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Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning DS&C

Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning DS&C

Different course options

Study mode

Distance without attendance

Duration

5 years

Start date

SEP-25

Key information
DATA SOURCE : IDP Connect

Qualification type

Professional Doctorate

Subject areas

Sports Fitness / Body Training

Course type

Research

Course Summary

The Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning provides a high-level, vocationally-focused pathway to a doctorate qualification.

Distance learning approach to teaching means you can study around your current work commitments

State-of-the-art strength and conditioning facilities

The Professional Doctorate in Strength and Conditioning is the first of its kind in the UK to offer doctoral-level study in a vocationally-based discipline. You can study for a doctoral award whilst continuing with your current employment.

The aim of the course is to provide support to experienced strength and conditioning coaches as they develop skills and knowledge to enable them to take a more active role in leading and developing the profession.

The main learning outcomes are:

To develop an advanced knowledge base in a sub-discipline related to strength and conditioning;

To develop the skills and confidence to create examples of evidence-based best practice in strength and conditioning, and to disseminate this to a wider audience

To develop independent research skills which will allow the student to contribute to the scientific evidence base related to strength and conditioning.

Why St Mary's

We're widely recognised as an international leader in strength and conditioning education. We were the first UK institution to offer an undergraduate degree in strength and conditioning and our MSc programme was the first part-time, distance-learning strength and conditioning course in the UK.

In recent years the University has invested £250,000 in a state-of-the-art Performance Education Centre, which is unrivalled as a facility for strength and conditioning education.

Our staff includes both highly experienced coaches and expert sport scientists. All of the course material is designed specifically for the strength and conditioning degree, ensuring that the practical relevance of the scientific evidence to the strength and conditioning coach is always fully explored.

The distance learning nature of this course has several advantages for professionals. Principal among these is the opportunity to combine study with practical work experience, allowing the translation of science into practice. In addition, you can organise your study around your own personal schedule, allowing you to obtain a doctoral level award whilst continuing with your current employment.

Teaching methods

The content of this programme will be delivered via online content. The programme will consist of three core modules with the options of focussing on either biomechanics or physiology (two main disciplines within S&C). This will allow the students to have their training and knowledge focussed prior to their independent research project.

Assessment methods

Assessment of the taught modules will be through various modes such as

Essays

Reports

Data analysis tasks

Case studies

Blogs

Podcasts

Portfolios

Assessment of the independent research project will be by the submission of a 40-50,000-word thesis and a viva voce thesis defence.

Modules

Advanced Methods of Training (40 Credits) - Core

Tuition fees

UK fees
Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

£3,450

International fees
Course fees for EU and international students

For this course (per year)

£8,130

Entry requirements

A Master's degree in an appropriate subject area and a suitable workplace environment to support the professional research and development project. Have at least three years’ significant and relevant experience in a professional area appropriate to the programme of study.