evaluate a range of psychological skills and strategies and learn how to practically implement them with a range of athletes in a variety of scenarios.

Compulsory

Contemporary Issues in Sports Psychology – 30 credits

Critically evaluate the theoretical underpinning of contemporary performance enhancement debates and special issues within the sport and exercise psychology literature. Consider psychological and performance demands placed upon the athlete across a range of sports and exercise contexts to identify how these concepts impact performance and wellbeing.

Compulsory

Professional Practice in Sports Psychology – 30 credits

Develop critical awareness of current issues in sport and exercise psychology practice, including therapeutic perspectives and organisational issues in multi-disciplinary environments. Gain practical understanding of skills, frameworks and evaluation methods relating to consultant philosophy and professional practice in both one-to-one and group settings across various sports.

Compulsory

Talent Development and Management in Sport – 30 credits

Critically evaluate the theoretical underpinning of talent development and management concepts within sport and exercise psychology. Consider psychological and performance demands placed upon the athlete across a range of sports and exercise contexts to identify how these concepts impact talent development and management.

Compulsory

Master’s with professional placement

If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.

Gain valuable industry insights and skills as you apply your academic knowledge and skills to a professional placement.
The placement must be sourced and secured by you during your first semester. Our careers and employability team are available to support you with the sourcing process.
Start your professional placement after completing the first 120 credits of your course.
The professional placement will be integrated into your course learning and outcomes. This will take the form of a reflective diary demonstrating your learning and engagement with the placement experience.
The professional placement option is subject to additional fees, living costs, visa requirements, availability, competitive application and university approval of the placement.²

For full terms and conditions please visit the extended master’s landing page.

Optional

Independent Research Project – 60 credits

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the research process, including formulating and testing hypotheses, designing studies, and analysing and presenting data effectively. Conduct an individual research project with guidance from an academic supervisor, resulting in a formal written report that meets scientific publication standards. This module integrates the International Certificate of Digital Literacy (ICDL) module Data Analytics. You will be awarded an ICDL certificate and electronic badge on successful completion of the course module.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
group work
practical skills sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include: 

portfolios
coursework
essays
group work
presentations
videos
reflections
practical or project work.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a sports-related discipline. You must have passed a Level 6 module in sport psychology.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a sports-related discipline. You must have passed a Level 6 module in sport psychology.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

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

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,350 £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available
EU	£9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary £1,500 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured) per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 £1,800 professional placement fee (if placement secured)	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

The Alison Gingell Building includes sports labs, analytical labs, research labs, sports science labs and consultation rooms, all equipped with industry standard equipment.

Clinical skills areas

These large, flexible spaces are designed to simulate real-life healthcare settings. Practice essential clinical skills, such as patient assessment, physical examination and procedure performance, in a controlled environment.

Strength and conditioning suite

Assess the way a person moves and identify biomechanical abnormalities using our athletics track, 3D motion capture system, isokinetic dynamometers, pressure plate integrated treadmills and floor-integrated force platforms. The suite includes Olympic lifting platforms and an anti-gravity treadmill.

Westwood Heath

The university sports centre at Westwood Heath boasts the same turf system used at St George's Park, the home of England Football's training camp. This industry-standard facility offers a range of cross-course collaboration opportunities.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Sport psychology plays an essential role in both elite success and promoting participation in sports. Consequently, specialist practitioners in this discipline are increasingly in demand across the globe.

On successful completion of this course, you will be well-positioned to pursue opportunities in the following careers:

Sport psychology consulting

private practice: work independently with athletes, teams or organisations.
sports teams: join professional or amateur sports teams.
national governing bodies: work for organisations that oversee specific sports.

Academia and research

lecturer
researcher.

Corporate and business

performance consultant: apply sport psychology principles to help individuals and organisations improve their performance at work
leadership coach: work with leaders to develop their mental resilience and leadership.

Health and wellbeing

exercise psychology: focus on the psychological aspects of exercise and physical activity, working with individuals to improve their motivation and adherence to exercise programmes
mental health specialist: use sport psychology techniques to support individuals with mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

Coaching and sports development

coach educator: train coaches on the psychological aspects of coaching and athlete development.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.