Find out more about studying Sport and Exercise Psychology MSc at University of Staffordshire? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MSc - Master of Science
Online
Part Time
Sep 2027
2 Year
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.The material covered provides students with a critical understanding of current issues relating to the theory and practice of both sport and exercise psychology. Some of the topics relate predominantly to exercise settings (e.g., physical activity and mental health), while other relate predominantly to sport settings (e.g., skilled performance under pressure) however most of the topics covered relate equally to both sport and exercise settings and include an exploration of the role of social processes in sport and exercise settings, the practice of sport and exercise psychology, and research methods and data analysis. Throughout the award a conscious decision has been made to have a strong link between theory and practice with many assignments requiring students to apply current theoretical and research knowledge to hypothetical ‘real life’ scenarios. Throughout the course every effort has also been made to draw upon the wealth of research and applied experience which the staff team have.CareersThe 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.
In this module, you will explore what drives physical activity behaviour and why it matters for mental health. You will examine the leading theories and models that explain how people adopt and maintain active lifestyles, and you will learn to critically evaluate the strength of evidence behind them. Drawing on primary research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and large-scale epidemiological studies, you will investigate how physical activity relates to anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, self-esteem, affect and overall wellbeing. By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the psychological insight needed to understand, interpret and influence physical activity behaviour in real-world settings.
This module supports students in conducting a rigourous and ethically-sound MSc-level research project in the students? topic area of choice within their course remit. Students will independently manage and execute their research project, under the supervision of an allocated member of staff. These activities will lead to the production of a written journal article (as chosen by the student), followed by a 30-minute viva voce.
What does it take to become a Sport and/or Exercise Psychologist?¿ In this module you will consider issues pertinent to the professional practice of sport and exercise psychology. You will learn about a range of psychological techniques available to practitioners, including self-talk and imagery, whilst understanding the theoretical underpinnings and scientific research regarding the effectiveness of these techniques. You will be required to put yourself in the shoes of a psychologist and consider which psychological techniques are most appropriate and how they should best be implemented to a range of scenarios (e.g., enhancing confidence in a novice exerciser, helping an elite athlete cope with a career ending injury). This module will also give you the opportunity to develop and practice the skills required to work effectively as a psychologist in the real-world (e.g., counselling skills, communication skills and reflective practice).
Students will be required to consider what psychological techniques are most appropriate and how they should best be applied to a range of scenarios (e.g., enhancing confidence in a novice exerciser, helping an elite athlete cope with a career ending injury). In the second part of the module the skills required to practice effectively (e.g., counselling skills, communication skills and reflective practice) are considered along with issues surrounding the delivery of psychological interventions to different groups (e.g., disabled athletes) are considered.
In this module, you will take the first steps in designing your own MSc research project. You will explore a topic area that interests you, conduct a critical review of the existing literature, and develop clear research questions. You will learn how to plan and justify an appropriate methodology and prepare a professional research proposal, including submitting an ethical approval application. By the end of the module, you will have the confidence and skills to launch your independent research project with a strong foundation in academic rigour and ethical practice.
In this module, you will explore how social psychological theory is applied within sport and exercise settings, focusing on audience effects, group dynamics, and leadership, and how these processes influence the performance of athletes, coaches, trainers, and managers. You will critically examine the psychology of group dynamics, including evidence-based interventions designed to enhance team functioning, as well as contemporary and traditional approaches to leadership and the development of leadership skills. Using a theory-to-evidence-to-application framework, you will be encouraged to evaluate current research and apply key concepts to real-world sport and exercise contexts from your own perspective as a performer, coach, practitioner, or psychologist.
This flagship module is where your academic journey culminates in a fully independent, MSc-level research project; designed, developed, and delivered by¿you.Building on the foundations of advanced research methods, youll take full ownership of a topic aligned to your course and personal interests, working one-on-one with an experienced academic supervisor. Youll manage every stage of the research process, from refining your research question and gaining ethical approval, to collecting and analysing data, interpreting results, and producing a¿journal-style article¿ready for academic or professional audiences.
