Applied Exercise Physiology MSc (PGCert PGDip)

Intro

This course is for you if you want to work in the world of exercise for health or with more clinical populations, or if you are undecided whether you want to direct your degree towards exercise or sport and performance. You are ideally suited if you have a curiosity and passion for physiology, as it applies to exercise.

If you are not yet sure of your direction, the course will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of applied exercise physiology and the careers that can emerge from it.

Our Applied Exercise Physiology MSc is designed around four pillars:

• practitioner focused
• physiology skill-centred
• science in practice
• personal and professional development.

A priority throughout will be to develop a blend of hard, technical skills alongside softer interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence that is essential to become a practitioner in the workplace.

We have a strong commitment to supporting you to work towards relevant certifications, accreditations or affiliations with professional bodies such as BASES Certified Exercise Practitioner, Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists and American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist. You will be able to prioritise the achievement of criteria set out by these professional bodies within your degree to improve your employability.

Our teaching laboratories are accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).

Careers

Career opportunities for applied exercise physiologists are growing, especially for clinical exercise physiology positions. Many graduates pursue employment in hospitals and primary care trusts, where specialists with exercise backgrounds are needed to work within health and clinical settings. Others take up clinical physiology posts through locum agencies, enabling them to experience different hospitals and types of clinical physiology before making their career decisions. We also have graduates who enter the Scientist Training Programme to become clinical scientists, enabling them to specialise in cardiac, respiratory, sleep or even gastrointestinal physiology.

You need a good honours degree (normally minimum 2:2 classification) in sport and exercise science, or a relevant science-based degree such as medicine, biomedical sciences, physiology, biological science, or health science. The degree may contain a human physiology component and should contain a research training component. Applicants without the minimum qualifications may also be considered, providing they can demonstrate they have the appropriate background and foundation knowledge by other means.