Applied Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation MSc

Postgraduate

A student lifting weights with a tutors guidance

Applicable to the full scope of athletic performance, this course will suit sports science graduates and those looking to enhance their career in sports or physiology.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Online/Blended

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

EEST056

Start date

September 2025

How to apply

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At Coventry University, we continuously review the courses we offer to ensure we reflect industry-relevant emerging best practice and technology. As a result, this course is undergoing continuous improvement assessment and will be launched with a renewed curriculum starting in September 2025. Module content and titles will be updated. Course title, learning outcomes and assessments may also change. We expect our new curriculum to be fully updated by May 2025. Please return to this page to see the final course details.

Course overview

Developed with industry collaborators, this course integrates performance physiology, biomechanics, injury rehabilitation and advanced training techniques.

Focus on evidence-based approaches with a strong scientific foundation aligned with UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) standards.
Gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in professional sports environments with guidance from industry experts.
Combine comprehensive academic study with hands-on practical application in our industry-standard facilities.
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

Industry-recognised standards: course content is mapped to UKSCA and CIMSPA competencies, ensuring that on successful graduation, you meet industry standards and are well-prepared for your future professional accreditation.
Expert-led learning: you'll be taught by active researchers and accredited practitioners, including professionals with experience supporting elite teams and athletes. Our staff bring real-world experience, with some holding positions within the UKSCA and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).²
Modern facilities: utilise our strength and conditioning facility which features extensive laboratory space built to help you train smarter, get stronger and achieve your goals.
Networking opportunities: engage with industry experts through guest lectures and collaborative projects, providing opportunities to build valuable connections in the growing field of sports performance and rehabilitation.²
Varied career pathways: develop into a forward-thinking, evidence-based practitioner, prepared for roles such as a strength and conditioning coach, cardiac physiologist, high-performance coach, rehabilitation specialist, or head of performance and physical preparation.
Gain practical experience: boost your CV with an additional professional placement. See the modules for more details.²

What you'll study

The course's core subject areas include performance physiology, biomechanics, sports injuries, corrective exercises, recovery strategies, and strength and conditioning practice. Through a blend of academic study and applied training, students will graduate with the skills and knowledge to excel in competitive and evolving professional environments.

Modules

Strength and Conditioning Science – 30 credits

Explore key areas of human physiology, biomechanics, psychology and nutrition, and understand how adaptations to training, principles or modalities influence different performance environments. Gain the scientific knowledge necessary to apply strength and conditioning practices in exercise and sports performance.

Compulsory

Testing and Monitoring for Performance – 30 credits

Enhance your knowledge and practical skills in assessing and monitoring athlete fitness and performance. Learn about various tests, their principles and practical applications to deepen your understanding of an athlete’s assessment and monitoring. Use various laboratory and field-based tests to quantify physiological and biomechanical performance.⁴

Compulsory

Applied Strength and Conditioning – 30 credits

Athlete Injury Rehabilitation and Return to Play – 30 credits

Further develop your understanding of rehabilitation for a range of common musculoskeletal injuries using the latest evidence base. Focus on working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop training plans for injury rehabilitation from early to pre-discharge phase with a specific focus on meeting the sports-specific requirements to allow athletes to successfully return to play/competition. The module will cover rehabilitation of all peripheral joints and spinal rehabilitation in a range of different rehabilitation settings as well as developing all components of fitness for performance in a range of sports.

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 enhanced masters landing page.

Optional

Research Project – 60 credits

Learn the skills needed to conduct independent research, culminating in a dissertation and associated artefact. It covers research methodologies, data collection, analysis and interpretation, alongside ethical practices and effective time management. Learn to structure and write a coherent dissertation, adhere to academic integrity standards, and master academic writing and referencing. Get prepared to produce original, well-organised research and disseminate your findings effectively.

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
presentations
practical lab work
field sessions
case studies.

You’ll also be supported with a range of online activities such as:

online tutorials
discussion boards
online lectures
online problem-based learning.

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:

presentations  
group projects 
live simulations 
individual application development work 
portfolios 
written documentation 
dissertation.

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

Entry requirements

Typical offer

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in sport and exercise science with modules that included exercise physiology or biomechanics.

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 sport and exercise science with modules that included exercise physiology or biomechanics.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with at least 5.5 in each component area

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	Not available
EU	£9,350 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	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

Strength and conditioning suite
Our Strength and Conditioning facility houses Olympic lifting platforms, designed exclusively for students.

Sports science 
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 and anti-gravity treadmill. 

Environmental chamber 
Simulate how the human body performs at the top of Mount Everest, in the Sahara or at the South Pole. With climate and altitude control, you can test the effects of environmental conditions such as temperature and barometric pressure on the human body.

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.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

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

Successful graduates could go on to work in positions such as:

strength and conditioning coach
director of performance
data/ performance analyst
athletics director
cardiac rehabilitation
personal trainer
physical preparation coach.

Where our graduates work

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

England Rugby Sevens 
The Ospreys rugby team 
Aston Villa WFC
Coventry City FC 
IndigoFitness 
Wigan Athletic FC
Sheffield Wednesday FC
Kent County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club 
Elmhurst Ballet School.

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.

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Fees and funding